Speaking at today's Council meeting regarding implementation of the new Local Development Plan, Councillor Tim Day remarks on what is without question the most important, the most far reaching decision that the Council will take for many years.
Cllr. Day's full remarks to Council are as follows:
"This is without question the most important, the most far reaching decision that this Council will take for many years, and it’s therefore particularly shameful that the SNP group have chosen to abdicate their responsibility to their electorate by leaving the debate.
"We are being asked, or more accurately compelled, by the Scottish Government, to accept a level of growth in our Communities that is unprecedented.
"And whilst I fully understand the need for an up-to-date plan, which allocates an effective land supply to build much needed housing to meet our SESPlan target, otherwise we run the risk of planning by appeal, I struggle to bring myself to support a draft LDP which I know will potentially have a negative impact on East Lothian for many, many years to come.
"I acknowledge the herculean efforts our planning officers have undertaken to bring forward a compact growth strategy, a strategy that complies with planning policy, but for me the fundamental issue that hasn’t been addressed is the lack of clarity around the transportation infrastructure required to deliver this growth.
"This isn’t a criticism of ELC officers, but one of Transport Scotland and Scottish Government, who have so far failed to outline how they are going to address these issues, far less fund them.
"East Lothian is clearly part of the wider Edinburgh job market, so it follows that this growth will require people to travel into Edinburgh and beyond for work.
"There is an underlying assumption that the A1 and East Coast Main line can accommodate this growth, hence the SDA; as it stands this is fundamentally incorrect. Both are already beyond capacity – our local train services are full before they even reach Wallyford, with car parks overflowing. Abelio have said it will take over 2 years to increase capacity to meet current demand, so how can we have any confidence that they will be able to meet future demand?
"Many of our residents require a car to travel beyond Edinburgh, yet our trunk road network is already grinding to a halt, and that’s before we factor in the massive cumulative predicted growth of Midlothian and Edinburgh. Old Craighall, Sheriffhall, the City Bypass and beyond; all need massive amounts of investment and forward planning – yet to date nothing has been done to address this. We are in real danger of putting the cart before the horse, and neither is going to reach their destination any time soon.
"As it stands this plan could lead to a significant reduction in the amenity and quality of life for the people of East Lothian; we simply cannot continue to bolt more and more houses onto existing settlements without first thinking how those communities will function in a sustainable way.
"I appreciate that alternative to supporting the draft LDP, planning by appeal, is unpalatable, and my position is that we need to send a clear message that this level of growth is not sustainable without significant interventions from the Scottish Government and their agencies.
"For me this is a fundamental issue of principal, and one that I have adopted a consistent approach to since before the 2012 election.
"I’m sure that this amended paper will be passed today, and if that is the case I will certainly work with colleagues to ensure this Council puts forward the strongest possible case to Government and its agencies to secure the best possible deal on infrastructure, and one which best mitigates the impact of this growth.
"North Berwick cluster comments
"Thank you Provost, and I would like to second Cllr. Berry’s amended amendment, and largely echo what has already been said. Like Cllr. Veitch, I am glad that Cllr. Berry has remained and contributed and with this amendment, influenced the debate unlike his former SNP colleagues.
"I think it’s fair to say that North Berwick has not been well served in this LDP process. We consulted on the MIR, which included Tantallon as the preferred option; during this process Ferrygate (the alternative site) was approved on appeal despite being turned down by this Council twice. This decision made a mockery of the process, and now that the Tantallon site was approved earlier this month under our Interim Planning Guidance with only a token amount of business land, the only issue for debate now is lack of land allocated for business, and that’s why I welcome and support the amendment.
"Given that North Berwick isn’t within the Strategic Development Area, but is still having to accommodate significant growth, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that we can create the opportunities for businesses to locate and grow in our community, otherwise all we are doing is creating a dormitory town where everybody needs to travel into Edinburgh, and that is in direct conflict with planning policy and indeed our draft LDP.
"I mentioned earlier the serious infrastructure challenges we face, but by amending the plan and allocating a supply of business land we can at least go some way to mitigate the requirement to travel in the future.
"Like all towns North Berwick has well documented problems around infrastructure, whether it’s capacity at the doctor’s surgery, or town centre or station car parking, I really do have serious concerns the impact of this growth will have on the town.
"Provost, I would now like to make some brief comments on the remaining allocations in the North Berwick Coastal Ward.
"In terms of Dirleton, I am relaxed about the allocation of 30 units at Castlemains. There has been expectation in the community, given the pressure on East Lothian, that a small allocation would be appropriate and may sustain the local shop, and given the planning permissions granted for 60 units at Kings Cairn in 2013, the School will now be at capacity with no further room for expansion.
"In terms of Aberlady, I am supportive of the proposal given the context and pressure of the wider SESPlan East Lothian requirement.
"In respect of Gullane, I do have serious concerns about the allocation of Saltcoats field over and above the allocation of the Fire College and smaller sites; the MIR drew out significant opposition to this site and we do not seem to have adequately addressed those concerns.
"Notwithstanding these concerns, and having listened to the full debate today, and whilst I have serious concerns about this LDP plan, it does represent the least worst option given the alternative is to lose complete control of the planning system, and by adopting the compact strategy (as we are directed to by Scottish Government), we are minimising the impact of this growth on the North Berwick Coastal ward."