East Lothian Courier letters: March 21, 2024

Bunty and I met through being members of the community council and she needed volunteers so asked if I could help.

I agreed to become part of her team and, later, another two community councillors, Margaret Ingle and Betty Somerville, became part of the team too. When Bunty sadly passed away, Sarah Tennant then took over.

In 2011, due to health problems, Sarah decided to step down and I was asked to become the convenor. Hilary McSporran became the treasurer and Margaret Coe the secretary.

Over the following years, the lunch club had some happy times going out on bus trips once to Perth, three times to Peebles, twice to Berwick-upon-Tweed, three times to McArthur Glen at Livingston, and the Ravelston in Musselburgh on four occasions.

Unfortunately, their meeting place at the Corn Exchange closed for refurbishment so the Masonic Lodge became their venue.

Then the pandemic closed all meeting places; but once the restrictions were lifted, Margaret and I were allowed to use the Masonic Lodge to make up bags of groceries, and Greg and Janette helped me deliver them to the members.

When we came out of lockdown, we were told the location of the Masonic Lodge was causing traffic problems for the buses dropping and uplifting the members, so once again we had no venue.

Sadly, at this point, Margaret passed away.

As we still had some funds left from Tom Auld’s bequest, Hilary and I asked permission from the executors of his bequest if we could use the remaining funds to take them out to hotels and restaurants for lunch.

This is what we have done to mostly local venues: the Goblin Ha’, Merryhatton and Dunbar Garden Centres, Haddington Golf Club, the Maitlandfield House Hotel and the Waterside Bistro.

Our final farewell was a happy one, looking at lots of photos of the places we have visited.

One of our members, Malcolm Cairns, summed up the members’ feelings, saying how much their friendship had meant to him.

My thanks go to Janette, Kirsty, Greg and especially to Hilary, who has supported me through this last really difficult couple of years. Without their help and support, I would not have been able to carry out Tom’s wishes that his bequest be used to benefit the lunch club members and the volunteers.

Can I thank all the members and helpers for their kind and thoughtful gifts too? Can I also say thanks to Calum for allowing us to use the Masonic Lodge and, finally, though we have had a variety of drivers over the years, the ones that the present members want to thank are George, Colin, Derek and Sandy, who was their favourite. Sandy was always so courteous and respectful to the members and smiled when assisting them off and on the bus. Thanks to Derek for arranging the transport too.

Emily Armatage

(No more convenor of Haddington Lunch Club)

 

Misinformed

Your article (“Claim of ‘blatant cover-up’ made”, East Lothian Courier, March 7) highlights a number of very worrying concerns that need to be addressed before East Lothian residents can have faith in the county’s planning process.

The application for the development of a second theme park at East Fortune Farm elicited almost 450 letters of objection. These letters contain large numbers of observations and criticisms of the application and, due to the reluctance of East Lothian Council to share internal reports, it is far from clear whether they are being properly considered.

Many claims made in support of the plan to build a second county theme park at East Fortune Farm are simply wrong and have been shown up as such.

The council needs to lift its cloak of secrecy so people can see that objectors are having their voice heard and the applicant’s claims are being properly assessed.

Basic inaccuracies that are easily checked need to be shown to be wrong so that councillors aren’t misled. For instance, a traffic impact assessment conducted for the applicants is fundamentally flawed.

Objectors have pointed out false claims, such as the sight line on the west side of the proposed entrance to the park being at least 215 metres, the legal minimum, when anyone with a tape measure can see it is actually about half that length – 125 metres.

More importantly, it is claimed there is parking for only 200 cars at East Links Family Park and this figure was used to estimate peak traffic volumes. No account was taken of an overflow car park, often used on busy days, which has capacity for a further 200-plus cars. As a result, the traffic impact assessment materially understates the likely volume of traffic at peak periods and is not worth the paper it is written on.

A further example is the preliminary ecological survey, again commissioned by the applicants, which states: “No evidence of badger was found during the survey and the site is considered to be suboptimal for the species...”.

This despite obvious large setts and a latrine on the farm boundary, and clear marks in the vegetation showing badgers are active in the area. The report concluded that: “Overall, the site is assessed as providing low suitability to support protected species and no evidence of protected species were detected during the survey.” Local wildlife enthusiasts know this is totally wrong and that the site not only hosts badgers and bats but even some very rare water voles.

These are just two examples of misinformation contained in the application which have been brought to the council’s attention. There are many others. The community needs to have confidence that the council is listening to their concerns and is acting on them. Not only is there no feedback from the council, but efforts to discover what is going on are being met by a blanket of secrecy. The council has consistently refused to make available reports that might show what they have done to verify the issues raised and how this is informing their decision-making.

Much of this information is being made available to the applicants. Why are they hiding it from the local community?

John Carson

Congalton

North Berwick

 

Waste of money

Dirleton Avenue became Labour-controlled East Lothian Council’s latest experiment in North Berwick this week.

The council is co-operating with a university to research the effects of removing the white lines in the middle of the road (or trying to), which will slow down traffic and reduce accidents. Like the parking experiment, this is poorly communicated, costed and deployed, which has already had a negative effect. The outcry on the town’s Facebook page shows the strength of feeling against this ridiculous idea. Could it be like the Tories with the poll tax: find an area you don’t care about (North Berwick) and just experiment on it?

The data used to justify this waste of taxpayers’ money is based on a 2016 test conducted on a few streets in London and some trials in rural Norfolk, which showed a 13 per cent reduction in speed. However, no account in these studies was made for the increase in accidents, the confusions caused to road users and pedestrians, the inability of cars to use their lane assistance safety features, the inability for any road accident to be investigated properly to assign fault, and the impact on insurance.

Has this concept been rolled out across the country by councils all over the UK as a result of the findings in Norfolk? The simple answer is no. Researchers still have not found definitive answers. Yet Labour-controlled ELC thought this was a great idea. Let’s waste money during a cost-of-living crisis and at a time of massive financial challenges.

If the council has a rationale, it is hard to figure out. Their inability to communicate their decisions is very worrying. If we, in North Berwick and other areas of East Lothian, are subjects in an experiment, ethical considerations should surely apply. Should there not be a public statement that outlines the extent of the experiment, how subjects (us) were assumed to have given our consent, what recourse we have if the experiment has unfortunate consequences, and when the experiment will be over? Some declaration of who is responsible and how they will discharge their responsibility would also help.

For this investment of our money, was a full cost analysis done? I doubt it. Have data collection measures been put in place to understand if the scheme is a success? Probably not.

It must be concluded that another experiment in North Berwick by Labour means they now don’t represent North Berwick residents and are happy to experiment on us, just like their Tory friends with the poll tax.

John Wellwood

North Berwick SNP branch convenor

 

‘No evidence’

In my last letter, I asked for evidence around the controlled parking zones, and what do I get from Councillor McIntosh so far? None or misinterpretations.

No evidence for an all-year parking problem in North Berwick whatsoever. “Evidence” for the benefits of parking charges from Transport Research Institute factsheet 21, which is only about dedicated parking for commuters. “Evidence” from factsheet 18, which is all about the benefits of cycle networks – are we going to get any together with the parking charges? “Evidence” from factsheet 71, which specifically states that an increase in acceptability after implementation is possible, but does not exist in all cases.

And most telling is factsheet 74, which gives a hierarchy from “do nothing” to “eliminate choice”. “Financial disincentives” are listed at number six out of eight steps, and then anyhow only as various forms of higher vehicle taxation – but no parking charges.

Much higher in the hierarchy comes “enable choice” through better public transport at step three – but we are not promised any of that, so the cart is put way before the horse.

And then work quoted that shows that low-traffic neighbourhoods reduce street crime as “evidence” that parking charges would make people in North Berwick feel safer.

And, to top it all, what we know as facts about Berwick, Ayr and Cardigan is totally discarded. There is apparently no evidence that North Berwick business may suffer, but instead we are to believe that the conversion of a beautiful square in Delft into a pedestrian space is evidence that North Berwick business will boom – notwithstanding the fact that (I quote from Delft’s website) “you can park (paid) in one of the four parking garages on the edge of the center. Follow the signs ‘P-center’ to reach these garages. From the parking garages, you walk to the city center in a few minutes”. Sounds ever so slightly different from the situation in North Berwick.

Christiane Maher

Emeritus Professor for Strategic Transport Management

Edinburgh Napier University

 

‘Slippery slope’

It is always disappointing to read Chief Inspector Leathes’ column, which has the opportunity fortnightly to provide East Lothian residents with an update on what crimes have taken place and what they’ve been doing about it, but rarely does.

The court news pages note the outcomes; why isn’t the police column filled with what they are up to in the first place to keep law-abiding citizens safe?

The fact leading officers pump out such patronising guff as Inspector Leathes does is troubling.

At a time when we are told 24,000 “minor crimes” won’t be getting investigated any longer by the fuzz, apparently due to lack of staff, they launch their ‘Hate Hurts’ online campaign, which tells us all not to get angry and witters on about diversity and equality strategies.

Given the force’s disinclination to bother dealing with actual crime, no matter how minor, what is their purpose now?

The proximity of Police Scotland’s public messaging to Scottish Government policy suggests they’ve all been drinking the SNP Kool-Aid. When the organs of state like the police lose their independent voice, we should be worried.

It would be best for everyone, including our diverse communities here in East Lothian, if Police Scotland stopped wasting time on virtue-signalling and got back to what the public expects is actual policing – the investigation of real crimes – and not what looks good in a press release or what matches the SNP agenda.

The purpose of SNP Government policy is designed to show how “different” we are from everyone else – a deliberate means to argue Scotland should therefore be independent.

Their current policies are rarely well-thought-out and often downright harmful to the vital principles of liberal democracy.

It is a slippery slope and one our police force should not be participating in.

Fraser Hudghton

Florabank Road

Haddington

 

Buses affected

I am a resident of East Linton and was not aware of any “consultation processes” regarding restricting the road speed between Dunbar and Haddington for the benefit of a cycle pathway.

Most cyclists that use this road at present just cycle on the road anyway and don’t use the existing cycle pathway.

As for vehicles using the road, it won’t really affect HGV lorries as they are already restricted to 40mph on single carriageways in Scotland (except the A9), but what will be affected will be the X7 Express and Borders 253 buses, as this will probably add another 10-15 minutes to their journey times between Dunbar, Haddington and then on to Edinburgh, and vice versa.

It won’t affect the councillors either, as I don’t know of any that live in East Linton.

They’ll all be able to drive at 70mph along the A1 to their Haddington headquarters.

Anybody ever tried to cycle from East Linton up Pencraig?

John Thomson

The Glebe

East Linton

 

Path concerns

This matter concerns all East Lothian residents due to the implications on East Lothian Council expenditure and has been submitted to all 22 East Lothian councillors and the head of infrastructure, Mr Tom Reid.

I would like to raise significant concerns regarding the implementation of active travel routes within the Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme (MFPS).

The long-term maintenance cost of kilometres of asphalt would be a significant burden on East Lothian Council’s revenue budget.

Given the current finances and pressure on revenue budgets, I feel that the implementation of Active Toun/Active Travel within the MFPS would be an unwise choice.

In supporting evidence, you only have to look at the three-metre-wide River Esk cycle path.

This path has become very uneven and is broken in places by the irruption of tree roots and pernicious weeds, and now requires considerable expenditure.

The route through the new Levenhall bird sanctuary, completed only a year ago, is already showing signs of pernicious weeds breaking through the surface and the footpath, as is the path from the boating pond to the sea wall, where the surface is already considerably compromised after only two years.

Secondly, there is the consideration that mixing cyclists with young children on bicycles, mothers with prams and toddlers, disabled individuals and dogs off lead is unsafe.

Thirdly, there is the environmental impact of laying many kilometres of asphalt.

Asphalt can omit particulate air pollution and noxious compounds when subject to environmental stress.

As a fossil fuel compound, petroleum-based asphalt is a high-VOC (volatile organic compound) substance.

Finally, when considering developing a means to discourage vehicles on the roads, it should be taken into account that pollution from vehicles is declining and will continue to do so, as petrol and diesel vehicles are replaced with electric ones.

E Dickinson

Musselburgh

 

Terrible state

I refer to the previous letter regarding the A199 Coal Road and in particular the state of the road (letters, March 14).

The whole road from the A1 down to Longniddry, except the double bend which has recently been resurfaced, is in a terrible state.

This is in my opinion caused by heavy construction traffic travelling to the new housing development. Why is the council not insisting with the developers that they carry out proper road repairs and not just patches?

For a prestigious development, why would you purchase a house with such an awful access road?

Alastair Cairns

McIntyre Lane

Macmerry

 

Not blinded

Jimmy Haddow’s suggestion (letters, March 14) that I seem to be blinded by the parliamentary cant and hypocrisy of the House of Commons when it comes to the Starmer Labour Party and the procedural points of government was unfair and incorrect.

If I was, indeed, blinded by the insincere morality and pretence of high standards by members of the House of Commons, I would be only one of a tiny minority who blindly believe the Tories are doing a good job. I’m not.

Even the most ardent Tory supporters know there is something fundamentally wrong with the Conservative Party.

They know it has failed and a Labour government seems to be in the offing.

Jimmy suggests that I “cannot see the mass anti-capitalist movement forcing the crisis in Parliament”.

There may be a crisis but it is naive, to say the least, that this crisis will be addressed by Sir Keir and his New Labour Blairites.

This said, I will still prefer a Labour government than a Tory one.

As I see it, Sir Keir, if he wins, will inherit a poisoned chalice from a failed Conservative Party that knows the privileged classes will not suffer under his rule.

Jimmy went on to say that George Galloway’s victory in the Rochdale by-election reflected a rejection of all the establishment parties.

Although I was pleased to see a Galloway victory, a Labour victory in the coming General Election will only see a change in the seating arrangements in the Commons, with little change to Jimmy’s cant and hypocrisy.

The left may rail against the unfairness of poverty and inequality, but they need to all come together regardless of how well versed some of them are in Marxism, or any other “ism”; Jimmy, as a left-wing activist, should take this on board.

Jack Fraser

Clayknowes Drive

Musselburgh

 

Party ‘failures’

It has recently been reported that, under the present Scottish Government, despite 8,000 fraud allegations, no benefit cheats have been brought to book in five years.

Also, that Scotland’s drug deaths, which are already the highest in Europe, rose again last year, while the minimum unit pricing legislation introduced in 2012 has failed, as last year Scotland’s alcohol-related deaths were the highest level since 2008 and much higher than in England.

These are just three examples of SNP failures and, given their record on the NHS, education and other public services, Humza Yousaf’s rhetoric about the need for Scotland to become free of certain other political parties rings somewhat hollow.

Tim Jackson

Whim Road

Gullane

 

Labour Files

The Labour Files is the name given to a massive leak of data to Al Jazeera journalists from within the Labour Party.

The journalists used the data to make a series of investigative programmes, available online, which show that former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was disabled and pulled down as leader by senior party members, starting as soon as he was elected.

Some leaders of members in constituencies favourable to Corbyn were expelled from the party on trumped-up charges.

Jewish party members (some with Holocaust connections) who were critical of the Israeli state suffered the same fate.

Two Jewish women were expelled based on an untruth that they were anti-semitic. The alleged anti-semitic remark was never made, as a recording of the meeting (previously agreed) shows.

The Labour Files show that it was the senior party members hostile to Corbyn who failed to address anti-semitic complaints within the party with diligence and speed.

The data also shows that, as soon as Corbyn was able to replace those handling complaints with his own staff, the speed and effectiveness of dealing with anti-semitic complaints increased dramatically.

The Labour Files also show that, at the time, some of the people opposing Corbyn were racist and Islamophobic towards party members.

It is against this context of Labour authoritarianism and corruption that the SNP motion criticising the behaviour of the Israeli state towards Palestinian people should be seen.

Many UK political p­arties are corrupt to degrees. The cynicism, malice and depth of corruption exposed by Al-Jazeera in Labour is striking.

Sam McComb

Dunbar