PAGE 3 PAGE 16 Fresh, tasty and healthy Saltire 2016 Our schools receive prestigious bronze Popular winter festival award for their nutritious meals programme unveiled PAGE 3 East Lothian PAGE 13 Investing in our Book your communities place Multi-million pound New mobile programme will boost skills, innovation library service and infrastructure www.eastlothian.gov.uk SUMMER 2016 Living NEWS FROM YOUR COUNCIL Building a bright future ORE than 80 East Colin Macdonald, Managing Lothian senior Director at Hart Builders, said: school pupils will “The new centre presents a be embarking unique opportunity to grow Mon an exciting new course after our local talent and is the summer break when the something that Hart Builders Construction and Technology wholeheartedly supports. Centre welcomes its first intake. “Harts, as a local company, Located in a former council already employs a large number office in Musselburgh, which was of its workforce from the East also previously used as a Job Lothian area and offers Centre, the facility is an East regular work experience and Lothian Partnership initiative, set placement opportunities. up to help address a skills “We are keen to do even more shortage in the construction to help promote this initiative.” sector. The Dunbar Grammar It will also maintain East pupils pictured have secured Lothian’s position of having a places at the Centre higher than average number of through the well-established residents working in the industry. The new centre and successful partnership East Lothian, Edinburgh and the will address a skills arrangements facilitated by South East region are set to shortage in the the council’s employability hub, experience further significant construction sector East Lothian Works. growth in new housing along with investment in other major FOR MORE information construction projects, providing on the Construction and opportunities for those already Introductory construction by Edinburgh College, with direct to employment for the students. Technology Centre, email working in construction or those trades courses and the new input from the construction It’s hoped the centre will be [email protected] considering their options in terms Foundations Apprenticeship in industry to ensure courses are able to offer up to 160 places in Tel 01620 827262 of future career choice. civil engineering will be delivered relevant and likely to lead directly future years. INSIDE: Superfast broadband • Affordable housing • What’s on • Work experience • Internship success 2 Living East Lothian News Summer 2016 Pupils look forward to new classrooms PUPILS returning to Prestonpans a major population boom with Infants School for the new term new housing developments will enjoy extra classrooms across the town. provided as part of a £400,000 “The council aims to extension being delivered by the balance this growth with council’s development partner, an associated expansion of Hub South East Scotland Ltd, with our services, including our GRAHAM Construction the main school estate. contractor. “Prestonpans Infants has The two-storey extension will already been extended and this provide two additional classrooms new work completes the second for the growing school and will be phase of major extensions. used by P2 pupils. “I know it is something that has Council Leader Willie Innes and some of the Council Leader, Willie Innes, been welcomed by local parents youngsters check out progress on the classrooms said: “Prestonpans is experiencing and school staff.” Council prioritises the installation of superfast broadband in East Lothian CONTACT Living East Lothian, Communications and Marketing, John Muir House, Haddington EH41 3HA Tel: 01620 827743 E-mail: living@ Connecting our eastlothian.gov.uk Web: www.eastlothian.gov.uk Editor: Jill Mackay Contributors: Pauline Bristow Fiona Dawson Rachel Dixon communities Jane Ogden-Smith CCESS to a reliable funding and support for and detailed the next stages of John McMillan, said: “Improving Main photography: broadband service is a community-led broadband the project, which aims to community broadband in Mark Jackson key issue affecting solutions, confirmed that the gaps improve internet connectivity East Lothian is a top priority for rural communities in in coverage across East Lothian across the county. the council. Living is designed by AEast Lothian. would mean a county-wide project To take this forward, it is “I want this project to be another Connect Publications, Last year, a survey undertaken by could be established. envisaged that a community group step towards ensuring all properties Studio 2001, Mile End, the council about the demand for A public meeting was held earlier will be set up to manage the in East Lothian have access to Paisley PA1 1JS. superfast broadband and the this year to discuss bringing funding and delivery of the superfast broadband. Web: www.connect impact this issue has on the superfast broadband to the areas of superfast broadband project in “There is still more work to be communications.co.uk residents of East Lothian identified East Lothian that are not going to East Lothian. done with the Scottish Printed by Newsquest that 75 per cent of respondents Government, BT and other agencies (Herald & Times) Ltd on were dissatisfied with their internet “Improving community broadband to ensure that we do achieve behalf of East Lothian Council connection and that the superfast coverage in the county.” instability of the connection in East Lothian is a top priority for Stuart Gibb, Area Manager for This publication is available impacted on both their professional the council. I want this project to be Haddington and Lammermuir in Braille, large print, audio and social lives. another step towards ensuring all Area Partnership, said: “All and community languages on Four of the six Area Partnerships presentations and notes from the request. Tel: 01620 827199 in East Lothian have identified the properties in East Lothian have public event have been made need for superfast broadband in access to superfast broadband” available on the East Lothian rural areas as being a key element Council website for those who of their Area Plans and the be served by any of the existing Anyone interested in becoming were unable to attend, alongside Haddington and Lammermuir broadband programmes. involved in the community group links to relevant websites and Area Partnership is taking the lead Presentations from Digital should contact the Area Partnership further information on the Please remember to recycle role in finding and delivering Scotland Superfast Broadband, on areapartnership@eastlothian. community group. your copy of Living a solution. Community Broadband Scotland gov.uk “We want to make sure that © East Lothian Council 2016 Discussions with Community and Atkins-Farrpoint highlighted Economic Development and anyone with a vested interest in Broadband Scotland, who provide the work already under way Tourism spokesman, Councillor this project is able to get involved.” Web: www.eastlothian.gov.uk E-mail: [email protected] Twitter: @ELCouncil Tel: 01620 827827 Living East Lothian 3 Summer 2016 News Ambitious plans for City Region Deal are outlined AST Lothian Council is one Infrastructure refers to both for East Lothian to be part of six local authorities that Multi-million investment will boost transport networks and digital of a massive investment to deliver make up the Edinburgh technology. A regional housing projects that will have a real impact and South East skills, innovation and infrastructure programme would aim to address on the lives of our residents EScotland City region, working the urgent need for affordable of all ages – and build a solid collectively on a bid to the UK and and decision-making powers council’s financial contribution housing across the City Region Deal future for young people and Scottish Governments for a City for the region to help us towards the deal. area of Edinburgh, East Lothian, communities. Region Deal. deliver public services more The proposals have been shaped West Lothian, Midlothian, Fife and “The potential scale of the The deal is a mechanism for effectively and to tackle inequality around four interconnected the Scottish Borders. A culture and investment, plus the issues we’re accelerating growth by pulling and deprivation. programmes: tourism programme would build looking to tackle, are hugely in significant government At the June full council meeting, ● innovation hubs on the estimated 3.8 million visitors significant. I’m very pleased we are investment. East Lothian councillors heard ● infrastructure investment a year to the region. moving forward with this deal.” By investing this funding in more detail on the focus, scope and ● a regional housing programme The deal aims to create a step Councillor John McMillan, infrastructure, skills and innovation scale of the proposed Edinburgh ● a culture and tourism change in the economic Cabinet Spokesperson the region’s economic performance and South East Scotland City programme. performance while tackling for Economic Development will be significantly improved, Region Deal. Innovation hubs will be based deprivation and is hoped to attract and Tourism, said: “This which will not only generate funds Priorities for the deal were agreed, around low-carbon initiatives, data a £2 billion investment from the is potentially a huge investment to pay back this initial investment, along with approval to form a joint technology, life sciences, food and Scottish