Sounds like there will be a lot of fun down there next week!

Why could they not expand the Somerfield car park BEFORE closing the other one as there is plenty of wasted space at the far side of it. Of course - that is a sensible idea so just NOT allowed!!!

Yes, totally agree, this is an extremely stupid and costly move to Penicuik.

I fear now that Penicuik shops may sadly be doomed (i hear the dry cleaner is also leaving because of high rent) because if nobody can park who is going to fight to get a space in Somerfield car park to come to a handful of shops when they can go to the likes of Straiton. Yes, lets close this car park as its coming up for christmas and nobody will be doing there shopping here anyway - good thinking councillor. Imrie Place car park will be coned off from close of business on saturday for at least 6 months until the Lidl is built and the new road layout has been done (apparently this car park will no longer be run by Euro car parks but by Lidl itself). Should be really fun when a lorry delivering building materials gets stuck in Imrie Place and blocks the road up for the doctors and ambulances too get to the health centre, but hey what do the residents of Imrie Place know, we just have to live with it every day. Why could Lidl or Aldi for that matter go to the old crystal factory where there would have been ample parking? sorry, way too obvious!!

At the moment the snooker hall in Imrie Place has a competition on and there are at least 15 cars parked in the car park, some even stupidly parking on the hill entrance to the car park just for the sake of being lazy and not wanting to walk from the bottom of the car park. Where will they all park now, I certainly won't be parking my car where I can't see it.

oh its been total fun and games at Imrie Place car the last couple of days. We have had the police here as people from the snooker hall were parking all of the place and over peoples driveways but couldn't move the cars because they had been drinking. I am off today and there have been a lot of extremely angry people who have not been able to get into the car park because there is nothing up to say it is closed. I have just called Midlothian Council to see if they can get some signs put up and they are going to speak to the developers. the shops are also being hit hard already and its only been 3 days, Greggs was dead when i was there this morning, I have watched them queueing to get into Somerfield car park and then changed their minds. Apparently there are signs at the Health Centre car park to advise that they have opened Jackson Street school car park but its not that big.
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with Lidl not due to be opened until February Penicuik is DOOMED!

Most would say that Penicuik's doomed anyway!!

Of course Greggs being "dead" has nothing to do with it being the school holidays!
You're not surely suggesting that Lidl was just going to appear magically without any disruption, are you?
The best chance Penicuik has got is to get that store built and the three shops and the flats in the precinct finished. It might not work but for God's sake let's try to be a little but positive about the whole thing.
Of course this would all have been done a year ago if the Luddites hadn't disrupted everything, as they always do every time anyone tries to do anything to improve the place.

So all the doctors, residents of Imrie Place and Kirkhill Road are Luddites for objecting to looking on to a Lidl. I am sure if it was being built right in front of your house you would have plenty to say about it! obviously the shop isn't going to magically appear.

if you have an emergency and call a doctor don't expect them to respond quickly as half the doctors can't even get parking in the surgery car park and are parked at the other end of the street or further.

If people can't park they won't shop!!

And how are they going to shop when you want the best chance of a decent supermarket in the town centre AND one that is known to bring other retailers in its wake stopped because it happens to be outside your front door?
No I wouldn't like it outside mine either, but then I had enough brain power not to live in a town centre where you are likely to get .... shops! That's what town centres are for.
Admit it ...... you lost! Live with it.
And apart from the original objection I haven't heard the staff at the Health Centre complaining lately, at least not officially. There is disabled parking at the back; there has been no difficulty with access for those who need it.
There are going to be temporary parking problems. What did you expect?

What are the plans for parking once the shop is finished? I am assuming it will have its own carpark. Will this be open to all and how big will it be. Is another area going to be created for parking in the center?

Why are they digging up the bushes at the from of the drs? Someone said to put a new road in but I am confused. Not hard lol.

the actual Lidl will be built where the entrance to Imrie Place car park used to be and down the side beside the snooker hall. The rest will be car parking but at this stage I don't know what the rules will be for parking as the whole piece of land is now owned by Lidl and not Euro Car parks anymore.

They are digging outside the doctor surgery as this is where the new bus stop will placed. Where the bus stop is at the moment will be taken away and this will be the only entrance/exit into Lidl. from what I can remember of the plans there is also a roundabout to go here to. Although this part of the plans had not been passed when the residents got there letters advising of what was happening for fears of road safety as its not exactly safe having a bus stop round a blind corner on a main road, but it looks like its going ahead or they have changed the plans to accommodate this. The poor bus drivers won't be able to sit and read their papers there if they are early now.

Well I am getting fed up with people moaning about the mess the center is in and how we dont need another supermarket. How short peoples memories are. Somerfield is rubbish Lidle will be a big asset. I am certanly looking forward to it opening. I am concerned about parking so hope that has been covered by the powers that be.

One pensioner was moaning she would never use the new shop because the entrance would be in Imrie place and to much for her to walk up to. When I said it would be at the bus stop she was livid because the bus stop was moving. Cant win. Some people dont like change. Some people like to moan for the sake of moaning. Of course the place looks a mess have you ever seen a building site that doesnt.

It looks as if it is going to be a few months before Lidl is finally open http://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/Work-starts-on-Penicuik-shop.4659454.jp

I see that Aldi have now been granted the building warrant to demolish the former Nobles workshops on Eastfield Drive so we can now expect a race between them and Lidl to see who gets their shop open first in "Spring 2009"

For those of you who haven't been along past Somerfield this week, a word of warning - the wee round thing in the middle of the road next to Somerfield and our new fabulous Lidl is a Roundabout!! I have been looking out my window this morning and I am amazed at the amount of people who seem incapable of using it correctly. Please be very, very careful as most people are not giving way and seem to think the roundabout is just for the buses!