Why did the chicken cross the road?

Bob Jagendorf https://www.flickr.com/photos/bobjagendorf/3488674595/As every schoolboy knows the answer is “to get to the other side.” Many, including this opinionated bien pensant, will understand the reason that the chicken does stuff is fundamentally a philosophical question. There is more to it than just getting across the road.

Why it even helps explain why East Lothian Council Transport Department does things the way it does. I checked the canonical texts over at philosophy.eserver.com, and substituted “ELC Transport Department” for the ubiquitous chicken. To save you time, I suggest that ELC Transport Department is – unlike our beautiful cock – an incongruous and weird mashup of Plato, Marx, Hume, Reagan and Thatcher, though I am sure my readers – all 3 of them will have alternative interpretations. I only wish they would ask Constable. Continue reading Why did the chicken cross the road?

A beautiful yard?

Those of you that have been paying attention will know about the progressive decline of the Abbey Church in Dunbar and the extended planning shenanigans, which ended up in a failed appeal to establish an audacious 5 bed modern home inside the shell of the B listed church. Graham Armet, local architect has bounced back with a fresh proposal.

The shell concept has been retained and now accommodates a spacious garden, and much more modest small and simple home over 2 floors. There’s every attempt to keep a fair amount of the old, the main structural elements are retained, as did the previous proposal, though realistically this one should be easier to implement as the woodwork and roof, mostly in a poor state, will now be removed. What I have seen of this proposal makes me think that it is realistic and achievable. I am especially intrigued by the semi public element to the gardens, which certainly gets my approval. I hope the planners work with the developer and give this the green light.

To comment on this proposal: search for these details:

14/00137/LBC | Alterations, extension to building, formation of hardstanding areas, raised terraces and demolition of parts of building | Abbey Church Abbey Road Dunbar East Lothian EH42 1JP

Concrete gardens – is a car park coming to a green space near you?

coosgreenOur friends over at Coosgreen, have tipped us off that the long awaited consultation on car parking in North Berwick has begun. At least they are getting a fairly detailed consultation and some options not long after the publication of the research. Moreover residents are being asked too whether the proposals for residents parking should be extended. Nice, we approve, but one is tempted to see this as a bribe. By contrast, residents over in Dunbar have to rely on research and decisions from as far back in 2005/6, while recent requests for their views and parking needs to be taken into account dismissed pretty much out of hand.

Continue reading Concrete gardens – is a car park coming to a green space near you?