Chairperson's Report - 2011

This year has been another busy year for Haddington Community Council. Five new members, Pat Lemmon, David Barrett, Alan Dunton, Robert Moran and Tom Kirkpatrick, came on board with David Brunton returning after a break of three years as his work commitments had changed. All have proved valuable members of CC already. It was a bit worrying at times when we had only 10 members on Community Council but thanks to our new members we are now in a healthy position and we look forward to working alongside them.

Once again our finances are in a very healthy state but we are proposing to use some of this money to erect a new system for the Christmas lights but this will be over a number of years. Our thanks go to Emily our Treasurer for keeping the books in fine order. During the year we raise anywhere between £3000 and £5000 by running craft fairs and the annual Art Exhibition. This money can be used for various projects or events we run over the year.

Still on a financial them, our Local Priorities budget for this year 2010/2011 is similar to that of last year. Some of the money has been used for different projects or donations to groups who need a little boost to their funds. Money has been held over for this year’s Christmas Lights as CC took the decision not to erect the lights because of health and safety reasons. Because of this Haddington Business Association asked if they could join CC to help with the Festive Lighting for this coming year. A new group, Haddington Festive Lighting and Events Group has been formed to take some of the pressure of Community Council. Anyone wishing to join should contact any of our Community Councillors, the names and addresses can be found in their latest and probably the last Community Council Handbook of which I hope you all have a copy.

John Hamilton was appointed Planning Liaison Officer and has been monitoring planning applications over the past year. John report is attached to this report.

David Barrett and I have been involved in the HTCAG (Haddington Town Centre Action Group), along with Pat Lemmon who is involved with her HBA ‘hat’ on as well as a CC member. This group meets at about two monthly intervals and came into being when East Lothian Council were awarded a £800K+ award from Historic Scotland for the Regeneration of some of Haddington Town Centre’s Historic buildings which were in need of repair.

We had a meeting with Sainsbury two weeks ago to discuss their proposed development at Gateside West. Last year East Lothian Council in April chose Harperdean as their preferred site for an out of town development but ELC Councillors were not happy with this. This was also discussed at the HTCAG meeting and the officials came back stating that having re-looked at this again they decided on Gateside West as the new preferred site. We wait with interest as to what will happen in the near future should Tesco make any objection to this decision.

In view of all the happenings around the Town Centre and the out of town developments, members of Haddington Community Council, Haddington & District Amenity Society, Haddington Business Association, Haddington History Society and Knox Academy School, have got together to form a Vision for Haddington Group to look at ways of making Haddington a more vibrant place to visit. HADAS were instrumental in inviting Richard Heggie and Nick Wright, following an article in the Scotsman paper by Richard, “We Must Shape the Future of our Towns” to one of their meetings and this group we hope will grow to ensure Haddington’s future. We are about to meet with East Lothian Council on this matter and we are also in the process of raising the funds so that the Town Centre Vision Study can proceed.

We are also working with Community Warden Suzette MacGregor, Mike Lemmon, HBA, several young bike and skateboard enthusiasts and two of their mums with a view to identifying ground and to be able to build a bike and skateboard park once funding is in place. This will require a lot of fundraising which the boys is to be involved by bag packing at a supermarket, tombolas, collecting cans etc. Other sources of funding can be done through applying for grants.

Members of the public continue to write or phone us to help them with matters they wish brought forward to the notice of East Lothian Council. Sometimes we are able to help, other times we are not but it is good for them to have this option as it is better to have group support than stand alone with any issues the public may have.

As in previous years, Haddington has relatively small criminal activity with the main problems being vandalism. Regular policing by the Police and Community Wardens has helped to lessen this. Emily and I meet with Police Constable Lynn Black and Community Warden Suzette MacGregor and other members of the community at a monthly meeting of CAPP (Community and Police Partnership). These meetings are important as any issues brought to us by the public will be taken to these meetings and three priorities are chosen for the Police to act on.

Events at the 2010 Haddington Festival were well attended our thanks must go to all the groups or organisations who gave up their time to arrange and take part in the events throughout the twelve days of the festival.

Numbers were a bit down at our Visitor Information Centre at Lady Kitty’s Doocot but given the financial climate at present this is not surprising. We are always on the lookout for volunteers so if you have a spare two hours please can contact any CC Member. This will be our last year in Lady Kitty’s as we are moving to the new Cultural Centre in Lodge Street. The John Gray Centre is expected to open in February 2012.

As always I would like to thank my fellow councillors, Lilian Pryde of East Lothian Council, East Lothian Councillors, PC Lynn Black and her colleagues, and Community Warden Suzette MacGregor, for their support and guidance during the past year. I would also like to thank members of HADAS for their help and expertise in matters pertaining to Haddington and to Haddington Business Association who have come on board. It is a pleasure to work with these groups who together with Haddington Community Council and East Lothian Council, are working for the betterment of Haddington

Lastly, I would like to say thank you to the general public and those in our community who help us throughout the year with either financial or ‘hands on’ help especially with the annual Festival, Art Exhibition and Craft Fairs.

Jan Wilson
Chairperson
The Royal Burgh of Haddington
& District Community Council.