Plans for family park at East Fortune Farm now revealed in full

The popular farm-themed family park has been based on the outskirts of West Barns for more than 20 years and is visited by more than 100,000 people annually.

But operator Grant Bell, whose lease at Hedderwick Farm is set to expire in 2026, has teamed up with the Brand family to unveil plans to move the tourist attraction – which features a fort, a range of animals, a light railway and play areas – to East Fortune Farm.

Grant Bell, from East Links Family Park, and Jane Brand, of East Fortune Farm, are planning to work together on the new project

However, opponents of the scheme have expressed concerns about road safety around the new site and claim that, whatever happens, a family park would still operate from the existing site.

Discussions on the potential move have been ongoing since the beginning of the year.

In July, a planning application for the development was submitted to East Lothian Council by East Fortune Holdings Ltd and now members of the public can view the proposals for the first time after they were validated by the local authority.

However, the plans have been met with strong opposition by a number of people, including residents of nearby properties.

Mr Bell says that moving the park elsewhere secures the future of both the family park and East Fortune Farm “for the foreseeable future”.

A planning statement by the applicant argues that the proposals would be “a hugely positive project for East Lothian”.

According to the plans, the East Fortune site would continue as a working farm while also having, like East Links does at present, a light railway, a children’s play area featuring pedal go-karts and trampolines, and safe public access to enable viewing of animals “in order to deepen understanding and awareness of rural life, food production and indigenous wildlife”.

An artist's impressions of how the proposed family theme park could look at East Fortune

Two public consultation events at East Fortune Farm were held in March and May, with more than 200 people attending.

Developers also visited Haddington and District Community Council and attended a meeting in Athelstaneford Village Hall.

Concerns were raised over the potential impact on traffic and safety, which the developers have attempted to address through a transport impact assessment.

They claim that there will be “no unacceptable impacts” on road safety and experts have, they say, helped to draw up the best strategy for dealing with surface and wastewater, which will have “no impact” on the local sewer system.

They added: “There is very little new development proposed and views into and from the site are very limited. The landscape impact will be negligible with a very small degree of change and very few if any sensitive receptors.

“The relocation of East Links Family Park will ensure the continued operation of an important, popular and successful local business whilst simultaneously securing the future of East Fortune Farm, a local family-owned business that has diversified at several points in its history and will continue to do so into the future.”

A decision on the proposals, which are likely to be discussed by the council’s planning committee, is expected next spring.

The current East Links Family Park is located near West Barns

Tony Thomas, who is acting as agent for the developers, said: “We are delighted that the application is now finally validated.

“It has taken us longer than we had hoped but we now look forward to getting on with working extremely hard to secure a positive determination as soon as possible.

“From the outset, we have been very aware about the concerns that have been raised and sought to address these in as much detail as possible by requesting supporting information from suitable sources.

“We continue to believe that this is a very positive farm diversification project, which will see significant investment and employment opportunities and will be good for East Lothian and its tourism offer.”

Previously, a spokesperson for AP Dale, the landowner of the existing East Links Family Park site, disputed that the East Fortune plans involved a relocation, describing the suggestion as “wide of the mark”.

Instead, it has been claimed that the existing park will continue to operate, either by AP Dale or through a third party, with investment being made there.

'Very concerned'

David Johnston, who lives near the proposed East Fortune site, is among those opposing the plans.

He claimed not to have “come across a single person in favour” of the proposals.

He said: “This plan flies in the face of established planning policy, notably that it would not be accessible by public transport, which is a basic and understandable requirement these days.

“Our narrow, winding B road network would be swamped and dangerous and there would be a significant loss of prime agricultural land at a time when we need to be growing all we can at home.

“I know that many objections have already been lodged and folk have only until November 17, less than a month, to get their representations in.

“It if greatly puzzling that the council keeps secret the numbers and nature of contributions to planning applications, meaning people are kept in the dark, unlike most other councils that publish comments on their planning portals. This needs to change.

“If councillors decide to ignore planning policies and let this go ahead, it would blight the lives of people living in up to 40 homes in the immediate area.”

And he added: “We are also very concerned that the council has allowed this application to go forward described as a relocation of East Links Family Park, when in reality it is no such thing.

“It may be a move for a legal entity, a brass plate moved up the road from Dunbar, but it is, as everyone knows, a plan to build a completely new theme park that will be in direct competition to the existing East Links, which is to continue to operate bigger and better.

“Where the theme park is now is exactly the right place, well served by public transport, removed from housing and part of the wider attraction of John Muir Country Park, and served by a substantial road network.

“The East Fortune site is bounded by narrow country roads and the East Coast main rail line, with lots of people living in the immediate vicinity.

“There are plans for a public meeting to be held as soon as possible to focus local peoples’ thoughts within the narrow window open for submissions.”

A website – keepeastlothianbeautiful.org – claiming “what makes East Lothian special to tourists and residents is under threat from an unnecessary duplicate theme park” is urging people to make their voices heard on the plans.