News
First look at new website as project moves forward
A group of Web Editors from across the council met in Penston House on 21 October for a project update and to learn more about the planned move to our new website next year.
Our current website Content Management System (Jadu), reaches the end of its contract in August 2026, and so we will therefore be moving the website onto a new system, called LocalGov Drupal.
This change will improve the digital customer journey, reduce long-term costs and ensure continuous development. LocalGov Drupal is built and maintained by a community of developers, content designers and digital leaders from over 60 local councils across the UK and Ireland. Membership to the LocalGov Drupal Community gives us a number of benefits, such as lower development costs, free upgrades and features, and access to a cross-council development community.
Laurence Rockey – our Chief Executive – attended the event at Penston House and spoke to the Web Editors. He said: “This initiative marks a significant step forward in modernising our digital presence and improving the online services for our customers, who are increasingly digitally savvy, mobile-first, and who expect a seamless, intuitive experience. Thanks to the collaborative efforts across teams the project has already achieved several key milestones.”
Design preview
The project team is delighted with the new design for the website – it's clean, accessible, calm, and user friendly. Take a first look at these screenshots:
Migration Plan
Web Editors across the council have been preparing the webpages for the migration. The project's next steps for the project are:
Queries
If you have any queries, contact the Web Team: webteam@eastlothian.gov.uk. You can also check who your departmental web editors are on the intranet.
Election 2026: could you work at a Polling Place or the East Lothian count?
Scottish Parliament Elections will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026. The elections team is currently looking for notes of interest from any staff aged 18 or over who would like to work at either a poling place or the election count.
Employees will need their manager’s authorisation to release them for the day(s) - you do not need to take annual leave or flexi to work at the election.
Polling day – Thursday 7 May
The role of the polling place team is to ensure voters can cast their vote in secret, free from influence and in a calm atmosphere.
Training is mandatory for all poll staff; online training to be completed at a time convenient to you and a briefing session via Teams. New poll staff will be given additional in-person training
Read more about the poll staff roles.
Count - Friday 8 May
The count will take place, during the day, on Friday 8 May, therefore, with manager’s approval, it will be possible to work on both polling day and the count
Contact elections team
Please contact elections team to register your interest: elections@eastlothian.gov.uk. The team will be in touch with you in early January with a form to complete with approval from your manager
External staff will also have the opportunity to apply to work on polling day, further details are available from our website.
Festive pay dates 2025
Pay dates have been confirmed for December 2025 and January 2026 salary and wages.
While every effort will be made to ensure payment, employees and managers should ensure that all claim forms are submitted by the dates below. Claims which arrive after these dates cannot be guaranteed for payment given the reduced working days.
Please email payrollforms@eastlothian.gov.uk if you have any queries about these deadlines.
Weekly pay
Pay date 18 December 2025 - three weeks normal pay
To ensure this is an accurate payment all relevant information must be with Payroll Section on or before Tuesday 9 December 2025. Detailed below are the dates by which weekly timesheets must be submitted.
Date of submission
|
Timesheets required
|
Payment date
|
| 9 December 2025 |
Actual hours for week ending 7/12/2025
(+ 2 weeks basic hours no timesheets required)
|
18 December 2025 |
| 16 December 2025 |
Actual hours for week ending 14/12/2025 |
08 January 2026 |
| 6 January 2026 |
Actual hours for week ending 21/12/2025 plus amendments only for w/e 28/12/2025 and 04/01/2026
|
15 January 2026 |
Note – any overtime worked over New Year will be included in your pay on 15/01/2026
Four-weekly pay
Pay date Thursday 27 November 2025 - normal payment, no amendment required.
Next pay date due Thursday 25 December 2025 will be paid early on Tuesday 23 December 2025.
To ensure an accurate payment all relevant information must be with Payroll section on or before Wednesday 3rd December 2025.
Next pay date: Thursday 22 January 2026.
Monthly Salary (including Permanent Teachers/Casual and supply claims)
Pay dates Monday 22 December 2025 and Wednesday 28 January 2026.
To ensure accurate payment all relevant information must be with Payroll Section on or before Wednesday 3 December 2025 and Tuesday 6 January 2026 respectively.
Christmas 2025 - last posting dates for UK and international services
Royal Mail Customer Services has confirmed the last posting dates for Christmas
Last posting dates for inland services
Date
|
Service
|
| Wednesday, 17 December |
2nd Class
2nd Class Signed For
|
| Friday, 19 December |
Royal Mail Tracked 48®*
|
| Saturday, 20 December |
1st Class
1st Class Signed For
|
| Sunday, 21 December |
Royal Mail Tracked 24®
|
| Tuesday, 23 December |
Special Delivery Guaranteed®
|
*Friday, 19 December is the latest posting date for Royal Mail Tracked Returns® 48 to arrive back with the sender before Christmas.
International delivery
- you can find a list of our published delivery aims in Royal Mail's Country Guides. If you are sending gifts or goods to the USA, please note, that recent changes to customs procedures may affect delivery times. For more details about these changes and
- how they may affect items you send to the USA, visit the dedicated web page.
To see all the last posting dates please visit Royal Mail's Get ready for Christmas page.
First steps towards a data centre at Cockenzie
We have selected a preferred supplier via a tender process and will now begin the first steps to look at siting a hyperscale data centre on the former coal store site at Cockenzie. 
There are several steps to be completed to determine the feasibility of the project, with the overall aim being a Joint Venture between the council and Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL) to deliver a data centre with associated local training and job opportunities plus a long-term investment and financial benefit for the council.
The potential centre would be located on part of the former coal store site, leaving the wider site, including the footprint of the power station, available for other future developments.
Before any development can take place, the plans would need to be assessed fully through the normal planning application process and members of the public would have the opportunity to comment on the proposal.
It is estimated that it will take up to a year to finalise legal agreements before getting to the statutory public consultation stage, however we are keen to engage with the community on this project as early as possible, with next steps to be confirmed in the coming months.
SDCL was selected as preferred supplier following a competitive tender process, agreed via a private report to Council in February 2025. We had received a large number of enquiries from operators interested in siting a data centre at Cockenzie so Council agreed to embark on the tender process to identify the preferred supplier.
Council actions improve Musselburgh’s air quality
Environmental measures taken by our council have helped bring about a significant improvement in Musselburgh’s air quality.
An Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) order was introduced in the town centre in 2013 due to the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exceeding national targets.
This led to the creation of an Air Quality Action Plan which has contributed to a reduction in air pollution. The 13 measures outlined in our plan included decreasing the impact of road traffic pollution from buses on the High Street, encouraging active travel, and adopting the ECO Stars scheme which supports HGV, van, bus and coach operators to run their fleets more efficiently.
Air quality targets met
No readings above air quality targets for NO2 – commonly emitted by vehicle exhausts – have been recorded in Musselburgh since 2016.
As a result, we’re seeking to revoke the AQMA and a public consultation was launched on 20 October asking for feedback on the move.
The order covers Musselburgh’s High Street from its junction with Newbigging and extending westwards to the junction with Bridge Street and Mall Avenue.
Revocation of the AQMA will not impact the frequency of air quality monitoring and reporting for the area.
Statutory obligation
Our council has a statutory obligation to monitor air quality and take corrective action where pollutant concentrations are above permitted objective levels.
In 2022 a detailed assessment of air quality in Musselburgh was carried out by independent consultants. They concluded we may wish to consider revocation of the AQMA.
The proposed Musselburgh Revocation Report can be viewed on our website.
The consultation will run until Friday, 14 November.
Get married in East Lothian!
The communications team has been working with our Registrars and Customer Services colleagues to produce an attractive and informative brochure advertising our marriage and civil partnership services and our historic venues at Haddington’s John Muir House and Dunbar Town House & Museum.
You can find the brochure on our website and on Visit East Lothian’s site via the Dunbar Town House and Adam Room listings.
We’ll be putting out some social media posts over the next few weeks to promote this. If you know someone who’s planning a wedding, do share this with them! Printed versions will also be available in council offices and at some main wedding venues across East Lothian as our Registrars regularly travel and officiate elsewhere.
We’ll be doing some more promotional work in January to highlight our services to happy couples who get engaged over the festive season. Here’s hoping our Registrars can play a big part in many more celebrations next year!
Annual Landlord Report to tenants out now
Our annual report showing how East Lothian Council has performed as a landlord in the financial year to March 2025, in relation to the Scottish Social Housing Charter standards, is out now.
Highlights include that we are better than the Scottish average in terms of emergency repair times and we have a greater than 85% tenant satisfaction score for non-emergency repairs.
We have also carried out 140 kitchen and 417 bathroom replacements, replaced 276 heating systems and carried out 389 window and door replacements. You can read the full report on our website.
Views sought on proposed active travel measures in Musselburgh
Colleagues can take part in a public consultation seeking views on proposed active travel improvements on Musselburgh’s Station Road.
The proposals form part of the Musselburgh Active Toun (MAT) project which aims to deliver safer and more attractive routes for walking, wheeling, and cycling.
Supporting sustainable travel
Station Road lies on Route 5 of the MAT scheme which would link Old Craighall, Queen Margaret University and Musselburgh Station to the town centre, supporting sustainable travel for residents, students, and visitors.
Under the concept designs being considered in the consultation launched earlier this month, a new shared use footpath would be created and various traffic calming measures introduced.
While this section of Route 5 sits within the general footprint of the Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme, it is being progressed as part of MAT. The MAT project team, which includes design consultants Jacobs and AECOM along with ourselves, are working closely with the Musselburgh Flood Protection team to ensure coordination of their work.
Improve connectivity in Musselburgh
We’re proposing to introduce six active travel routes between key destinations in Musselburgh to improve connectivity and reduce reliance on cars. Following previous public engagement, proposals for three routes have advanced to the detailed design stage.
Transport Scotland has provided approximately £250,000 in funding to progress design work on multiple proposed projects on the MAT network during 2025/26.
The public consultation will run until Monday, 15 December.
Anyone wishing to take part in the consultation can visit the project website to explore the proposals and submit comments at https://bit.ly/MusselburghActiveToun
Procurement update: working with local suppliers and Heads of Service report feedback
The importance of including local suppliers and new supplier in a procurement exercise is being highlighted by our procurement team.
Working with local suppliers whenever there is an option can bring value to the contract by:
- boosting the local economy
- creating jobs
- fostering community wealth building and stronger relationships
- cutting transportation costs
Local sourcing supports the community and aligns with sustainability goals by lowering our carbon footprint. Scotland's Community Wealth Building (CWB) framework also highlights local procurement as a key strategy for increasing local wealth and empowering communities.
At Procurement events such as ‘Meet the Buyer’, our procurement team engages with a wide range of suppliers who express interest in working with our organisation. They ensure to collect all relevant details from suppliers and share with the appropriate service areas.
If you're involved in buying goods or services and need support, please contact the Procurement team for advice.
In August procurement issued a pilot of its new Head of Service reports.
Feedback received highlighted the reports have been helpful, especially for providing a high-level overview of expiring procurements. Suggestions for improvement were also made, which include adding a section to contracts that are due to expire in the 18–24-month period.
The service will now prepare a council-wide report for Corporate Management Team and seeking to further improve these reports for the next issue in January 2026. The reports will cover:
- procurement performance overview
- market supplier insights
- strategic themes and impacts
- innovation
- governance and compliance
The reports will aim to identify where procurement can deliver better value for money, highlight opportunities for cost savings, efficiency and innovation as well as support planning for future procurement activity and contract renewals.
Please contact procurement team if you would like to share any further feedback.
Planning Committee agrees to object to plans for a solar farm near Dunbar
At a meeting of East Lothian Planning Committee on Tuesday 4 November, committee members agreed to object to plans for a solar farm and battery energy storage facility on land near Oldhamstocks, Dunbar.
The application had been called off the Scheme of Delegation by Councillor Collins due to extreme local concerns about the project and its potential impact on the local area. The application, by Voltalia UK Ltd, will be decided by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU). The council is a statutory consultee.
The plans involved an area of 20 agricultural fields, primarily used for rotational arable and livestock farming, interspersed with areas of woodland. The proposed solar farm and associated infrastructure would span 15 of these fields, including a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the northern end of the site. Some residential properties lie within the site boundary and others close by. Developers proposed to operate the site, which includes fencing, lighting and CCTV, for 40 years.
We received 51 objections to the plans for reasons including loss of agricultural land, environmental and biodiversity impact, landscape and visual impact, the effect on the character and amenity of the local community and road safety concerns. Local community councils also objected to the proposals.
Following a debate, committee members voted unanimously to uphold planners’ recommendation that the council strongly object to the proposal due to significant concerns regarding the adequacy of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and the scale and nature of the potential impacts on the East Lammermuir area and beyond. Following a point made by Councillor McIntosh, a specific objection on access and recreation grounds will be amended to refer to not complying with Scottish access legislation.
As the council has objected to the plans, raising significant concerns, it is now likely that Scottish Ministers will need to hold a Public Enquiry on the application.
Read more including decisions made on other applications that were considered by the committee on our website.
Armistice Day: two-minute silence 11am on 11 November
On Tuesday 11 November at 11am, council colleagues will join people across the country in observing the traditional two-minute silence, a moment to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made in the past and the importance of peace in the present. A special ceremony will also be held that morning for veterans working within East Lothian Council.
Our Armed Forces Champion, Provost John McMillan said:
“Each year, our communities gather to remember those whose courage and sacrifice secured the freedoms we enjoy today. As we mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War, it feels especially important to honour their legacy and ensure that the stories of service and resilience continue to be told.
“Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day give us a chance to come together – to stand still, reflect, and give thanks. It’s a tradition that binds generations and reminds us of our shared responsibility to build a peaceful future. I encourage everyone to participate in the two-minute silence wherever you might be at 11am on the 11th.”
Remembrance parades held
Communities across East Lothian came together as a series of remembrance parades and services took place on Sunday, 9 November to honour the service and sacrifice of those who gave their lives in conflict, as the nation marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
Events took place in: Pencaitland, Tranent, Elphinstone, Haddington, Prestonpans, North Berwick, Cockenzie and Port Seton, and Musselburgh and Inveresk, offering residents the opportunity to reflect and pay tribute to the men and women who have served in the armed forces.
In addition, Knox Academy hosted a coffee morning for veterans on Thursday 6 November, welcoming local veterans, pupils and staff to share memories and conversation.
The Last Flight
The following poem, The Last Flight, is shared at services across the country to mark the occasion:
In skies of blue, they soared so high,
With courage bold, they touched the sky.
Through roaring winds and clouds of grey,
They flew for peace; they paved the way.
The engines hummed a steadfast tune,
Beneath the sun, beneath the moon.
Through trials fierce, they held their ground,
In freedom’s name, their hearts were bound.
And when the call for rest was near,
They faced the end without a fear.
Their final flight, a hero’s grace,
To endless skies, a timeless space.
So now we stand, in solemn pride,
For those who lived, for those who died.
Their wings of valour, forever bright,
We honour them on this Armistice night.
Armed Forces Network
Colleagues who are veterans who have not yet received an invitation can find out more about the special reception on 11 November 2025 by emailing armedforcesemployeenetwork@eastlothian.gov.uk
Five-month secondment opportunity to support elections
A five-month secondment opportunity has arisen within Democratic Services to support the delivery of elections on behalf of the Returning Officer. The closing date is 23 November for applications.
The Elections Officer’s main duties include:
- assist with the planning and administration of the Scottish Parliament election
- lead in securing polling places in accordance with agreed Polling Place Scheme, liaising with venue contacts to ensure they are fit for purpose and equipped with suitable furniture.
- assist with the recruitment and training of circa 350 temporary election staff, including poll staff, postal vote staff, count staff and other ad hoc staff
- lead in the preparation of polling station and count materials
Educated to HNC/SVQ Level 3 or equivalent in business administration or other relevant subject, the postholder needs to have previous experience of working in a local authority or other complex organisation along an understanding of the electoral process.
This is a secondment opportunity for INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY
Applications for this post will only be accepted from current employees of East Lothian Council (this includes casual and agency staff who are currently undertaking work for us). Any current employee wishing to apply for this temporary post as a secondment should discuss it with their current line manager in the first instance.
Find out more at myjobscotland reference number EAL11969.
Informal discussion
If you would like an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Hazel Boak, Team Leader - Democratic Services: hboak@eastlothian.gov.uk
Visitor Levy engagement – update
Last month, we launched an early engagement process to explore the potential introduction of a Visitor Levy in East Lothian.
This followed the passing of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024, which gives local authorities the option to introduce a percentage-based charge on overnight stays in accommodation such as hotels, self-catering, caravan parks, and campsites.
At this stage, no decisions have been made. The purpose of this engagement is to gather views from businesses, residents, visitors and community organisations on whether a levy should be introduced, how it could be designed and collected, and how funds might be reinvested to benefit local communities and the visitor economy.
To support this process, we are working with 56 Degree Insight, who are leading the engagement work. So far, businesses, residents and community groups have been actively feeding into responses, helping us build a clearer picture of local priorities and concerns.
We want to hear from as many people as possible. The survey is open to everyone and will remain live until 30 November 2025. Your input is vital to ensure that any future decisions reflect the needs and priorities of East Lothian’s communities and tourism sector.
To take part, please visit the 56 Degree Insight survey page.
Please share the link, which is available from the front page of our website, with any interested colleagues, partners and networks to help us reach a wide audience.
WIN with The Brunton: Wizard of Oz tickets
Win a family ticket* to The Brunton’s Pantomime – The Wizard of Oz at the Corn Exchange, Haddington
Join Dorothy and a whole host of familiar faces on a whirlwind journey bursting with chart-topping pop hits, shout-out loud silliness and plenty of local laughs. Expect flying monkeys, fabulous frocks and more sparkle than a Tin Man's tin foil hat!
With festive fun, hilarious characters and heart-warming moments, this much-loved story gets the full-on panto makeover - with a few surprise twists along the way.
Starring a brilliant professional cast alongside a talented chorus of local young performers, this is the ultimate Christmas treat for all ages.
The Wizard of Oz is at the Corn Exchange, Haddington, from 5 to 13 December and Loretto Theatre, Musselburgh from 19 to 27 December. Find out more from The Brunton's website.
To win simply answer this question:
- What is Dorothy's dog called?
Email your answer to inform@eastlothian.gov.uk before 5pm on Friday 21 November. One winner will be chosen at random after the closing date.
*four people including at least one child
The winner will be offered a choice of dates between 5 and 13 December, subject to availability.
Schools return online after anti-virus alert investigation
East Lothian schools are back online after an investigation into anti-virus alerts on our education network has concluded that systems are secure.
Schools were taken offline as a precautionary measure on Monday 10 November to maintain the system's integrity in response to a series of anti-virus alerts. IT security officers worked closely with the Scottish Cyber Coordination Centre, the national agency for cyber security, and other partners to carry out forensic analysis of the alerts and affected devices. Suppliers and national agencies including Department for Work and Pensions and Education Scotland were kept informed throughout.
Business continuity
Chromebooks were re-enabled on a school-by-school basis on Wednesday 11 November offering connection to key education sites including Google classroom. Schools used established business continuity plans to continue learning while windows devices were unavailable while facilities teams and other services moved to manual processes.
The investigation concluded that there was no infiltration of systems and our data remains secure. Schools were brought back online on Thursday 13 November.
Safe and secure
Our Chief Executive Laurence Rockey praised all of the teams involved, saying: “We take the security of our systems and the information they hold incredibly seriously. Our safeguards have done exactly what they are intended to do by detecting a potential threat; officers have then worked at speed to respond, maintain the integrity of our systems and carry out a robust investigation into the cause with Scottish Cyber Coordination Centre and other partners.
“This has been a cross-council effort not only in the response to the network alerts, but also to continue supporting children and young people to learn in schools.
“I’d like to commend all of our school teams, including facilities colleagues, families and learners for their patience and understanding while these investigations were completed. The confirmation that our network is safe and secure and a return to normal business practices will be welcomed by everyone.”
The education network is separate to our council’s corporate network which was not affected.
What's On
Book Week Scotland events in our libraries - 17 to 23 November
Book Week Scotland is a national celebration of books and reading, and this year’s theme is friendship.
During Book Week Scotland, people of all ages and walks of life come together to share the joy of reading. Together with Scottish Book Trust's curated programme, partners deliver hundreds of unique, exciting events and activities that celebrate the transformative power of reading. They are joined in this celebration by Scotland’s authors, poets, playwrights, storytellers and illustrators to bring a packed programme of events and projects to life.
East Lothian Libraries are delighted to be hosting a variety of events to appeal to a range of age groups and that celebrate and embrace the theme of friendship.
- events are free to attend
- booking is required - please read the event information below for booking information
Monday 17 November
Author event: Friendship in Dark Academia: in conversation with Heather Darwent and Elspeth Wilson - 7pm at Haddington Library
Rebecca from Night Owl Books will be in conversation with Heather Darwent, author of The Things We Do To Our Friends and A Sharp Scratch and Elspeth Wilson, author of These Mortal Bodies, about all things friendship and Dark Academia. The event will include a Q&A followed by a book signing.
To book your place email haddington.library@eastlothian.gov.uk
Tuesday 18 November
Readings of Friendship - 2pm at Dunbar and North Berwick Libraries
Tyne and Esk writers will take you on a discovery of friendship through readings of poetry and short stories. Come and join us for a wonderful afternoon in the spirit of friendship, stories, poems and discover more about Tyne and Esk Writers.
To book your place email dunbar.library@eastlothian.gov.uk
Unlikely Friendships - 2pm at North Berwick Library
Join Tyne and Esk Writers to explore how to incorporate unlikely friendships into and build character development in your writing. Unlikely friendships are found across the whole of literature and Tyne and Esk writers will help you to explore how to incorporate them into your work.
To book your place email northberwick.library@eastlothian.gov.uk
Wednesday 19 November
Author event: East Lothian Poem of Friendship with Philippa Ramsden - 2:30pm at Haddington Library
Join local Tyne & Esk poet Philippa Ramsden to look at friendship. Friendship comes in many guises and during this workshop you will explore what friendship means and create an East Lothian poem of Friendship together.
To book your place email haddington.library@eastlothian.gov.uk
Saturday 22 November
Author event: How to Kill a Witch by Zoe Venditozzi and Claire Mitchell - 2:30pm at Musselburgh Library
Visit Musselburgh Library for an afternoon with the authors of How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the Patriarchy. Join long-time friends Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi as they discuss how they began their Witches of Scotland campaign, seeking justice for the nearly 4,000 individuals, predominantly women, accused of witchcraft in Scotland between 1563 and 1736. So far, the success of this campaign has led to a formal apology from the Scottish government and an official tartan in honour of the people executed. We’ll be asking Claire and Zoe what inspired them to start their campaign and their experience writing their book together.
To book your place email musselburgh.library@eastlothian.gov.uk
Friendship Storytime Bookbug - 10:30am at North Berwick Library
Come along to help us celebrate Book Week Scotland with stories and make your very own friendship bracelets, because life is more fun when shared with friends!
Suitable for all ages, under eights must be accompanied by an adult.
To book your place email northberwick.library@eastlothian.gov.uk
You can also book a place at any of the events by phoning our contact centre on 01620 827827 and asking for the relevant library.
What's on at the Brunton
This November, join The Brunton in Musselburgh and Haddington for the start of their winter programme. From heart-warming films to fascinating true stories and radiant music, there is something for everyone!
At the Corn Exchange in November, join The Brunton for a fascinating and humorous evening with one of the most accomplished mountaineers of all time. Following his experience in Peru, Simon Yates has been increasingly drawn to places where few others have trod. Share with him the drama, excitement and beauty of modern, lightweight alpinism on Friday 14 November.
Simon Yates of Touching The Void – My Mountain Life: Friday 14 November at 7:30pm, Corn Exchange, Haddington
In Musselburgh firm favourite Ryan Corbett returns to Northesk Parish Church for The Brunton’s Bite-Sized Concerts at Lunchtime. Corbett’s arrangements of classical masterpieces combine with wonderful pure accordion compositions to make his recitals not to be missed!
Ryan Corbett, Accordion: Bite-Sized Concerts at Lunchtime, Tuesday 11 November at midday for lunch, 1pm concert | Northesk Parish Church, Musselburgh
The iconic Northesk Parish Church will also be welcoming the Royal Northern Sinfonia late November. Directed by Artistic partner Maria Wloszczowska, the string players of Royal Northern Sinfonia perform a selection of beautiful, atmospheric pieces carefully chosen to make you feel warm from the inside out on this cold November night.
Royal Northern Sinfonia, Christmas by Candlelight: Friday 28 November at 7:30pm, Northesk Parish Church, Musselburgh
The overwhelmingly well-received I Swear (15), based on the true story of John Davidson who struggled with his Tourette’s syndrome diagnosis and subsequent alienation, will be playing at Loretto Theatre this November.
I Swear (15): Wednesday 19 November at 7pm. Loretto Theatre, Musselburgh
Lastly, Olivier Award-winner Jack Lowden is joined by Emmy and BAFTA-winner Martin Freeman in the critically acclaimed and subversively funny new play by David Ireland. Streamed live to Loretto Theatre on Thursday 27 November at 7PM.
NT Live: The Fifth Step (15) | Thu 27 November at 7PM | Loretto Theatre, Musselburgh
What's on in Museums this November?
Winter season museum opportunities
Explore historic records and online exhibitions at www.johngraycentre.org or pop in for a visit to discover the history of East Lothian in 1000 objects in this innovative, interactive museum at John Gray Centre in Haddington. Uncover how ordinary and extraordinary people earned their living and spent their time from the Stone Age to the present day. Temporary exhibition about local D Day veteran, fisherman, husband, father and great dancer Charlie Horn!
Visit John Muir’s Birthplace and discover how a boy born in Dunbar became one of the driving forces behind the global conservation movement. His life and work continue to inspire people all over the world. Today his legacy helps connect with wellbeing, sustainability and communities. New temporary exhibition explores and celebrates the remaining woodlands found in East Lothian with their pockets of old oak trees. www.jmbt.org.uk
Explore the woods and grounds of Prestongrange Museum using the mobile phone tour as a guide through 400 years of local industry. The harbour, glass works, pottery, colliery and brickworks have all left their marks on the landscape including winding gear, a vast brick kiln and a Cornish beam engine. www.eastlothian.gov.uk/prestongrange
Take a tour of Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery with Dunbar and District History Society. The Town House has been the focus of town life since the 16th century and is home to a local history display and the temporary exhibition about shopfronts. www.eastlothian.gov.uk/dunbar-town-house
Discover land, sea and peoples stories at the Coastal Communities Museum in North Berwick during October. Travel through time and discover more about the history and pre-history of this captivating coastline and associated hinterland. www.coastalmuseum.org
Museums are a warm place with a friendly faces
Free to visit and have regularly changing craft activities suitable for children and families as well as temporary exhibitions and reference books available to browse and read.
John Gray Centre (Museum) 15 Lodge Street, Haddington, EH41 3DX
Thursday and Friday 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 4pm
John Muir's Birthplace 126 High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JJ
Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm
Dunbar Town House Museum & Gallery High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1ER
Saturday 2pm to 4pm courtesy of Dunbar and District History Society volunteers.
Exhibitions
'Duir' oak : door
This exhibition explores and celebrates the remaining woodlands found in East Lothian with their pockets of old oak trees. As artists we are working to highlight our dependence and necessary engagement with our environment and woodland through foraging, creating, learning and being amongst woodland for its healing aspects, mindfulness and creative work.
The title of our exhibition is Duir which is an old Celtic word for oak and where the word for door derives. Oak supports more wildlife than any other tree species. This highlights the biodiversity value associated with them. They are also long-lived making them significant carbon stores. Woodlands are an essential part of our community and our exhibition highlights the necessity of preservation and regeneration.
The three artists contributing to this are Karin Chipulina, Stella Robertson and Anna Davis. Karin Chipulina’s work includes eco printed cloth, dyed with local leaves from the woods using oak gall mordants, natural fibres, prints using local woodland, foraged materials and cloth sewn, dyed and worked on with plant fibre.
A quote by John Muir
‘Between every two pine trees there is a door, leading to a new way of life’
Saturday 4 October to Sunday 30 November.
Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Free admission
John Muir’s Birthplace, High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JJ.
Scottish shopfronts and Dunbar shops exhibition
Dunbar Town House and Museum and Gallery (Wednesday to Sunday 1pm to 5pm every week)
Come and view the fantastic exhibition on the development of Scottish shopfronts by Lindsay Lennie. There will also be a history of Dunbar High Street shops theme, and we will be encouraging you to bring in stories and information about some of the old High Street shops.
We will also run a series of walks and talks, and activities every Wednesday afternoon during the exhibition. Check out the noticeboard in the Town House window for updates about what’s on.
Saturday 2-4pm courtesy of Dunbar and District History Society. Free admission.
Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery, High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1ER.
Golden Days: The life of Charlie Horne
Charlie Horne is a local D-Day veteran, fisherman, husband, father and a great dancer!
Using images and material from Charlies own extensive collection, Golden Days looks back over his life. Featuring audio recordings from Charlie, a diary he kept during D-Day, film footage, family letters and images, Golden Days tells the story of a fascinating life well-lived.
30 August through until December. Free admission.
John Gray Centre (Museum) 15 Lodge Street, Haddington, EH41 3DX.
johngraycentre.org
Events
Dunbar Art Route
Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October
Explore incredible art in Dunbar, Belhaven and West Barns.
- meet the artists
- see behind the scenes
- discover hidden gems
- take part in workshops
Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery will be hosting nine of the artists 10am to 4pm both days.
www.dunbarartroute.co.uk
@dunbarartroute
Hope, healing and creativity in wild times.
For anyone feeling overwhelmed, a free talk/ discussion.
Stella shares the creative process behind her work (DUIR, oak:door) on loss as a portal to transformation. This interactive talk/ Q & A, explores the importance of creativity and imagination in difficult times. personal and environmental, discusses why slowing down enough to listen to the land can be a radical act of healing and a slow burning activism, and reveals how both can help build the capacity to help us through these wild times.
This session includes some short grounding exercises (visualisation/ breathing)
Saturday 25 October, 2pm to 3pm
Saturday 22 November, 2pm to 3pm
John Muir’s Birthplace, High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JJ.
Book with QR code at eventbrite or message via instagram @dunbarartroute
Workshop Printing with Karin Chipulina
Part of the Duir exhibition
My work includes eco printed cloth, dyed with local leaves from the woods using oak gall mordants, natural fibres, prints using local woodland foraged materials and cloth sewn, dyed and worked on with plant fibre. Within a woodland we can access free materials to use in art forms, we can learn from working in that space of inspiration and use materials consciously to give a voice through our art.
Drop in workshop Saturday 18 October Time TBC
John Muir’s Birthplace, High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JJ.
East Lothian Council Museums
15 Lodge Street, Haddington, EH41 3DX.
Thursday and Friday 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
Saturday 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm
126 High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JJ.
Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm
Sunday 1pm to 5pm
High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1ER.
Wednesday to Sunday 1pm to 5pm
(from Wednesday 2 April to Sunday 28 September)
Morrison’s Haven, Prestonpans, EH32 9RX.
Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 4.30pm
(from Wednesday 2 April to Sunday 28 September)
School Road, North Berwick, EH39 4JU.
Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 4pm
(from Wednesday 9 April to Saturday 25 October)
65 High St, Musselburgh, EH21 7BZ.
Thursday to Saturday 10.30am to 4pm
(from Thursday 3 April to Saturday 27 September)
Call for artists to exhibit at Dunbar Town House in 2026
Our Arts service is looking for two practising visual artists or craft makers to present a public facing exhibition at Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery from April to June 2026.
Each year, an array of artists and makers are supported to present their work to the public at the council-run Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery, providing a platform on which to showcase their work, engage with the public and further their reputation within the community.
There are two slots available:
Wednesday 1 April - Sunday 10 May
Friday 15 May - Sunday 21 June
In addition to the space, each artist will also receive:
- a point of contact from the Museums Team who can offer a tour of the gallery and provide advice on the hanging system, technical arrangements and answer any queries prior to installation
- front of house staffing to manage the exhibition space during opening hours
- support from the Arts Service team to create and print signage materials and promotional marketing materials with a budget of £300 available for print and design (if required)
- inclusion in a digital marketing campaign for both exhibitions produced by our Arts Service and shared through the Museums Service. This would include web listings, social media posts and a press release
- support to take sales during the exhibition with a 25% commission provided to the Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery/East Lothian Council Museums Service. This is used to support the staffing and running costs of the exhibition space and will be managed by the Museums team
- access to the exhibition space for an opening event during opening hours
- access to an additional space within Dunbar Town House Museum & Gallery during opening hours to provide workshops/talks related to the exhibition
Who is this opportunity for?
The exhibition space is available for artists who:
- work in visual arts or craft including but not limited to painting, pottery, sculpture, photography, textile design, etc.
- are based in East Lothian or have created work directly in response to East Lothian as a location
- are able to manage the installation of their work into the exhibition space with support from one member of staff
- are able to take a lead in managing the promotion of the exhibition with support from the Arts Service team
- are happy with the technical specifications of the gallery space and the facilities that can be provided
The team is committed to increasing the diversity of artists working in the arts and especially welcome applications from those who identify as having characteristics currently under-represented in visual art and crafts in Scotland.
Timeline
- deadline: Sunday 16 November
- panel meeting: Wednesday 3 December
- artists informed: Wednesday 10 December
- marketing goes live: Monday 2 March
- exhibition 1: Wednesday 1 April - Sunday 10 May
- exhibition 2: Friday 15 May - Sunday 21 June
How to apply
Find out more information, including selection criteria, online from our website.
Our Community Kitchen zumba fundraiser
Our Community Kitchen brings people together in the Haddington and Lammermuir area who are socially isolated, to share good, hearty home-cooked food in a relaxed and
friendly environment, allowing for friendships to form. There are no barriers to age or ability. All are welcome. As well as bringing people together for a meal at Haddington Bowling Club, the project also delivers hot meals to local people. They welcome referrals from health care professionals, self-referrals and from people locally who see or know someone who would benefit from being involved.
If you'd like to take part in a fun fitness challenge to help raise funds towards the cost of food for the project, why not gather a few colleagues, dig out your dancing shoes and take part in their Zumba fundraiser on Saturday 15 November at Knox Academy, Haddington, from 1-3pm. Entry is £10 per person. You can join in or just donate at their Just Giving page.
Information Hub 'One Stop Shop' at Fraser Centre, Tranent on Monday 8 December
East Lothian Information Hubs are ‘One Stop Shop’ events where members of the public can engage with multiple organisations face-to-face. They offer information, advice, support and guidance around everyday living concerns and can answer enquiries on a range of subjects such as local social activities, financial support and health and wellbeing.
Upcoming event:
The next Information Hub event will be held on
- Monday 8 December
- 11am to 1pm
- The Fraser Centre, Tranent
Attending the event are a number of organisations and support services who will provide advice, information and support covering the following subject areas:
Vaccination team
- East Lothian's NHS Vaccination team will be onsite to provide those eligible with Flu and Covid vaccinations. No appointment needed, just turn up on the day.
Health and wellbeing
- Changes (Mental Health)
- Eastspace (Mental Health)
- Ageing Well
- Enjoy Leisure
- East Lothian Learning Disability Team
Money matters
Employment support
- East Lothian Works
- Skills Development Scotland
- Job Centre / DWP
- Changeworks
Parent, child and family support
- Families Together
- HomeStart
- Breastfeeding LENS
- NHS Lothian Infant Feeding Team
Advocacy and support
- CAPS
- Carers of East Lothian
Food and community
- Volunteer Centre East Lothian
- East Lothian Foodbank
- Fa'side Community Kitchen
Travel and climate
- East Lothian Climate Hub
- East Lothian Council Active Travel Team
There will be activities that young children can enjoy while parents speak to organisations.
More information is available at www.volunteereastlothian.org.uk/information-hubs
Our People
Employee excellence in the spotlight as first Inspire Awards event held
Our first ever Inspire Awards - which celebrate the hard work, commitment and achievements of employees across the council - were held in Haddington Corn Exchange on Wednesday afternoon.
With more than 200 nominations received, the judging panel - comprising the Provost, representatives of the Executive Team, and a trade union representative - faced some very difficult decisions. Thanks to everyone who nominated a colleague, whether on a team or individual basis.
Hosted by Chief Executive Laurence Rockey and Provost John McMillan, almost 200 people attended the awards event, with excellent musical entertainment provided by 30 student musicians from local secondary schools.
'Amazing experience'
Laurence said: “Our inaugural Inspire Awards will live long in the memory. We received a significant number of thoughtful, high-quality nominations, which demonstrated the breadth of talent, professionalism and expertise which exists in our workforce.
“Everybody who lives, works or visits East Lothian relies on at least some of the varied and essential services provided by our organisation. Our people have a relentless focus on providing the highest standard of service to the communities we serve.
“It was an amazing experience to recognise the achievements of employees and teams through the Inspire Awards. They really were a fantastic way to celebrate the impressive work which takes place day in and day out and highlight the difference made by our council values – Enabling, Leading and Caring – in action.
“I enjoyed chatting to many of the finalists before and after the event. Whether you were nominated, made it through as a finalist or were a category winner, you can be very proud. Huge congratulations from me. Thanks also to our music performers, who showcased some of the talent which exists in East Lothian school.
“Like so many others, I can’t wait until the next Inspire Awards!”
The Provost added:
“The Inspire Awards are a fresh way to shine a light on the work you do — often quietly, often behind the scenes, but always with a shared commitment to our communities.
“These awards build on the tradition of the former STAR Awards, and they reflect how our organisation has grown and changed in recent years. At their heart, they are about recognising the people who inspire others: through their innovation, their kindness, their professionalism, and their ability to make things happen.”
All finalists received a certificate, with the winner in each of the eight categories receiving a trophy and certificate.
The winners and finalists were:
Customer Excellence Award
Winner: Katie Jenkins, IT
“A colleague praised for her professionalism, positivity and approachable nature.”
Finalists: Brunton Hall Customer Services; Education Outreach Service; Licensing Team
Award presented by Eamon John, Head of Communities.
Community Focus Award
Winner: Amenity Services
“A team widely respected for their work in keeping East Lothian and its open spaces clean, attractive and well maintained.”
Finalists: Annette Allan and Nel Murray, Adult Learning Disabilities Social Work; the Brunton Arts team; Scott Kennedy, Emergency Planning and Risk
Award presented by Shamin Akhtar, Depute Council Leader.
Unsung Hero Award
Winner: Bruce Colgan, Road Services
“A colleague who has worked tirelessly with unwavering dedication to ensure East Lothian’s roads are safe and accessible.”
Finalists: Allan Bourhill, Libraries; Gerry Chapman, Throughcare and Aftercare Team; Judith Hodson, Financial Inclusion Team; Helen Johnstone, Facilities Management
Award presented by Fiona Wilson, Director of the East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership.
One Council Award
Winner: Garden Waste Permits cross-department collaboration
“A team of colleagues represented by different parts of the council who worked to successfully deliver a new scheme for local households.”
Finalists: Louise Stewart, Communications; Business Rates and Sundry Accounts; Active Travel Team
Award presented by Andy Forrest, Depute Provost.
Sustainability Award
Winner: Community Payback Work Team
“A team whose approach to sustainability gives service users new skills and opportunities, such as through recycling bikes and rescuing items from landfill.”
Finalists: Waste Recycling Advisers; Road Structures Team – North Berwick Harbour Wall Reconstruction; Mikel Vallejo, Procurement; Transport Services
Award presented by Sarah Fortune, Depute Chief Executive (Resources and Economy).
Innovation Award
Winner: Families Together East Lothian
“A team with a focus on building kind and compassionate relationships while working with partners.”
Finalists: Jo Allen, Communications; Rebecca Grangeret, Organisational Development; Dan Smith and Craig McMillan, IT
Award presented by Lyn Jardine, Leader of the Opposition.
Team of the Year Award
Winner: Housing Options
“A team that has worked hard to transform how it operates, meet demand and support vulnerable clients.”
Finalists: Adult Social Work Team; Burial Team; Countryside Team; Democratic Services
Award presented by Lesley Brown, Depute Chief Executive (Children and Communities).
Employee of the Year Award
Winner: Jo Allen, Communications
“An employee who has been instrumental in elevating the quality and professionalism of the council’s media and communications work, offering wise counsel and creative solutions.”
Finalists: Doreen Chalmers, Finance; Caroline McCorkindale, Fostering and Adoption Team; Katie Jenkins, IT; Ed Offer, Dunbar Grammar School; Rebecca Grangeret, Organisational Development; Hazel Boak, Democratic Services
Award presented by Norman Hampshire, Council Leader.
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We look forward to sharing more photographs and a video in the coming days.
Coffee morning raises funds for Macmillan
The organiser of a coffee morning organised to raise funds for Macmillan Coffee Morning has thanked all those who contributed.
Committees officer Fiona Currie organised the event at John Muir House on 29 September with support from her Committees team colleagues. She was moved to support the charity following her own experiences with cancer. Attendees were able to choose from a wide range of home baking and pre-loved books.
Fiona said: "A huge thank you to everyone who came along to the Macmillan Coffee Morning. Thanks to all of the generous donations we raised a wonderful £361.05, all of which will go towards supporting people living with cancer.
"I'd also like to give a special thank you to my colleagues who donated baking, books and jigsaws, and who helped out on the day."
Partnership
What is Community Wealth Building?
East Lothian Community Wealth Building is launching a digital campaign, aimed at explaining Community Wealth Building (CWB) in bite-sized chunks.
The campaign will run from 10 November for two weeks. Look out for posts on Facebook and Instagram.
CWB will be explained with a deeper delve into the pillars – Progressive Procurement, Fair Work, Land and Assets, Financial Power and, in East Lothian, Climate Change.
The campaign is the culmination of the East Lothian CWB anchor organisations working together – the council, NHS Lothian, Queen Margaret University and Volunteer Centre East Lothian (VCEL).
Engaging with residents
The social media campaign follows on from various activities to engage residents since the East Lothian Partnership launch of Community Wealth Building.
It will culminate in a short video, which will be worked into a project with local young people, through the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, on what Community Wealth Building means for them.
The campaign materials will be posted by VCEL and shared on partner channels so you can see them on any of the partners’ Facebook & Instagram news feeds as well as the council’s, of course.
More information on CWB is on our website.
You can also contact our Community Wealth Building Officer Angela Lamont at cwb@eastlothian.gov.uk
East Lothian Partnership working to make a difference
The East Lothian Partnership has been working over the last year to co-produce a new Local Outcome Improvement Plan with communities, partners and using available data. This seeks to address the areas where our communities identify they are facing issues, and work across the Partnership, and with communities, to identify themes, priorities and actions that can improve outcomes for the people who need it the most.
The Plan aims to address poverty and inequality, working in a preventative approach.
Community Planning Partnerships (CPP) are a statutory requirement under the Community Empowerment Act and involve a range of key partners including, but not limited to, our council, ELHSCP, NHS Lothian, Scottish Fire and Rescue, Edinburgh College, Police Scotland, Police Scotland, Transport Scotland and VCEL.
Our CPP in East Lothian is the East Lothian Partnership and it is required to produce a Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) every 10 years. You can find out more about community planning here.
Engagement Report
The East Lothian Partnership Engagement Report was produced in August 2025 and identified three key areas for communities; Health, Safety and Poverty. The report represented voices from over 25,000 local people. Read the report.
Key Themes and Priorities for Local Outcome Improvement Plan 2026-2036
Officers across the Partnership have been working to reframe the language and reflect this back to communities and partners, firstly for the three themes:
Secondly, it has also reframed the key priority areas under each of these themes:
The Partnership will continue the work on the Local Outcome Improvement Plan with a draft of the final plan being presented in December to the Governance Group.
You can keep up to date on the work of the East Lothian Partnership online and follow the Plan's progress through monthly updates.
Previous updates and further information are on the Community Planning pages.
Review of current Local Outcome Improvement Plan 2017-2027
Our current Local Outcome Improvement Plan 2017-2027 will conclude shortly, and an Annual Review 2024-2025 and End of Plan Indicator report have been produced. Both documents are available online.
Further information
Please contact Emma Brown or Lucy Higginson, Connected Communities, if you would like any further information.
Developing an East Lothian Equally Safe Strategy
On 25 November, to coincide with the launch of the international awareness campaign, “16 Days of Activism to eliminate Violence against Women and Girls”, we will launch our campaign to develop a locally focused Equally Safe Strategy.
Equally Safe, is a Scottish Government initiative that aims to create a strong and flourishing Scotland where all individuals can feel equally safe and respected, and where women and girls live free from all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation — and the attitudes that help perpetuate it.
Men and boys also experience abuse and exploitation.
The Equally Safe strategy aims to protect all genders, of all ages.
If you are need of support, please click this link
Violence against women and children happens in East Lothian
Developing the Strategy
Tackling gender-based violence is everyone’s business. East Lothian Council is committed to ensuring that all women, children and young people across our communities live their lives free from violence and abuse and are supported to achieve the best possible outcomes.
In developing the Equally Safe Strategy, East Lothian Council is committed to identifying opportunities to embed outcomes and actions across relevant community planning policy and service areas.
Get involved!
You can get directly involved in the development of the East Lothian Equally Safe Strategy:
We can all take action!
Across each of East Lothian Council’s services, departments and teams we can collectively challenge and transform the attitudes and beliefs that perpetuate, excuse and seek to minimise gender-based violence.
Find out more: www.eastlothian.gov.uk/equally-safe
