CONTROVERSIAL proposals for a series of exercise stations dotted along the River Tyne Walkway in Haddington have finally been lodged with East Lothian Council.

The much-criticised scheme was put in place by the council earlier this year, but it was later discovered that planning permission was required.

The exercise stations, listed as balance beams on the planning application, are one of three applications, with proposals also submitted for retrospective permission for the demonstration boards beside the series of metal rails and also for a sign at Neilson Park highlighting the exercise stations.

Last November, Haddington’s community council agreed to help fund the scheme, with a grant of £1,400, which was matched by Paths for All, with further funding coming from Ageing Well.

However, the scheme did not win unanimous approval at the group’s meeting, with community councillors Pat Lemmon and Ron Goldie voting against awarding the money.

Mrs Lemmon said: “I’m still just as unimpressed and still think it is a very expensive place to tie your dog up.

“I walk my dogs down there three or four times a week and I’m yet to see anybody use it.”

The community councillor also called for the local authority to provide more detail in future when it came to applications being presented to the community council, with members under the impression it would be similar to exercise stations in other towns, such as Peebles, where it was removed a number of years ago.

Meanwhile, HADAS (Haddington and District Amenity Society) also opposed the development, while a campaign group, SORT (Save Our River Tyne), was set up calling for the “ugly new signs and railings defacing our beautiful walkway” to be removed “now”.

Karen Stevenson, HADAS chairwoman, noted “with surprise and some dismay” when the exercise stations were first installed. She said: “The path is much enjoyed by residents and visitors for relaxation.

“The riverside was highlighted as an important natural and cultural landscape asset for the town in the Haddington vision document.

“The exercise points seem visually intrusive and incompatible with the enjoyment of the river side.”

Andrew Robinson, from HADAS, added: “HADAS will be objecting to the exercise stations, or balance beams as they are now described in the planning application.

“We have no objection to these, in principle, but believe that the riverside location chosen is inappropriate and that an alternative location should be found.

“The beams and signage were erected in early March without planning permission.

“The council has confirmed that planning permission is required.

“It is surprising that the retrospective application does not include a statement explaining why the council thought it a good idea to put them by the river.

“The absence of such a statement means that the application is incomplete.”