Humbie, East and West Saltoun and Bolton Community Council

HUMBIE, EAST AND WEST SALTOUN AND BOLTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL

MINUTES of the 257th MEETING of the Humbie, East and West Saltoun and Bolton Community Council held on WEDNESDAY 5th SEPTEMBER 2012 in the Village Hall at HUMBIE at 7.30 p.m.

PRESENTMiss E. A. Bayne-JardineChairman

Mrs. M. M. BissetSecretary

Mrs. R. Greenhill

Mrs. S. Jamieson

Mr. R. Kirk

Mr. D. Smith

Councillor T. Trotter

Councillor J. McMillan

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Mr. A. Beck, Provost L. Broun Lindsay and D. Gray (Police representative)

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The Minutes of the previous meeting, which had been circulated, were taken as a true record.

MATTERS ARISING

EBJ introduced Angela Leitch, Chief Executive, East Lothian Council who explained that she had requested attendance at our meeting to familiarise herself with issues in our area and to find out who would be standing for re-election in October. Our main issues were as follows:

• Please remember that we represent a rural community which is completely different to urban areas.
• TRANSPORT

• Problems with ‘bus routes being altered with no Sunday provision and no ‘bus service to Humbie.

• PLANNING

BOLTON:

• We feel that some of the planning decisions are not clever with particular reference to the steading conversion at Bolton where standard type new build housing was approved more in keeping with a suburban area.
• All the objections raised for this development have materialised and this is tearing the village apart. The concern now is how to solve the disquiet and get the village back to being a vibrant community. We knew what was needed but all the objections were ignored.
• There are problems with enforcement orders being made on houses were sheds have been erected. Sheds are required for storage of bicycles, lawnmowers etc. There are inadequate parking facilities. As East Lothian Council perceive themselves to be a green community it is surprising that occupants of the houses have to use tumble dryers as there are no outside drying facilities. No fencing has been erected around the houses even when small children are occupants.
• Before the development there were 15 houses in the Village and the development added a further 30 houses resulting in a great imposition for the village. The developers have now applied for a remix of the properties which involves the erection of flats making the development even denser.

CHICKEN SHEDS AT HUMBIE:

• Planning Officers recommended approval, Councillors refused permission and the Scottish Government Reporter upheld the Council’s decision. We think there needs to be a review as to why the Officers recommended approval as, without local opposition, this project may not have come to the attention of Councillors and would have gone through by default.

SECTION 75 AGREEMENTS:

• Where they are put in place how do we ensure they are accurate and adequately policed. The Shillinghill agreement did not cover the whole site.

• TIMESCALES
• Responses to requests and timescales for action often inordinately long e.g. over 12 months to have a 30 mph limit and signage introduced at Bolton.

• EDUCATION

• In Upper Bolton children from one semi-detached cottage are in the catchment area for Yester and children from the other cottage are in the catchment area for East Saltoun. As the children make their way to secondary School they will also be expected to attend differing Schools. This seems ridiculous and segregates children from meeting together. There also is an expensive cost implication to East Lothian Council. The Chief Executive wondered if this was only a short term decision
• When Crossroads School was closed children from Keith Marischall were put in the catchment area for Ormiston although Humbie is only about half a mile away. The primary School at Humbie is very important as young families are now living at Shillinghill.

• ROADS
• The Chief Executive explained that the Council cover quite a number of miles and feels that the road team do what they can. She urged that any road problems be reported timeously.

The Chief Executive promised to take our issues on board and report back.

BOLTON

(1)There has been a good response to the questionnaire re ‘buses where it was delivered to all the houses throughout the Villages, but it was a bit disappointing to note that the questionnaire had not gone out to all the households especially in Gifford. SJ reported that a report is being prepared and will be given to East Lothian Council and Don Prentice for consideration.

(2)The village awaits the arrival of the speed reactor sign being moved from East Saltoun.

WEST SALTOUN

(1)Work at Dryden Wood is awaited.

EAST SALTOUN

(1)Hardcore has not been installed at the ‘bus stop beside the Church.

(2)A letter will be sent to Stephanie Hall taking up the offer of a site visit at West Crescent to look at the parking facilities although it was agreed, many years ago, that parking would be increased in this area. Contact details for DS and RK will be given to her.

(3)It was felt that a review of the traffic calming near the School is warranted.

(4)A letter will be sent to East Lothian Council regarding the fallen bollard at the Post Office.

(5)Concern was expressed at the length of time the modifications on the ELHA houses has taken. This is being dealt with by RK and JMcM.

BOLTON

(1)It was agreed to fund the replacement of the Notice Board at the Village Hall up to the sum of £200.

(2)It is hoped that the steading development application will be put on next weeks list. RG and SJ will provide TT and JMcM with a report on the objections to this application. The two Councillors explained that there have to be valid planning arguments.

HUMBIE

(1)The road from Mavis Hall to Mavis Hall Park is in a terrible state. This will be reported along with the potholes at bridge at Scadlaw and the bridge at Humbie Dean.

(2)A letter will be sent to East Lothian Council requesting a ‘slow’ sign or ‘slow – pedestrians’ sign on the stretch of road passed Shillinghill.

(3)East Lothian Council will be asked to remove the Shillinghill Street sign as it is just Shillinghill.

(4)AB has sent an email to JMcM (copy to TT and LBL) asking him to thank members of the previous Planning Committee for their decision to refuse the Chicken Shed application. He also wrote to Councillor McLennan, as the previous chair of the Planning Committee, to thank the committee.

(5)AB asked that the meeting be informed that work on the Pogbie Windfarm (6 turbines, up to 76 metres height, approved 2009) is about to get underway. EBJ and AB are trying to set up a meeting with the developer (now a Danish company which has bought into Pogbie Windfarm Ltd) and is represented by a Glasgow firm of Lawyers.

(6)AB will finalise the accounts for the year this month and submit to East Lothian Council during September and to our next meeting.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

(1)SJ attended a recent CAPP meeting and reported that there was nothing directly related to our area.

(2)SJ had a meeting with the Community Police Officer, Debra Gray, who reported crimes in and around Humbie – attempted theft of caravan outside council houses; quad bikes stolen at Pogbie; mountain bikes stolen at Humbie Mill; two hare coursing events around Bolton/Saltoun/Morham.

(3)SJ reported that there is to be a tillage event at Westfield Farm.

(4)It was agreed not to send any money to relbus as there is a Local Bus Group and SJ will attend their next meeting.

(5)Community Council elections are due to take place on 4th October and everyone was encouraged to lodge a nomination paper by 4 pm on 13th September.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The Returning Officer will call the first meeting of the new Community Council meeting which is planned for WEDNESDAY 10th OCTOBER 2012 in the Village Hall at BOLTON at 7.30 p.m.