Published: Friday, 4th August, 2006 12:50
Tousands join protest
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ANGRY town centre traders in Haddington have united against the threat of out-of-town retail developments which they say will suck the life out of the town centre.
Haddington Business Association (HBA) members submitted a 2,200-strong petition to Councillor Ann McCarthy.
They say large retail developments around the town will draw customers away from the High Street leading to closures and job losses.
Tourism would also be devastated, they argue.
And they want to make sure the Local Plan – which rules against large out-of-town retail developments – isn’t altered to let developers start work.
Development companies are eyeing up three sites around Haddington – the former Mitsubishi factory, an adjacent site and land at Harperdean Farm – but no formal planning applications have been lodged.
HBA spokesman John Main warned that new supermarkets would ravage Haddington’s High Street economy. He hoped that East Lothian Council would stand firm against any bid for out-of-town development.
He said: “I would hope that they would give it (the petition) a sympathetic hearing and not just go ahead and allow the developers to walk all over the town as has happened in various other places.
“We can be under no illusions – even if one development is allowed it will have a devastating effect on local life as we know it and will destroy any thoughts of improving visitor numbers to the town.
“Some of them (local businesses) are on the borderline and it would be the final straw.
“Haddington is a vibrant wee place but it wouldn’t take too much to knock the feet from it.”
He continued: “There are all these small shops and we get a lot of visitors coming back year after year because it’s that bit different.
“I think you could give it two or three years and you would find big changes.
“There would be quite a few closures. It wouldn’t die altogether but it wouldn’t be a very exciting place to shop.”
Two months ago, developers Miller held a three-day exhibition in the Town House to show residents plans for a 19-acre retail site at Harperdean farm.
A spokesman for the company said that 650 residents had visited the exhibition and 90 per cent were in favour of the development plans.
East Lothian Council are asking local traders and residents for their views as part of a study to find out if the retail developments would boost the economy.
The findings will help shape the new Local Plan which is due to be published next year.
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