Peebles man plans 'F1-style' race track for Musselburgh

Bob Jamieson, 73, of Peebles, says he is yet to hear back from East Lothian Council regarding the informal proposal for Musselburgh Lagoons put forward by The Sunbeam Trust, which he set up.

The trust is involved in plans to produce hydrogen in Scotland through one of its subsidiaries – Alba H2 Fuel – with the race track being targeted as a place to test hydrogen-powered vehicles.

“It could be used for F1 but the idea is it is just a test track to develop hydrogen vehicles,” said Mr Jamieson. “This site [Musselburgh Lagoons] looks like the ideal place to have the cars tested.”

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Speaking more about the plans for the track, Mr Jamieson said: “It’s an F1-style track, [but] it was never going to be for F1.

“It’s an FIA Grade 1 test track which could be used for things like Formula One. If you're going to put down a track you may as well put down a Grade 1.”

Mr Jamieson says that he initially presented the plans – which include an ice rink and athletic facilities – to the council “three years ago come March”.

He adds that in recent weeks he has contacted the council and its chief executive Monica Patterson about his approach, but says he has received no response.

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The site is currently owned by ScottishPower after being created to provide a place to transport waste ash from Cockenzie Power Station.

However, once the ash is cleared, the land is set to be reclaimed by East Lothian Council.

Mr Jamieson says the council has already “earmarked” the site for a wildlife haven – which he believes is a mistake.

“Birds and bird watchers don’t bring anything into the local economy,” he said. “It is such a valuable site that needs to benefit the local economy.

How the development might look

“It was earmarked for anybody who wants to make it into a bird sanctuary that makes no money.

“What they [the council] should be doing is using that to benefit the local economy but they want to give it away.”

Alongside his claims that the council is giving the site to “bird sanctuary nonsense”, Mr Jamieson voiced another concern regarding the wildlife haven.

“We are opening up an unbelievable opportunity for seagulls that have now come inland to search for food,” he said. “It is absolutely grim but seagulls are now eating live pigeons and rabbits.

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“Thousands and thousands of seagulls are just going to have a field day, it is horrible. They will eat anything. They are turning into killers, they are cannibals. These seagulls are running riot.

“You will be having picnics until 10,000 seagulls swoop down and take your food. I won’t be taking my grandchildren for a picnic.”

Following reports of the test track plans, thousands of people signed an online petition opposing the idea.

Mr Jamieson says he has been made to feel like “the bad guy now” – adding that the track plans are “on hold and we’re awaiting a serious response”.

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A spokesperson for East Lothian Council told this newspaper: “We understand this proposal refers to a testing track for eco-fuelled vehicles, not a Formula One racing circuit.

“No formal planning application has been received, but an informal approach for information has been made.

“The land remains the property of ScottishPower until agreed remedial work is complete. That is still the case and is likely to remain so for some time.

“Our Local Development Plan 2018 (LDP) proposes that the council will continue to manage the land at Musselburgh Lagoons to improve the availability of suitable habitat for qualifying interests of the Firth of Forth Special Protection Area.

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“The impact on the conservation interests of the Special Protection Area would be a significant consideration in the determination of any such future application.

“The LDP was subject to widespread public consultation and scrutiny by Scottish Ministers and indicates where new developments such as housing, business and other uses are likely to be supported and where certain types of development would not be supported.

“It provides the essential framework against which planning applications are assessed.”