Good planning in communities being sacrificed on altar of short-term thinking

Cliff Hague, chair of heritage body the Cockburn Association, identifies factors which threaten the qualities of Scotland’s capital city (Perspective, 21 May). He introduces a set of concise papers to be prepared by the association which seek to open up the debate “for everyone who loves Edinburgh”. I shall very much look forward to reading these.

Seventeen miles east of Edinburgh, H adding ton ex hibits some of the concerns he expresses. Here the grow th of the town is happening in a manner which is damaging to its landscape setting, consumes prime quality agricultural land, and is in a physical form which lacks any evidence whatsoever of design. The approach to the historic Royal Burgh from the west has been mishandled to such a degree that it is difficult to detect any of the ele - ments of the measured planning approach which used to be taught in planning schools and be regarded as good practice. My spirits sink on passing through the now partially completed development.

H adding ton and District Amenity Society( HAD AS) was established in 1995 under the aegis of the Scottish Civic Trust and ,24 year slater, is likely to fold at the next annual general meeting in the autumn. It was realised in the early 1990s that Haddington, with its evident attractions as a place to live, would come under pressure for development and it seemed to those of us who founded the Society that there was the need for a member-based organisation which would relay the views of the community on plans and proposals to the planning authority. We made the assumption, naively in retrospect, that anyone in council buildings was listening. It is difficult to see a way for the Society continue when we have signally failed to influence change.

HADAS has had some notable achievements, including tree planting, replacement of church railings at St Mary’ s, initiating the H adding ton Vision project in 2011 and the organisation of an annual lecture in the memory of Frank Tindall, who was the County Planning Officer here up until 1975. Recently we erected a plaque in his memory on the wall of the house at 1 Bridge Street, where he lived following his appointment as County Planning Officer in 1950.

Clearly there are differences in scale, and qualitatively, between Edinburgh and Haddington, but also similarities. At the root of our problems here is an inability or in capa city on the part of the statutory authority to understand what makes a place work, visually and in terms of access, as the essential context for decisions regarding the future. Change must happen and be embraced – but it must, surely, be managed in a manner which is respectful of context. The historic qualities of our cities and burghs deserve no less. At the moment we seem to be losing sight of what matters on the altar of shorttermism. It is difficult to know how to break this trend – we wish the Cockburn Association well.

ANDREW ROBINSON Chair, Haddington and District

Amenity Society Station Road, Haddington

East Lothian