Present: Mrs J Priest (Chair), Ms A Cosgrove (Vice Chair), Mr M Strachan (Secretary), Mr R Russel, Mr B Craighead Mr J Swift, Ms L Shaw-Stewart
In attendance: Cllr M Veitch, PC Gavin Ross, Sgt Scott Nicolson, Mrs Jill Taylor (Minutes)
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Mr J Robson (Treasurer), Mr D Warren, Ms S Richards, Ms A Pearson, Cllr N Hampshire, Cllr P McLennan, PC K Hughes, Mr J Armstrong (Park People), Ms S Scott (Park People), Ms E Dorrian (Park People)
2.0 MINUTES OF FEBRUARY MEETING
Accepted as a correct record of the meeting.
3.1 POLICE REPORT (submitted after meeting by email)
Between 18.00 on 7th and 12.30 on the 8th February a car was vandalised in Stories Park.
Between 20.00 and 20.45 on the 7th February the phone box on the High Street was vandalised by having a window smashed. The above two incidents appear to be linked and police are following a positive line of enquiry.
Between 20.30 on the 9th and 07.30 on the 10th of February a glass window in the front door of a house on Longstone Avenue was smashed.
Between midnight and 06.30 on the 19th February three bicycles were stolen from an unlocked garage in Longstone Avenue. One was later recovered from the bus stop outside the Linton Hotel, the other two are still missing.
Between 19.30 on 18th and 09.30 on 19th February a locked garage on Preston Road was entered by force and power tools and golf equipment were stolen.
Overnight between 18th and 19th February numerous other unlocked garages in Longstone Avenue were entered with nothing stolen.
LOCK YOUR GARAGES AND CARS AND DON’T LEAVE BIKES, SCOOTERS ETC LYING ABOUT.
Police and community wardens have conducted numerous patrols on foot and on bike since this spate and hundreds of houses were leaflet dropped reminding people to secure their property. There have been no further reports of similar incidents.
Between 1300 and 1500 on Saturday 16th February Operation Ether was conducted from the High Street. A police van was parked opposite the Co-op staffed by an officer as well as a council community warden. Numerous members of the public approached the van, mostly to complain about parking outside the Co-op but others had other issues of Anti- social behaviour to report. Whilst this was going on a speed check was conducted and two vehicles were stopped and warned for travelling at between 35 and 40 mph. Over 100 postcards giving details of local community officers and encouraging people to report anti social behaviour were delivered to nearby houses.
Dunbar CAPP priorities
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Tuesday 19th March
1: Kerb markings
2: ASB and thefts in East Linton
3: Environmental issues
Members discussed the road junction on the B1377 East Linton to North Berwick road via Sheriffhall, coming out from Leuchie. It is a bad junction and it is felt that signs are needed here. Ms Cosgrove to email Peter Forsyth, ELC.
Members also discussed rutting and tracks at the side of the road past Prestonkirk to Newbyth. Ms Shaw-Stewart to email Cllr Veitch who will email Colin Baird, ELC.
PC Ross and Sgt Nicolson spoke about the introduction of the new non-emergency number – 101. Launched across Scotland on 21st February 2013, the 101 non- emergency number will replace the vast range of existing police force non-emergency numbers, which will gradually be phased out.
4.0 MATTERS ARISING
4.1 Vacancy – Tyningehame/Whitekirk ward
Still no further forward with finding someone to fill this vacancy. Many thanks to Ms Shaw-Stewart for her recent attempts.
4.2 Paths
There has been a complaint regarding the Exmoor ponies on Traprain Law making the
paths muddy, which means that people walk on outside of paths, naturally widening them. The alternative is to have the ponies fenced away or is there another way of deterring them from the paths? Cllr Veitch to mention this to Duncan Priddle to see if anything can be done.
Mr Swift reported that he was still sitting on the Core Paths Group and negotiations were still ongoing regarding the Gullane to Drem path.
4.3 Park
No update submitted, assume work is progressing as planned.
4.4 Roads/pavements
Email received on 13/2/13 to say that the rest of the ivy on Preston Road would be removed within 8 weeks of date of email.
The ivy on the railway bridge, which Network Rail said they would cut back in early 2013, has not yet been tackled, Cllr Veitch to follow up with Network Rail.
4.5 Meetings attended
The next John Muir Country Park Action Group meeting will be held on Thursday 14th March 2013, 7pm, Town House, Haddington - Mr Russel to attend on DCC’s behalf.
The next John Muir Country Park work day will be 23rd March 2013. Mr Strachan attended the recent Customer Service seminar held by Economic Development, ELC. The seminar was very good and felt to have been worthwhile attending.
RELBUS meeting was held on 21st February 2013, in Haddington. Further notes under 10.0 below.
Mr Craighead is still attending hall meetings on behalf of DCC. Keen to advertise how to book the hall, this will be highlighted on East Linton’s website and in ELDA.
4.6 ELDA article/Dunpender News
Ms Richards has reported that the next edition of Dunpender News is at proof reading stage and will be sent for printing next week.
Mr Russel to write and submit the ELDA article.
4.7 Defibrillator
No progress with this issue, ongoing.
5.0 Planning Matters
Mrs Priest, Ms Richards and Mr Warren attended the recent meeting regarding the Whitekirk hotel and golf course. Whitekirk residents have raised concerns about lights on driving range and at the car park.
Ms Shaw-Stewart has developed a new website, Planning Plus, a planning website for East Lothian showing plans with no neighbour notifications i.e. in fields or isolated areas. There is funding to set up and maintain this website.
DCC has no objection to planned wind turbines at Newmains as these are within local guidelines.
Mr Paterson, a resident of the High Street in East Linton, wrote to DCC to object to the colours chosen to repaint East Linton Council Chambers. He feels that the window/door surrounds should have been in more contrasting colours. Mr Russel to reply to letter stating that DCC stated preferences from a colour chart used for conservation buildings, but that the final call was made by ELC.
Rail Bridge 66 is due to be repainted in 2016/17. It is hoped that the community will be able to be involved in choosing the colour. Plan to deal with in mid 2015.
6.0 Treasurer’s Report
No report given as Mr Robson was not present at the meeting.
DCC have received a request for funding from East Linton PS Parent Council for £120 towards £250 cost of printing a P7 school yearbook. It was pointed out that this has previously been supported and DCC are not in the habit of continually supporting the same groups/projects, but it was felt that this was a worthwhile project to support and £120 was granted, all in favour.
The Civic Pride Fund has reopened and applications are to be in by 31st March 2013. Decided to reapply when fund reopens in the Autumn, having no suitable projects at present.
7.0 Traprain & Whittingehame issues
Drive Arch Road is to remain closed. The retaining walls (which retain the higher ground – owned by Whittingehame Estate) are in a very poor state and are considered dangerous, hence the closure. ELC will move to “stopping up “ the road within the next 6 months. Ownership of the road will then revert to the land owner.
8.0 Tyninghame, Whitekirk & Markle issues
Whitekirk noticeboard planning application is complete and has been submitted.
Tyninghame noticeboard planning application is not complete, Mr Russel to help complete this.
There have been concerns raised by a resident at Crauchie regarding the forthcoming car events at East Fortune to be operated by Experience Limits Ltd. The Environmental Protection Team at ELC will be monitoring noise levels at the next weekend event on 23/24 March. ELC are required to monitor noise levels before they can take any enforcement action.
9.0 Tourism initiatives/new projects
Ms Shaw-Stewart is taking her proposal regarding East Linton’s Christmas lights to ELC Planning Department, then plans to contact ELC Health and Safety Department.
10.0 Public transport/RAGES
Ms Cosgrove attended the last RELBUS meeting on behalf of DCC. Iain Gray MSP presented regarding the bus regulation bill. The MVA study into the re-opening of train stations in Reston and East Linton is imminent, Cllr Veitch will then convene all parties and present the report to Keith Brown, Minister for Transport – this issue needs political support from the Minister and there is a Station Investment Fund.
The new late night service to Dunbar run by Scotrail is being well used. Cllr Veitch campaigning for another morning peak train, as the only train available for commuters is the 07:42am from Newcastle.
Ms Cosgrove to talk to North Berwick Community Council regarding Community Rail Partnerships and using railway to promote North Berwick.
The East Lothian Bus Forum is to be held on Tuesday 30th April at 10am in Haddington. The meeting will include presentations (Iain Gray MSP on his proposals for a private member’s bill on buses and Morag Haddow (Sustaining Dunbar) on her ideas for ‘Public Transport Hubs’ in East Lothian.
Discussions are ongoing between Cllr Veitch and local bus companies re a single timetable for East Linton showing all available buses regardless of operator.
11.00 Correspondence
11.1 Community Energy Scotland: free membership offer – DCC decided against joining this.
11.2 Scottish Govt: results of consultation on Community Empowerment
11.3 ELC: Cutting of ivy on Preston Rd
11.4 ELC: Closure of C130 road in Whittingehame
11.5 ELC: East Lothian Bus Forum meeting 30th April
11.6 ELC: Next meeting JMCP Advisory Group 14th March
11.7 ELC: Signpost to Funding February issue
11.8 L&BPolice: new police 101 non-emergency number
11.9 ELC: Consultation on Draft statement of principles- 2005 Gambling Act
11.10 Ian McDonald: Experience Limits Car Events at East Fortune
11.11 ELC: Consultations [3 in total] –
Burial Ground Service Review 18 March - individuals encouraged to respond to Burial Ground consultation
ELC Equality Plan 2013-16 18 March
Proposed waiting/loading restrictions Belhaven, Dunbar & West Barns 12 April
DCC councillors asked to look at anti-social behaviour consultation before next meeting.
11.12 ELPS Parent Council: P7 Yearbook request for funding
11.13 Changeworks: Scots Together campaign
11.14 ELC: 2013 Civic Pride Fund
11.15 ELC: Friends of JMCP next workday 23rd March
11.16 Iain Paterson: Paint colours, East Linton Council Chambers
12.0 Any Other Competent Business
East Linton residents to be encouraged to use East Linton Library after upgrades to libraries in Haddington (John Gray Centre) and Dunbar. Suggested that staff write an article for East Linton website.
13.0 DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Thursday 4th April 2013