Haddington: Bid to save 'green lung' at former Herdmanflat Hospital

East Lothian Council has revealed that, despite the area being known as the 'Garden County’, it actually has lower-than-average tree and woodland cover when compared to the rest of Scotland.

Hundreds of Haddington residents have reacted with anger to council plans to build houses on a former hospital site in the town which includes woods and wild land.

Herdmanflat Hospital closed after the new East Lothian Community Hospital opened in the town and the land was sold to the council by NHS Lothian.

The council wants to build housing on the site and is expected to submit a planning application in a matter of weeks.

However, local families and residents say that the site is the "green lung" of the community in the centre of residential housing and is much-loved.

More than 500 people have signed a petition demanding the woods are saved and a public meeting held between residents and council officers in May failed to ease concerns.

READ MORE: Petition over housing plans at former Herdmanflat Hospital

Now the campaign to save the woods has appealed to supporters to take part in the survey launched on the council’s consultation website to help it draw up a future tree and woodlands strategy.

The introduction to the survey tells people: “East Lothian’s tree and woodland cover is lower than the Scottish average.

“And the trend from 2011 to 2019 was downwards, with woodland cover decreasing by 103 ha, mainly due to felling for recent windfarm and golf course development. The strategy aims to help reverse this trend.”

It adds: “The focus of our strategy is as much on the urban as the rural area.”

The Save Herdmanflat campaign claims that the council is proposing to destroy up to 60 per cent of the woodland on the site as part of the new housing development.

It says: “To destroy it for the sake of a housing development is not just short-sighted, it is a betrayal of our community’s love and commitment to nature and this space.

“The Herdmanflat woodland holds a special place in the hearts of the community. Its popularity is a testament to the joy and beauty it brings to people’s lives.

"It is a vital green lung in the heart of Haddington, providing a space for children to play, families to walk their dogs and people to simply connect with nature. It is a living reminder of the importance of preserving our environment for future generations.”

Urging people to make their views known through the survey, the campaign has told supporters: “This important survey is aimed at people who have opinions on East Lothian’s trees and woodland and what happens to them.

“You can identify Herdmanflat on a map and have your say.”

A council spokesperson said: “East Lothian Council has been open and transparent about its intentions to develop the site since it acquired it in 2019.

"We have been actively consulting on the potential development at Herdmanflat and we have taken on board the views and concerns of local people.

"The landscaped area is what makes this site unique and we have been clear from the start that the development should be built around the landscape rather than the other way around.

"It’s very important to stress that not only are we not planning to ‘destroy’ the much-loved woodland on this site, we have provided an estimation that 50-60 per cent of the site would remain undeveloped and would be retained as public open space that includes enhanced walking and cycling provision for the wider community.

"It’s our intention that the woodland walks will remain and be improved to ensure they are more accessible.

"A planning application for the site will be submitted in due course and will be consulted on, and local residents may wish to comment on the proposals further at that stage before a decision is taken by the planning committee.

"We have welcomed local input to the Herdmanflat consultation and, likewise, would appreciate any and all views on our draft Tree and Woodland Strategy for East Lothian, which runs until August 31.”