Midlothian Council has announced plans to spend more than £1 million on upgrading children's outdoor play areas, with a focus on making them more inclusive for all. The investment, drawn from Scottish Government funding and developer contributions, will benefit several sites, including the adventure playground at Vogrie Country Park and the playground at Newtongrange Primary School.

At a full Council meeting on Tuesday, councillors approved the allocation of £495,000 of Scottish Government funding specifically for the Vogrie adventure playground.

A further £545,000, also from Scottish Government funding and developer contributions, will be used to enhance inclusivity at 28 other play areas across Midlothian. This will involve replacing existing equipment or installing new equipment and surfacing suitable for children of all ages and abilities.

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Newtongrange Primary School is set to receive £35,334.15 to extend its playground and add new play equipment. This enhanced facility will also be made available for public use outside of school hours. This decision follows a petition considered by Midlothian Council's petitions committee in March, signed by over 460 people, calling for an upgrade to the school's playground facilities. Elected members agreed at the time to pass the petition to relevant officers for further consideration.

All the planned upgrade work is scheduled to get underway by March 2026.

Councillor Dianne Alexander, Midlothian Council's Cabinet Member for Green Spaces, stated: "We're delighted this external funding will be spent on ensuring that all children, regardless of ability or background, can participate and thrive in a stimulating environment, promoting interaction, independence, and positive self-esteem."

The improvements to the adventure playground at Vogrie Country Park are part of a broader ongoing project aimed at attracting more visitors to the park and increasing council income. As part of these efforts, an external events company, The Bubbling Toad, is set to launch 'magical parties, individual experiences, group bookings and workshops' in the country park starting from June.