Wednesday February 11th 2026
The project on Newmills Road, Dalkeith
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
The Mining Remediation Authority held a community event on the evening of the 9th February to update the local community on the recent works in the Newmills Road area of Dalkeith.
The presentation was given by Carl Banton, Operations Director of the Mining Remediation Authority and Rachael Langfield, Head of Environment Project Delivery.
Carl Banton said:
“Around 40 residents attended the meeting, and we hope they found it useful.
“We wanted to reassure residents that we are making good progress in addressing the situation at Old Fordell drainage tunnel.
“On 7 January we identified a significant reduction in water flowing from the tunnel, which led to rising water levels within the historical underground mine workings.
“We took immediate action and installed pumping equipment and a temporary pipeline to bring down those water levels.
“We know the works are inconvenient, however, at this stage, we can’t be specific about how long it will take to resolve the situation. We are working as quickly as we can and are exploring several options to manage the mine water into the River South Esk.
“Throughout our works, we are seeking to minimise traffic disruption where possible and we’ve recently added diversion information for cyclists and improved pedestrian access at James Lean Avenue.
“Local residents provided us with valuable feedback at the meeting, and we continue to listen to and support affected residents. Our newly appointed Community Liaison Officer, Sarah McDaid, can be contacted if you have any questions or concerns.”
The Remediation Authority expressed that ‘local people know best’, urging anyone who sees anything wrong to call their 24-hour hazard line on 0800 288 4243.
For more information on the project, click here.
To view a dedicated community webpage for updates visit www.miningremediation.co.uk/locations/dalkeith/.
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