Penicuik homeless unit proposed for youth
A Penicuik lodge house, currently being renovated, will be used to house homeless people.
The council-owned Parkhead Lodge, close to Beeslack Community High School, is being upgraded at a cost of more than 1 million.
But, while local councillors are trying to reassure the local community that the unit will act as a half-way house for children coming out of care, Midlothian Council is refusing to reveal more details of who will be living there.
At a recent Penicuik and District Community Council meeting, Midlothian councillor Les Thacker moved to allay fears that the lodge would be used to accommodate residents from Lauder Lodge, which is due to close.
Eight flats
"It is being renovated and is going to look after children from care, who once they reach 16 they have to move on.
"They will be accommodated in this new building and hopefully from there will go out into the world," he said.
However, the local authority has confirmed that it will not only be children leaving care who will move to the new facility.
A Midlothian Council spokesman explained: "Work has already started at Parkhead Lodge, Glencorse, and will take up to a year to complete.
"The total cost of refurbishing the house and building eight new self-contained flats is 1.1 million.
Further questions
"The facility will accommodate five people in the refurbished house and a further eight people in the flats.
"Only some of these units will be used for children leaving care – this will be a mixed scheme for young homeless people requiring varying levels of support with the purpose of assisting them in preparing for permanent tenancies."
Midlothian Council was unable to answer further questions relating to the age of those living at the unit or where they would be coming from.
The local authority also declined to respond to queries about its ownership of Parkhead Lodge and how much it cost to buy.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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