Draft Minutes of meeting of Dunpender Community Council
held on Thursday 5th February 2026 at 7.30pm in The Stables

Present: Mrs J Priest Mrs A Cosgrove Mr D Wight Mr H Thomas Mr R Russel Mrs F Constable Mrs E Gill

In attendance: Ms A Hunter (minutes), Cllr L Jardine, Peter Knell (Director) and Andy Williams (Orbit Account Director) - Farm Biomethane, Verity Sinclair, Peter Beckman and Kate Courtney

General meeting

• Apologies: Mrs L Shaw-Stewart, Ms A Pearson, Mr M Askey, Cllr N Hampshire

The minutes of the meeting held on 8th January were agreed. For clarification under section 11.0 in the minutes of 8th January the brown directional signs relate to Papple Steading.

• Matters Arising & New Matters

3.1 Anaerobic Digestion Plant - Beanston Farm (26/0000/PAN)

There was a short presentation about the proposed development which is currently at pre-planning stage. A consultation meeting was held in Athelstaneford and another is planned for East Linton on 27th February. Farm Biomethane worked with the Wemys and March Estate to identify suitable land close to transport links (A199) and the SGN gas pipeline. Waste from livestock and agricultural businesses such as Pure Malt and Belhaven Brewery will be processed to generate gas to be fed into the network and digestate to be used as fertilizer on the land used to generate the foodstock input. To screen the site woodland will be extended to the north, hedges planted to the east and a bund created along the A199. The planning application will be submitted by the end of June and construction is expected to start in 2027 and will take around 12 months. Further details and the option to provide feedback can be found https://beanstonfarmad.co.uk/

Questions were asked around the overall size and height of the site and its visual impact, the potential odour, noise and light, risk of fire and explosion, potential contamination of land and water, and operating hours. Many of the details are not currently known but will be subject to planning regulations and SEPA requirements. Vehicle access will be either by lorry or tractor and trailer with approximately 10 lorries a day. Traffic will increase at harvest time. The site will run 24/7 with 6 staff on-site Mon-Fri 8-4(5) and Saturday morning. Lights will be off at night unless maintenance is required. Given this is the same hours as Markle Quarry concern was expressed about cumulative noise impact.

The route for traffic feeding the plant was discussed with assurance being sought that East Linton will not be adversely impacted. Concern was expressed over the potential for land currently used to produce food being used to grow crop specifically to feed this plant. The current Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) indicates there should be no competition between food growing and anaerobic digestion which should be fed by waste however there was reference to market conditions which might benefit landowners growing non-food crops. Assurances were given that there would be no competition between this site and the Anaerobic Digester at Bangley Quarry. An option for residents from Monks Muir to visit Bangley Quarry will be considered.

3.2 East Lothian Parking Management Scheme AELCC have asked DCC to support a vote of no confidence against ELC councillors. DCC will reply as follows:

"To date no area of Dunpender has been directly affected by the introduction or proposed introduction of parking charges although we recognise that our residents may well be impacted when visiting any of the towns affected. We did not receive any views from Dunpender residents about the parking charges to be introduced in other areas and so combined with no proposals within our area we have had no substantive discussion
about the matter though we observed it with interest and continue to keep the matter in view. We are sympathetic to the views of the Community Councils where parking charges are to be introduced and recognise that such views were by and large representing the views of the residents in those areas.
While Dunpender Community Council would not in these circumstances consider a vote of no confidence in the Councillors in our area we recognise why Community Councils affected are moving in this direction and given the strength of feeling in all the towns and Community Councils directly impacted, we fully support the reasons for these Community Councils in calling for a vote of No Confidence in those Councillors even where those are the same Councillors that represent us."asons for these Community Councils in calling for a vote of No Confidence in those Councillors even where those are the same Councillors that represent us.î

3.3 Vacancies No progress.

• Report back from meetings attended

• Community Council Training events

Mrs Constable attended an Induction Meeting where budget issues due to population increase was discussed. The next Local Development Plan provides for 6400 houses, primarily at Blindwells, however discussion is underway with the Scottish Government who are requesting 12000 houses. Planning was discussed and covered Torness, Cockenzie, Blindwells and the large number of renewable energy developments.

A Landscape Sensitivity Assessment is underway looking at the value of East Lothian landscape, the need to preserved the rural character of the area and where it could be impacted by major infrastructure projects.

• CAEL - Climate Change & Adaptation

The first of two meetings was attended by Mrs Constable and Mr Thomas and considered where vulnerabilities existed. The next meeting in February will look at solutions.

• Police Report / CAPP meeting

There have been a few reports of housebreakings in East Linton recently. The community should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. Between 1st January 2026 and the 1st of February 2026 there were 35 calls to the area. This resulted in police recording 4 crimes, categorised as follows:

• Reducing Acquisitive Crime (Crimes of Dishonesty)

2 x Theft by housebreaking
1 x Attempted housebreaking

• Tackling Serious and Organised Crime (Drugs & Crime Prevention)

1 x Worrying livestock

The next CAPP meeting is on the 12th February. Mrs Gill will raise the need to prepare for the coming season at Linn Rocks. A Meeting is arranged for 2nd March on this subject.
Mr Wight reported that volunteers in Tyninghame have completed vetting for speed monitoring and were disappointed the planned session had been postponed with no future date supplied.

• Area Partnerships

Mrs Cosgrove reported that the last DELAP meeting had presentations from Mr Wight on Community Farming and Adrian Girling from The Space.

Mrs Constable attended the NB&CAP meeting which discussed the budget and a festival for older adults.
Mrs Cosgrove attended a Viridor meeting and reported on the Metlen site next door which is part of Eastern Green Link 1 running a subsea electricity cable from East Lothian to County Durham. She will contact East Lammermuir Community Council about community benefits. Mr Wight attended the ELCAN Green Futures Festival where there was a desire to engage more with the west of county. A meeting was held at Sunnyside Farm to look at the future of farming and engagement with those interested in improving the landscape and environment.

• Finance

• Updates / 2025-26 year to date

BeGreen picnic bench grant has been received. Sean Govan has been emailed about repairs to the fountain. Mr Russel has submitted a receipt for repair of the DCC noticeboard. Mrs Cosgrove will contact David Affleck about funds for the Horticultural Society. In the account there is currently £2300 of uncommitted funds.

• Request for funding - The Glebe project

A letter of support has been sent but the funding request declined due to regulations preventing funds being given to religious organisations.

• Consideration for funding for East Linton Brownies Centenary

It was agreed to provide £100 towards this and a suggestion will be made to contact the East Lothian educational trust for further funding.

• Picnic Tables funding

The Rangers will order the tables now that funds are in place.

• Planning / Licensing / Consultations

Nothing to Report.

• East Linton/Preston

• Knowes Road Bridge

Anti-slip strips from the white bridge will be relocated to this bridge.

• White Bridge

Nothing currently happening due to bad weather.

• East Linton Play Park

An upgrade is on ELC list in the next financial year. £62,000 originally for the skatepark has been re-allocated.
Mr Thomas reported that the 20mph limit will be extended to north of Dunpender Road. Mrs Gill will contact the resident who raised the issue.
A request for traffic calming at Orchardfield has been received due to an increase in traffic from the A199. Mrs Priest will contact Cllr Jardine who will speak to the roads department. Mrs Gill will contact Cllr Jardine about rebuilding the wall at the Orchard.

• Tyninghame /Whitekirk

• Whitekirk

Street Lighting has been fixed. Defibrillator training is arranged for 28th February. Mrs Constable will monitor the defibrillator until a Whitekirk volunteer can be found. She will seek views of residents on repair of the noticeboard via a poster and a letter to be distributed with Dunpender News.

• Traprain/Markle/Whittingehame

• Overhailes Bus Stop.

This should be in place within the next couple of months.

• Traprain

Ms Pearson reported a bit of fly tipping which has been addressed. The outstanding issue is potholes.

11.3 Markle Mrs Gill reported that issues with signage and sat nav have been passed to Peter Forsyth. The fact that the Markle sign on the B1377 is down and the slow sign coming up the hill before the Markle turn is badly worn have also been reported. No response has been received about concerns the entrance to Markle is not being gritted. The change of speed limit at the north entrance to East Linton will be investigated with respect to the road to Markle.

11.4 Whittingehame ELC have moved and shortened the Papple sign at the Whittingehame crossroads and the sign at Luggate is to be shortened. The fingerpost signs will be repaired and repainted.. Keith Scott has been contacted about the excessive and inaccurate signage concerning the closed road. A request had been made by a resident about the signs at Luggate. DCC should have been made aware of this. The roads department will be made aware of
flooding at the Papple junction and the poor condition of the verge at noticeboard in Whittingehame.

• Projects

12.1 Dunpender News
Ms Pearson reported that this is with the printers and will be delivered by Jill to Mrs Cosgrove for distribution.

• Any Other Business

Mr Wight will submit DCC support for the Belhaven Community Garden Community Asset Transfer request.
Mr Thomas advised that the Gala Committee will run a quiz in the hall around Feb/Mar.

Date of next meeting: Thursday 5th March 2026 at 7.30pm

Draft Minutes of meeting of Dunpender Community Council
held on Thursday 8th January 2026 at 7.30pm in The Stables

Present: Mrs J Priest Mrs A Cosgrove Mr D Wight Mr H Thomas Mr R Russel Mrs F Constable Mrs E Gill

In attendance: Ms A Hunter (minutes), Cllr L Jardine, Peter Knell (Director) and Andy Williams (Orbit Account Director) - Farm Biomethane, Verity Sinclair, Peter Beckman and Kate Courtney

General meeting

• Apologies: Mrs L Shaw-Stewart, Ms A Pearson, Mr M Askey, Cllr N Hampshire

The minutes of the meeting held on 8th January were agreed. For clarification under section 11.0 in the minutes of 8th January the brown directional signs relate to Papple Steading.

• Matters Arising & New Matters

3.1 Anaerobic Digestion Plant - Beanston Farm (26/0000/PAN)

There was a short presentation about the proposed development which is currently at pre-planning stage. A consultation meeting was held in Athelstaneford and another is planned for East Linton on 27th February. Farm Biomethane worked with the Wemys and March Estate to identify suitable land close to transport links (A199) and the SGN gas pipeline. Waste from livestock and agricultural businesses such as Pure Malt and Belhaven Brewery will be processed to generate gas to be fed into the network and digestate to be used as fertilizer on the land used to generate the foodstock input. To screen the site woodland will be extended to the north, hedges planted to the east and a bund created along the A199. The planning application will be submitted by the end of June and construction is expected to start in 2027 and will take around 12 months. Further details and the option to provide feedback can be found https://beanstonfarmad.co.uk/

Questions were asked around the overall size and height of the site and its visual impact, the potential odour, noise and light, risk of fire and explosion, potential contamination of land and water, and operating hours. Many of the details are not currently known but will be subject to planning regulations and SEPA requirements. Vehicle access will be either by lorry or tractor and trailer with approximately 10 lorries a day. Traffic will increase at harvest time. The site will run 24/7 with 6 staff on-site Mon-Fri 8-4(5) and Saturday morning. Lights will be off at night unless maintenance is required. Given this is the same hours as Markle Quarry concern was expressed about cumulative noise impact.

The route for traffic feeding the plant was discussed with assurance being sought that East Linton will not be adversely impacted. Concern was expressed over the potential for land currently used to produce food being used to grow crop specifically to feed this plant. The current Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) indicates there should be no competition between food growing and anaerobic digestion which should be fed by waste however there was reference to market conditions which might benefit landowners growing non-food crops. Assurances were given that there would be no competition between this site and the Anaerobic Digester at Bangley Quarry. An option for residents from Monks Muir to visit Bangley Quarry will be considered.

3.2 East Lothian Parking Management Scheme AELCC have asked DCC to support a vote of no confidence against ELC councillors. DCC will reply as follows:

"To date no area of Dunpender has been directly affected by the introduction or proposed introduction of parking charges although we recognise that our residents may well be impacted when visiting any of the towns affected. We did not receive any views from Dunpender residents about the parking charges to be introduced in other areas and so combined with no proposals within our area we have had no substantive discussion
about the matter though we observed it with interest and continue to keep the matter in view. We are sympathetic to the views of the Community Councils where parking charges are to be introduced and recognise that such views were by and large representing the views of the residents in those areas.
While Dunpender Community Council would not in these circumstances consider a vote of no confidence in the Councillors in our area we recognise why Community Councils affected are moving in this direction and given the strength of feeling in all the towns and Community Councils directly impacted, we fully support the reasons for these Community Councils in calling for a vote of No Confidence in those Councillors even where those are the same Councillors that represent us."asons for these Community Councils in calling for a vote of No Confidence in those Councillors even where those are the same Councillors that represent us.î

3.3 Vacancies No progress.

• Report back from meetings attended

• Community Council Training events

Mrs Constable attended an Induction Meeting where budget issues due to population increase was discussed. The next Local Development Plan provides for 6400 houses, primarily at Blindwells, however discussion is underway with the Scottish Government who are requesting 12000 houses. Planning was discussed and covered Torness, Cockenzie, Blindwells and the large number of renewable energy developments.
A Landscape Sensitivity Assessment is underway looking at the value of East Lothian landscape, the need to preserved the rural character of the area and where it could be impacted by major infrastructure projects.

• CAEL - Climate Change & Adaptation

The first of two meetings was attended by Mrs Constable and Mr Thomas and considered where vulnerabilities existed. The next meeting in February will look at solutions.

• Police Report / CAPP meeting

There have been a few reports of housebreakings in East Linton recently. The community should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. Between 1st January 2026 and the 1st of February 2026 there were 35 calls to the area. This resulted in police recording 4 crimes, categorised as follows:

• Reducing Acquisitive Crime (Crimes of Dishonesty)

2 x Theft by housebreaking
1 x Attempted housebreaking

• Tackling Serious and Organised Crime (Drugs & Crime Prevention)

1 x Worrying livestock

th February. Mrs Gill will raise the need to prepare for the coming season at Linn Rocks. A Meeting is arranged for 2nd March on this subject.
Mr Wight reported that volunteers in Tyninghame have completed vetting for speed monitoring and were disappointed the planned session had been postponed with no future date supplied.

• Area Partnerships

Mrs Cosgrove reported that the last DELAP meeting had presentations from Mr Wight on Community Farming and Adrian Girling from The Space.

Mrs Constable attended the NB&CAP meeting which discussed the budget and a festival for older adults.
Mrs Cosgrove attended a Viridor meeting and reported on the Metlen site next door which is part of Eastern Green Link 1 running a subsea electricity cable from East Lothian to County Durham. She will contact East Lammermuir Community Council about community benefits. Mr Wight attended the ELCAN Green Futures Festival where there was a desire to engage more with the west of county. A meeting was held at Sunnyside Farm to look at the future of farming and engagement with those interested in improving the landscape and environment.

• Finance

• Updates / 2025-26 year to date

BeGreen picnic bench grant has been received. Sean Govan has been emailed about repairs to the fountain. Mr Russel has submitted a receipt for repair of the DCC noticeboard. Mrs Cosgrove will contact David Affleck about funds for the Horticultural Society. In the account there is currently £2300 of uncommitted funds.

• Request for funding - The Glebe project

A letter of support has been sent but the funding request declined due to regulations preventing funds being given to religious organisations.

• Consideration for funding for East Linton Brownies Centenary

It was agreed to provide £100 towards this and a suggestion will be made to contact the East Lothian educational trust for further funding.

• Picnic Tables funding

The Rangers will order the tables now that funds are in place.†

• Planning / Licensing / Consultations

Nothing to Report.

• East Linton/Preston

• Knowes Road Bridge

Anti-slip strips from the white bridge will be relocated to this bridge.

• White Bridge

Nothing currently happening due to bad weather.

• East Linton Play Park

An upgrade is on ELC list in the next financial year. £62,000 originally for the skatepark has been re-allocated.
Mr Thomas reported that the 20mph limit will be extended to north of Dunpender Road. Mrs Gill will contact the resident who raised the issue.
A request for traffic calming at Orchardfield has been received due to an increase in traffic from the A199. Mrs Priest will contact Cllr Jardine who will speak to the roads department. Mrs Gill will contact Cllr Jardine about rebuilding the wall at the Orchard.

• Tyninghame /Whitekirk

• Whitekirk

Street Lighting has been fixed. Defibrillator training is arranged for 28th February. Mrs Constable will monitor the defibrillator until a Whitekirk volunteer can be found. She will seek views of residents on repair of the noticeboard via a poster and a letter to be distributed with Dunpender News.

• Traprain/Markle/Whittingehame

• Overhailes Bus Stop.

This should be in place within the next couple of months.

• Traprain

Ms Pearson reported a bit of fly tipping which has been addressed. The outstanding issue is potholes.

11.3 Markle Mrs Gill reported that issues with signage and sat nav have been passed to Peter Forsyth. The fact that the Markle sign on the B1377 is down and the slow sign coming up the hill before the Markle turn is badly worn have also been reported. No response has been received about concerns the entrance to Markle is not being gritted. The change of speed limit at the north entrance to East Linton will be investigated with respect to the road to Markle.

11.4 Whittingehame ELC have moved and shortened the Papple sign at the Whittingehame crossroads and the sign at Luggate is to be shortened. The fingerpost signs will be repaired and repainted.. Keith Scott has been contacted about the excessive and inaccurate signage concerning the closed road. A request had been made by a resident about the signs at Luggate. DCC should have been made aware of this. The roads department will be made aware of
flooding at the Papple junction and the poor condition of the verge at noticeboard in Whittingehame.

• Projects

12.1 Dunpender News
Ms Pearson reported that this is with the printers and will be delivered by Jill to Mrs Cosgrove for distribution.

• Any Other Business

Mr Wight will submit DCC support for the Belhaven Community Garden Community Asset Transfer request.
Mr Thomas advised that the Gala Committee will run a quiz in the hall around Feb/Mar.

Date of next meeting: Thursday 5th March 2026 at 7.30pm