Abbeylands Residents – Page 21 – High Street Dunbar

An Inconvenient Store

A Co-op Driver is parked inconveniently across a junction 13 November 2011

Here is a copy of the unedited letter sent to the East Lothian Courier, a testy but otherwise balanced protest against the increasing inconvenience of so-called convenience stores. Just in case you missed it, here is what was hastily sent. Little wonder that our High Streets have a poor reputation.

I am a long-standing supporter of the Co-op and the Co-op movement. Business generally has a lot to learn from the original 19th century co-op model, which has been a continuous source of innovations to this day.
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Decay and putrefaction in Dunbar

I went down to see inside the Abbey Church, Dunbar this afternoon. The scene was one of decay and putrefaction in amongst the dereliction, even before the small crop of councilors arrived. With wet rot everywhere and plaster detaching itself from walls like a bad case of psoriasis, the scene seems unimaginable so close to the High Street redolent of a surreal set for a neo-gothic TV drama. Alas, legal protection for this building, since its designation in the 70s has achieved absolutely nothing. Legislation that is intended to protect or at least guide the better management of the historic heritage of our town has failed, once again. Water penetration is now taking its toll. It is a matter of time before major structural damage will ensue and the building is finally condemned.

Local Review Body visit the Abbey Church

Consultees and Interested Parties have been invited to a site visit, which will take place this afternoon, Wednesday 29 August at 2.30pm. Previously on Abbeylands I wrote about the vagaries of the Planning Application No 11/00704/P (Derelict Church Converted to a 5 Bedroom House and Walled Garden at Abbey Church, Dunbar). The proposal was knocked back and Listed Building Consent was refused. The applicant, a local man and associate of Richard Murphy Architects – the prestigious Edinburgh Firm – Grahame Armett submitted an appeal.

Members of the Local Review Body and the Planning Adviser will carry out the site visit to become familiar with all the physical aspects of the site and the surrounding area.

We have been asked to note that, although we can point out to the Members of the Local Review Body the features of the site that relate to the application, that they will be unable to enter into a discussion on the merits of the case or accept any additional evidence. Nor does it give any right to enter property or land without permission.

The Local Review Body meeting is tomorrow, Thursday 30 August at 2pm in Haddington.

What concerns Abbeylands Residents?

We ran a small survey over the summer. Not the best time to get a good response rate, and not the largest sample, but we got a sufficient number of returns nonetheless and this has enriched the otherwise impressionistic picture of problems and issues that we have been building up for our end of the High Street. I am mindful that it is still only a snapshot of views (Link to the full interactive chart) but all the same indicative.

Ahead of all problems mentioned, and overwhelmingly so were:-

Lack of Residents Parking,
Littering around shops, and
Poor Council Consultation.

I am not sure we needed a survey to tell us there is not enough residents parking, there is no residents parking on the High Street, unless you’re lucky enough to be a social housing tenant!

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