MEMBERS of an East Lothian community council are planning to resign in protest, following East Lothian Council's decision to approve the removal of bunds at the former coal store which served Cockenzie Power Station.

Members of Cockenzie and Port Seton's Community Council met on Tuesday and a number of members have said they intend to stand down at November's meeting, with their belief that there is a "democratic deficit" in their community surrounding the site. 

The former Cockenzie Power Station site was purchased by the local authority to support future economic growth and to create employment opportunities. A successful £11m submission was made to the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund to secure funding in support of the site’s regeneration and to make it developable.

The application includes removing the bunds from around the former coal store, to the south east of the main site, increasing the area that is developable and improving access, and using bund material to infill the hole where the former power station building was sited to create a level, developable platform.

The removal of the bunds is expected to start in September. 

READ MORE: Cockenzie Power Station site: Removal of bunds at coal store approved

Previous to the decision, concerns were raised about the environmental impacts of the bunds' removal, including worries about the possibility of asbestos.   

Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Council has noted that it carried out a petition with a number of residents also raising concerns. The Group claimed that East Lothian Council had not responded to their correspondence at all. 

The plans were approved in June by councillors; the site is expected to be developed but it still remains unclear exactly what will be built there. 

In a statement, the community council also mentioned their frustration with their four locally elected ward councillors - Lachlan Bruce, Neil Gilbert, Brooke Ritchie and Colin Yorkston - who represent the Preston Seton Gosford ward. They previously called for all of four of them to resign.

The community council released a lengthy statement online, it ended by saying: "We believe there to be a democratic deficit when it comes to our community and the Cockenzie site and have become increasingly aware that our Council do not value or recognise the input from the Community Council. 

The full statement from the community council reads: "Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Council has previously advised that an EGM was called in late June 2024 following East Lothian Council's (ELC) decision to approve their own application for the removal of the bunds at the coal plant site. 

READ MORE: Fears for wildlife over planned loss of bunds at coal store

"The community council has not been supportive of this ELC proposal since it was first advised in the days leading up to ELC making their submission to the UK Government for levelling up funding for their project in summer 2022. 

"ELC claim to have been unable to consult with communities on this proposal at the time due to local elections being held.  Our elected councillors are aware of the strength of feeling and concern in our community about the bunds and the contamination contained therein.

"At the June EGM, the initial thought was that the community council would resign in protest at the council not respecting or even considering the concerns of our community. 

"On discussion, the view was that it was not our community council that was letting down our community but our four elected councillors in their failure to represent our community and we wrote to our council representatives calling for their resignation.  Those local councillors on the planning committee had the option to abstain from the vote - an option not taken by either councillor.

"Our community council took comfort in the knowledge that the chief planner at the Scottish Government would have final sign-off on this application - with ELC being both applicant and decider.

"It now turns out that is not the case; contracts for the removal of the bunds have been signed and work will start in September. 

"We have tried to engage with Monica Patterson, CEO of ELC;  to date, Ms Patterson has not responded to our correspondence.  Our community petition of concern at the proposal - submitted prior to ELC's planning meeting - has been ignored, without even an acknowledgement being received.

Fears for battle orchard


"Further, we have recently learned that - although not part of this phase of works and despite promises over the years from ELC to the contrary - the Community Battle Orchard at Prestonpans is under threat of destruction in the future to make way for a new road into the cleared coal plant site. 

"The battle orchard is a community green space and asset, grant funded by BBC Breathing Spaces and established by Prestonlinks Woodland Group in 2008.

"We believe there to be a democratic deficit when it comes to our community and the Cockenzie site and have become increasingly aware that our council do not value or recognise the input from the community council. 

"At the community council meeting on August 6, the intention of several community councillors to step down at the November AGM was noted.  Vacancies will include chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer amongst others. We would urge anyone interested in becoming a community councillor to come forward."

The full statement can also be seen here. 

Council's response

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: “The process of applying for planning permission for the link road and the removal of the coal store bunds and levelling of the Cockenzie site to allow it to be ready for commercial use has been carried out in a fully transparent way, following normal planning process and including wide community consultation.

"The planning process gives opportunity for any groups or individuals to make comment and these comments are duly considered by planners and by the planning committee when making its decision.

"The community council were invited to attend planning committee and they presented their case to the councillors at that meeting.

"It is worth noting that there was no legislative requirement for the council to notify the Scottish Government before this planning permission was granted.

"Council offers have also engaged directly with groups, including Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Council, throughout this process, including a very recent on-site visit.

"We will continue to engage directly with them and other local groups as work progresses on this important site.”