March Newsround
2008

With Bob Mitchell

News Archive

The fact that otters are once again becoming a relatively common sight on the Tyne has been largely welcomed by local residents despite some misgivings by David Elder, the secretary of East Lothian Angling Association. David agrees that there has been a remarkable turnaround in otter numbers and has described it as something of a ‘double edged sword’ as far as local anglers are concerned.

On the one hand they are likely to kill the minks that escaped from captivity in large numbers a few years ago and who have devastated the fish stock

ever since, but should they continue to flourish they too may threaten the self same fish stocks.

Community Councillor David Motherwell has monitored the otter revival over the years in his popular ‘Tales of the Riverbank ‘ series in the annual handbook delivered free to all Haddington households.

He believes that the year on year increase is due to clearer water and the abundant stocking of the river by the Angling Association who have released 2,400 brown trout into the river in the last two years.

For more than thirty years, East Lothian District Court has been the responsibility of the local authority, initially East Lothian District Council and latterly East Lothian Council. On 10 March 2008 that arrangement comes to an end.

On that date East Lothian District Court will be replaced by Haddington Justice of the Peace Court, with responsibility for it passing to Scottish Court Service, the body which already organises all the other courts in Scotland from Sheriff Court to the High Court of Justiciary.

As the new court’s name indicates, JPs remain in the role of judge, although wide-ranging changes have taken place to their responsibilities.

In December 2007 the commission of all existing JPs came to an end – those on the supplemental (over 70) list; those who undertook signing duties only; and those who, after appropriate training, presided on the bench. Only the bench-serving justices were offered a new, age-restricted, five-year commission with conditions regarding training, appraisal and frequency of sittings. Across Scotland, at a stroke,

the number of JPs was reduced from several thousand to less that five hundred. Currently a team of fourteen serves the Haddington JP Court.

New arrangements have been put in place nationally to handle applications from people who wish to be considered for appointment as Justices of the Peace. Anyone who is interested – or just interested in finding out – should contact the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland. A new video has been produced to explain the process.

Justices of the Peace have a long and distinguished history in Scotland. 2008 sees the introduction of a new breed of highly trained and closely monitored JPs with increased powers to deal with a range of more serious cases than before. After a long campaign the survival of lay justice, the punishment of offenders by other members of the same communities in which the offences took place, has been secured. The Justices of East Lothian are keen to show that they have the skills, training and experience to carry out effectively the additional responsibilities which they have acquired.

Despite having set aside £15 million to repair roads in the county the issue of potholes continues to plague the current administration. Haddington Community Councillors berated the state of the roads in the county town whilst admitting that the problem was equally as bad elsewhere. Community Councillor John Golightly claimed ‘The roads in Haddington are in a horrendous state, I would suggest that anyone who damages their car in these potholes should send in a claim - the council would not have a leg to stand on’.

Tommy Trotter one of the local ward councillors agreed that there was a massive problem with the state of the roads but pointed out that money had been set aside to rectify matters.

The outcome will be one crucial marker of the new and inexperienced council’s ability to tackle major problems head on.

Meanwhile, as the following lines by our national Bard Robert Burns illustrates, the problem is neither modern nor confined to East Lothian.

Haddington youngster, Shaun Lund scooped first prize in the recent Rotary Young Chef competition when he saw off tough rivals from Dunbar, Prestonpans, Penicuik and Haddington to triumph in the local final. John Cleary, manager of Craigielaw Golf Club chaired the panel of judges and on congratulating Shaun, said his effort could not have been surpassed by any of the professional chefs with whom he had worked.

Shaun’s ambitious presentation included a main course of stuffed chicken wrapped in pancetta served with asparagus, julienne carrots and sautéed potatoes followed by a sweet of chocolate teardrop served with summer fruits.

As a direct result of his success Shaun has been contacted by a local eatery with whom he hopes to gain top rate work experience.