North Berwick: Hedge to be removed in controversial high school plans

The council is seeking permission to extend the western boundary of the school playing fields to create two new grass sports pitches and associated landscaping, paths and drainage on land owned by North Berwick Trust and zoned for educational use in the Local Development Plan.

A recent school extension, and a new school nursery which is nearing completion, has led to shrinkage of the school playing fields and pupils having to use pitches elsewhere, says the local authority.

However, the new pitches, if approved, would lead to a 142m section of mature hedgerow, on the existing western boundary of the school grounds, being removed. . . which led to a pupil protest earlier this year.

A council statement said: "The plans for two new grass pitches were developed following extensive discussions with the school’s management team and its health and wellbeing department.

READ MORE: North Berwick: Protestors attempt to save hedge at school

"The configuration also allows for the addition of a running track alongside the school’s existing grass and synthetic pitches, and learning and teaching space for general use."

Regarding the loss of mature hedgerow, the council said: " This section will be replaced with over 247 metres of extensive planting along the three new boundaries including over 3,000 new trees, shrubs, hedge and ivy plants together with wildflowers. The retained [part of the] boundary hedge will also be underplanted with small native trees and shrubs."

The new landscape has been designed, says the local authority, to increase the use of native planting and provide a diverse year-round environment for a wide range of insects, birds and wildlife.

"Increasing the total area of hedgerow habitat and enhancing connectivity between the existing and new woodland strips, the planting will provide an important linear corridor between the habitats on site and the wider environment as well as providing a visual barrier between properties and pitches" said the council statement.

"It also reflects recommendations in an independent ecological report which was commissioned in relation to the proposed development."

A new path network will connect Farquharson Rest to the wider education campus "providing a safe route" to the schools and nursery.

In June, pupils members of the school's eco-committee and Sustaining North Berwick teamed up to protest at the potential loss of the hedgerow; they handed in a petition to the council, imploring them to find another way to deliver new sporting provision without removing the hedge.

Then, Alison Clark, member of Sustaining North Berwick, told the Courier: "The idea that you can simply cut down a hedge and replant elsewhere and achieve an increase in biodiversity is nonsense."

An independent ecological survey of the current hedgerow, carried out by specialist consultants, determined, says the council, that it was "highly modified and not of high conservation value".

Kenny Miller, chair of North Berwick Community Council, said today: "This application seems to have taken a long time to be lodged, and has already been the subject of considerable discussion.

"The removal of a substantial section of the existing mature hedge is controversial, and I understand that a petition has been launched against it. I do note the planned planting as compensation for the loss of the hedge.

"This application will be discussed at the community council meeting on September 5, and a formal response issued to East Lothian Council if it is agreed to do so."

A planning application for the scheme has now been lodged with East Lothian Council, by East Lothian Council. Interested parties have 21 days to submit their comments.