Highlights: Community meetings for the Local Place Plan were arranged. ELC have replied to the village hall Planning Application with some concerns. Key objections, amongst other points, were lack of new parking, and the moving of stone material from the existing village green wall. CSY have advised that we should withdraw the application and submit a Pre Planning application, which should facilitate more detailed discussions with ELC. OCA have agreed to this.
Update on Fire at Landfill Site, Dunbar
An update from East Lothian Council:
Good afternoon all,
In addition to public communications the Council are about to issue I wanted to give you an update on the fire currently burning at the landfill site at Dunbar.
SEPA are the lead agency in respect of regulating the site and have been onsite today, actively assessing the situation along with colleagues from SFRS and ELC Environmental Health Services. SEPA have confirmed that the site is authorised to dispose of non-hazardous waste.
Following these assessments a multi-agency Incident Response Group meeting involving key partner agencies including SEPA, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, NHS Lothian, Police Scotland and Council Services was held to discuss and update information on the incident and agree on public messaging.
While the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service continue to monitor the situation, the fire is ‘under control and being managed by the site operator, though may continue to burn for many days.’
SEPA have ensured the operator is taking all necessary measures and have provided advice and guidance on mitigations, alongside colleagues from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
SEPA and the ELC Environmental Health Service will remain on site over the coming days to monitor both the fire and the smoke plume alongside CHEMET reports from Met Office colleagues while Incident Response Group meetings will continue as required.
The current wind direction is blowing the plume of smoke away from main housing areas while general health advice is to keep windows closed and avoid being outside for long periods of time if the smoke is particularly bad.
As all partner agencies monitor the incident the Council will update the social media communications message and I will keep you all updated.
Regards,
Scott
Scott Kennedy
Team Manager – Emergency Planning and Resilience
Protective Services, East Lothian Council,
Penston House, Macmerry Industrial Estate,
East Lothian EH33 1EX
W: 01620 827247
M: 07920 066099
Post-Flower Show BBQ!
To make the most of the day and the marquee, OCA will this year host a barbecue, immediately following on from the Flower Show. Come rain or shine, there will be food and music from 6 til 8pm. The Outside Inn bar will be staying on as well!
Please help us judge food quantities by pre-booking if you can. Just email info@oldhamstocks.org.uk with the request for your group. We will send bank details and ask if you would prefer meat or veggie on the night! Tickets will be available on the door, but in limited numbers.
Committee meeting, August 1st 2023
Highlights: The committee’s response to the land purchase offer made by Savilles has been sent, and we await a reply…
The village hall Planning Application has now been submitted!
East Lothian Draft Dementia Strategy Consultation
East Lothian Council are asking for your review of their proposed Dementia Strategy. Their message:
As you know, dementia can affect younger and older people and by 2040 we estimate that around 3,500 people will be living with dementia in East Lothian. We also have to consider the impact for families and carers.
The survey takes you through the key points of the strategy. It asks you to say if we have got the important things right and if there is anything else you think we should look at. You can find the survey at East Lothian Dementia Strategy – East Lothian Council – Citizen Space (eastlothianconsultations.co.uk)
Committee meeting, July 4th 2023
Highlights: An offer of a purchase price for the village hall land has been received. The committee felt the offer was far too high and have drafted a letter in response.
The Planning Application is now only waiting on clarification on pricing before going live on the ELC website.
Works is under way to get OCA SCIO officially recognised as a VAT-exempt charity. This will save us substantial amounts on the hall build.
Committee meeting, June 8th 2023
Highlights: Planning Application for the village hall has been submitted! Still waiting for it to be live on the East Lothian Council website, but a real big step forward!
The committee is pursuing an official VAT exemption certificate from HMRC, base on our charitable status.
Points from the community regarding bike racks in the village, and on disabled access to the new hall across the village have been noted.
Planning Application submitted!
Big news for the new village hall – final Planning drawings have been submitted to East Lothian Council!
We’ve been really close to submitting for a few weeks now, but after a last few tweaks, we are finally there. Our architects, CSY, made the submission on 6th June and you can view the full document set here.
Our application is now live on the East Lothian Planning website. ELC have split it into two applications, one for demolition of the old hall, and one for the new building. The posts are open to public comment until 1st September.
So now we have to wait! We’ve already had a few questions back regarding planting in the grounds. The committee will continue to work with CSY to answer any questions that come up from the council regarding Planning, and work towards Warrant drawings will soon be under way.
Village Hall Rental Fee Exemption
The OCA SCIO Committee has recently been reviewing rental charges for use of the Village Hall by community residents, and we would like to announce details of exemptions from rental charges.
There will be NO hall rental charges for events booked/held by a community member/friend of Oldhamstocks, provided the follow criteria are met:
- event should be for community member or close family (grandchild, child, parent, grandparent) and
- should qualify as a ‘life event’, such as wedding, funeral tea, christening party or
- be a fundraising event for a community member for a specific purpose
All other hall usage will continue to be charged at £7 per hour.
If anyone holding an event wishes to make a donation towards the upkeep of the hall, these will be most welcome.
If you have any questions about this, please contact the Secretary at info@oldhamstocks.org.uk
Committee meeting, May 4th 2023
Highlights: Committee agreed to instruct CSY to go ahead with Planning Application!
The latest report from our QS showed substantial rises in costs since the first estimates, 2 and half years ago. The committee has spent a great deal of time going through costs with the QS and the increases are now in line with what would be expected, considering the national levels of inflation, particularly in the construction industry.
The committee discussed the need for a small petrol generator to be kept on site. This is for emergencies only, so that the hall can be a reliable warm space during extended power cuts. It will work in tandem with solar panels and a battery, and can therefore be smaller than would otherwise be needed.