Loss of pavilion spurs on park future debate

Gordon Millar, Chair of the Group, updated the Council on the work of the Friends Of Winterfield, which is now looking at plans to furhter enhance the park with planting and landscaping.

The group was established in 2011 and now has 70 members.

The main aims of FOW are to preserve Winterfield Park as an open recreational space for the town of Dunbar in co-operation with other organisations, and to support the provision of recreational facilities and activities for the public at large.

After five years, with the help of East Lothian Council staff and financial support from a range of sources FOW is coming to the end of its initial work plan. There have been improvements to the landscape of the park, there is more use of the site for sports (Dunbar Cricket Club has moved its pitch to Winterfield) and there have been other community activities including a Civic Week dog show.

However, there are challenges which FOW feel, as a small group, they cannot tackle without support of Dunbar Community Council and Local Area Partnership.

FOW, along with Dunbar Community Council had reluctantly accepted the ELC decision to demolish the Pavilion. The demolition had met with a public petition raised by Ruth Elford which had obtained 513 signatures. Ruth had attended the last FOW meeting and the situation had been discussed. Although the Pavilion will come down the council heard that it is important to plan for the future use of its site.