Barodunum – Abbeylands Residents

Are you covered?

No, you are not!

Gull Control in the East Lothian Council Area is a discretionary service. For a number of years now the service has been made available on demand only, but I am not sure anyone round our way knew that. One might have guessed given the “austerity cuts” and direct observation, if you ever go out in Dunbar between April-September it is Guano Central.

The lack of control raises important questions about the environmental, social/health and economic costs of ceasing treatment, particularly at a time of concern about avian virus vectors.

Originally published in May 2012; Amended: May 2020

If you are a regular on Dunbar High Street or planning to visit don’t forget the brolly! It is raining today, but at other times you are in for a different sort of shower. For the Herring Gulls (aka Larus argentatus) are back to regale us with their raucus call and much more. By April / May in most years the High Street, parked cars and windows are already getting decorated with multi-colored guano, birds seem to have a perpetual diarrhea. If you are lucky enough, you may get hit from on high by the foul smelling stuff.

If you live on and around the High Street, and there is a nest or more nearby, expect to have to wash your car, windows and patios/decks several times a week at least, or even daily if you’re on a flight path.

Continue reading Are you covered?

Property Repair & Maintenance Evening Event – Haddington

Does your property need TLC? If it is over 200 years almost certainly the answer to this is yes. Repair and ongoing maintenance of older properties can be difficult, and can be critical if past repairs have been botched or unsympathetic to the original materials used.

This property repair & maintenance evening follows on from previous successful events. The aim is to give advice and support to encourage owners to maintain their buildings, and, importantly to repair using the appropriate materials and techniques.

Continue reading Property Repair & Maintenance Evening Event – Haddington

RESIDENTIAL PARKING FOR ABBEYLANDS: KEEP THE CUL DE SAC QUIET & SAFE

Petition to formalise residential parking and establish an attractive street scheme in the Abbeylands cul de sac. Say no to a public parking lot. We’ve moved the petition to Change.org. If you only signed a paper version, it won’t harm if you sign online again.

Only complete this form if you have a High Street address, or expect that new restrictions will have an impact on you (e.g. you live on Church Street or Woodbush.) If you’re sympathetic to the cause give it a thumbs up! The original petition was the following:

We residents of South High Street and Abbeylands, Dunbar request that the long term car parking be retained in the cul de sac and formalised as resident only parking. We also request that a scheme is designed to improve the safety of the junction, the attractiveness street scene and enhance the feeling of quiet and safety.

The new petition (since ELC is seeking planning permission to develop a car park on the neighbouring site):

Abbeylands is a quiet cul de sac off the High Street and within the Dunbar Conservation Area. Plans to create social housing that could have benefited the old or the infirm have now been shelved. The residents of South High Street and Abbeylands, Dunbar request that only the long term car parking be retained in the cul de sac and formalised as resident-only parking. We also request that a scheme is designed to improve the safety of the junction, the attractiveness street scene and enhance the feeling of quiet and safety.

The old yard site should not be developed as a public car park, but it could be a good location for a pocket park. The old Empire cinema site should be developed as a community garden, along the lines of Lady Kitty’s in Haddington.

These sites may lack the emotional appeal of “Coos Green” (North Berwick) also threatened with a car park proposal, but have a fascinating and rich history. Dunbar’s so-called backlands are an important part of the heritage and landscape of Dunbar and should not be developed any further.

If the council create another car park here it will only attract pointless speculative traffic (paradoxically it will be filled by mainly residents and local businesses), create noise for neighbours, reduce safety near the Parish Hall and further reduce the quality of this part of the town.

Please say no.

East Lothian Council: Halt plans to develop a car park on the old yard at Abbeylands, Dunbar

Or pop round to number 29 High Street and sign up the old fashioned way.

[update: 70+ positive responses so far by the old fashioned route, never knew so many lived within just 100 yards!]

Save the Date: Save the High Street / Town Meeting UPDATE

Dunbar Traders Association have been in dialogue with East Lothian Council for a long time to unblock some of the chronic issues that they perceive affect the traders and to an extent shoppers. Latterly so have we, as individuals and as residents, but for different reasons (a chronic lack of and misdirected investments, poor maintenance and weak/absent citizen engagement).

There is a strong and common desire to make the High Street more attractive and welcoming to visitors and local shoppers, but this is hampered by overly complicated or obscure local government red tape, uncoordinated activities (and lack of joined up thinking), and lack of direction and impetus (there are too many uncoordinated initiatives, and no vision or strategy, as in Musselburgh or Haddington) and there is serious under-investment, while previous efforts have been allowed to fall into disrepair.

Continue reading Save the Date: Save the High Street / Town Meeting UPDATE