Factor rejects offer to open memorial park to the public

Midlothian Council wants to take over the running of the playpark in Eskbridge Estate, Penicuik, to settle a row between the estate factors and the parents of tragic Blair Easton, 11, and Craig Quinn, 12, who died in a fire which destroyed a warehouse that previously occupied the site in 1998.

Earlier this year, the Evening News told how the factors erected 'Residents Only' signs around the playpark after complaints that non-residents were using the park and had caused nearly 1000 of damage.

However, the boys' families said that meant they were being locked out of their own memorial park - which they even helped to pick the play equipment for.

To make amends, Midlothian Council offered to take the park off residents' hands in exchange for a one-off fee of 15,000 - around 195 per-resident - and maintain it "in perpetuity". This would reopen the park to the public, and ensure that residents would never have to pay another repair bill.

Estate factors Charles White Limited put the offer to residents, many of whom accepted. However, some failed to respond within the deadline so the vote was declared invalid.

The park remains private property and, as non-residents, Blair and Craig's parents are not allowed to visit.

Craig's mother Catherine Craig said: "It's disgusting. We fought hard for this park and suffered a lot of setbacks, and every setback was like losing Craig all over again.

"My niece takes her children there and lifts them over the fence. She visits the park every few days and is very sentimental about it. We were promised a playpark - not a scabby tree with a park bench around it."

Eskbridge resident Rab Connelly, 50, a heating company director who owns two properties in the estate, said he would be happy to see the park handed back to the public.

He added: "I sent my response to Charles White but they sent a letter out to all residents saying that they would not be accepting Midlothian Council's offer because they failed to reach a sufficient 'quorum'. As far as I was concerned this park was built as a memorial and should have been public from the start."

The factors maintain that the only memorial that was agreed upon was a solitary public bench, and that the park itself was private property, but the boys' families said that flew in the face of a decade of promises by the council and now-defunct developer Applecross Homes.

Midlothian Provost Adam Montgomery said: "There are 77 properties sold in the estate so the total bill was only going to work out at around 195 per resident. Obviously, taking on the park is going to incur a cost to the council in future, so we couldn't take it on for free.

"As it stands, residents have to pay for all of the repairs and maintenance in the park, so 195 isn't a lot to ask for the council to take the park over and maintain it in perpetuity."

Charles White Limited was contacted for comment but failed to respond.