Here are this week's letters:

Way of the dodo

I read with interest your article regarding the closure of Dunbar, North Berwick and Prestonpans police stations. 
It seems that local police stations across the country are going the way of the dodo, soon to be extinct.
It is sad to see the proposed sale of these buildings, as they have undoubtedly been of great service to our local communities.
However, as much as we may wish to keep them, it is an unfortunate reality of modern-day policing that these small local stations are no longer used. 
They are almost a relic of a bygone age, like the shipping forecast.
Almost everything these days is done on the internet or over the phone, so much so that I doubt most residents of Prestonpans are even aware that the station has been disused since the start of the year. 
And I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the majority of enquiries at North Berwick Police Station over the past years have been for directions to the beach.
It seems logical to remove them from the police estate if they are no longer in use but still requiring maintenance. Hopefully the sale of these assets will have a bit of the Midas touch and raise some much-needed funds for our underfunded police service.
I think Chief Inspector Leathes should be praised for his honest appraisal of this contentious subject.
John McSweeney
Alexander Place
Haddington

Comm-unity

East Linton has won lots of plaudits recently for being one of the best places to live in the UK.
Its historic heart has a varied and vibrant voluntary sector, which was ably demonstrated on Sunday at the community fair in the community hall. 
With lots to celebrate and promote, East Linton has so much more going for it than its picturesque qualities alone. 
As one of the local ward councillors, I dropped in to see what was happening and was impressed by how diverse and dedicated the groups and initiatives were, with a keen community spirit. 
Not only making and keeping friendships, they also make things better across their community and wider environment.
For example, I was speaking to a volunteer with the countryside rangers about their achievements in combating the proliferation of giant hogweed along the banks of the Tyne. This phenomenal work is award winning and a significant contribution to the wider environment we all can enjoy more safely as a result.
As a councillor, I’m extremely aware the current financial challenges mean the council is unable to resource such initiatives. 
Increasingly, we need to work alongside those in our community who want to make things happen based on priorities they have set for themselves. 
Very often, activities or clubs enhance well-being of individuals and groups who could otherwise easily decline. But voluntary groups always need new blood and ideas to ensure their long-term survival.
I appreciate East Linton is in a relatively privileged position, but, even there, it can be a struggle for new recruits to ensure things get done so others in the community can benefit. It all relies on people being prepared to give up a bit of time. 
While I agree it would be better to have the council deliver more, we’d need to increase council tax significantly to do that. 
Maybe instead of having to pay more, more of us could benefit from taking part in organising and delivering community projects or services?
Councillor Lyn Jardine
Dunbar & East Linton ward
 

Nature crisis

I respond to two contrasting items in the Courier of August 22.
Firstly, the launch of the Scotland Loves Nature campaign calling for a natural environment bill to bring in legal targets to restore nature. 
Secondly, the letter from Mr Pe-Win regarding the decision by the planning committee of East Lothian Council (ELC) to approve, in principle, 145 units for over-55s at the former Herdmanflat hospital site in Haddington.
In 2023, National Planning Framework 4 came into force. 
This includes Policy 3: to improve biodiversity and protect nature. Planning Democracy and the Scottish Government Improvement Service have been monitoring the adherence of local authorities to Policy 3 and the impact of decisions on green spaces and the environment. 
It is known that access to natural places is of benefit to physical and mental well-being. Sadly, ELC is not faring well.
Herdmanflat is only one of a number of concerning decisions by ELC to approve developments despite the objections of communities. These decisions impact on biodiversity and greenspaces.
They include:

  • 78 Cala houses at Dunbar Golf Club, where trees with nesting birds were felled and skylarks competed with diggers;
  • The removal of the established hedge at North Berwick High School for playing fields;
  • The removal of the Cockenzie coal bunds;
  • Last week, I found out from the Courier (despite having written an objection) that a battery energy storage system (BESS) had been approved at Aikengall – a special landscape area and a local biodiversity site. 

It had not come to planning committee, although there were objections from both East Lammermuir and West Barns Community Councils. 
This pattern of decision-making, despite Policy 3, raises concerns for the preservation of other green and wild spaces posed by present and future applications. They include:

  • The many energy developments, particularly BESS units in the Lammermuirs. The larger ones of these are decided by the Scottish Government Energy Consent Unit;
  • Proposals by ELC and Dunbar Community Development and Heritage Trust for a skatepark, pumptrack, basketball court and cafe on greenspace and woodland at Lochend;
  • The uncertain future of the Belhaven Hospital site, where Sustaining Dunbar is seeking to retain Belhaven Community Garden.

In all of these cases, the developer can appeal but the community cannot. 
A campaign by Planning Democracy (with which I was involved) for an equal right of appeal was rejected when the current planning legislation was being updated. The planning minister said it would deter investment in Scotland. 
Planning Democracy and other environmental groups have now approached the Aarhus Convention with concerns that the lack of third-party right of appeal is damaging the environment.
ELC declared a nature crisis in 2023 but, sadly, so many of the decisions made will serve to deepen it. Habitats, including for protected species, are being lost and residents are quickly losing green spaces and wild spaces to walk.
Jacquie Bell
Belhaven

Hospital thanks

I have recently returned home after almost a year as a patient in Ward 4 and then Ward 1 at East Lothian Community Hospital, Haddington. I would very much like, through the courtesy of your letters column, to publicly offer my thanks for the care I received and the consideration, concern and humour with which I was treated.
In my time there, I was the recipient of the consistent dedication and hard work of all the staff who were tireless in their efforts to make me comfortable during my recovery from a serious stroke and have the greatest appreciation for the way they conduct their work in difficult and demanding circumstances.
Jim Mitchell
North Berwick

 

You can send your letters to editorial@eastlothiancourier.com