Speaking during today’s East Lothian Council Cabinet debate on the National Planning Framework (NPF 3) Main Issues Report, Depute Leader Councillor Michael Veitch said:
“This is an excellent paper however I regret that the same cannot be said about the Main Issues Report of the Scottish Government’s National Planning Framework. I say that not because I would disagree with everything in it but because from an East Lothian perspective, it contains two glaring ommissions.
“The first is the fact that there is to be no new build nuclear in Scotland. This is very disappointing in light of East Lothian Council’s specific request that Torness, in my ward, be designated as a national development safeguarded for future capacity.
“Even more disappointing is the fact that East Lothian Council’s recommendation that the dualling of the A1 be identified as a national development, is to be ignored, for surely there are few projects which have the potential to boost the East Lothian economy more than this. Despite attempts to lobby the Scottish Government to dual the A1 between Innerwick and the border – especially with the likelihood of the UK Government being minded to dual as far north as Berwick – we have as yet had no indications that Scottish ministers will do so.
“However even if dualling the A1 is not a priority for the Scottish Government now, surely there would be merit in designating it as a national planning priority going forward?
“As members will know, the administration’s intention is to convene a Scottish A1 action group to coordinate efforts to seek improvements to the A1, and I hope member across the chamber will support these efforts.”