AHSS casework

Forth and Borders Cases Panels updated 09.08.04

East Lothian Cases Panel
The addition of several new members last year has made a difference to both coverage and quality in casework. The group meets fortnightly in members' houses or, on occasions, in outstanding buildings such as Gosford last year and Northfield this year - thanks to our President and to Finlay Lockie respectively. Rare teas on historic dining and kitchen tables are part of the reward for being on the casework treadmill. Thanks also to East Lothian group members for all their help.

The council has launched an experiment whereby comments and objections can be e-mailed to them. With their well established weekly e-mail of new cases, we have an excellent service. With the Structure Plan process now in train, there is an opportunity for the Society to continue to help maintain and enhance the built heritage which is so much under threat. For us lucky townies, the future is broadband.

As for casework, there are, as ever, gains and losses. The excellent work being done at historic houses such as Johnstounburn House is balanced by so many plastic conservatories, staring rooflights, dishes and antennae elsewhere. The council appears to have lost the former council's polices for colour schemes in conservation areas such as at Haddington. uPVC windows are endemic. However, we are pleased that Adam's Seton House has possibly found a sympathetic owner, although we still fear for the wreck that was his Archerfield House.

Historic farm steadings in East Lothian continue to be threatened by conversion and residential development, such as West Fenton Farm, North Berwick, where 16 houses, six flats and the usual parking is proposed. The same thing may happen at Monkton Gardens, Old Craighall, where the remains of a listed walled garden and corner lodge with painted ceiling, now in the care of Historic Scotland, survive. Executive houses in the village with drives and new gates in listed walls are all of great concern. The council are fortunately negotiating with the applicants and we have advised the Historic Scotland Inspector.

One of the saddest losses must be Beach House (or Beech House) on the waterfront at Prestonpans. This small coastal town has the amazing Preston Tower and Cross as well as Northfield House and a doocot. The rest of the town appears to have been abandoned to redevelopment since the Second World War. However, it has inspired local action which the Society has been pleased to support.

Brian Young
Panel Member

Forth Cases Panel
It's been a quiet few months in terms of the numerous large-scale redevelopment schemes on the boil in and about the city. Having said that, there has recently been some encouraging news regarding our objections to the Royal Infirmary development at Lauriston Place. Following a hearing on 9 April, the development sub-committee decided to continue consideration of the main application with a view to asking the applicant to reduce the general scale, height and quantity of the development and respect the existing building lines. Most importantly, the applicant was asked to reconsider the application in conjunction with the associated applications for listed building consent as well as the previous brief for the site. Meanwhile, related applications continue to issue forth, including the removal of the 1981 extension's steel chimneys, and the relocation of the statue of George II to Little France.

It's been encouraging to see the council refusing and enforcing applications for 'tilt and turn' replacements for traditional sash windows in Annfield and other streets nearby. We were also pleased to see the withdrawal of an application proposing to convert various unsuitable office and commercial premises into compact residential units at 124 Lothian Road by adding an unsympathetically designed additional floor at roof level. Other satisfactory outcomes included two proposals to introduce cramped and unsympathetic housing to a gap site adjoining Prestonfield Lodge. The first adopted an uncharacteristic flat roof and terracotta cladding, while the second sported a timber clad shed-like structure at first floor level, abutting the stone gable of a five-story tenement building. Both applications went to appeal and happily, both were rejected. Less encouragingly, plans to build a thirty six-apartment block and leisure facility within the walled garden at Norton House Hotel have been given the go-ahead without condition, despite a strong objection.

On a more mundane level, this period has seen the weekly planning lists inundated with submissions to place large communal refuse containers at the roadside throughout the Stockbridge area (and further afield). While the Society welcomed the decision by the council to apply listed building constraints and have each application judged separately according to its individual circumstances, it is left with the feeling that because of the containers' inherent impermanence and reversibility, it is harder to make a case against them. The council has however, received a number of well-argued representations from the Society and other interested bodies. Notifications of decisions on these cases have, at the time of writing, been scarce, which suggests that some thought is being given to these matters.

We have an enthusiastic and dependable group of volunteers on the panel at present, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all the time and effort they put in each week.

Laurence Parkerson
Panel Secretary