Marie Sharp
Historic Scotland has rejected calls for it to back opposition to plans for
a substation on part of the site of the Battle of Prestonpans.
Despite confirming the proposed development by Inchcape Offshore Wind Farm
Ltd sits within the historic battlefield site, the organisation has
declined to intervene.
Instead, it has written to East Lothian Council’s planners to say it does
not object to the development, saying the impact is “not so adverse as to
raise issues of national significance such as we would object”.
The decision has stunned opponents to the substation, particularly the
Battle of Prestonpans Heritage Trust 1745, whose members expected the
agency, which holds a National Directory of Historic Battlefields, to
oppose the plans.
Dr Gordon Prestoungrange, trustee and former chairman of the trust, has
written to planners voicing his disbelief at Historic Scotland’s stance.
He said: “Frankly we at the Battle Trust are incredulous.
“To suggest the proposal does not raise issues of national significance is
beyond belief, bearing in mind that the land itself is listed in the
National Inventory so lately completed.
“We have devoted time and much energy since 2006 to ensuring the
conservation and interpretation of the battlefield. At no time has Historic
Scotland consulted with the Battle Trust on site prior to reaching its
conclusions.”
The Battle of Prestonpans is recognised by Historic Scotland as the first
significant conflict in the Jacobite Rising of 1745, resulting in the
defeat of the Government army in Scotland.
It paved the way for a major escalation in recruitment to the Jacobite
cause and made possible the march into England by the Jacobite army in
November of that year.
Historic Scotland said it welcomed revisions made to the original proposals
by Inchcape, which had moved the substation to the north of the land, after
initial concerns about it crossing the historic Waggonway were raised.
The architects at Inchcape moved the proposed site of the substation to one
corner of the land and reduced its size to try and minimise the impact.
Historic Scotland told the council: “While we consider there will be an
impact upon the battlefield we recognise and welcome revisions to the
scheme which have sought to minimise impacts within the limitations of the
land available.”
However, it added: “The area affected relates to an area where fighting is
known to have taken place, albeit towards the periphery of the area.
“Although recent evidence has suggested that the fighting took place
further to the east, and this further away from the development location,
there nevertheless remains potential for archaeological remains to be
disturbed should the development proceed.”
The trust believes Inchcape should be looking at building the substation on
adjoining land already designated as “brownfield”, such as the site of the
decommissioned coal stores owned by ScottishPower.
Dr Prestoungrange said: “There is extensive brownfield land further north
where good sense and operational effectiveness would readily suggest it
should be located.”
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