WE TAKE a look at the stories making headlines in East Lothian 25, 50 and 100 years ago.

25 years ago

‘OPEN-CAST plan thrown out by councillors,’ reported the East Lothian Courier on November 27, 1998.

Champagne corks were popped in Tranent and Elphinstone this week as campaigners against open-cast mining emerged victorious in the battle of Harry’s Burn.

East Lothian’s councillors made the unanimous decision to refuse the planning application at a special meeting of the environment committee on Wednesday.

Perth-based company I&H Brown had applied to mine the 253 hectare site close to Tranent and Elphinstone over a 10-year period, but councillors rejected the proposal on the grounds that the open-cast mine would provide little or no benefit to the local community.

At a public meeting in the Loch Centre on Tuesday, Scott Brown, managing director of I&H Brown, told residents his company intended to be ‘good neighbours’.

He was willing to change the application in order to lessen some of the concerns expressed by locals, including limiting operations to weekdays and making alterations to the boundaries of the site, taking workings further away from houses.

50 years ago

THE opening of Tranent’s new swimming pool was front page news in the East Lothian Courier of November 30, 1973.

East Lothian’s first heated indoor swimming baths was officially opened at Tranent on Wednesday by Mr Richard Wilson, vice-chairman of the Tranent Baths Committee.

The £165,000 project was a joint effort between Tranent Town Council and Tranent District Council.

Civic representatives from local authorities all over the County attended the opening ceremony which coincided with the first snowfall of the year.

The aqua show which followed the opening was in sharp contrast to the bleak conditions outside.

The 25-metre pool, which was designed by Sir Frank Mears & Partners, Edinburgh, is situated at first-floor level in the building. This was necessary because of the danger of mineral subsidence.

The building is fully equipped with staff rooms, changing accommodation and a cafeteria and is capable of extension in the future.

100 years ago

A ‘RARE bird’ found dead in the county was to go on display, reported The Haddingtonshire Courier on November 30, 1923.

A fine specimen of that rare bird the hawfinch was last week found dead at Luffness. It was sent to the Royal British Museum, Edinburgh, for verification, and as the colouration is a little different from that of any of the specimens there, it is to be mounted and exhibited in the British collection of birds there.