Planning Committee approves skate park at Hallhill, Dunbar

The application for a pump track, skate park, basketball court, café and changing room building on land south of Hallhill Sports Centre, Kellie Road, Dunbar, had been called off the Scheme of Delegation by Councillors McIntosh and Jardine due to the significant amount of interest and comment within the local community.

The skate park, basketball court, changing rooms and café will be delivered through the Dunbar Community Development and Heritage Trust, who will also manage the day-to-day operation of the facilities through an agreement with another community organisation. The land and the facilities will continue to be owned by the council but managed by DCDHT through a Service Level Agreement. The café and toilet facilities are expected to be open between 10am and 10pm every day. An agreement has been made to fence off Dunbar Primary School car park and use it in the evenings  and weekends when the school is closed. The council will create a new park entrance from the access road to the school at Hallhill Sports Centre.

A total of 76 representations had been received, of which 55 objected to the application, 20 supported the application and one made comment. Reasons for objection included that the location is an area of green space used by local wildlife and it is in a secluded area where young people congregate and the proposals would exacerbate anti-social behaviour. Reasons for support included that there is little for children to do in Dunbar and thus the addition of a pump track and skate park near the school and sports centre would be hugely popular and would provide outdoor facilities for new families who move into the area.

Council officers had recommended that consent be granted and, following a debate, committee members voted unanimously to approve this recommendation.

Members also voted eight votes to three (with one abstention) to remove a condition attached to planning consent for Dandara East Scotland Ltd, who are building 125 homes, business units, allotments and a play area on land on the south side of Tantallon Road, North Berwick. The condition stated that a footpath should be constructed between the northernmost part of the site to the Tesco supermarket. Dandara applied to have the condition removed as they had built the path up to their site boundary but the land beyond that belonged to Tesco so they were unable to comply with the condition.

An application to build a three storey house to the east of St Andrew’s House, St Andrew Street, North Berwick, was unanimously refused. The application had been called off the Scheme of Delegation by  Councillor Allan, who felt that the development appeared to be a sympathetic and efficient use of a gap area in North Berwick town centre. Ten letters of objection were received, stating various reasons including loss of privacy to neighbouring properties and gardens, loss of daylight to neighbouring properties and that the design was not in keeping with the Conservation Area.

Permission was unanimously granted for alterations to Romanes Pharmacy in Dunbar High Street, to fit a pharmacy dispensing machine. Planners had originally recommended refusal of the application but, following discussions with the applicant, an amended version of the proposal, featuring a smaller dispenser unit, was recommended for approval. The original application was called off the Scheme of Delegation List by Councillor Collins, who believed it would be of benefit to the town.

An application for change of use of agricultural land for the formation of a battery energy storage system on land to the north of Dunbar Grid Substation, was unanimously approved, in agreement with planners’ recommendation.

Applicant FRV TH Powertek had previously submitted a Proposal of Application Notice and, as part of this, had carried out public consultation events. The application site lies 2.5km south west of Dunbar, 850 metres from Pitcox hamlet. The facility will store and supply energy for export to the grid as and when required, typically at points of peak demand. One letter of objection was received, concerned about the potential loss of prime agricultural land, fire, pollution and potential visual impact.

An application for the installation of solar panels at Staggs bar, North High Street, Musselburgh, was unanimously approved. The application had been called off the Scheme of Delegation by Councillors McIntosh and Forrest due to local interest in the local community.

Staggs bar is a two-storey, end-terrace Category C listed building to the north of the Brunton Hall. Applicant Nigel Finlay applied for permission to instal 27 solar panels, measuring 1.7 by 1.1 metres each, on the principal (south) roof plane of the building. Separate Listed Building Consent was also sought for the installation.

One written objection was received from the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland. Planners had recommended refusal as the panels would detract from the character and appearance of the listed building. Following a debate, committee members voted to grant permission for the panels.

The relevant application numbers are; Dunbar (skate park) 24/00126/P, North Berwick (removal of condition) 24/00117/PM and 15/00670/PPM, North Berwick (erection of one house) 24/00527/P, Dunbar (pharmacy dispenser) 24/00605/P, Dunbar (battery storage) 23/01519/PM, Musselburgh  24/00267/P and 24/00264/LBC.