Thursday October 1st 2026
A bin fire at Bogwood Court resulted in a wooden fence set alight leading to the fire brigade being called out
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
A spike in anti-social behaviour in Mayfield that has led to fires has caused major concern amongst local residents, leading to the council and a local MSP to intervene.
Over the past few months anti-social behaviour has been reported at Bogwood Court where youths aged between 10 and 15 years old have been setting fires to bins belonging to local businesses and residential flats alongside vandalising the local area including parks and public spaces.
Affecting local commerce, local companies and residents asked the Mayfield and Easthouses Community Council to attempt to help resolve the issue that has begun to affect customer footfall and business reputation in the area.
The Community Council, highlighting that this has been a long overdue issue that needs to be resolved, called a meeting with local MSP Colin Beattie, Midlothian Council, local police and the council’s Community Learning Department to attempt to find a solution to the problem.
Agreeing to take similar action that was previously taken to discourage antisocial behaviour in Dalkeith town centre, the council installed CCTV following talks with Melville Housing who are the main landlord in the area.
A Midlothian council spokesperson explained: “Council officers met with community representatives last month (August), together with the police and Melville Housing Association (as the main landlord at this location), regarding the instances of antisocial behaviour experienced around Bogwood Court.
“Following this, the council installed additional CCTV and secured the old toilet block, which is private property following its sale in 1986. The private owner has been informed by Building Control that their building is in a state and could become dangerous if not maintained and that it be demolished.
“Police Scotland will also have more on fire incidents in Mayfield Park at the weekend. Bins to Melville Housing Association Properties and some fencing were set on fire.”
Despite the council taking action, local residents are still witnessing antisocial behaviour ‘worse than last time’ which has now resulted in five fires last week alone.
Chair of the Mayfield and Easthouses Community Council, Robert Hogg explained that the council action initially worked but it has resorted back to the same issues as before.
He told the Midlothian View: “Although CCTV initially worked for a couple weeks and local businesses noticed a drop in the number of youths and antisocial behaviour in and around Bogwood Court, it has now reared its ugly head again where local youths are running amok around the area and carrying out vandalism worse than last time.
“This has resulted in five fires inside last week resulting in waste bins from businesses being taken from their premises to the local park and set on fire which has caused damage to Mayfield Park.”
Aftermath of bin fire in Mayfield Park
Alongside damage to the local park, it was reported that a fire set outside the Melville Housing flats at Bogwood Court resulted in a wooden fence set alight leading to the fire brigade being called out.
Robert added: “The youths involved now, who are the same as last time, are out of control and something needs to be done as they don’t care if police take them home to their parents as within hours they are back at the same place causing issues to locals around the area.
“Locals are fed up with it all and have contacted the Community Council out of desperation to try and resolve the situation before it gets worse as they fear for their safety.
“More needs to be done between the police, social workers and education as those same youths are well known to those agencies and although they tell the community they are working together to solve the issues with youths but this does not appear to the public or community council as it still happens every night within Bogwood Court and the park.
“The local residents and businesses who are living in the area deserve so much better.”
With similar antisocial behaviour in Dalkeith made better due to council action, this doesn’t seem to be the case in Mayfield with CCTV and social services action not deterring the youths from vandalism.
Aftermath of bin fire at Bogwood Court, Mayfield
Explaining that he is ‘appalled by the ongoing rise in antisocial behaviour’, local MSP Colin Beattie has been heavily involved in attempting to resolve the issue, supporting the community council.
He explained: “I am appalled by the ongoing rise in anti-social behaviour in Mayfield. Setting fire to bins in parks may seem like a minor issue to those responsible, but it is incredibly dangerous and puts the wider community at risk.
“I am in regular contact with the community council to support them, and I have written to Melville to ask what action can be taken to ensure bins are stored safely and securely. I have also written to Midlothian Council in respect of the disused toilet black and to where their enquiries are in respect of its potential demolition.
“Police Scotland and Midlothian Council are aware of the community’s serious concerns about the rise in anti-social behaviour, and I will continue to support them in taking action to improve the situation.”
Melville Housing Association, a charitable registered social landlord based in Dalkeith, is the area’s main landlord.
A spokesperson for Melville Housing Association explained: “We’re aware of recent incidents involving fires affecting bins and fencing in the Limekilns and Bogwood Court areas, as well as ongoing antisocial behaviour around the shops at Bogwood Court.
“We understand residents’ concerns and will continue to work with partner organisations to identify practical measures within our control that could help improve safety and reduce antisocial behaviour in the area.”
With MSP Colin Beattie, Midlothian council and the local Police working towards resolving the antisocial behaviour issue, they are hoping the action already taken such as CCTV will help the decline of vandalism that is heavily affecting local residents.
Tweet Share on FacebookNews
