Newhaveners feel that theirs is a history of being side lined — occasionally maligned. If it wasn’t for the Free Fishermen’s Society of Newhaven founded in the 16th century, which acted as a form of ‘town council’, this coastal community could have withered and died as a unique entity. The Free Fishermen protected and cared for the village and its residents through the ensuing generations for it became patently obvious at an early stage that the authorities were unwilling to do so following the death of James IV on the Field of Flodden. An ‘us and them’ mindset prevailed as a consequence, reinforced over the decades and centuries up to and including the time of Newhaven’s “Clearances” in the 6os and early 70s.

It still continues. The last significant expenditure that was spent on the village in terms of Newhaven’s environment was in 2015. Meanwhile, major projects involving significant financial commitments by Edinburgh Council are evident in Leith and most recently in Granton. As a simple example we cite the lack of signage at the terminus of Edinburgh Trams. These trams display “Newhaven” as its destination but deposit their travellers at what appears to be a modern housing complex. Since its inception in June 2023, Newhaven Heritage has pressed Edinburgh Trams to erect an arrow type brown tourist sign pointing to its “Historic Harbour” to help new arrivals to the area but to no avail.

Even the modest cost of such a simple solution appears to be a matter of contention between Edinburgh Trams and the Council authorities.

But this example pales into insignificance when compared to the state of the village itself which, as one travel review cited, has the appearance of a ‘third-rate council estate’. Newhaven Heritage, formed in 2007 to protect, preserve and promote the history and heritage of this age old district, created a self-guided heritage trail using QR codes which outlines the history of the area at 24 points along a route that circumnavigates Newhaven Main Street and the Harbour areas.

What must the trail explorer think when they see the poor state of the buildings, structures and pavements, especially on the south side of the main street and its back closes? As you can see from the illustrations moss, weeds, large sections of harling that have fallen off the walls, overgrown trees and more are to be found at every turn

Local resident Emma Kemp, who leads the volunteers of the Newhaven Heritage Gardens Group, has made representation to council officers and even visited the surgery of a councillor to try to get some action but to no avail.

Eventually, knowing the significant concerns of the local residents, she organised a village meeting. It was heartening to find that Councillors Stuart Dobbin and Sanne Dijkstra-Downie readily accept the invitation to attend and were supportive of the meeting’s purpose.

From February 2025, Newhaven is set to become part of Trinity Community Council instead of the Leith and Newhaven Harbour Community Council area as at present. Accordingly the Chairs of each, Peter Rodger and Douglas Tharby, were invited to attend as well as an officer from the Council’s Housing Department. It was a full house in Newhaven Church Hall, there to discuss their concerns.

The main topics revolved around the roads, pavements, the poor state of the harling on the walls and street lighting. Although not unique to Edinburgh, it seems commonplace to allow the verges and gutters to grow thick with weeds. This is not rewilding, this is short-term thinking.

Harling is falling off the walls of the houses and the drying green walls; gaps and trip hazards are opening up on pavements; some of the trees, planted about 50 years ago, have grown so large that they throw shade onto the balconies that overlook south-facing squares; street lighting is inadequate or uneven and impacts on the area’s security.

Responsibility for the essential repairs in terms of the roughcasting is confused by who owns what — council or private home owner — due to the now defunct ‘Right To Buy’ scheme which ended in 2016. Chemical weedkiller, which before would have been sprayed between the paving slabs and the granite setts of the roads, is now frowned upon by the civic authorities due to the collateral damage to wildlife. And so nothing is done leaving the streetscape of this once proud village looking neglected and uncared for.

Throughout the meeting, Cllrs Dobbin and Dijkstra and the others on the top table listened attentively and sympathetically. The meeting was not all doom and gloom however for a number of positive suggestions, some simple and cost-effective, were made by residents. Copious notes were taken and all representative agreed that they would compare these and derive appropriate solutions wherever they could. It was agreed that a follow-up meeting would be held during 2025.

The general consensus was that the village meeting was the first stepping-stone of the village’s overdue rejuvenation. Democracy in action! Most importantly, the residents of the village for whom Newhaven is home deserve nothing less. ■

Info: Gordon Young, Clerk to Newhaven Heritage 07706 632 300