Haddington residents win battle to stop pump track being built near homes

Residents of a quiet housing estate have won their fight to stop a pump track being built on open grass in front of their homes.

East Lothian Council included the popular walking space at the entrance to a housing estate in Haddington in its list of possible sites for new tracks in a public consultation over the summer.

The local authority is planning to introduce the popular cycling facilities in towns across the county after national funding became available to promote the sport ahead of Scotland hosting the UCI Cycling World Championships next year.

However its decision to include open space near the entrance to Wellside in Haddington left residents bemused and sparked a leafleting campaign to make sure people knew.

Now it has been revealed the site received just 15% of the total votes gathered during the consultation as hundreds of people voted for their preferred spots.

Instead land at Whittingehame Drive, where a skate park is already established on the east of the town, came out on top with more than half of those who voted naming it their number one spot.

A report by council officers reveals that the Whittingehame Drive site was by far the most supported in the town with 56% of nearly 400 people who voted giving it the thumbs up.

A similar consultation in Prestonpans saw a proposal for a pump track at Cemetery Park come out on top with 33%m while Tranent residents gave their vote to a track in Polson Park with 39% of the vote.

In Musselburgh, the county’s largest town, a public survey saw proposals for a track behind the town’s Musselburgh East Community Centre win 36% of the votes.

Pump tracks are popular with skateboarders and off-road bikes and consist of a rolling track on hills and bends.

The report on the results said: “All the sites identified are of amenity or recreational designation.

“It is recommended that projects are taken forward at the highest scoring

locations and a full planning submission is brought forward.

“The exact area for a pump track within these sites will be subject to further survey and investigation.

“Detailed proposals and design will be included as part of the formal planning submission which will provide further opportunity for consultation and representation from representative groups, members of the community and local residents.”

More than 1,000 residents took part in the consultation with almost as many primary school aged children’s views logged in some areas as older adults.

In Prestonpans the largest number of voices heard were on behalf of children aged between 5 and 12 with a third of votes attributed to the youngsters.

Councillor Colin McGinn, cabinet spokesperson for community and well-being, said: “I am grateful to all of the people who came forward to take part in our consultation and particularly to all of the young people who took part and made sure their voice was heard.

“We believe that pump tracks are a great, free facility to skate, scoot and cycle at regardless of age or ability. It’s great to see such strong support for the proposals from our communities.”