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The Herald Scotland
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
'Torness has to close: but we'd welcome a new reactor'
Currently, about 550 full-time EDF employees are based at the nuclear power station, with a further 180 full-time contract partners. That makes the power station among the largest employers in the south-east of Scotland. However, the station will stop generating power in less than five years' time. Already, EDF has confirmed that various career opportunities will be available for those employed at the power station, located off the A1. Councillor Norman Hampshire, leader of East Lothian Council (Image: Contributed) Councillor Norman Hampshire (Labour) has represented the area for more than 30 years and was part of the construction team at the power station when he was first elected in 1988. The East Lothian Council leader said: 'Torness is close to my heart. 'I have two sons-in-law who work in the station and it is really their job; if Torness was not there, they would likely have to travel away from here. 'Both are engineers and I had a grandson who was there as well. 'He is an electrical engineer as well and he has taken a year out and is away living in Australia, but his job is there for him when he comes back. 'The family connection is really strong and Torness is of huge, huge importance to the Dunbar economy but also the East Lothian economy as a whole with people working there.' He described it as 'a huge blow' if the county were to lose the power station and pointed to the increasing demand for electricity across the country. Mr Hampshire said that this would only continue and said nuclear power was able to provide electricity '24 hours a day, seven days a week'. He called for a greater examination of a new nuclear facility, such as a modular reactor, being created on the site. He said: 'We have made that quite clear to EDF when we have been speaking to them. 'We would support a new conventional nuclear power station. 'Rolls Royce have now been appointed by Government to deliver modular reactors in the UK. 'They have got a test site somewhere south of the Border and we would support a modular reactor to be delivered at Torness. 'If it were possible to get a new conventional station, we would support that, but we need the Scottish Government to change its current stance against any new nuclear. 'We have got a real issue that in the future we are going to have a lot of renewable energy but, when we have no wind, then the country will be struggling to keep the lights on, unless we can import power from south of the Border, and that is not the way we should be looking to develop our energy system.' Councillor Donna Collins (Image: Contributed) Councillor Donna Collins (Conservative) lives on the opposite side of the A1 from the power station and described its impact on employment in the area as 'massive'. She said: 'You see a line of cars coming out of Dunbar in the morning. 'It is a massive employer. 'I think they really need to look at how they can retain as many people as possible for decommissioning.' Nuclear power stations at Hunterston B and at Sellafield in Cumbria are among the stations to have stopped generating power in recent years. Mrs Collins said: 'It is learning lessons from those decommissioning projects and making sure mistakes are not made here and it is as smooth as possible, any way they can move people to other jobs and they can minimise redundancies.' Finally, Councillor Lyn Jardine (SNP), who also represents the Dunbar and East Linton ward, described Torness as 'a fairly significant employer'. Councillor Lyn Jardine (Image: Contributed) The leader of the opposition on East Lothian Council said: 'Having been there a couple of times and being something of an engineering geek myself, I am aware that the vast majority of jobs are general engineering jobs rather than specific to the nuclear industry. 'I would hope there would be significant opportunities for the workforce to retrain or direct their skillset – and they have a huge skillset – especially if you look at the extent we have got renewable energy coming into the area as well, I would hope there is a bit of a crossover. 'Torness has to decommission, which will happen over a period of several years.' Douglas Alexander (Labour), Lothian East MP, echoed Mr Hampshire's calls for further consideration to be given for new nuclear facilities in Scotland. Douglas Alexander, Lothian East MP (Image: UK Parliament) He said: 'Clearly, Torness has been a significant local employer, providing many hundreds of skilled jobs and apprenticeships for people in Dunbar and the wider area since 1988. 'It also supports further jobs and the local economy through its supply chain and use of contract workers. 'As it approaches the end of its lifetime, many staff at Torness will be involved in the process of defuelling and decommissioning the plant, which will take several years. 'EDF has experience of this at other sites, including Hunterston B, and I'm sure it will be working with trade unions and other partners to support staff through the various phases of its closure in the coming years. 'However, I also hope to see a change in the Scottish Government's current block on new nuclear projects in Scotland to allow for the possibility of the Torness site having a longer-term future in providing skilled jobs and generating clean, consistent nuclear power.' Paul McLennan, East Lothian MSP, is looking for a focus on the renewables sector (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) However, Paul McLennan (SNP), East Lothian's MSP, stressed that the Scottish Government would focus on renewable energy, rather than nuclear power. He said: 'The SNP think the investment is much better placed in areas of renewable energy, which is cheaper to produce and is also cheaper for consumers. 'I am aware of figures around 450-500 staff being employed at Torness, in addition to contractors. 'In 2021, when I was elected, I set up the East Lothian Energy Forum meeting with renewable energy providers and local companies looking to benefit from the growth of renewables, such as Sunamp and HadFab in East Lothian amongst others who have seen an increase in their employment. 'I meet with Torness station manager Paul Forrest on a regular basis as we move towards 2030. 'Paul managed the process of closing Hunterston, which was managed very well. 'We discuss the role of EDF, enterprise agencies and Scottish Government in that process. 'Torness are also part of the East Lothian Energy Forum. 'EDF also has a renewables division, where with them, EDF and others, we are looking at the opportunities for hydrogen in East Lothian.' A spokesperson for EDF pointed to what happened at Hunterston B in Ayrshire as it approached the end of its life. They said: 'During defueling at Hunterston B, people were trained to take on project management roles, which the station needs more of now. 'People have also been supported to gain additional qualifications in HGV driving or electrical skills which are needed on site during defueling but can also be used to build a career outside of the nuclear industry. 'Now Hunterston B is getting ready to transfer to Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS), there are further opportunities for retraining to take on jobs the station will need during decommissioning like health physicists and waste technicians. 'We expect to see the same kinds of opportunities at Torness when it reaches this stage.'
Edinburgh Reporter
20-06-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
East Lothian Council gets red card over parking meter plans
Councillors behind plans to introduce parking charges in an East Lothian town centre have been given the red card by angry residents. More than 100 people attended a community meeting on Thursday to share their views on proposals to introduce meters as part of a county wide move by the local authority to manage parking in towns. The audience were handed green and red cards to hold up after questions were answered to show their support or rejections of the answers given. And Provost John McMillan, who made the case for the council's proposals found himself faced with a sea of red cards in response to his comments during the meeting. East Lothian MSP and former Scottish Housing Minister Paul McLennan addresses meeting about introduce parking charges in Haddington town centre It was claimed the charges would drive away customers from the town centre and penalise the sick. Former Housing Minister Paul McLennan MSP, who recently stepped down from the post to spend more time with his East Lothian constituents, told the meeting he could not support the parking charges plan for the town. He said the council had provided no evidence of the impact they would have on local shops and businesses and no costing for introducing the new system. He said: 'I can't support the current proposals when no impact assessment has been carried out and we don't know how much it is going to cost. We do not know how it will impact our high streets and trade.' The meeting heard from Garry Clark from the Federation of Small Businesses, who said its East Lothian members had raised concerns that the charges would drive away customers and were not fair. He pointed to similar schemes which had been introduced in Angus and Inverurie which he said had damaged town centres with councils having to go back to the drawing board. Mr Clark said: 'When you have retail parks on the edge of town with free parking and online shopping where people aren't having to park anywhere, it is unfair to charge customers who want to go into the town centre to shop.' Provost McMillan, who lives in Haddington and is the council administration's economic spokesperson, insisted the proposals, which have been included in a parking management scheme first put forward by the Labour administration in 2018, aimed to keep cars moving in the town centre with funds raised going back into the roads. However he drew criticism from members of the public who questioned why there was a free car park for East Lothian Council staff at the local authority's Haddington town centre headquarters. One resident asked: 'Whey are council staff able to park for free while everyone else has to pay?' Councillor McMillan also drew gasps from some members of the audience when he told them that it has, in his opinion, become 'inbred that you can park anywhere you want in Haddington'. Haddington and District Community Council, who organised the meeting in the town's Knox Academy, described a council survey carried out as part of the public consultation into the proposals as 'bias' saying it carried out its own questionnaire which received hundreds of responses for the town's residents, visitors and traders. They said when asked if there were parking problems in Haddington over 85% said no with the number who were against the introduction of meters rising to the high nineties. Mr McMillan stressed that the consultation was ongoing and the views of people in the town would be considered. He told the meeting: 'I am here to listen, I am here to answer questions and I am here to collaborate with you.' However his responses to questions about the staff car park in the town centre and explanations about trying to make people less dependent on cars to travel into the town saw red cards raised in response almost unanimously by the audience. The council proposes changing the town centre parking in Haddington, which currently offers 90 minutes before drivers have to move on, to 30 minutes free and then charges being introduced. However people at the meeting questioned whether it was possible for people, who travel into the town from outlying rural communities, to come into town and carry out appointments in the new 30 minute limit. East Lothian MSP Craig Hoy who has been a vocal opponent of the council's ongoing plans to introduce parking charges across the county, said it would mean charging the sick. He said: 'I have my constituency office in Haddington town centre and know how long a chat with a constituent who comes in to see me can take. 'What happens when they come in for GP appointments or have to collect prescriptions? This can't be done in 30 minutes so we are charging people who are sick to come and get help.' By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
19-06-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Last chance appeal over dream house cancelled at 11th hour
A last chance appeal by a woman to turn a former bank into a dream home has been cancelled at the 11th hour over an administrative error. Pat Sharp has been fighting to have the former hall, in North Berwick, turned into a retirement home for her and her husband Nigel for eight years after buying it for more than double the asking price. However East Lothian Council's planners have repeatedly rejected applications for the change of use insisting the building has to remain a commercial building in the seaside town centre. Last week Mrs Sharp spoke out publicly for the first time about her fight and heartbreak that her husband, who has Parkinson's Disease, is no longer able to move in. And she said she had no idea what would happen if her latest attempt get permission to convert the building into a house failed at the Local Review Body meeting, scheduled to take place this morning. She said: 'If this fails I don't know what we will do. I spend £100 a month maintaining the gardens of the property and we have invested a lot to maintain and bring the hall itself into a maintained state but I can't go on with it forever.' Mrs Sharp and her husband bought the former bank hall seven years ago for £555,555 with the hope of retiring to the town. The couple had precious memories of time with their granddaughters at the seaside resort after losing their daughter Cheryl to cancer when the girls were very young. Former managing director Nigel, 78, was diagnosed with Parkinson's following his retirement and the hope had been that the house would give him the chance to live in an adapted home in the place they loved. Sadly Nigel is now in full time care and will never be able to live in the house, if it is every approved. Pat said: 'Nigel has been robbed of the chance to spend his final years in what we wanted to be our dream home, looking out over the North Berwick coast and remembering all our wonderful times here. it is devastating.' The Local Review Body was due to meeting this morning to hear the appeal against the latest decision by planners to refuse permission for the change of use of the hall. However late yesterday the council confirmed the meeting had been delayed and would now be held once elected members return from their summer holidays. A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: 'One of the interested parties was accidentally omitted from our notification process so was not informed of the appeal in time for it to be heard at the Local Review Body meeting on Thursday 19 June. It will be heard at the next available meeting in August. The applicant's agent, interested parties and consultees have all been contacted.' By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
19-06-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
East Lothian gran's plan to turn bank into her dream home halted over 'admin error'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A last chance appeal by a gran to turn a former bank into a dream home has been cancelled at the 11th hour over an administrative error. Pat Sharp has been fighting to have the former hall, in North Berwick, turned into a retirement home for her and her husband Nigel for eight years after buying it for more than double the asking price. However East Lothian Council's planners have repeatedly rejected applications for the change of use insisting the building has to remain a commercial building in the seaside town centre. Last week Mrs Sharp spoke out publicly for the first time about her fight and heartbreak that her husband, who has Parkinson's Disease, is no longer able to move in. And she said she had no idea what would happen if her latest attempt get permission to convert the building into a house failed at the Local Review Body meeting, scheduled to take place this morning. She said: "If this fails I don't know what we will do. I spend £100 a month maintaining the gardens of the property and we have invested a lot to maintain and bring the hall itself into a maintained state but I can't go on with it forever." Mrs Sharp and her husband bought the former bank hall seven years ago for £555,555 with the hope of retiring to the town. The couple had precious memories of time with their granddaughters at the seaside resort after losing their daughter Cheryl to cancer when the girls were very young. Former managing director Nigel, 78, was diagnosed with Parkinson's following his retirement and the hope had been that the house would give him the chance to live in an adapted home in the place they loved. Sadly Nigel is now in full time care and will never be able to live in the house, if it is every approved. Pat said: "Nigel has been robbed of the chance to spend his final years in what we wanted to be our dream home, looking out over the North Berwick coast and remembering all our wonderful times here. it is devastating." The Local Review Body was due to meeting this morning to hear the appeal against the latest decision by planners to refuse permission for the change of use of the hall. However late yesterday the council confirmed the meeting had been delayed and would now be held once elected members return from their summer holidays. A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: 'One of the interested parties was accidentally omitted from our notification process so was not informed of the appeal in time for it to be heard at the Local Review Body meeting on Thursday 19 June. It will be heard at the next available meeting in August. The applicant's agent, interested parties and consultees have all been contacted.'
Edinburgh Reporter
18-06-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Number of people with Gaelic skills on increase
The number of people with Gaelic skills in East Lothian has nearly doubled over the last 14 years, a new report has revealed. East Lothian Council says the 2022 census found 1, 396 residents above the age of three had some ability to use the traditional language. It added out of those, 638 said they spoke Gaelic with 452 people who said they could speak and read but not write Gaelic and 385 Gaelic literate speakers while 15 people said that Gaelic was their main language. The local authority highlighted the figures as it launched a public consultation on its new Gaelic Language Plan, which covers the period 2025-30. The draft plan, which the council has a statutory duty to renew, sets out actions to help meet a commitment to the aspirations and objectives included in the National Gaelic Language Plan and the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005. And it reveals the results of the census show use of the language is on the increase. In its report it says lowland Scots rather than Gaelic would have been spoken in East Lothian, however, there are some examples of place names in East Lothian having Gaelic origins, such as: • Cuil Choinnich – Cockenzie (the neuk of Coinneach) • Craobhbarraidh – Carberry (at the palisade) • Fan Taisidh – Phantassie (at the damp slope) • An garbh-Allt – Garvald (the rough burn) The report says the Jacobite army that fought in the Battle of Prestonpans (1745) was largely made up of Gaelic speaking Highland clansmen and the interest in commemorating the battle has resulted in the provision of some bi-lingual road signs and place names around the battlefield site. It says the council is now looking to build on its first Gaelic Language Plan, which covered the period 2020-25 and looked at ways to encourage and establish the use of the language and community engagement. A council spokesperson said the council hoped to build on the progress of recent years by continuing to develop Gaelic language provision in East Lothian in a proportionate way. They said: 'The draft plan recognises how the council can playing our part in making Gaelic more visible, valued and accessible — ensuring it thrives as part of our diverse and inclusive cultural landscape. 'Since 2011, there has been an increase in the number of people with Gaelic language skills in East Lothian. Gaelic, however, continues to face a number of challenges and that is why organisations such as East Lothian Council are required to play their part in supporting collective efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of the language. We would encourage everyone with an interest to respond to the consultation.' The consultation runs until August 4. By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
