News
Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is on Thursday15 May. The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than one billion people with disabilities/impairments.
As council employees it is important we understand digital accessibility when creating public information.
What is digital accessibility?
Digital accessibility is about providing people with the opportunity to use technology in the way that works for them. This means that when we are creating information in digital file formats or for the web, we need to include things like descriptions of images, captions on videos, transcripts of audio files, uncluttered layouts and use Plain English.
Why does digital accessibility matter?
Digital accessibility is crucial to ensure that all residents, including those with disabilities, can access public services online. Not only do we have legal responsibilities around website and mobile applications, prioritising seamless customer access to services enhances the experience for all residents.
What can I do?
Supporting services to introduce improvements
New resources have been created to help colleagues introduce improvements in their services and then share the benefits of their work widely.
From project planning to supporting staff and reporting outcomes, a range of materials are available on new streamlined intranet pages to help services across the council. They were developed by the Transformation Service, which has gone through its own change recently as organisational development and data and performance, which were previously part of policy, joined the service in July 2024 following Paolo Vestri’s retiral.
For service manager Michelle Cockburn, the move allows the authority to harness our greatest asset when it comes to delivering change: our staff.
“90% of change relies on people so organisational culture and behaviours are essential,” explains Michelle. “Performance and data informs where we need to improve, transformation can develop or support projects and organisational development then supports the culture and behavioural change that will help us reach those goals by removing barriers, addressing any gaps in knowledge and helping people through.”
Michelle describes the resources, which are available from the intranet as “dynamic. They will be reviewed and feedback taken on board.”
“All of the resources have been developed based on best practice and can be used in a proportionate and pragmatic way,” she explains. “The size and scale of the project will determine what is needed and our service is available to offer advice. By managing projects in a consistent way and determining how the outcomes will be captured at the very start of the process, we can clearly report the benefits of our work to elected members and communities.
“The financial pressures that the council faces underpins the need for change alongside a desire to improve things for our customers and communities. Having colleagues on board and supported to make improvements is key to achieving these goals,” says Michelle.
About the team
Portfolio Management Office (PMO)
Offering help and guidance on all aspects of portfolio and project management, the team developed a framework that supports delivery of the transformation programme but can also be used by any service to implement change in a consistent way. The intranet pages include templates, toolkits and guidance which can be used by all services.
Organisational Development (OD)
Organisational Development helps teams to adopt new ways of working, identify improvement opportunities and embrace change. The new intranet pages include resources on learning and development, change management framework and practical support to help embed sustainable approaches within services.
Data and Performance
Data and Performance colleagues support continuous improvement through the East Lothian Council Improvement Framework ensuring Best Value. The pages provide insight into how the team monitor, review, and report progress towards council objectives to staff, the public and communities.
Find out more
Search transformation programme in the intranet A-Z to:
- easily access guidance, templates and support for transformation projects
- learn about change management, service design and process review
- learn about learning and development opportunities to support change
- discover how you can contribute to continuous improvement within the council through Shaping our Future
- learn about the East Lothian Way and watch the video
or contact the Transformation Service for further advice.
Community Heritage Grant Fund launches in Dunbar
The Dunbar Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) has launched a Community Heritage Grant Fund to encourage local groups and organisations to apply for funding to undertake small scale community heritage projects in Dunbar.
The aim of the fund is to support the delivery of activities or creative projects that improve the local knowledge, legibility and understanding of Dunbar High Street, its history, buildings, closes, and their stories.
Community benefits
Applications are sought from local community groups, organisations or in some cases individuals, who are keen to deliver heritage engagement activity that will benefit the local community.
Examples include projects that deliver community research, perhaps towards a walking tour or audio trail; development of a booklet, map or interpretation looking at the history and stories of the High Street; supporting the formation or continuation of a regular group project researching some aspect of the high street history; or the development of a creative response to the town centre with some creative output to showcase to the wider community.
The outputs may be virtual, digital, visual or physical, with each application being assessed to ensure they meet the aims of Dunbar CARS and support the continued regeneration activity within the town centre.
The Community Heritage Grant Fund will open for applications on Thursday 1 May with a closing date for submissions of Friday 30 May. Successful first round projects must be delivered by Saturday 20 December 2025. It is anticipated that there will be a second round of funding in early 2026. Grants are a maximum of £1,000.
The Fund is a complimentary component of Dunbar CARS - a heritage led regeneration initiative with a focus on the repair of historic buildings within a defined town centre area and the delivery of traditional skills training to support future upkeep of the town’s rich historical building fabric.
To receive a Dunbar CARS Community Heritage Grant Fund application pack and guidance notes, please email the team.
Brown Bin permit registration opens 12 May
Registration for East Lothian Council’s 2025/2026 garden waste collection service opens on Monday 12 May.
Permit applications can be made using a myeastlothian account on our website until the sign-up window closes at 3pm on 4 July.
The garden waste permit charge is £35 - the same cost as last year when around 24,000 householders registered to use the scheme. Collections will run fortnightly between 1 September 2025 and 28 August 2026.
Permit stickers
Permit stickers will be delivered in August to every household which signs up showing the address and permit number for the registered property. Collection crews will only empty brown bins with a valid sticker clearly displayed and they will check the sticker details match the address. There is a strict limit of one brown bin per household.
For flats with shared areas, residents are responsible for organising registration and payment for the service. This may be done by splitting the cost but only one person should order the permit and pay the full amount.
Sign-up to LGIU for free updates and events
LGIU Scotland is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that provides councils with timely, practical insights into the key news stories and policy issues shaping local government. Council colleagues can sign up to access a wide range of resources, briefings, events and training designed to support informed decision-making in our varied roles. It’s quick, free and simple to use.
Toby Renouf, Executive Officer - Corporate Support said: “I use LGIU’s daily news bulletin to stay on top of the key issues affecting local government – it’s quick, convenient and gives a great snapshot of what’s going on across Scotland, the UK and beyond. Their varied resources and events are also well worth investigating. I’d definitely recommend signing up if you haven’t already.”
LGIU content is available to everybody at member councils and organisations and can be accessed through email or from the website by signing up.
LGIU member content includes:
- daily news bulletins summarising what the media saying about local government across Scotland
- weekly policy briefings, reports and other content written by sector colleagues, academics and international associates
- future Local Lab is a holistic programme of resources to help local government prepare for and respond to the emerging challenges facing the sector internationally
- participation in events such as the Future Local Executive Panels; as well as policy and training events
- full access to an extensive online catalogue of Scottish, UK and international local government content
- sector leading research with projects spanning across the UK, Ireland and Australia
- 25% discount on all LGIU training, both our online courses, and in-house sessions
Contact the training team at training@lgiu.org for more information, or head to lgiu.org/events.
Working to deliver better mobile and broadband connectivity
Work is currently underway to deliver an ambitious two-phase plan to significantly improve digital connectivity in Prestonpans.
The project is split into two delivery phases, with phase one improving upon existing infrastructure to drastically improve broadband and mobile connectivity at the Pennypit Centre.
The project has been initiated, developed, and is being delivered by our authority in conjunction with GoFibre, Wavemobile, and public sector infrastructure body, the Scottish Futures Trust. It is funded by a Scottish Government grant with no cost to council budgets.
GoFibre has installed a brand new ultrafast full fibre connection to the centre as a gesture of support to the community of Prestonpans and Wavemobile has contributed their vast knowledge and expertise as the UK’s fifth mobile phone network to develop the technical approach to solve a long-standing problem with service at the centre.
Improvements to wi-fi and mobile signals
Phase two will deliver much needed improvements to available Wi-Fi and mobile signals on Prestonpans High Street and around the wider area.
The project follows on from recent council-led Digital Connectivity projects over the last two years which have brought superfast fibre-to-premises broadband to Whittingehame, Bolton, Gifford, Garvald and Morham. These projects have significantly benefited around 2500 homes and business owners in the county.
Councillor John McMillan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment, Economic Development and Tourism said: “Our Economic Development Team has taken a proactive approach to identify areas in East Lothian where connectivity falls short and, more often in very rural areas, they would not normally attract commercial investment to drive forward these improvements. This is where the team’s work, led by Economic Development Officer Billy Agnew, has proved invaluable in attracting alternative solutions and funding to make a tangible difference to residents and business owners.
“We are continually working to make East Lothian the best region in Scotland in which to live, work and do business, and expanding connectivity to even our most rural areas is crucial to achieving this.
“The Prestonpans project continues this great work. While Prestonpans is one of our main towns, residents reported to us that – despite not being in a rural location – there were large sections of the town where mobile connectivity was poor or non-existent. It was great to bring on board and GoFibre and Wavemobile to address this issue for the benefit of the community, businesses and users of the Pennypit Centre.”
Keith Matthews, Centre Head at The Pennypit, said: “The installation of WiFi at our community centre marks a vital step forward in bridging the digital divide for our local area. It allows our diverse groups, from young learners to older residents, to better access online resources, connect with others and fully engage with the digital classes and support we provide. This simple connection is opening up new opportunities, learning and community growth where it’s needed most.”
Surveying connectivity across the county
Meanwhile, a groundbreaking survey of mobile connectivity in East Lothian is currently underway. For the first time, real-time testing of the mobile signal is being measured right across East Lothian in another council-led project.
A state-of-the-art device on loan from Streetwave via the Scottish Government has measured the mobile signal across all of East Lothian. This important survey work is an essential first step on the road to improving the connectivity of the whole region.
This data will help the Scottish Futures Trust and the Scottish Government gain a clearer understanding of mobile coverage at a local level, enhancing the currently published estimates supplied by mobile network operators.
The strength or otherwise of the mobile signal is used to determine where and when masts are built in Scotland by the Scottish Government, and until now this has been determined via estimates supplied by the mobile phone companies.
East Lothian communities have played a vital role in developing these projects. We would welcome further input from residents or business owners who are experiencing any form of issues with Digital Connectivity on mobile or broadband. If you have an issue you need help with, please contact Billy Agnew by email: digitalsupport@eastlothian.gov.uk
Good progress and social impact at former Cockenzie Power Station site
Work to create a new link road and prepare new development platforms at the former Cockenzie Power Station site is progressing well.
The first phase of enabling works started in September 2024 and was completed in March this year, a month ahead of schedule. It involved the transferring of 175,000 cubic metres of earth (the equivalent of 1,750 double decker buses) from the bunds surrounding the former coal store, across the Edinburgh Road to infill the void in the power station site.
Phase Two includes the construction of the new link road in which several community benefits have already been produced. This has demonstrated positive wider social impact being made locally.
Phase Three is imminent and includes demolition of the existing concrete towers, tunnels and bridges then regrading of the coal store into three development platforms. All material will remain on site.
Our development partner, Hub South East, appointed Balfour Beatty to deliver the project as principal contractor.
Supporting opportunities for pupils and the wider community
The project is supporting opportunities across the curriculum, with two senior phase pupils from Preston Lodge High School undertaking Foundation Apprenticeships in Business Skills, having worked with the site team to create a newsletter on construction progress. The live site has also been used as an educational setting, offering 30 S4 pupils an insight into careers in construction. More than 200 S1 pupils have taken part in site visits (pictured), allowing first-hand experience of urban regeneration and sustainability challenges.
The wider local community is also benefiting as the site team have been working closely with Connected Communities colleagues to support local community group Cockenzie and Port Seton In-Bloom, donating equipment, replacing planters and getting involved in local tidy-ups of community spaces.
Redeveloping the site
Works to progress the redevelopment of the former Cockenzie Power Station site are ongoing, with completion due by the end of 2025.
The new road will link the Alder Road junction on the B6371 approach to Cockenzie with the existing B1348 road. Much of the route will follow an existing service road to the former coal plant and be complemented by a lane, largely set back from the main roadway, to encourage safe walking and cycling.
The enabling works are 90% funded by UK Government; the remaining 10% and full funding for the link road have been allocated from council budgets.
Investment Minister visits Prestongrange Heritage Park
Tom Arthur, the Minister for Employment and Investment, has visited Prestongrange Heritage Park to hear about the exciting plans for the future of the site and to visit the Engine Shed, a purpose-built home for a fascinating collection of steam and diesel locomotives and rolling stock.
The construction of the Engine Shed and ongoing redevelopment of the Park has been made possible by grants from the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund. The new Engine Shed opened in April 2024 and has proved to be popular with all ages. A dedicated group of volunteers is helping to preserve and conserve the collection, which can be viewed when the museum is open.
Councillor John McMillan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment, Economic Development and Tourism, gave Mr Arthur a tour of the site along with colleagues from our Community and Infrastructure teams. Councillor McMillan said: “It was great to welcome Mr Arthur to Prestongrange, which is a unique and nationally important site in terms of heritage and tourism. We enjoyed a tour of the new Engine Shed and were able to discuss how heritage-led regeneration on the site and across the Preston Seton Gosford area has enhanced the area for local communities, will increase visitor numbers to the area and can provide a boost for the local economy, including employment.”
Employment and Investment Minister Tom Arthur said: “We are providing Prestongrange Heritage Park with £1.2 million to develop a community hub with space for businesses to grow.
“To help communities prosper, the Scottish Government is investing £62.15 million in regeneration projects in 2025-26. This will help to revitalise green spaces, town centres and derelict sites to benefit people across Scotland.”
The opening of the shed was a key milestone in an ambitious project to regenerate Prestongrange, the next stage of which will see the renovation of the Bath House – expected to start later this year. The overall vision of the project is to deliver a new, accessible carbon neutral community hub as well as commercial and indoor community education space primarily within the derelict pit-head baths and outdoors in the surrounding parkland.
This will include a multi-purpose activity room, accommodation for local groups, stores, accessible toilets and showers. It will also provide development space in support of new revenue generation, education, and employment uses, as well as improving access to a nationally important landscape, green network and heritage site.
Prestongrange Museum opened for the 2025 season on 2 April and is open 11-14:30 Wednesday to Sunday. Visitors can see the locomotives and rolling stock as part of a guided tour of the site.
Photo shows (left to right): Caroline Rodgers (Head of Communities and Partnerships), Employment and Investment Minister Tom Arthur, Councillor John McMillan, Tom Reid (Head of Infrastructure) and Andy Robertson (Archaeology/Heritage Officer) pictured in front of Locomotive No 7, a saddle tank locomotive that was built by Grant Ritchie of Kilmarnock in 1914 for the Lothian Coal Company to work at the Lady Victoria Colliery in Midlothian. The locomotive worked at Lady Victoria until the mid 1970s when it came to Prestongrange where it once ran during steam demonstration days.
Tourism takes the spotlight in East Lothian
More than 90 tourism businesses from across East Lothian gathered at The Marine Hotel in North Berwick recently for the Visit East Lothian “East Lothian Talks Tourism” conference, held as part of Scottish Tourism Month 2025.
Hosted by Marc Crothall MBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, the half-day conference offered a valuable opportunity for local tourism professionals to hear the latest insights, data and strategic thinking driving the industry forward.
Speakers included Duncan Stewart of 56 Degree Insight, who shared key findings from the recent East Lothian visitor survey, and Richard Macdonald of Global Tourism Solutions, who explored the economic impact of tourism in the region.
Meaningful approaches to sustainability
Attendees were also inspired by Professor Xavier Font from the University of Surrey, who discussed meaningful approaches to sustainability, and Shaon Talukder, CEO of GeoTourist, who showcased digital storytelling to boost visitor engagement.
VisitScotland’s Neil Christison highlighted the ongoing collaboration between VisitScotland and Visit East Lothian and gave some examples of current partnership activity.
The event concluded with an insightful panel discussion and audience question and answer session.
The visitor economy is an important sector in East Lothian with the Scottish tourism economic impact modelling figures from 2024 showing it generated 2.98m visitor days, delivered an economic impact of £379 million and employed a workforce of 4626. The county’s destination, marketing and management organisation, Visit East Lothian is delivered by the council’s Economic Development Team and plays a key part in ensuring that tourism continues to thrive in East Lothian.
Council colleagues carry out A1 litter collection
Colleagues from amenity services conducted a litter collection along the A1 between Dunbar and Thistly Cross.
Seven workers, supported by trunk roads contractor BEAR Scotland, removed 120 bags of refuse from the roadside which included car tyres, food wrappings, and numerous empty bottles of alcohol.
Transport Scotland has responsibility for litter removal on the majority of the A1 in the county, which is carried out by BEAR under a special order contract.
The road sections between the Edinburgh boundary and Old Craighall and between Thistly Cross and the Scottish Borders boundary are not included. Whilst maintenance including grass cutting and road defects is part of the BEAR contract, litter management defaults to the council under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The litter collection was completed on Thursday, 24 April. On the following Tuesday, a meeting of full Council agreed a letter would be written to Scottish Ministers asking for the present arrangements to be assessed.
Councillor John McMillan, East Lothian Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment, Economic Development and Tourism, said: “The council clears over 3500 tonnes of litter and debris from roads and streets every year. Our team completed this latest litter collection along the A1 with their usual diligence under difficult conditions.
“The A1 is a main arterial route through the county and presents a unique challenge for staff to safely gather discarded waste. It also meant diverting finite resources to the roadside instead of tackling litter in our population centres.
“That is why the council has asked Scottish Ministers to review litter management on the A1 to see if the public would be better served by the appointed trunk road specialist contractor assuming responsibility for the sections not currently part of their contract.
“Such a change would allow us to provide the best service possible to residents while ensuring the A1 is kept as clean as possible.”
Due to the risk to staff from high-speed traffic, the council has a safe operating procedure (SOP) in place for litter clearances on the A1 which includes the need for lane closures. BEAR Scotland, which undertakes litter management between old Craighall and Thistly Cross, can plan litter picks in conjunction with other works so lane closures are minimised.
Planning Committee approves first phase of homes at Herdmanflat
East Lothian Planning Committee met on Tuesday 6 May and discussed three applications, including 51 homes – phase one of development at the former Herdmanflat Hospital site in Haddington.
Planning permission in principle had been granted in November last year for 145 units of affordable housing for older people on the site. The development includes the conversion of existing buildings and construction of new ones; an active travel link to the A199; new pedestrian access points and open spaces including woodland, pétanque pitches, community garden and orchard; a SUDS drainage system; tree removal and compensatory planting; biodiversity planting and woodland play locations.
This first phase, which was unanimously approved by committee, will be in the southern section of the site and will feature four three-storey buildings and one two-storey building, accommodating the 51 homes. The units are all designed for an aging population including dementia friendly design. There will be 31 one bedroom and 21 two-bedroom homes. Each of the four blocks will have access to a private courtyard garden space and clothes drying area as well as bin, cycle and mobility scooter facilities. No representations had been received in relation to this application.
Read the full report of planning committee's decisions.