Summer 2008 Dunpender Community Council D UNPENDER N EWS Gala Queen, PEDAL POWERED PC Elen Averis Leading the East Linton Gala this year PC Hughes on his new bike was PC Kevin Hughes on his new bicy- (Photo: East Lothian LiFe) cle. Funded by local community coun- cils, including Dunpender, the new cy- cling PC has already clocked up 400 miles. “It is so much better than being stuck in the car,” commented Kevin, “It’s great!”. The funding included all weather clothing, a high impact helmet and top quality lighting so nothing should stop this policeman getting to the crime. PC Hughes can now move around Faster and travel much Further than on Foot, while still being approach- able and easy to talk to. He’s been learning some advanced bike manoeu- vers too including, as pictured, cycling Rebecca Davidson & Tamsin down steps in Dunbar! A B RUSH WITH F AME FOR Stories Park Path J AMES S ANDIE & S ON In April, Sandie’s was awarded the title of Scottish Decorator of the Year by the Scottish Decorators’ Federation. The Family business, Founded in 1868, was one of ten nominated For the top award, and was judged on a recent decorating project it carried out on an eight-storey Gala News house in Edinburgh. In a proud moment For the company, brothers Murray and Another Footpath Improved! Inside Colin Stewart were presented with an engraved crystal bowl trophy. Last year, DCC obtained planning permission For the repair oF the river- new look side path at Stories Park. This repair work has been carried out and the Dunpender Community result is a really super short walk Council has taken over the along the River Tyne, From the bot- Full production oF our news- letter From East Lothian tom of Stories Park along to the Linn Council. We hope you like Falls. It meanders along through the the result. Your sugges- trees, alongside the river and, at this tions and comments would lush time of year in particular, makes be greatly valued. a beautiFully peaceful stroll. Scottish Decorators of the year! Dunpender News Page 2 M EET A C OMMUNITY C OUNCILLOR Dunpender P ATRICIA S TEPHEN Community Council Born and brought up in East Lin- ton, Patricia Stephen is a well East Linton known member oF the local com- Judith Priest (Chair) munity. She runs the very suc- 83 High Street, East Linton cessFul Phantassie Organic Vege- table box business which, as well EH40 3BQ Tel 860380 as providing veg-boxes in the local Tyninghame and Whitekirk area, has now expanded to oFFer a Janet Pooley (Vice-chair) local Food market to Edinburgh residents called Earthy Foods & The Tithe Barn, Whitekirk Goods. EH42 1XS Tel 870344 Patricia leFt East Linton in her Hailes teens to go to University in Kent Bill Alder (Secretary) and study History and Politics. Granary House, Kippielaw, This was a time when students didn’t know the meaning of the Haddington EH41 4PY word “apathy” and Patricia was Tel 861171 actively involved in University liFe. East Linton She chaired the Radical Women’s Group and having realised that the best way to encourage students to protest was to Feed them John Robson (Treasurer) good Food, helped to Facilitate the most successFul ever sit-in the University had ever seen! 9 Drylaw Terrace, East Linton Patricia showed early entrepreneurial promise as soon as she leFt University by starting her own EH40 3BA Tel 860842 whole food business when most of the country was still eating “Smash”, “Vesta Curry” and “Angel Alison Cosgrove Delight”! Importing wholegrain rice from Italy and bringing Thai food across from Holland the peo- 13 Stories Park, East Linton ple oF Canterbury must have been very bemused. It was however a great success, selling whole- EH40 3BN Tel 860812 sale and retail and quickly became an established business with several branches. Barry Craighead Moving back to East Linton, and bringing her new partner Ralph with her, Patricia started growing organic vegetables at Phantassie over 10 years ago. Fitting motherhood around starting a busi- 40 Longstone Avenue, ness is never easy but Patricia seems to thrive on a challenge. The business also became a mem- East Linton EH40 3BS ber oF WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) with Patricia welcoming many visitors Tel 861765 From around the world to help out on the East Linton site. Robert Russel Patricia joined the community council around the same time she was setting up her business. She 17 The Dean, East Linton Felt she had something to oFFer; her retail experience had given her an insight into the bureaucracy oF local government, she knew the area and she was an active A1 campaigner. Now an invaluable EH40 3ED Tel 860702 member of the council, and an expert on local planning matters, Patricia’s contribution is exten- Tyninghame and Whitekirk sive. How she Fits everything in is a wonder, but then I get the impression that Patricia relishes the Liz Kilpatrick challenge! White Cottage, Newbyth EH40 3DU Tel 870353 LOCAL PRIORITIES 2008-2009 Ted Hill We enter the new budgetary year with little or no overhang From the last as 3 Lochhouses, Whitekirk most projects now have to be completed within the time span of the ELC an- nual budget. All last year’s projects were carried through. This year’s Budget is EH42 1XP Tel 870277 £4370. Whittingehame So Far we are committed to: Linda Shaw Stewart Helping upgrade the heating in the Community Hall in East Linton EastField Steading, Providing Planters in Tyninghame and ivy clearance in Whittingehame Whittingehame EH41 4QA Encouraging the Scotland in Bloom team with money For plants Tel 01368 850358 Match Funding ELC to provide CCTV at the Sports Pavilion to combat mind- Beanston & Markle less vandalism Jan Ferguson Providing Hampden quality Floodlights (we hope!) For our newly Fledged Foot- East Cottage, Markle Mains ball team. EH40 3EB Publishing printing and distributing the Dunpender News and Dunpender Tel 860786 tourist leaFlet Continuing to work at more permanent Christmas Lights in East Linton and Meetings Whitekirk as the regulations surrounding their erection get more onerous. First Thursday oF every month Following a constituent suggestion we are looking at commissioning a series of (except July and August) Dunpender Postcards For local sale and promotion rather than repeating the 7.30pm tourist leaFlet. Any input on this would be appreciated. Council Chambers, East Linton We welcome all requests and suggestions From residents. A copy of our Policy governing LPS awards is available From any of us or at www.dunpender.net Page 3 Summer 2008 VIEW FROM THE C HAIR Judith . Elections Footpaths BeautiFul Scotland Priest Community Council elections Since Christmas the new East Linton will be entering were held in April and Dun- path along the river at Sto- the BeautiFul Scotland com- pender CC was Formed with- ries Park has been Finished, petition again this summer out contest. All our Commu- just in time as the old path as it more or less sums up a nity Councillors opted For re- has Fallen into the river in lot oF the work we have been election except For Janet two places. Some new trying to do here in the last Boyd From Tyninghame who bushes will be planted there seven years. We have two has retired due to other com- and we’ve already had re- new Flowerbeds, one at the mitments. That position has quests For the path to con- Park and one at Mill Wynd now been taken by Ted Hill tinue on round to Preston and I Feel sure the judges will from Lochhouses and I’m Road so we’ll be looking into be impressed by the new sure that he will be a capa- that. The path at St community garden at the ble and enthusiastic council- Baldred’s well has had new School, a real asset and well lor. I’ve remained in the gravel put on it and signs worth the huge amount oF chair, Bill Alder is still Secre- ordered For the Markle path. work done by those who tary, John Robson remains A bench has been ordered made it happen. The compe- Treasurer but Patricia For a pleasant spot above tition is not just about Flow- Stephen has stepped down Knowes Ford. ers though; this is roughly as Vice-chairman, this post Weeds and undergrowth how the score-sheet looks: now being held by Janet Poo- have been cleared From be- Planting: 35 points [halF For ley. side the Footbridge at East public places/ businesses Linton Surgery, lighting is and halF For residential gar- Community Projects also being installed there dens] and the Footbridge is to be When I First became chair- Sustainable development, painted sometime this year. recycling etc: 30 points man in 2001 we wrote a We’re still trying to have the strategy, helped by a survey main bridge painted – a grey, Environment [no litter, dog oF residents, which was ugly eyesore right at the en- dirt, gum etc]: 20 points aimed at bringing more visi- trance to our main street! Public participation: 15 tors to the Dunpender area points in a bid to keep our busi- Village Signs nesses going. Since then we Work has been done at the So you see that we can all have worked our way west entrance to East Linton help to win this prize! Ted Hill through the list, Funding and where the turn-oFF From A199 managing projects to im- is not easily seen after dark. The Community Council will prove the appearance oF Lighting, signing and road be taking a break during July East Linton and the ameni- marking work should help and August so our next meet- ties on oFFer throughout the make this safer.