News Update
HADDINGTON TOWN CENTRE VISION
NEWSFLASH: 
(click on the image to download the file)
APPEAL FOR FUNDS
In the 1960's Haddington pioneered the first comprehensive makeover of a historic town centre in Scotland. The effect was electric. Trade boomed, visitor numbers escalated and Haddington breathed confidence and vitality. The town deserved no less for it was then, and still is, a fine Scottish burgh, described as "probably the best conserved example of 18th and 19th century burghal architecture in Scotland".
Today the town centre appears run down and tired and the very fabric is now under threat. More than a makeover is urgently needed. Therefore earlier this year HADAS joined together with Haddington Community Council, Haddington Business Association and Haddington's History Society to form the Haddington Town Centre Vision Committee (HTCVC) to examine what could be done. The conclusion is that by the identification and implementation of a programme of short, medium and long term initiatives the historic town centre can be rescued before it is too late.
After a rigorous selection process, HTCVC has appointed Urban Animation (subject to completion of funding) to consult, collaborate and finally construct a programme of necessary measures for the town centre. The approach of Urban Animation is emphatically community-based and is complementary to official planning procedures. The complete study includes alternative strategies and the cost is £15,000 excluding VAT. East Lothian Council has generously pledged £10,000 and Haddington Community Council a further £2,000. To cover the shortfall of £3,000 plus VAT and possible contingencies, we are now seeking a further £6,000.
So we need YOUR help and YOUR support to save YOUR town centre. Each contribution, big or small, will be acknowledged. The Study WILL be followed by action and the results can, with YOUR support, breathe new life into the town centre and into Haddington, so please, please, HELP.
If you would like to learn more about the project or to make a contribution please contact our Chairman: Andrew Robinson Tel: 01620 822248 or email hlr@hotmail.co.uk.
Update – 21/12/2011
Launch of Town Centre Vision Project
We are delighted to be able to report that the Vision Appeal has already raised over £5,000 thus enabling the formal appointment of Urban Animation. We thank all who have responded to the Appeal and in particular we would like to thank our members for their continuing and very generous support. Urban Animation has already started work gathering information and carrying out research.
We take this opportunity to remind you that the Vision is a community project for the people of Haddington of all ages. It is about your ideas, your enthusiasm, your input and your support and we hope that as many of you as possible will manage to come along to our events.
Key features of the programme will include public consultation meetings continuing through until April. The first meeting is anticipated towards the end of January – beginning of February. It will be advertised in the local press and on this website – please look out for it – we hope to see you there.
GIFFORD VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT (click on this link to download the file) - patience please this is a large document!
NEWSFLASH:
A meeting is planned for Wednesday 22nd February in the Gifford Village Hall at 7.30 p.m. All interested parties are invited to attend to hear the latest news and to give their views. (a flier will be available here soon)
At its November meeting Gifford Community Council formally decided to accept for consultation the Gifford Village Design Statement prepared by HADAS with additional support from a group of Gifford residents.
The draft document seeks to combine the requirements of a Conservation Area Appraisal with the views of the village community in describing the special character of Gifford and aiming to provide guidance for those making decisions regarding the future of the village including East Lothian Council as planning authority, Historic Scotland, developers and their designers.
The Community Council decided to support the next stage of widespread community consultation followed by a public meeting in early Spring to round off the discussion and publish the final Statement which would be as widely distributed as possible to the community, interested parties and decision makers throughout the country.
East Lothian Council funded the preparation of the Design Statement through its Civic Pride Fund and HADAS members Ian Arnott and Andrew Gilmour, both Gifford residents, wrote the report with invaluable input from HADAS Committee members Brian Young and Karen Stevenson.
UPDATE: 21/12/2011
A public consultation meeting re the Gifford Village Design Statement will be held towards the end of February.
