Summer 2009 Dunpender Community Council D UNPENDER N EWS WISH YOU WERE HERE! When retailers told us that no postcard of East Lin­ ton seemed to exist and that both local people and visitors would really appreciate one, we thought that this was an ideal opportunity to help support local business and tourism. The result is this new postcard, with four views showing just a few high­ lights of the Dunpender area. Many thanks to Garry Menzies for donating such beautiful spring photos for the card. Send these 35p postcards this summer to faraway friends and family to show them a little of what East Linton has to offer. You can buy the cards at the Post Office, Votadinis, Malcolms, East Linton Li­ brary, Knowes Farm Shop, Tyninghame Coffee Shop and Smeaton Gar­ den Centre. If you know of a B&B, self­catering or other business that would like a supply of postcards, please contact Liz Kilpatrick on 01620 870353. Iain Gray S CHOOL FAIR RAISES MSP Saving VALUABLE FUNDS Scotland On May 16th, the School held an extremely successful May Fair which raised over £900 for School funds. Parent Council memBers Helen Pickles, Kay Henderson and Jeannie BarBer, pictured here, helped to organise the event, which was Blessed with sunny weather. The Fair was opened By MSP Iain Gray, who has taken a keen interest in East Linton Primary School’s achieve­ ment of its Silver Eco Schools Award. Parent Council Members No Adverts! The Gala Queen You may notice that we are not carrying adverts in this edition of the Dunpender News. Advertising has always been our way of helping to promote local businesses Gala whilst also helping to fund this newsletter. The success of The East Linton District advertiser makes this promotion less nec- Gallery essary. A huge thank you to all the local Babies and businesses who over the years have sup- Inside Toddlers Float ported the News. Dunpender News Summer 2009 Dunpender House Martins – Have You Seen Any Yet? Community Council House Martins return to their traditional please be patient. It might be a slight East Linton nest sites during April-June after arduous inconvenience – undoubtedly they have Judith Priest (Chair) flights from as far away as Africa. These ‘messy’ habits. However, this can surely 83 High Street, East Linton amazing little birds are under serious be tolerated, a small mess in return for EH40 3BQ Tel 860380 threat from habitat destruction and the the lively chatter and bubbling energy Tyninghame and Whitekirk population has dropped by 38% since these little birds bring into our daily lives. Janet Pooley (Vice-chair) 1970. They are now on the RSPB amber Living in the countryside brings many The Tithe Barn, Whitekirk list. The house martin is a quintessential challenges but many more rewards. EH42 1XS Tel 870344 sign of spring and an essential part of the The Legal Status of the House Martin is Hailes food chain (they dine mainly on insects). that they are fully protected under the As residents of the countryside we have Bill Alder (Secretary) Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is chosen to share our living space with Granary House, Kippielaw, an offence to intentionally take, damage many different species and we must do all or destroy the eggs, young or nest of a Haddington EH41 4PY we can to encourage the house martins Tel 861171 house martin whilst it is being built or in survival. use. Hefty fines can be applied to anyone East Linton If you are lucky enough to have a house in breach of the Act. John Robson (Treasurer) martin choose your house as a nest site 9 Drylaw Terrace, East Linton For more information: www.rspb.org.uk EH40 3BA Tel 860842 Alison Cosgrove The new path into East Linton 13 Stories Park, East Linton New Path improves Safety EH40 3BN Tel 860812 Barry Craighead Dunpender Community Council would like to thank 40 Longstone Avenue, Tommy Dale for this new path at Drylawhill. He East Linton EH40 3BS provided the land and the stone. This is a com­ pletely new path which was not previously a right Tel 861765 of way. It will be a great help to people using the Robert Russel John Muir Way as they can stay off road up this 17 The Dean, East Linton dangerous part of Drylawhill. EH40 3ED Tel 860702 Also residents from Drylaw Cot­ tages can now take an alterna­ Tyninghame and Whitekirk tive route down into the village Liz Kilpatrick without worrying aBout the traf­ White Cottage, Newbyth fic. Any children going to EH40 3DU Tel 870353 school can also benefit from Ted Hill the safety of the new path. 3 Lochhouses, Whitekirk Jan Ferguson (Community EH42 1XP Tel 870277 Councillor—paths) Whittingehame Kate Moulin The new road surface through Whitekirk “THE WORST ROADS IN Modwena Cottage EAST LOTHIAN” Whittinghame EH41 4QA Tel 861442 Well at least the roads around Whitekirk Beanston & Markle used to be the worst roads in East Lo- Jan Ferguson thian, but not any longer! Resurfacing East Cottage, Markle Mains over the last few weeks has left the lanes EH40 3EB Tel 860786 really smooth and noticeably wider! No longer do drivers have to swerve pot Meetings holes and puddles as though they are taking part in an obstacle race! Dun- First Thursday of every month pender Community Council complained (except July and August) about the stated of these roads some 7.30pm time ago and are delighted that action Council Chambers, has now been taken to upgrade them. East Linton Many thanks to East Lothian Council for these repairs. Page 3 Summer 2009 VIEW FROM THE CHAIR We welcomed a new mem­ Our contribution to the flower displays with a ber to DCC this year. Kate Year of Homecoming will newly repaired wall at Judith . Moulin from Whittingehame focus on the Traprain Law Phantassie Cottages ready Priest has been co­opted for that Race and a special foot­ for planting. We’ll be enter­ ward while Linda Shaw ball match on Gala Day, ing the Beautiful Scotland Stewart, member since then on 6th September we competition again in Au­ 1994, takes time off for are hosting a Community gust so if you have win­ family reasons. Linda has Fair in the Hall when as dowsills suitable for a worked hard for us and we many local groups as pos­ trough, do please join in shall miss her. sible will take a table to and help make our village We also welcome our new showcase their activities, bloom. policeman, PC David with lunch provided By I’d like to take this opportu­ Aitchison. We are grateful one of them. nity to welcome new resi­ for the regular attendance Our website is now really dents at Monksmuir where of the police at our monthly full with lots of pictures a new community is grow­ meetings. and all the information ing. We hope you will all In a bid to slow traffic down you need about Dun­ come down the hill and join in the main streets of East pender. Many thanks to in all the many social activi­ Linton we have purchased Alastair Seagroatt for the ties in East Linton, the Li­ PC David a ‘speed reactive sign’ to daily work he puts into the brary is a good place to Aitchison remind drivers to slow site. find out what’s on. down if they are travelling Work is already underway Here’s hoping for a better at more than 30mph. We to fill all the baskets and summer than last year have also helped the East planters for our summer Judith Priest Lothian Access Panel lo­ cate and improve some dropped kerbs with more to New Seat at Knowes Bridge come this year. Our new benches are in place at Knowes ford and Stories Park, signposts are up on the rest of our paths, with a new path up Dry­ lawhill. We are working with Historic Scotland on better interpretation for Hailes Castle. We’ve pro­ duced a postcard for sale in local shops, more will follow soon. Local Priorities 09/10 Project Cost Printing and Distribution of Dunpender News £850 Our budget this year remains almost the same at £4310. Funds are Continuation of permanent Christmas Lights already committed in various directions, a new one being our com- Installation in East Linton £450 missioning and publishing the first of what we hope will be a series Scotland in Bloom Planting £500 of Dunpender Postcards. New Litter Bin in Stories Park near Riverside Walk £200 Some such as the provision of independent power sockets in East Repairs to John Rennie Memorial and wall opposite Linton Square to aid the Christmas Market and similar events, are Phantassie Cottages ( contribution) £130 still being explored. We are supporting an initative to provide BMX, Donation to East Linton Senior Citizens Club £250 skateboarding and other facilities for Dunpender youth this summer Dedicated power socket in EL square £400 and the establishment of a Primary School age football team. DCC Postcard Publishing £300 still sees the publishing of the Dunpender News as a value for Whittingehame wall repair at Memorial £50 money way of communicating with and being accountable to our Phantassie Sound summer project £200 constituency, and hope you enjoy it. This money is derogated from the main ELC budget each year. Using matching funding principles to the full, DCC consistently uses these Dunpender News Team: Liz Kilpatrick, Janet Pooley funds to make local improvements either overlooked by the main Thanks to Garry Menzies for the Knowes and Gala Photos Council or outside their remit.