Musings from the Merse
Sunday, June 14, 2009
FLITTING UP THE BRAE
Lairds were fairly heavy handed in the 18th century in these parts-as I learned from an 'Observer' as I was buying a 'Scotsman on Sunday' at Nairns this morning. Apparently the nearby village of Gavinton has just celebrated the 250th anniversary of its foundation by a gentleman called Gavin. He had just bought Langton House in 1758 and (as you can read more fully here The interesting bit is as follows
"Learning that the estate of Langton was in the market, David Gavin purchased it in 1758 and decided that his new house should overlook Langton Glen. Unfortunately the dilapidated cottages which had huddled under the protecting walls of the old castle were a blot on the landscape. But a wealthy financier had potent magic at his command. He waved his wand; a new village (to be called Gavinton in his honour) appeared on the crest of the Crimson or Crimstane Hill half a mile away, and the cottagers “flitted” up the brae. The ancient hamlet of Langton was razed to the ground and the historic tower demolished. The new owner of Langton was no dilettante country gentleman however and he soon set about improving the land, giving it the benefit of the marl that was plentiful on the estate end of the line, which he transported from Northumberland. As a result, the rental that had been £1100 when he came to Langton rose to upwards of £3000 by 1773."
So at one stroke he improved his new property, got rid of the eyes sores and the 'poisonous little Nimbies' they sheltered and just about trebled his income. What an example for the twenty first Century Lairds to emulate. Any one wanting to be 'flitted up the Brae' should look around Berwickshire for potential flitters; TD15 might do. In that case:
some one might be tempted to start with, say, Paxton.
(Thank you Chris Maginn for the images of two ancient maps-showing Langton House just after the offending yokels has been flitted and the location of present day Gavinton)
Friday, June 05, 2009
Bring in the Lumberjack; its ok
Back in the Borders-just in time to catch the latest Berwickshire News and to see that some things don't change including the Laird's attempts to add to his housing stock in greater Paxton. Having had his application for two bijou dwellings turned down on several occasions and even on appeal to the Scottish Executive he has managed to have the case reopened as reported here
It seems that one of the previous objections to the houses was that it would mean that some trees would have been cut down to allow them to be built. Or in Planning Speak :building on the land would result in "the loss of a woodland resource."
Quick Action by the Laird:
"To counteract this the nearby spruce trees were cut down in January".
Objection : Don't cut down trees to build houses
Trees cut down: Objection overruled
Odd that;
or am I missing something
Back in the Borders-just in time to catch the latest Berwickshire News and to see that some things don't change including the Laird's attempts to add to his housing stock in greater Paxton. Having had his application for two bijou dwellings turned down on several occasions and even on appeal to the Scottish Executive he has managed to have the case reopened as reported here
It seems that one of the previous objections to the houses was that it would mean that some trees would have been cut down to allow them to be built. Or in Planning Speak :building on the land would result in "the loss of a woodland resource."
Quick Action by the Laird:
"To counteract this the nearby spruce trees were cut down in January".
Objection : Don't cut down trees to build houses
Trees cut down: Objection overruled
Odd that;
or am I missing something
Labels: Border Planning, Inappropriate Development, Paxton, the Laird
Friday, May 08, 2009
Well Paxton can boast, and no doubt will, that one of its daughters made it to the Finals of the UK section of the Miss Universe contest-read all about it here. Sadly Georgia did not win and will not now progress to the World Finals in the US en route presumably to be blasted off to the Universe deciders on the third planet west of the Sun, or in that vicinity
Of course had she been groomed in Hutton rather than Paxton the outcome might have been different The Hutton climate is well known for its climate and the beneficial effect on your complexion and other attributes
And if you doubt that Hutton is the centre of the known earth go to here
The old ditty goes:
"Hutton for Old Wives
Paxton for Lasses so fine
-or is it 'fat swine'
I must check
Labels: Gloria, Miss Universe, Paxton
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Best Laird Schemes. The End?
Those of you who sympathise with the Laird's attempts to create a greater Paxton (or Poxton as a bloggee has called it) will be dismayed by the ruling referred to here The appeal to reverse a decision by the Scottish Borders Planning Department (another oxymoron) against the building of two bijou residences just outside the village on the upper Hutton road has been turned down. The grounds for refusal are a classic of planning Gobbledygook to do with road alignment and existing building blocks-not a mention of scrub land nor bull dozed copses. And for once it seems that neighbours with their objections have won the day.
Could it be that there is an inbuilt prejudice amongst the Planning Highheidyins as far as the Laird's schemes are concerned. And if so
Why?
(Answers on an A 3 sheet to the Hutton Think Tank: Wild Ideas Department)
Those of you who sympathise with the Laird's attempts to create a greater Paxton (or Poxton as a bloggee has called it) will be dismayed by the ruling referred to here The appeal to reverse a decision by the Scottish Borders Planning Department (another oxymoron) against the building of two bijou residences just outside the village on the upper Hutton road has been turned down. The grounds for refusal are a classic of planning Gobbledygook to do with road alignment and existing building blocks-not a mention of scrub land nor bull dozed copses. And for once it seems that neighbours with their objections have won the day.
Could it be that there is an inbuilt prejudice amongst the Planning Highheidyins as far as the Laird's schemes are concerned. And if so
Why?
(Answers on an A 3 sheet to the Hutton Think Tank: Wild Ideas Department)
Labels: Inappropriate Development, Paxton, Poxton, the Laird
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Backwards to the Future
Huttonians do not traditionally show much sympathy or even regard for Paxtonians but one of the latter ilk is on the wrong end of one of the stupider planning decisions to issue from the lowheidyins of the planning office in Duns. Full saga can be found here
But if you want to avoid wading through faff, suffice it to know that a very junior planning officer, on her own initiative, it appears, has turned down a planned extension to an existing building on the grounds that it interferes with the privacy of a house yet to be constructed: rather like:
Yesterday upon the stair, I met a man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today, Oh how I wish he'd go away.
You might say.
If she had bothered to look closely at the plans for the proposed extension and put them with the design of the house which is not there (and in the present climate likely to stay that way) she could have worked out that the only way that the privacy of the virtual house could be jeopardised by the not quite yet extension would be for some one in the room on top of the extension, when completed, to peer out of a window (someone should hold his legs) proposed to put in and by turning his head 78 degrees to the left and looking down at an angle of 97 degrees might just be able to see part of a corner of a room, as yet non existent, unless of course the eventually to be hung curtain was drawn. Then he could see nothing. Tough being a Peeping Tom in a future Paxton.
I suspect the appeal will find for the applicant. In which case one hopes a sharp rap on the real knuckles of the Planning Officer in question might remind her of the purpose of her office is to be helpful and constructive to Johnny Citizen and not a pain on the collective backside of the Merse community.
Dream on
Huttonians do not traditionally show much sympathy or even regard for Paxtonians but one of the latter ilk is on the wrong end of one of the stupider planning decisions to issue from the lowheidyins of the planning office in Duns. Full saga can be found here
But if you want to avoid wading through faff, suffice it to know that a very junior planning officer, on her own initiative, it appears, has turned down a planned extension to an existing building on the grounds that it interferes with the privacy of a house yet to be constructed: rather like:
Yesterday upon the stair, I met a man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today, Oh how I wish he'd go away.
You might say.
If she had bothered to look closely at the plans for the proposed extension and put them with the design of the house which is not there (and in the present climate likely to stay that way) she could have worked out that the only way that the privacy of the virtual house could be jeopardised by the not quite yet extension would be for some one in the room on top of the extension, when completed, to peer out of a window (someone should hold his legs) proposed to put in and by turning his head 78 degrees to the left and looking down at an angle of 97 degrees might just be able to see part of a corner of a room, as yet non existent, unless of course the eventually to be hung curtain was drawn. Then he could see nothing. Tough being a Peeping Tom in a future Paxton.
I suspect the appeal will find for the applicant. In which case one hopes a sharp rap on the real knuckles of the Planning Officer in question might remind her of the purpose of her office is to be helpful and constructive to Johnny Citizen and not a pain on the collective backside of the Merse community.
Dream on
Labels: lowheidyins, Paxton, Planning, Scottish Borders Council
Friday, December 12, 2008
Concreting the Merse. Episode the twenty fifth
Poor old Whitsome seems to be heading for the title of the most badly developed settlement in the Merse if this writer to the Berwickshire is to be believed :
SIR, - I see that yet another inappropriate and unwanted housing development is to be foisted upon Whitsome.
The Local Plan and other policies of Scottish Borders Council appear to have been altered. We have already endured well over a year of filth and noise resulting from an earlier planning decision.
A previously glorious view south has been destroyed by unsuitable buildings which are well out of local people’s pockets.
Nobody seems interested in the heritage of small Borders hamlets or in the opinions of their inhabitants. Many people don’t bother to go through the hassle of preparing a submission against planning applications any more because they know their voices don’t matter to anyone.
At least the coming financial doldrums could call a temporary halt to the gradual dissolution of a once lovely environment. Scottish Borders Council would do well to address the real housing issues of the region.
‘DISCOURAGED’,
Whitsome
'Amen' we say and a fervent thanks that Paxton (apart, of course, from the unfortunate Kanes Close and the mud splattered Orchard)has been spared further inappropriate development with the fading of the monstrous prospect of 100 plus houses in Knowes Close. Well and truly killed by the credit crunch, one hopes. People power originally scuppered that little scheme-perhaps the people of Whitsome should follow suit; Not that seems necessary for the moment.
Poor old Whitsome seems to be heading for the title of the most badly developed settlement in the Merse if this writer to the Berwickshire is to be believed :
SIR, - I see that yet another inappropriate and unwanted housing development is to be foisted upon Whitsome.
The Local Plan and other policies of Scottish Borders Council appear to have been altered. We have already endured well over a year of filth and noise resulting from an earlier planning decision.
A previously glorious view south has been destroyed by unsuitable buildings which are well out of local people’s pockets.
Nobody seems interested in the heritage of small Borders hamlets or in the opinions of their inhabitants. Many people don’t bother to go through the hassle of preparing a submission against planning applications any more because they know their voices don’t matter to anyone.
At least the coming financial doldrums could call a temporary halt to the gradual dissolution of a once lovely environment. Scottish Borders Council would do well to address the real housing issues of the region.
‘DISCOURAGED’,
Whitsome
'Amen' we say and a fervent thanks that Paxton (apart, of course, from the unfortunate Kanes Close and the mud splattered Orchard)has been spared further inappropriate development with the fading of the monstrous prospect of 100 plus houses in Knowes Close. Well and truly killed by the credit crunch, one hopes. People power originally scuppered that little scheme-perhaps the people of Whitsome should follow suit; Not that seems necessary for the moment.
Labels: Inappropriate Development, Paxton, Whitsome
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Grin and Bear it. Once more with Feeling
Huttonian vowed not to blog(again) about Voytek the Drinking, Smoking, Fighting, ASBO-worthy Polish Bear but a letter in the Berwickshire strikes a chord:
SIR, - May I disagree with the places to put the statues of Voytek the Bear.
There was no Polish connections with Paxton House. They employed Italian prisoner of war labour.
Visitors have to pay to go to Paxton House and it is closed from October to Easter. As Duns has a Polish war memorial and Duns is twinned with Zagen in Poland more people would be visiting Duns.
Voytek ended his days at the zoo in Edinburgh. Many children saw him then and would remember him today. The statue would be more at home there than at the Parliament. How many politicians remember him?
Hutton (not Paxton) was the centre for the Polish soldiers. Two of them found wives and lived there.
ONE WHO REMEMBERS,
Name and address withheld on request
Someone should show this letter to Mrs O
So no statue in Paxton then?
Nor in the Eildon Hills either, as yet-see image taken from Harden's Hill looking south west. Click on it to see Trimontium- one more possible site for a statue to Voytek as suggested by nobody. Frankly I could not be bothered to put up another picture of the disagreable and dead animal
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Scrubbing the Truth?
Cognoscenti of planning in this area will see from the Scottish Borders Council Planning website :
http://eplanning1.scotborders.gov.uk/WAM/doc/Consultation%20Reply-2085755.pdf?extension=.pdf&id=2085755&location=VOLUME1&contentType=application/pdf&pageCount=1&appid=1001
that the Laird may be running into a spot of bother with an application to build a couple of bijou villas just outwith Paxton village. Apparently not everyone believes him 100% when he claims that his little development is to be on scrub land. Commentators (including the Hutton and Paxton Community Council, not to mention the neighbours) seem to think that the site is a rather nice little bit of immature wood land. (And one wonders if the L was in receipt of a grant for planting it a few years ago?)
One hates to resort to a cliche: but 'economical with the truth' seems to apply with some recent applications in this area-the now withdrawn one for the managers' house at Hutton Castle Mill-see previous posts-is a case in point. It seems silly for an applicant to be caught out on something which can be so easily checked-so with the planners apparently now on their way to look at the site it might be wise for the Laird to get planting:
some scrubs, presumably
Cognoscenti of planning in this area will see from the Scottish Borders Council Planning website :
http://eplanning1.scotborders.gov.uk/WAM/doc/Consultation%20Reply-2085755.pdf?extension=.pdf&id=2085755&location=VOLUME1&contentType=application/pdf&pageCount=1&appid=1001
that the Laird may be running into a spot of bother with an application to build a couple of bijou villas just outwith Paxton village. Apparently not everyone believes him 100% when he claims that his little development is to be on scrub land. Commentators (including the Hutton and Paxton Community Council, not to mention the neighbours) seem to think that the site is a rather nice little bit of immature wood land. (And one wonders if the L was in receipt of a grant for planting it a few years ago?)
One hates to resort to a cliche: but 'economical with the truth' seems to apply with some recent applications in this area-the now withdrawn one for the managers' house at Hutton Castle Mill-see previous posts-is a case in point. It seems silly for an applicant to be caught out on something which can be so easily checked-so with the planners apparently now on their way to look at the site it might be wise for the Laird to get planting:
some scrubs, presumably
Monday, May 19, 2008
RETURN OF THE LAIRD
After a rather long absence from the development game the Laird is back-see http://eplanning1.scotborders.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseFile.do?appType=planning&appNumber=08/00776/FUL
And despite his frustration over the rejected Knowe's Close and other sites in down town Paxton and his inability to include potential housing estates in the Local Plan,
his Lairdship has now an application in for two pretty little bijou three bedroom establishments just to the west of Smiddy's Cottage on the upper Paxton Hutton road outwith the village boundary. The application talks about building on 'scrub land'
Well one man's scrub land is seemingly another's copse of fir trees-not yet mature and presumably a small scale Lairdian commercial venture now for the chop (npi) and concrete. More over according to the letters of objection from two of the neighbours there is a bit of a history to this site-application to build rejected before and an attempt to include it in the local plan also failed. It seems to be bristling not only with fir trees but also with planning difficulties.
When two or three are gathered in the Cross these days Potential Departures from Berwickshire Local Plan, Policy 7 tend to dominate the conversation.
Time gentlemen please and 50p in the Swear Box.
After a rather long absence from the development game the Laird is back-see http://eplanning1.scotborders.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseFile.do?appType=planning&appNumber=08/00776/FUL
And despite his frustration over the rejected Knowe's Close and other sites in down town Paxton and his inability to include potential housing estates in the Local Plan,
his Lairdship has now an application in for two pretty little bijou three bedroom establishments just to the west of Smiddy's Cottage on the upper Paxton Hutton road outwith the village boundary. The application talks about building on 'scrub land'
Well one man's scrub land is seemingly another's copse of fir trees-not yet mature and presumably a small scale Lairdian commercial venture now for the chop (npi) and concrete. More over according to the letters of objection from two of the neighbours there is a bit of a history to this site-application to build rejected before and an attempt to include it in the local plan also failed. It seems to be bristling not only with fir trees but also with planning difficulties.
When two or three are gathered in the Cross these days Potential Departures from Berwickshire Local Plan, Policy 7 tend to dominate the conversation.
Time gentlemen please and 50p in the Swear Box.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
What an undervalued lot they must be in Coldstream-and how has the local Community Council got up the nose of the writer of this letter to the Berwickshire?
There appears to be some idea locally that, on occasions, the Coldstream provost’s robes and chain of office, could be used by the chairman of the local community council.
I need not remind readers that, prior to the dissolution of many Scottish burghs with local government reorganisation in 1975, local affairs were managed by a burgh council with a good deal of autonomy, duly elected as was the provost.
The office was highly regarded here in Coldstream and had authority and dignity with it.
I would certainly hope that the notion of a chairperson of a body that has no authority or fiscal power being entitled to wear the provost’s chain can be laid to rest once and for all. I think I am correct in saying that in Coldstream none of the community councillors have been properly elected and are not necessarily representative of the town.
I do know that in 1975 the Coldstream Museum Committee, on behalf of the recently opened museum, considered it to be right and proper for the burgh chain and robes to be permanently housed there, along with the roll of ex provosts from 1832.
This was achieved, but only after correspondence with the Lord Lyons Office in Edinburgh, who were adamant that the robes and chain be lodged in Edinburgh. However, we obtained the concession for them to remain in the museum, but only on giving them an assurance that they would not be used.
I am aware that time and circumstances have moved on and it may be that the position has altered as far as strictures from the Lord Lyon are concerned. But the provost’s robe and chain were used to dignify important events in the burgh calendar and I honestly cannot think of any equivalent occasion justifying its use by the community council,
This is not a problem for Hutton and Paxton.We have no Provost to follow-Never a Burgh, always a couple of wee villages and a stressed out hamlet Our chairman of our community council would never need such trappings to signify the importance of the office. No Chain, no robe, no sparkling sequins or lambs wool hood. Just skin.
Thick, preferably
There appears to be some idea locally that, on occasions, the Coldstream provost’s robes and chain of office, could be used by the chairman of the local community council.
I need not remind readers that, prior to the dissolution of many Scottish burghs with local government reorganisation in 1975, local affairs were managed by a burgh council with a good deal of autonomy, duly elected as was the provost.
The office was highly regarded here in Coldstream and had authority and dignity with it.
I would certainly hope that the notion of a chairperson of a body that has no authority or fiscal power being entitled to wear the provost’s chain can be laid to rest once and for all. I think I am correct in saying that in Coldstream none of the community councillors have been properly elected and are not necessarily representative of the town.
I do know that in 1975 the Coldstream Museum Committee, on behalf of the recently opened museum, considered it to be right and proper for the burgh chain and robes to be permanently housed there, along with the roll of ex provosts from 1832.
This was achieved, but only after correspondence with the Lord Lyons Office in Edinburgh, who were adamant that the robes and chain be lodged in Edinburgh. However, we obtained the concession for them to remain in the museum, but only on giving them an assurance that they would not be used.
I am aware that time and circumstances have moved on and it may be that the position has altered as far as strictures from the Lord Lyon are concerned. But the provost’s robe and chain were used to dignify important events in the burgh calendar and I honestly cannot think of any equivalent occasion justifying its use by the community council,
This is not a problem for Hutton and Paxton.We have no Provost to follow-Never a Burgh, always a couple of wee villages and a stressed out hamlet Our chairman of our community council would never need such trappings to signify the importance of the office. No Chain, no robe, no sparkling sequins or lambs wool hood. Just skin.
Thick, preferably
Labels: Coldstream, Community Councils, Hutton, Paxton
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Paxtonmanballs
We get the odd moment of genuine insight at community council meetings. At one recent discussion of anti social behaviour by local yuff a harassed member of the community asked a visiting copper what she should do if a football is kicked into her garden and no one comes round to claim it. 'Call the Police' was the reply-and then thinking that this might be a bit OTT for a very small nuisance he reformulated his suggestion. ' Get a very sharp knife
And stick it into the ball'
Nice to hear the local fuzz offer such
Penetrating advice
We get the odd moment of genuine insight at community council meetings. At one recent discussion of anti social behaviour by local yuff a harassed member of the community asked a visiting copper what she should do if a football is kicked into her garden and no one comes round to claim it. 'Call the Police' was the reply-and then thinking that this might be a bit OTT for a very small nuisance he reformulated his suggestion. ' Get a very sharp knife
And stick it into the ball'
Nice to hear the local fuzz offer such
Penetrating advice
Labels: Low Flying Merse, Paxton
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Vandaloo?
Huttonian is intrigued by the following letter in today's Berwickshire:
SIR, - As a frequent visitor to the Berwickshire area, I was saddened on my last visit to see that the paint spraying hooligans had been busy on the approach road from Burnmouth to Morrison’s roundabout.
I thought little more about it until I read in the Berwickshire News that the graffiti had in fact been done by the council. I find it difficult to believe that the very people who should be ensuring that the area looked good could actually create such vandalism.
I have always liked the Conundrum adverts. They are well designed and attractive and add to the appearance of the area. If only all signs were as good!
I am all in favour of sensible planning rules and regulations but whoever authorised such vandalism has used excessive zeal.
I would welcome the re-appearance of the Conundrum scarecrow adverts.
Council Vandalism ? And which council? Scottish Borders (Burnmouth) or Northumberland (Berwick) Do the Conundrum ads refer to the artwork of Big Jim Conundrum the successful Tory candidate for East Berwickshire? 'Build More Houses on farming land-mine preferably'might be one of his spray jobs. Or it could be 'Scotland Sucks' but surely that is not the official slogan of the city fathers of B-u-T.
Elucidation please. And any suggestions for official grafitti may be sent to the Hutton Think Tank at its usual deadletter box. Offensive comments about Paxton wil not be published. And certainly nor on the lines of a one written on the bench on the upper road in the early 1990s: 'P A X T O N spells trouble'. Under which wa scrawled:
'NO IT DOESN'T. IT SPELLS
PAXTON'
Huttonian is intrigued by the following letter in today's Berwickshire:
SIR, - As a frequent visitor to the Berwickshire area, I was saddened on my last visit to see that the paint spraying hooligans had been busy on the approach road from Burnmouth to Morrison’s roundabout.
I thought little more about it until I read in the Berwickshire News that the graffiti had in fact been done by the council. I find it difficult to believe that the very people who should be ensuring that the area looked good could actually create such vandalism.
I have always liked the Conundrum adverts. They are well designed and attractive and add to the appearance of the area. If only all signs were as good!
I am all in favour of sensible planning rules and regulations but whoever authorised such vandalism has used excessive zeal.
I would welcome the re-appearance of the Conundrum scarecrow adverts.
Council Vandalism ? And which council? Scottish Borders (Burnmouth) or Northumberland (Berwick) Do the Conundrum ads refer to the artwork of Big Jim Conundrum the successful Tory candidate for East Berwickshire? 'Build More Houses on farming land-mine preferably'might be one of his spray jobs. Or it could be 'Scotland Sucks' but surely that is not the official slogan of the city fathers of B-u-T.
Elucidation please. And any suggestions for official grafitti may be sent to the Hutton Think Tank at its usual deadletter box. Offensive comments about Paxton wil not be published. And certainly nor on the lines of a one written on the bench on the upper road in the early 1990s: 'P A X T O N spells trouble'. Under which wa scrawled:
'NO IT DOESN'T. IT SPELLS
PAXTON'
Labels: Hutton Think Tank, Low Flying Merse, Paxton
