Haddington residents and Courier readers may be surprised at the tone of Andrew Heatlie’s input and advice (letters, February 1) regarding the online petition re planning application 23/01448/P, from Domino’s pizza, for premises on Haddington High Street.

While it is accepted practice that individuals should lodge their own objections directly to councils concerning council business, there would be a ‘we know best’ arrogance if a council chose to completely ignore public opinion purely because it is voiced via a petition.

Mr Heatlie, who is from Duns, may be unaware that East Lothian Council (ELC) has a petitions committee and that petition rules and criteria are found on the council website.

The change.org petition against Domino’s Haddington is well-worded and would be a useful tool for ELC to understand local concerns, but some who signed may have chosen to be anonymous and it would not fit criteria. To state that petitions are invalid is wrong, as both Scottish and Westminster Parliaments accept petitions for matters within their remit.

We know that competition is not accepted as an issue for planners to consider but, if you take a pizza as an example, when four slices become five slices, each slice is smaller, so some small businesses could have a problem. I note that pizza options in Duns have not been mentioned.

If anyone in Haddington wishes to order a Domino’s pizza, then the outlet in Tranent delivers.

Galashiels possibly supports takeaway options. However, the population of Peebles is not dissimilar to that of Haddington but Peebles has kept variety without the need for several pizza options on its High Street.

People who live in East Lothian towns want to see variety from thriving businesses without premises being occupied at any cost.

Helen Fraser

Gateside Avenue

Haddington