The Musselnurgh situation

think its more about bruised egos and who pulls the strings - there are lots of areas for housing in that neck of woods, albeit not all with a nice forth estuary view, but imagine there will be 100s of houses on the old cockenzie power plant site to satisfy that demand

I assume you live in the area. If Cockenzie has closed what is going to happen to the lagoon areas where ash used to be dumped.
There is also lot of reclaimed land in the area. Is that suitable for much apart from recreation?

below is typical local council speak (mind the same one as is causing the current difficulties at musselburgh) and as clear as mud, not much has changed since the plant closed four years ago..

The site presents a key opportunity in terms of economic development and is a significant natural asset. The council's priority is to work with all parties to secure a sustainable future. In broad terms we would seek to maximise the economic opportunities in line with the council's economic development strategy - but not at the expense of the local community or environment.
The Council does recognise the significant contribution the site could make and has a cross-party member and officer group who meet to discuss the future of the site. Download copies of the minutes from meetings. 
Along with representatives from Cockenzie and Port Seton, Prestonpans and Longniddry Community Council, the Coastal Regeneration Alliance and the Battle of Prestonpans Heritage Trust, the Council has formed a Cockenzie Community Forum, which is chaired by the Chair of the Preston, Seton Gosford Area Partnership.
The Council is currently commissioning a consultant to undertake a masterplanning process. The purpose of this is to:
Develop a clear vision for the future of the site with local communities and stakeholders in a manner which facilitates and reflects a shared understanding of the future opportunities and options;
Provide an evidence base for policy formulation in relation to future uses of the site and the assessment of planning applications in relation to the provisions of NPF3;
Set out a clear analysis of the of the site within a national, regional and local context;
Set out and cost options and proposals which will address key strategic challenges and will facilitate and support area regeneration, sustainable place-making and protects appropriate future economic opportunity.

Sounds typical Council Speak and nothing will happen for years.
It used to amuse me when truck loads of ash was transported to the Lagoons (that leaked) and then later taken back to another location.

With a council involved there are not limits to the fck ups that can happen

i've been tweeting back and forth with Hamilton and apparently BHA are sticking to their position that should the meeting be off next Friday 14th (and it will) there will be no replacement meeting..shame because at least some of the temp workers who will lose out from musselburgh could go to Hamilton instead..

Shame, I like backing @ Mussel and Ham

i do live nearby and would guess council would like to sell buildings off sad if this was case meanwhile peoples jobs are at stake while these cretins faff about deciding what to do

i'm fairly sure there would be a buyer for the facilities if the council did the right thing and put their property on the market - but sale would have to be restricted to someone who undertook to keep running the racecourse and not a speculative property developer or ARC!

I'm never sure how much racing brings to local traders and laughed when Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell said when visiting Musselburgh that each meeting brought the town half a million in business

last time I was at the course, it was sold out @ £30 a pop and every bar was full.  If this course is shut down there is corruption somewhere or other.

a buyer ? its  public owned land running around the oldest golfcourse in the world,the council could not sell even if it wanted to,anyone know whats really going on here ?  stinks imo

I live in the area and in the localnews the headline from the last few days is .

"Musselburgh Racecourse to find out fate of next meeting as crisis over licence loss continues"

Full article here

http://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/15392366.Racecourse_to_find_out_fate_of_next_meeting_as_crisis_over_licence_loss_continues/?ref=mrb&lp=3

amazing that the future of the course is in the hands of a few councillors, a shameful state of affairs

followed all the stories but none the wiser .... we need the inside line

probably as simple as a clash of personalities leading to a power struggle or the brown envelopes are a bit on the small side.

been a hell of a lot of money invested in the place,saying 15 fulltime staff employed ,does that sound right ?

Gordon as you know I'm heading over next week ,any chance it'll be on. ?

could see a place like Hamilton having more full time staff, having corporate events, weddings and other events on course through out the year.does seem a bit excessive for Mussleburgh

aye ,numssellnughre seems overstuffed ,they cannobee 15 ft

Just spotted they have given them till Fri afternoon to get their act together.

There is an article in the Edinburgh Reporter dated yesterday and it appears that a resolution is likely going forward

workrider, it seems the council in a face-saving attempt, partially met the BHA requirements a few hours before the deadline, BHA to respond by noon today if licence extended to cover next Friday meeting.  can't see them turning down as probably want to keep the position that it's the council who are the villains of this chaos. i'm sure a solution will be found but we all know and suffer the consequences of stubborn politicians.

Thanks Gordon.

workrider - licence renewed until 31 december 2017, see you next weekend

temp licence granted, meeting goes ahead

Thanks lads.

http://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/15397600.Musselburgh_Racecourse_recei...

http://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/15397600.Musselburgh_Racecourse_recei...