It was with great sadness that I learned that the planning application for the development of the wooded parts of the former Herdmanflat Hospital site in Haddington has been approved and that East Lothian Council (ELC) and its developers have been given the OK to take away this wonderful green oasis from the community.

I am also concerned that this is indicative of a democratic deficit where governmental bureaucracy trumps community concerns and wishes.

It appears to me that the campaign to try and save Herdmanflat has been mired in a procedural catch-22.

Our MSP could not get involved as he is the Scottish Government’s minister of housing and, as it was an ELC initiative, the council was left to check its own homework.

Given public sentiment and the strength of the argument to oppose the project, I have to wonder if things would have gone differently if this had been a private developer and not ELC who were pushing for this?

The fight to save the site has been a metaphorical David and Goliath struggle where ELC and Hub South East Ltd held all the cards, had all the expertise and used public funds to research and strengthen their case, while the local tenants’ and residents’ association and the Save Herdmanflat campaigners had only themselves as ordinary people to try and fight their corner for the community.

Personally, I think this will prove to be a ‘white elephant’ of a development that will negatively impact the environment, local infrastructure and the road network.

When that happens, will the council be held to answer for this or will they hide behind their procedures, as most organisations are wont to do when things eventually go wrong?

Stuart Pe-Win

Haddington community councillor