Published: Thursday, 27th March, 2008 12:00
Anger as promenade access to be restricted
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A LEADING entrepreneur has joined local residents in questioning Scottish Water’s decision to re-lay £1.8 million of sewage mains under Musselburgh promenade during the summer.
The utility project, starting this month, will replace more than a kilometre of sewers with new piping – partially restricting access to the promenade.
Older mains have been at risk of bursting – and potentially polluting local bathing waters.
There have been a number of times in recent years where weak pipes have split.
Scottish Water’s regional manager for East Lothian, Craig Lawson believes this is a significant programme of work, which will further benefit the local coastline.
He said: “Musselburgh is surely one of the jewels in the East Lothian crown and we realise just how important it is that we play our part in maintaining the local environment.
“This significant £1.8 million project will further secure the quality of the region’s beautiful coastline.”
But speaking to the Courier, self-made millionaire and owner of the nearby The Quay restaurant, Charan Gill, said that while he accepted the necessity of improving the sewerage system, he would have preferred the work to have been carried out at a quieter time of the year.
“I would be concerned about the affect it would have on my business if it was to cause disruption to footfall on the promenade,” said Mr Charan.
“If there was a lot of noise or bad smells that could keep people away. If that was the case, I would rather it was done in the winter months.”
He added that the utility company could have done more to consult with local businesses and residents about the most suitable period to perform these irksome repairs.
Access to the promenade will be partially restricted during the 19-week construction period, but Scottish Water has confirmed a temporary footpath will be introduced to reduce disruption.
The works are due for completion in August.
Isobel Harkness, 46, regularly takes her elderly mother, who lives in nearby Lochend Road North, on walks along the promenade in a wheelchair.
“How on earth is this going to work during the height of the summer season?” she said.
“I’d like to meet the bureaucratic idiot who makes these decisions – whoever it is has probably never bothered to even look at the promenade.
“I visit the promenade with my mum at least once a week, it’s one of the few places in Musselburgh you can easily get through with a wheelchair.”
Irene Tait, chairwoman of Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council, took a pragmatic view about the repairs.
“It is something that needs to be done,” she said.
“When is the right time to something like this?
“The promenade is used all the time so I suppose there is never a ‘right’ time.”
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