Midlothian Council has made a decision regarding the future of the former Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre.

The centre has not been used since last summer when the new Lasswade Centre, worth £38m, opened in the area. The new facility boasts a library, school and swimming pool.

Following the opening, and subsequent closure of Bonnyrigg, there were calls to demolish the former leisure centre. However, the Council rejected this recommendation in March 2014. They have since looked at community bids that have been made for the site and on Tuesday (24 June), Councillors came to a decision.

They ruled that the building should not be demolished and its preferred use should be to accommodate a charity for children with disabilities.

Bright Sparks provides playgroup, holiday activities and after-school support for children with complex additional needs and their families. It is currently based at the council-owned Cockpen Centre. The Council currently funds the charity to provide playgroup support for children aged 0-5, while the group also raises money for range of activities after school and during holiday periods for children aged 0-11. If the charity moved into the centre, it is understood the local authority would pay for the running costs of maintaining and running the building, along with demolishing part of the building as Bright Sparks only requires the rear.

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However, it has been said that if, following further investigations, that the charity's option is not feasible, community group, the Bonnyrigg Centre Trust Ltd, should then be allowed to let the building for six months. The council would not incur any costs before, during or after that period and the situation would be reviewed again after six months. The trust has said it wants to run the centre as a community asset and use it for a soft play centre.

Members also rejected two other formal bids to take over the building from community groups Bonnyrigg & Sherwood Community Development Trust and LO-GY as they were not thought to be suitable.

Midlothian Council Leader, Councillor Owen Thompson, said: "We had always said we would look at all options for the building and this opportunity for Bright Sparks could enable the charity to expand the excellent work it does.

"Demand for its services has steadily increased in recent years, which is why it's looking to move to bigger premises. The extra space would potentially be around three times the size of Cockpen and it would allow the charity to develop a real centre for excellence for play provision for children with a variety of disabilities."

(JP)