Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Assurances have been sought from the UK Government that a proposed new multi-million pound bike centre at a former textile mill in Innerleithen will go-ahead – amid “suggestions” it might not.
Plans were approved last year for the conversion of 234-year-old Caerlee Mill at Damside.
It was backed by the Borderlands Growth Deal – supported by both the UK and Scottish governments.
South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) hopes the development could create more than 400 jobs for the area in coming years.
The am is to “achieve a world leading centre for mountain biking in the heart of the Scottish Borders”.
The building would cater for a wide range of activities, including bike design, testing and manufacture of bike components and accessories, as well as training and support facilities for elite riders.
But with a new Labour government in power in Westminster there is uncertainty over the commitment to funding the conversion.
This week, David Mundell, Scottish Conservative & Unionist MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale, raised his concern in Parliament.
In a question to Kirsty McNeill, Under Secretary of State in the Scotland Office, he asked: “Can she assure us that the mountain bike centre at the Caerlee Mill in Innerleithen is prioritised?
“There has been a suggestion that the project will not now go-ahead in that location.
“It is vital that we have that centre and it is vital that that mill is refurbished.”
In response, the under-secretary said her officials were working with all the groups involved to progress the project.
She said the UK government had committed £19m to the scheme, adding: “My officials are working closely with all local partners – including Scottish Borders Council – to progress the project.
“I expect an update on the development of the project shortly.”
Caerlee Mill was built by Alexander Brodie in 1788 and added to over the years.
It was the first water-powered textile mill in the Borders.
Its success led to a great increase in the local population from 463 in 1841 to 2,313 by 1881 and at its peak it employed about 400 workers.
A management takeover saved the site in 2010 but it closed for good in 2013, at which time it was Scotland’s oldest continually-operating textile mill.
Yellowcraig car park will have an 11pm - 4am parking ban.
An overnight parking ban at East Lothian’s coastal car parks is set to be made permanent with a new curfew of 11pm introduced.
East Lothian Council’s cabinet members will be asked to approve the new night time closures, which have been trialled along the coast, after the closing time was changed.
And they will decide whether to allow a number of designated overnight spaces for motor homes at some of the car parks, which will have to be pre-booked by visitors.
A report to cabinet says that since the Covid pandemic coastal car parks in the county have seen an increase in the number of vehicles visiting.
It says: “Camping and motor home activity at coastal car parks has caused damage to the biodiversity of this protected area by the lighting of fires and barbecues as well as generating litter.”
Officers introduced a trial 10pm to 6am ban on parking last year with a very limited number of motor home spaces available for overnight stops.
Now they are asking councillors to allow them to introduce a new ban which will run from 11pm to 4am following feedback from the public and provide additional motor home parking spaces at Linkfield and Whitesands at Dunbar and the Boat Yard, Prestonpans in the future.
There are currently some motor home spaces available at Yellowcraig Beach and Shore Road, Belhaven. It is expected all the spaces set aside for motor homes will have to be pre-booked.
Visitor numbers to East Lothian’s coast have surged since the Covid pandemic leading to extra patrols being sent out to oversee campers and a crackdown on overnight stays.
Last month the countryside rangers reported an ‘alarming amount of human waste’ being found at its sites, in particular at the most popular beach Yellowcraig.
Cabinet will be asked to approve the new order when it meets later this week.
A Battery Energy Storage System in Pillswood, Hull. Image credit Fully Charged Show.
Concerns have been raised over plans to build a battery energy storage site on the fringe of Bathgate.
A response to a Holyrood consultation on the plan had been delayed after West Lothian Councillor Danny Logue expressed his fears about fire risks.
A motion presented by the council leader highlighted the dangers of battery plant fires and called on the Scottish Government to take note of the historic risks at such plants.
Planners recommended concerns could be handled by planning conditions.
Last month Councillor Logue highlighted the severity of fires at storage plants around the world including Australia and the US, where firefighters had fought for days to control fires.
At this month’s meeting he again raised his fears about the planned site next to the Boghead Roundabout.
“I’m concerned about the distance,” he told fellow councillors. “There’s been there’s been a number of serious incidents around the world. I have reservations because the distance from residential areas is not great enough.”
And the SNP councillor Carl John asked a planning officer if he thought the Fire Service would be able to tackle a disaster at such a site.
Councillor Fitzpatrick, who had tabled the motion, said it was not for the council planning department to speak for the Fire Service.
Planning officer Tony Irving told the meeting that the Scottish Government was consulting Scottish Fire and Rescue as part of the wider consultation.
Councillor Fitzpatrick reminded the meeting that the council was being asked for its views as a consultee and not as the planning authority making a decision on the development.
Other worries raised about the proposed site centred on pollution and the disposal and decommissioning of batteries.
The council could object to the plans set to be lodged under the 1989 Electricity Act but that would force a Government public enquiry with a potential financial liability for the council if it lost.
The plan proposes the installation of a battery energy storage system and associated infrastructure with a generating capacity of up to 200MW on land at Pond Industrial Estate, Whitburn Road, Bathgate.
The proposed development consists of the siting of 74 containerised battery storage units and ancillary equipment. A sub-station building and a high voltage compound, together with a Scottish Power Transmission compound area. Storage containers, a SUDS basin and concrete perimeter walls measuring 11ft and a 16ft wall height on the southern and eastern sides of the application site respectively will be erected, which will act as acoustic barriers.
The site will be surrounded by a further security fence with CCTV installed.
Fire officers told a recent meeting of Bathgate Local Area Committee that such sites have significant input from the Fire Service at all development stages. The town’s community council has lodged no objections during the Scottish Government consultation.
The paper before the Executive recommended no objections be lodged and also that the council rules governing responses to consultations around national infrastructure such as the Electricity Act be updated by the next meeting of the full council at the end of the month.
The Council Executive also agreed to convey to the Scottish Government that any consent granted should take into account concerns raised by members at the Executive. It added information on the five biggest lithium ion battery fires to date, calling on the government to take cognisance of them.
