Libraries, leisure centres and parks

Further restrictions announced on 7 October

The Scottish Government has announced targed restrictions for the Lothians that will take effect from Friday at 6pm up until, and including, Sunday 25 October.

Our gyms will still be open for individual exercise, as will our swimming pools, although sessions must be booked in advance.

Group fitness classes and contact sports for customers aged 18 and over only will be suspended during that time period.

Library update - 2 October - Penicuik Library

Penicuik Library is reopening for Reserve and Collect customers, all returns, bus pass enquiries, and pre-booked public computer use (and printing and photocopying) on Thursday 8 October.

On reopening, Penicuik Library will be open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11am to 4pm.

Fitness classes from Monday 14 September

You can now book online for fitness classes at our centres although please note there will be no fitness classes from 6pm on Friday 9 October until and including Sunday 25 October because of further coronavirus restrictions announced nationally.  

Dalkeith and Newtongrange Libraries (Monday 7 September)

Dalkeith has extended its opening hours until 6.30pm on Tuesdays and from 10.30-12.30pm on Saturdays.

Newtongrange Library reopened on Monday 7 September.

You will not be able to browse books at the library.

Tonezone gyms and pools

We reopened our Tonezone gyms on Monday 31 August (Danderhall sessions start date TBC). Bookings must be made in advance and restrictions will be in place. Swimming pools opened on a limited timetable from Monday 7 September. Bookings must be made in advance.

Library update (24 July)

Dalkeith Library is the first Midlothian library to reopen: from Monday 27 July. We will update this page when more libraries open.

No library late fines

Library users cannot currently take out or return library materials.

Don't worry about late fines - there will be no additional fines from 18 March until further notice.

We will update you on how to return library materials when we can.

Online resources

We still offer a range of free online services including:

Services usually available in libraries

Hearing aid clinics

Hearing aid clinics are suspended.

NEC bus passes

We are now processing bus pass applications as normal.

Leisure centre memberships

If you have a leisure centre membership, all direct debit membership charges will change to £1.00 per month to 'maintain' the membership while the centres are closed.

This means that all monthly membership payments will automatically be frozen until further notice and any annual memberships will be extended, equal to the time lost.

Deductions

As centres have closed halfway through the month and memberships have been frozen, this will be taken this into account and the appropriate deduction will be made from the amount that customers pay moving forward when the situation returns to normal.

The closures will stay in place until government advice states that it is appropriate to reopen facilities to the public.

Parks and play areas

Our main parks currently remain open although we have implemented social distancing measures.

Vogrie Country Park is open from 10am until the gates close at 6pm. The car park and toilets are open from 10am until 4pm.

All children’s outdoor equipped play areas are open. We are encouraging users to clean hands before and after use and physically distance if possible.  

Grass cutting (update on 22 May)

Council Leader Councillor Derek Milligan thanks our Land & Countryside teams for a sterling effort to catch up with grass cutting during the Covid-19 pandemic. He said the new teams, many of whom had come from other services in the council to help, had their work cut out tackling some areas due to the length of the grass. However, the backlog is all but finished and workers will now be maintaining all areas, including public parks and open spaces. Land services will now prioritise weed killing, cutting back weeds and grass verges, he added. Given that some of the teams are new, if we’ve missed any areas then please email [email protected] with the details.

Grass cutting (update on 24 April)

Since April 24, we have been able to resume some grass cutting although not large, open spaces. Instead, the focus will be on verges adjacent to footpaths or pavements to allow people to see oncoming traffic and cross safely. Grass on core paths and rights of way will also be cut to make sure everyone using those areas can observe social distancing. Grass at hub centres, where staff are caring for the children of key workers and  vulnerable children, will also be cut.

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