It is important for the community to discuss the future of the former Herdmanflat Hospital site so the local tenants’ and residents’ association has planned a public meeting at the Trinity Centre in Haddington for Saturday at 3pm. All are welcome. If you haven’t already, you can complete the council’s consultation questionnaire online.

Now it’s my own opinion but I think it’s a disappointment that the proposed developments at Herdmanflat would potentially see the disruption of a number of nesting bird sites, as well as the loss of a wonderful green space. It seems counterintuitive that during a current climate emergency, with the national push to rewild many sites and all the tree planting programs being undertaken around the world to help offset global warming, that we are destroying this lovely green space right on our own doorstep.

Sadly, East Lothian Council isn’t alone in this: Plymouth Council recently cut down 100 trees around their town and City of Edinburgh Council is in the process of removing 50 trees around Murrayfield and East Princes Street Gardens. Surely this is the wrong way to go, especially as many environmental and community groups offer alternative programs and ideas that can also benefit tourism, the environment and people’s mental health and wellbeing. So many people have said they love walking there and that it’s a necessary part of their mental health and wellbeing routine.

READ MORE: Petition launched over housing plans at former Herdmanflat Hospital

The Herdmanflat grounds are enjoyed by many people, especially by families and dog walkers, and its loss would negatively impact us all. Cutting down those trees to build generic buildings is a bad idea and not because of any NIMBYism, as I fundamentally agree that housing is needed but that other things are just as necessary: green spaces, woods and municipal areas. Alas, the current proposals think that the destruction of this magical area can be offset by planters and bug hotels.

I would remind people that the grounds’ original purpose was for public health and wellbeing, and that people should still expect a public health right to this land as it is.

With rising mental health issues, road pollution impacting life expectancies and high drug misuse and suicide levels, I think it imperative we protect the Herdmanflat grounds.

At the very least, please complete the consultation forms or contact the council and express what you want and feel needs to be done at this site and in future developments, as it’s your county, your community and so you should have a say in what happens here.

Stuart Pe-Win

Chair of Haddington Central Tenants and Residents Association