Penicuik Community Development Trust

Jackson Street School

Central to the Trust's Plan for Penicuik is the development of Jackson Street School as a multi-activity community facility, including a home to a Museum and Heritage Centre for papermaking.

With a great deal of help from the Community Council, the Trust drew up a formal proposal to buy Jackson Street School from Midlothian Council. This was submitted to the Chief Executive on November 1st and formed much of the basis for our discussions with the Council on November 19th. At the meeting, the following points were made

The Plan for Penicuik is a long term vision of how to improve the viability of community facilities, shops and businesses in Penicuik Town Centre: demolishing Jackson Street School will scupper it for no financial gain.
The Trust is not asking for handouts: our proposal is to buy the standing building and its site: the Council would get its capital return.
The Trust would not expect recurrent grant from the Council: we propose to operate the Centre as a social enterprise, earning its running costs from users. Penicuik people now have a proven track record for making such ventures work: Ladywood Leisure Centre is a prime example.
By occupying the building and effecting emergency roof repairs, the Trust would normalise public safety issues associated with arson and falling slates. This would also protect the structure from further decay and very greatly reduce the Council's insurance premium.
With a safe, occupied building, there is no urgency to spend the £60k for demolition. If our proposals are successful, this would be a net saving to the Council; if not the delay would cause no additional spend.
The prestige of Midlothian would be very significantly enhanced if we create a nationally important Papermaking Heritage Centre: Penicuik is its obvious home. Jackson Street School is the only place suitable for housing it in a location that would benefit footfall in the Town Centre and thereby support local shops and businesses.

On November 24th, the Council decided to uphold an earlier decision made in secret to demolish Jackson Street School. Preparation for demolition began three weeks before the November 19th meeting which was evidently not conducted in good faith.

So we call upon your help: please fill in the petition yourself and distribute it widely. Take whatever other action you think fit to stop another part of the Penicuik's heritage being lost, and with it an imaginative plan to revitalise our town.

A standard form to gather a collection of signatures.
A single person version that can be submitted by email.

Please do not sign the petition more than once: both are the same petition.


News - Events The Trust - Aims - Challenge and story - Office bearers - Oral History - Publishing - Links - Records Penicuik - Plan for Penicuik - Cinema - Food project - Cowan Institute - Buildings - History - People - Pentland Hills Contact		Jackson Street School Central to the Trust's Plan for Penicuik is the development of Jackson Street School as a multi-activity community facility, including a home to a Museum and Heritage Centre for papermaking. With a great deal of help from the Community Council, the Trust drew up a formal proposal to buy Jackson Street School from Midlothian Council. This was submitted to the Chief Executive on November 1st and formed much of the basis for our discussions with the Council on November 19th. At the meeting, the following points were made The Plan for Penicuik is a long term vision of how to improve the viability of community facilities, shops and businesses in Penicuik Town Centre: demolishing Jackson Street School will scupper it for no financial gain. The Trust is not asking for handouts: our proposal is to buy the standing building and its site: the Council would get its capital return. The Trust would not expect recurrent grant from the Council: we propose to operate the Centre as a social enterprise, earning its running costs from users. Penicuik people now have a proven track record for making such ventures work: Ladywood Leisure Centre is a prime example. By occupying the building and effecting emergency roof repairs, the Trust would normalise public safety issues associated with arson and falling slates. This would also protect the structure from further decay and very greatly reduce the Council's insurance premium. With a safe, occupied building, there is no urgency to spend the £60k for demolition. If our proposals are successful, this would be a net saving to the Council; if not the delay would cause no additional spend. The prestige of Midlothian would be very significantly enhanced if we create a nationally important Papermaking Heritage Centre: Penicuik is its obvious home. Jackson Street School is the only place suitable for housing it in a location that would benefit footfall in the Town Centre and thereby support local shops and businesses. On November 24th, the Council decided to uphold an earlier decision made in secret to demolish Jackson Street School. Preparation for demolition began three weeks before the November 19th meeting which was evidently not conducted in good faith. So we call upon your help: please fill in the petition yourself and distribute it widely. Take whatever other action you think fit to stop another part of the Penicuik's heritage being lost, and with it an imaginative plan to revitalise our town. A standard form to gather a collection of signatures. A single person version that can be submitted by email. Please do not sign the petition more than once: both are the same petition.

		Home - News - The Trust - Penicuik - Contact