'Eyesore pipe is the shame of North Berwick'

AN "eyesore" sewage pipe running along one of the Lothians' most attractive beaches is putting off tourists and eroding the sea wall, campaigners have claimed.

The pipeline, running along the length of North Berwick's West Bay beach, was built around 30 years ago to comply with EU sewage regulations.

It has since become visible due to erosion of the sandy beach - and now local residents are kicking up a stink.

They have been pressing both East Lothian Council and Scottish Water to take action, but have been left frustrated after both authorities - and the Scottish Government - appeared to wash their hands of the matter.

A meeting between the community council, East Lothian Council and Scottish Water representatives was held yesterday to discuss various options.

A source said the meeting had been "encouraging" as it had put "the right people in room together", but admitted there was "no clear plan" as yet on how to solve the problem.

The sewage pipe was built by the former East of Scotland Water Authority and approved by Lothian Regional Council to link up sewage pipes in North Berwick with a new waste treatment work and stop raw sewage being dumped in the sea.

East Lothian Council has insisted the pipe is not its responsibility, as it belongs to Scottish Water.

However, Scottish Water has responded by saying that fixing an "aesthetic" problem with the pipe is not its responsibility.

Appeals to the Scottish Government have also fallen on deaf ears, with Keith Brown, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, confirming that funds could not be provided as it was not a legislative requirement or a customer priority.

Local author Peter Kerr has raised the issue with local councillors and MSPs, and said visitors he had taken to the beach had been shocked by the sight of the pipe, which he described as "the shame" of the town.

"This has become the shame of one of Scotland's most precious coastal towns," he said. "It is quite clearly going to have an effect on tourism because it is such an eyesore, but if people just keep passing the buck then nothing will get done."

Pat Burton, the chair of the local community council, said: "This is one of the most popular beaches for tourists, and it is not the kind of thing you want to see running along the beach.

"I just think it is ridiculous - if this was a beach in Cornwall I'd imagine it would be sorted out pretty quickly."

A Scottish Water spokesman said: "A number of options were discussed at the meeting. Scottish Water will keep the community informed."