First Minister and Travelling Cabinet visit East Lothian

Two businesses which were bought by the local community in Dunbar after receiving Scottish Government funding were praised for their entrepreneurial initiative by the First Minister Humza Yousaf at the start of his visit.

Mr Yousaf and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon heard how local residents launched successful community shares offers to raise finance for the grocery store Community Carrot and the Community Bakery to bring people together and help regenerate the town’s High Street.

First Minister Humza Yousaf and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon on Dunbar High Street. Image Gordon Bell

The walk along High Street also included another community project, the Ridge. Volunteers who receive training through the organisation described how they had turned wasteland around Dunbar into community garden spaces. All three initiatives have received support from the Scottish Government’s Scottish Land Fund.

First Minister Humza Yousaf at the Community Carrot in Dunbar. Image: Gordon Bell

Meanwhile, Deputy First Minister Shona Robison was at Amisfield Walled Garden, on the outskirts of Haddington, to see how it was restored and maintained by members of the local community.

Health Secretary Michael Matheson was in Haddington at East Lothian Community Hospital’s new orthopaedic rehabilitation ward to have a look around.

And Culture Secretary Angus Robertson paid a visit to historic Tantallon Castle, near North Berwick.

Other visits were: Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray – Archerfield House; Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth – Wallyford Learning Campus; Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville – Our Community Kitchen in Haddington; Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater – Kinwegar Recycling Centre, Wallyford; Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown – East Lothian Community Action Team; Parliamentary Business Minister George Adam – Knox Academy, Haddington.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop is coming to the county to officially open the new East Linton Railway Station, which sees its first passenger train arrive that morning.

The First Minister is also taking part in a question-and-answer session at the Corn Exchange in Haddington at 2pm this afternoon. It can also be watched live here.

First Minister Humza Yousaf at Dunbar Community Bakery. Image: Gordon Bell

Mr Yousaf said: “We are committed to hearing from people across the country to help inform decision-making and the projects I visited today exemplify the type of community empowerment this Government is encouraging in Scotland.

“Through awards from the Scottish Government’s Scottish Land Fund totalling almost £400,000, these three initiatives have demonstrated how local people can make a positive impact to local employment and their local economy.

“East Lothian is a beautiful part of Scotland with tremendous community spirit and I look forward to hearing more about people's priorities during the public discussion in Haddington this afternoon.”