Letter to East Lothian Courier on 26th August
I respond to 2 contrasting items in The Courier of August 22nd.
Firstly, the launch of the Scottish Loves Nature campaign to call for a Natural Environment Bill to bring in legal targets to restore nature.
Secondly, the letter from Mr Pee Win regarding the decision by Planning Committee to approve in principle 145 units for over 55s at Herdmandflat. I was sitting in on the meeting and was saddened by the outcome. The Community Groups had been working hard to be able to take over the rewilded and established woodland habitat. As was said at the meeting the woodland could have been retained and still allowed a considerable number of homes.
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 wellbeing. Sadly, ELC is not faring well.
Herdmandflat is only one of a number of concerning decisions by ELC to approve developments despite the objections of communities including Community Councils which are statutory consultees. These decisions impact on biodiversity and greenspaces.
They include :-
*78 Cala Houses at Dunbar Golf Course where trees with nesting birds were felled and skylarks competing with diggers.
*The removal of the established hedge at North Berwick for playing fields.
*The removal of the Cockenzie Coal bunds.
*Last week I found 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. The objections included road safety, loss of biodiversity, concerns about fire risk and the lack of any community consultation by the developer.
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 (Chaired by the Planning Convenor)for a skatepark, pumptrack, basketball Court and café 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 were 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 3rd 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
East Lothian Liberal Democrats