The natural history and heritage of our towns are crucial to giving people a sense of place that is often core to an area’s identity, but the creation of a true community requires something more.
The Hargreaves Land team behind our flagship new town in East Lothian, Blindwells, is thankful to our partners at East Lothian Council, our many residents and housebuilding colleagues, for working with us to help create a strong community as the new homes and surrounding infrastructure continue to take shape.
Their efforts have seen countless events and gatherings take place in which Blindwells residents have come together – for information sharing, for companionship, for exercise, and for play.
Central to this has been a temporary Portakabin erected on site to provide a hub for all members of the Blindwells community to use.
The facility has been adopted as the base of our town’s Tenants and Resident’s Association group, which has welcomed both newcomers and those already settled at Blindwells at several drop-in events throughout 2024, with many more planned for next year, on January 16th, February 20th, March 20th, April 24th, May 22nd and June 19th.
It is also serving as a surgery site for local councillor Lachlan Bruce, who will welcome residents for the chance to ask or follow up any queries or concerns they have about the local area straight after the drop-in sessions listed above.
Longniddry Parish Church, which is just a short bus ride away and dates from 1692, has also used the space, which features a hardstanding outdoor area and exhibits about all our plans and timelines for the continued progress of Blindwells, for occasions such as a Harvest collection and thanksgiving, a winter clothes exchange, an act of remembrance for Armistice Day, and of course most recently, a Christmas celebration.
In fact, Longniddry has joined forces with other churches in the area – Gladsmuir Parish Church, and Cockenzie and Port Seton Old Parish Church – to form Blindwells Beacon, a group running monthly events at the Portakabin from 11am on the fourth Saturday of each January to June, September and October.
Not only that but starting this month, parents with children under five are invited to enjoy a cuppa while their kids ‘stay and play’ each Wednesday morning from 10am to 11.30am.
The structure has provided a vital storage and hot drinks serving area for East Lothian Play Association’s Play Ranger project, which aims to offer safe, welcoming and exciting opportunities for children and young people from across Blindwells and its surrounding areas to get active together in the fresh air.
Because there is now so much going on at Blindwells, the newly-created newsletter, which is collated by East Lothian Council’s Connected Communities Team and delivered through every town letterbox, as well as being available digitally, has a growing readership, and stories are always welcome from residents that wish to share news and events.
It is through this growing sense of community that new facilities and provisions are beginning to take shape, such as a defibrillator, which one resident is working with us and East Lothian Council to install in case of emergencies.
The authority is also coordinating a festive provision for families facing financial hardship this festive season, using monetary contributions donated by Hargreaves Land and the many homebuilding firms responsible for constructing Blindwells.
Emma Brown, Connected Communities Manager at East Lothian Council said: “The cabin has quickly become an important facility, and has been really important for anyone living on their own, or who is new to the area. Anyone wanting to meet other residents is more than welcome, and testament to that is the fact that people are now turning up to the building although they live only a few doors from each other.
“It is only because people have started these many community events that some of these individuals have had the chance to meet, talk, and establish connections that in some cases will help our youngest residents form friendships that see them through their lives. It means many youngsters will already know each other when the Blindwells Primary School that is under construction opens in 2025, making the transition into learning easier for children and parents alike.”
Gabriel Fella, development surveyor at Hargreaves Land added: “The entire construction community at Blindwells has been instrumental in bringing people together across the scheme, and the hub at the Portakabin has been key to this, as it enables those living in homes built by Bellway, Persimmon, Ogilvie and other developments the chance to come across one another when ordinarily that may not have been possible.
“It has been wonderful to see, and I have no doubt the community will continue to grow from strength to strength.”
Sign up to receive the Blindwells community newsletter by emailing the East Lothian Council team at connect-psg@eastlothian.gov.uk. And to find out more about the latest developments on the Blindwells site, you can register to receive our newsletter at blindwells.co.uk.