North Berwick: concern school pitches would mean loss of trees

The plans would see land owned by North Berwick Trust leased to the council for the creation of several sports pitches and a grass running track.

The new pitches would replace those lost when the new nursery was built on high school land.

However, the creation of the pitches could, it is feared, threaten the long row of trees and shrubs which currently provides a border between the existing school pitches and the field to the west. This shelterbelt is understood to be more than 60 years old and is, in places, eight metres wide and 10 metres tall.

Alison Clark, who attended a meeting of North Berwick Community Council so she could highlight plans for new facilities at the high school, suggested that its removal would “contravene East Lothian Council’s climate change strategy”.

It is understood that retaining the hedgerow, which marks the school’s current western boundary, would leave insufficient room for a grassy athletics track. Images provided by East Lothian Council show that the proposed new facilities would intersect the hedgerow.

The plans were also outlined to members of the parent council by council officials at a recent parent council meeting.

However, North Berwick High School Parent Council declined to comment on the plans when contacted by the Courier.

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said in a statement: “Expansion at North Berwick High School and the construction of a new nursery beside Law Primary School has led the council to progress replacement pitch provision to the west of the school building on land leased from North Berwick Trust.

“The council will provide five pitches [one synthetic grass and four grass] which are in line with requirements and recommendations for the school population now and in future projections.

“The pitches will be provided at the optimum levels as outlined in national guidance for sports pitches and will be larger in size than the current provision which has served the school community well for curriculum, extra-curricular activity and school sport.

“As the new grassed area will take time to establish, to support in the interim period, the school has access to the existing synthetic pitch and two grass pitches within the campus that remain unaffected by the extension works, as well as the 3G and grass pitches at Recreation Park and the community pitch provided at Mains Farm.”

In response to concerns regarding the partial removal of the shelterbelt, the statement added: “Discussions are ongoing about the optimum pitch layouts and the new land boundary will be required to reflect the increase in the school campus area.”

A planning application would be required to take the project forward.

Mrs Clark also raised concerns about proposals for a pump track – a playground for all things on wheels, especially BMX bikes but also scooters and skates – on a triangular-shaped piece of land also owned by North Berwick Trust but designated for educational purposes (see area marked ‘North Berwick Trust Land’ at bottom of map, above).

Mrs Clark said: “The pump track is not of educational value for the head of PE to deliver the curriculum.”

She was also concerned that it “wouldn’t have direct involvement from East Lothian Council but would be sitting on the school campus”.

Mrs Clark claimed that “schools were not consulted” on the pump track in any way and, while she was not opposed to it in general, the proposed site would be of great concern.

Community councillors agreed in principle that the pump track might not hold the required educational value to be situated in that location.

Community councillor Bill Macnair said: “We should encourage them to look around North Berwick; there are other places.”

The location of the pump track had been displayed on the East Lothian Council planning website but was later removed.

Community councillor Gordon Moodie added: “We can’t have an opinion without a proposal.”

A council spokesperson added: “Proposals for a pump track in the town have been led by the North Berwick Community Pump Track Group.

“North Berwick Trust has identified an area of land to be considered for this purpose and the council has made an ‘in principle’ funding allocation, conditional on planning permission being achieved. The planning process offers an opportunity for local people to comment on the application.”