THE LASSWADE JUBILEE
FOOTBRIDGE

After a four-year marathon, with delays which involved “just about every problem in the book”, our new footbridge was finally inaugurated on Tuesday, 10th December 2002.

In welcoming almost one hundred brave souls who attended the ceremony on a rather chilly day, Bill Dobson explained that the reason for pushing forward with this late date was that “we were most anxious to be able to call this new structure “The Jubilee Footbridge” The pedestrian walkway along the side of the road bridge was opened during the Coronation Year in 1952, and there seemed to be a rather nice historical symmetry if we managed to complete this Ceremony fifty years on.”

Bill pointed out that “the park has been little used in the past, because only four homes in the village have direct access to it. Previously its single entrance has required everyone else to dash across the busy commuter road at a blind corner beside the old road bridge. This new bridge should now allow mothers with young children and others to reach the park safely by using the pedestrian-controlled traffic lights in the village. It will also provide another link in the wider development of our local path network, leading along the south bank of the North Esk river and linking with the Esk Valley Way which will run from the Pentland Hills to the sea at Musselburgh. It has a specified 125-year "design life" which should benefit many future generations of our community in the years ahead.”

The event was organised in collaboration with Midlothian Council and was attended by Councillors and local dignitaries, representatives of district organisations, contractors, Society members and other local residents. Bill praised the support which the Society had received from our local Councillor Derek Milligan, and the valuable advice and assistance provided by the officials who had helped

the Civic Society to win technical approval and funding for the project. It was an excellent example of collaboration between Midlothian Council and a local community group, to provide a substantial long-term amenity for its residents and visitors. He was also pleased to record that Scottish Natural Heritage had funded the construction of the approach paths to the bridge on both sides of the bridge.

Councillor Milligan replied on behalf of the Council, and the bridge was then dedicated by the Rev. Wendy Drake. Des O'Brien, who was a Committee Founder Member of the Society in 1971 cut the inaugural ribbon with little Jennifer Goodier and her elder sister Eleanor, representing our younger members. The whole gathering was then led across the footbridge for the first time by a local piper, Tam Crawford of Midlothian Council.

The Council has now formally accepted ownership of the bridge and is responsible for its ongoing maintenance and insurance, although there is still a further year-long proving period which remains under contractors' liability. During 2003, our Society will also be organising the second phase of its plans by creating an Amenity Garden over on the village side, with raised beds and plantings, and environmental improvements on both banks of the river. We hope that this will be celebrated by an event in the park later in the year, when we will also instal a time-capsule containing archival records of our Society and other local organisations. [More pictures on page 3.]

WEDNESDAY 19th FEBRUARY 2003
at 7.45 for 8.00 pm
In the Lasswade Park Pavilion

Local presentation "Midlothian in the Millenium"

Wine and Soft Drinks

Come and join us
FRIDAY 14th MARCH   8 - 10 pm
St Leonard's Church Hall, Dobbies Road
Lasswade

Your Local Representative will call to offer you tickets at £5 each and also to collect your annual Subscriptions ..
(Families £3.00   Individuals £2.00)

Any queries: please phone Anna: 663 - 8103

With its main breeding range running from Scandinavia to Siberia and Kazakhstan, the Fieldfare is a big, bold and colourful thrush. Similar to our resident Mistle Thrush in size, but with grey-blue head, chestnut back, speckled breast, grey rump and black tail, the Fieldfare is perhaps the most handsome of our regular winter visitors.

Roving our fields and hedgerows between October and April, often in large, mixed flocks with Redwings and other thrushes, it seeks out invertebrates on the ground, fruit and berries in the hedges. In hard weather, and when the bushes have been stripped of their harvest, individuals and small groups sometimes turn up in our playing fields, parks and gardens, their loud chack-chac-chack usually the first indication of their appearance.

Although numbers visiting Scotland may have declined somewhat in recent years, the Fieldfare is still a regular and welcome feature of our winter countryside.

Breeding has been recorded in Scotland since the 1960s. These are very small numbers, with none in Lothian, but sporadic occurrences in Borders…once nearby in the Pentlands. T.D.

To gain official approval, the 29-metre Footbridge decking had to be 2-metres wide and its 12-tonne steel structure is heavily galvanised for long-term protection. It was prefabricated in three sections off-site and assembled on its back before being turned over and hoisted into position. The superstructure was then added to the deck-span. The overall landscaping of the site will now follow during 2003.

"We have lift off"

Almost there!

Safe arrival park side

Ready for decking and railings

How it looks now - January 2003

Photographs kindly donated by Dr Mike Campbell of Wadingburn (except for )