Gifford hut plan rejected as it is branded a 'chalet'

Concern over cars driving through Bolton Muir Wood, near Gifford, as new owners of the 18 plots accessed huts led to East Lothian Council’s Local Review Body rejecting the first application for the site.

The application by Joe Tree was, councillors were told, likely to be the first of a number after the wood was sold in separate lots.

And their legal adviser confirmed that approving the first hut application would make it more likely others would be granted planning permission.

Councillor Jeremy Findlay raised concerns that there was no way to restrict the number of huts on each of the plots sold, adding: “It is possible it could turn into a holiday park by stealth. I know that is an exaggeration but that is my fear.”

And Councillor Norman Hampshire, chairing the review body, said that the huts he had seen looked “more like chalets than huts”.

READ MORE: Bid to bring hutting to East Lothian

Mr Tree applied for planning permission for the hut and a separate toilet on part of the area known as Wynd Wood last year but a decision has not been issued.

He took the application to the review body, asking them to rule, claiming the case had now become a ‘deemed refusal’.

In an appeal statement by Anne Cunningham, Lowland Planning Associates, it was claimed that the delay was caused by unrelated enforcement matters against another party.

And she said that protests over the introduction of the hut were because people misunderstood their purpose.

She said: “It is very clear that the local community and other walkers do not fully understand exactly what the hutting applications at Bolton Muir are all about.

“There is a clear suspicion that the huts will provide a toehold to applying for a house in the future.”

Bolton Muir Wood has ancient trees

The plans for the hut showed a ground-floor layout with a dining table and chairs and stove, with a sleeping area in the loft above.

Ms Cunningham said that the Tree family, who had pledged to cycle to the hut from their home 18 miles away, “really want to build their hut and start enjoying their woods in all the ways hutting allows”.

She revealed that they had already put CCTV cameras at the entrance to a badger sett in the wood to monitor them, adding it had raised concern about dogs being walked near the sett off-lead after footage showed them “showing a great interest” in the sett.

But, she said, there was no intention to try and stop people walking in the wood.

Planning officers recommended that the review body grant planning permission for the hut, which they said did not breach the council’s policy against new development in the country.

Councillor Neil Gilbert backed the officers, saying that while he had concerns about cars in the woods, he could see no reason to object.

Mr Hampshire, however, rejected the recommendation, saying that the application would have a detrimental effect on the East Lothian countryside.

He said: “This is development in the countryside and it would be very hard to put in control measures.

“A neighbouring site already has three or four trailers on it.

“We could end up with potentially hundreds of people living in the woods.”

Mr Hampshire was backed by Mr Findlay as the appeal was rejected by two votes to one.