A vision of the Port of Prestonpans

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1 A vision of the Port of Prestonpans By Prestonpans Community Council, April 2018 No community on earth is campaigning to close its local port because once in place, they are powerful engines of economic growth. There are no technical, environmental or financial blockers on realising the Port of Prestonpans. Prestonpans Community Council LINKING EAST LOTHIAN TO JOBS 1

2 Introducing the Port of Prestonpans (Admiralty Chart 734, via Dr. Alf Baird, former Professor of Maritime Business) When the first Cruise Ship arrives at the Port of Prestonpans it will be welcomed by Preston Lodge School Pipe Band. As the talented musicians march up the gang plank, kilts swaying and pipes playing, their proud parents will be left pondering a problem; how will they get their kids back off that ship? For our local band won t be happy with a quick burst of Highland Cathedral then home, they ll want to; visit the engine room, meet the captain, look out from the bridge, visit the kitchens and taste the food. In short, they ll want to own that boat. And when the first ship heads for the horizon, these pupils will remain forever engaged and connected with one of the world s fastest growing industries. Prestonpans and East Lothian has an envious record of opening doors for young people into sport, music and education but, in recent years, the door to local employment opportunities has largely been closed. For communities with such a proud industrial past, this situation is intolerable. Previous generations in East Lothian were kept in work by applying ingenuity to natural resources. Where the past led the future must now follow; it s time to again realise the potential on our doorstep that is the cruise Port of Prestonpans. From 1523 to the early 20th century Prestonpans had a thriving port at Morison s Haven. For 400 years it was one of the busiest ports in Scotland bringing trade from abroad and exporting goods around the world. Its tidal harbour was reckoned to be one of the best on the Firth of Forth. 100 years after the closure of Morison s Haven, a new Port of Prestonpans would; attract cruise ships and ferries, bring thousands of visitors to our doorstep, create jobs and boost the prosperity of our communities. LINKING EAST LOTHIAN TO JOBS 2

3 The costal towns of Prestonpans, Cockenzie & Port Seton look out on the best natural berth for Cruise Ships on the Forth estuary. Nearly 140 of these mighty ships head for Orkney every year and 337 visit Copenhagen with only 85, yes 85, servicing the Scottish capital. Poor and limited facilities on the Forth means we are throwing money and local jobs to the wind. The Port of Prestonpans will change the dynamics of the cruise market on the Forth, landing thousands of high income tourists on our doorstep. Sure local life will get busier and perhaps a little noisier at times, but remember we owe the next generation the means to employment and to help them contribute to a better, fairer society. The local pipe band won t be the only beneficiaries; the Port of Prestonpans will spark economic growth across East Lothian and Scotland, expanding opportunities for all. The majority of visitors may well visit Edinburgh and return directly to the boat. However, a significant proportion will simply want to walk off their ship and take in the local surroundings. Imagine a boat arriving with 2,600 passengers and crew; if just 20% stroll out then that s enough customers to fill cafes, restaurants and pubs in the area, every day, throughout the season. (The former Power Station was located on the Preston Links Golf Course that lent its name to the coal pit) LINKING EAST LOTHIAN TO JOBS 3

4 The Port of Prestonpans Advantage The Port of Prestonpans is perfectly positioned on the Firth of Forth to integrate East Lothian and Edinburgh into the global Cruise Ship network. By dramatically reducing the cost and time needed to berth in the Forth our Port will have the major cruise lines mapping a course to local shops and services. Here are some of the unique selling points that make a Port in Prestonpans irresistible to the Cruise industry; No tidal restrictions for all but the biggest ships Safe and rapid access to the open sea Relatively sheltered bay Ready access to the road and rail 30 minutes drive from central Edinburgh and 15 minutes by train If the trams ever reach East Lothian there s the potential to run them along the coast to the Port Existing Port infrastructure (the pier) A new pier, only double the length of the existing pier (700m), would provide a depth adequate for most cruise ships with minimal dredging necessary. Dredged material could be used to restore Prestonpans beach Lower port operating costs would encourage regular services to various ports in northern Europe. A ready model exists for the Port of Prestonpans, Kirkwall in Orkney (cost 30m, Dr Alf Baird) Potential for the only non-tidal marina this side of the bridges River water taxi s to Edinburgh & Fife and river cruises to view the Forth Bridges (A port in Prestonpans is less than 30 minutes drive from central Edinburgh) LINKING EAST LOTHIAN TO JOBS 4

5 What s wrong with the status quo? There are simply too few local employment options available to young people in East Lothian, forcing many to leave home for work and/or further education. An hour spent travelling to/from Edinburgh on busses makes this option impractical for part-time work and, if the train is used, then the first hour s work is dedicated to paying the fare. Long commuting times eat into recreational time, placing many jobs beyond those with young families or elderly parents to look after. There are no miracle infrastructure cures on the horizon that will reduce the cost and time of travel to Edinburgh. In fact things are going to get worse, much worse. With 10,000 new homes planned (largely in the West of East Lothian) the A1 and city bypass will get even busier even earlier and those packed trains will seem luxurious if all those houses just send workers into town. We can reduce the impact of all the construction if we create a local market for jobs the status quo, i.e no change, is unsustainable. The Scottish Government and East Lothian Council recognise the strategic importance of the former power station site and have stated in their respective planning policies that best use is made of existing land and infrastructure in the area and that priority is given to (planning/development) proposals that make best use of Cockenzie assets and which will bring the greatest economic benefits. (The Port of Prestonpans is situated on a secluded brownfield site) LINKING EAST LOTHIAN TO JOBS 5

6 Wealth will flow from the Port of Prestonpans Prestonpans close proximity to Edinburgh is a huge attraction for cruise/ferry operators wanting to bring passengers to Scotland s capital. East Lothian is bursting with attractions and the Cruise Line Industry will provide a captive audience to market them at. Passengers will have the option of taking a variety of tours advertised on the ships, over the internet and in the arrival terminal. Many of these tours will be focussed on East Lothian, for example; The Prestonpans Battle Site and Mural Trail The castles and many historical buildings in East Lothian Cycle tours to as far afield as Haddington or the John Muir Way (east or west) Play Scotland s golf coast in east Lothian including the oldest playing golf course in the world on Musselburgh links Musselburgh Racecourse is a 10 minute bus or taxi trip away Boat trips to the Bass Rock, Leith or the Fife coast The East Lothian Food and Drink Trail Sea, river and reservoir fishing trips Traprain Law, where Scotland began All of the above tours will need local operators and local staff but that s just the start. Being the Garden of Scotland, East Lothian is awash with fresh fish, vegetables and meat. All this produce would be in high demand by the cruise liners looking for that authentic taste of Scotland. These ships may be seasonal but the marketing of tours and the production of produce will keep locals employed all year round. However, our ambitions for the Port of Prestonpans goes much further, especially if it was a homeport. Homeport/Turnaround port status would mean that cruise passengers begin and end their cruise at the Port of Prestonpans. Many will be arriving a few days early or stay on later to enjoy the tourism attractions of Edinburgh and East Lothian. That would keep visitors spending in East Lothian for longer and would necessitate new hotels, guest houses, shops and restaurants locally generating local trade and employment even when the port wasn t being used. The Port of Prestonpans would provide an additional income stream for private medical practitioners like physiotherapists, chiropodists and the new dental surgery in Prestonpans. The standard of service within the Cruise Line Industry is amongst the most demanding in the world; there is a continual need to train and retrain staff in the best customer care. That training should be done here, near the Port: industry support already exists for opening a dedicated hospitality college. Again, this is the kind of activity that would keep locals busy when the boats are idle during the winter months. Ship repair and hardware supply is another opportunity for employment locally. There s not a lot of difference between the mechanics of a large ship s engine and the former Cockenzie power station. A few of the early power station engineers were able to transfer from the merchant/british navy to work in the station. Consequently, there remains a lot of heavy engineering experience in the local area that could be tapped for engine refits and repairs. East Lothian also has high-end carpentry skills that could be utilised to repair LINKING EAST LOTHIAN TO JOBS 6

7 and supply top end furniture in the luxury rooms and casinos. Ship refit and repairs would generate new apprenticeships across East Lothian. A cruise/ferry terminal would also include a shopping centre with high quality retail stores, coffee shops and restaurants that local people as well as visitors could enjoy Recent plans to expand the Sea-Life Centre in North Berwick that were rejected could be resurrected at the Port of Prestonpans increasing the non-port attractions for domestic tourists as well as cruise passengers. Similarly once our knowledge and network expands within the cruise industry then other opportunities (like telesales and marketing) will arise. PLHS Pipe Band has been mentioned but don t forget that Prestonpans has a wealth of musical talent that could keep the overnight ships entertained; from Spike Island to Alex Hodgson and all the way to Dalkeith & Monktonhall Brass Band (officially one of the best in the UK). All will hold their own on the bigger stage that the Cruise Ships will bring. Remember these Ships will relay that content world-wide through their Facebook pages and internet sites. Giving local talent a chance to shine should be a key objective of attracting the ships here. The Port of Prestonpans will provide additional opportunities in shore side logistics and supply but let s not forget the small local business who will benefit. It s not hard to imagine the queue to Bene's chip chop stretching to the end of the harbour on a busy day! New tourists would increase demand in all local shops, taxis, pubs, restaurants and hairdressers. The rising need for labour to service this industry will increase business opportunities for local people and help raise wages and living standards across East Lothian. (Evidence exists that big ships can reach us!) LINKING EAST LOTHIAN TO JOBS 7

8 Launching new products from the Port of Prestonpans The Baron of Prestongrange deserves credit for helping to invigorate the local artistic scene and he worked hard to revive some of our towns iconic brands like Fowlers Wee Heavy. He was however selling into a very conservative local market, already set in its ways. Launching a business is never easy but the Cruise Ship industry provides a valuable new sales channel of people willing to try new products. With homeport status, East Lothian would host product events in the arrivals terminal; providing a showcase for local artists and creative companies. Just think of the impact locally if we can get the likes of Thistly Cross Cider, Belhaven Beer and Glenkinchie Whisky served on board the ships internationally? Facing the Future with Confidence Who knows what Brexit will bring but to make the best of it, Scotland will need to start exporting more goods to a far greater number of countries. The Port of Prestonpans will help meet the challenges of the future by upgrading Scotland s Victorian port infrastructure. The maritime industry supports 111,000 UK jobs and contributes 15bn to the UK economy each year. Maritime employers are being asked by the UK government to double the number of apprenticeships, the Port of Prestonpans will help bring those opportunities to East Lothian. The Port of Prestonpans will be a Scottish national asset. The Scottish Government recently announced a 2bn national investment bank to support strategic projects with patient long-term funding. By giving Scottish growth a huge boost, our Port would be well worthy of investment from the new Scottish Investment Bank. Similarly, if a new Scottish Investment Company appears then that could help plan and deliver the port. Council budgets have taken a big hit in recent years and there is little prospect of austerity ending soon if nothing changes. However, should East Lothian Council become the statutory harbour authority for the Port millions will flow into the councils coffers from port fees helping to fund our hard pressed public services. (The Port of Prestonpans will benefit the economy of the Central Belt) LINKING EAST LOTHIAN TO JOBS 8

9 Delivering The Port of Prestonpans So how do we get from a 20ft deep hole in the ground, that is the former Cockenzie Station, to a jobs generating engine that will help power the local economy of East Lothian? Simple, we start with the smallest possible functioning port and grow the facility in tiny steps. We commit the minimum amount of funds; to deliver the smallest possible functional cruise terminal; in the shortest possible time then we watch and we learn then we grow. We of course is the local community who will own the Port via our local Council to ensure it develops in all our interests. There may well be strategic partnerships with experienced industry players (for example to manage the facility) but ultimately the Port of Prestonpans must be publicly owned and accountable. As part of the feasibility for a cruise port a full traffic impact assessment would take place; finding the safest and quickest way of getting to and from the A1 with the least disruption to local communities. This would necessitate a very welcome upgrade of the Bankton junction, long overdue. At the outset, there will be capacity constraints on the Port. The area of the Port will be physically constrained by the existing power station fence. The Greenhills are already protected, so no development can take place on existing recreational land. In addition, capacity constraints will limit the number of ships until adequate infrastructure is in place. Capacity constraints will need careful consultation with the local community but might include; Maximum of one Cruise Ship per day until new road infrastructure is in place that links the Port to the coal plant round-about, avoiding Cockenzie. No freight by road. Freight by rail and sea only Maximum of one Cruise Ship per day until electric plugin facility in place at port side, mandatory plugin thereafter. Maximum of 10 Cruise Ships per week until rail/tram links to Edinburgh in place No overnight facility until the Cockenzie by-pass is in place Given the orientation of the land it s surprising how little of the old Cockenzie Power station site is actually visible from local housing. The Green hills shield the port from the East, the bunds shield the site from the South and the Hotel and Conference Centre would shield from the West. From the Prestonpans-Cockenzie road, the view could be shielded by a trees/bushes/public art along the current grass verge. Concern has been raised that the area would be stacked high with sea containers. Take a look again at the site, it s submerged 3 containers down, that plus landscaping would shield containers to a height of at least six high such a constraint cap on the height should address fears over the visual aspects of the site. The Port of Prestonpans is just the spark needed to ignite the local economy but the resulting fire will need careful tending. To that end a new Port Authority will be established to manage the site on behalf of East Lothian Council. Board members will include; all four local councillors, representatives from Prestonpans and Cockenzie LINKING EAST LOTHIAN TO JOBS 9

10 Community councils and senior ELC officials. The board will be tasked with enforcing the Port of Prestonpans s guiding principles; Maximise local employment and involvement Minimise pollution and noise Return an operating profit to ELC Set and monitor capacity constraints Improve Port connections and infrastructure Solicit expert advice Issue contracts Respond to complaints Seek investment None of the above is new or risky, ports are known entities. If we take our time, keep ultimate control and scale gracefully then we can balance local concerns with local opportunities. We do however need to take the first initial steps quickly. The Cruise Industry sells trips 2 years in advance, so we need action now to assure the shipping lines that facilities will be in place. Also, the longer we leave a Port commitment the more likely it is that the site will be misused. Already we know of plans to cover the entire area with a giant transmission shed, creating zero long-term jobs locally. (The Port of Prestonpans, is ready for action) LINKING EAST LOTHIAN TO JOBS 10

11 Welcome to the World s Greenest Port The cruise ship market is adapting to meet legitimate environmental concerns. The next generation of ships will run on liquefied gas and many of the newer boats already have effective emission scrubbers. While tight environmental legislation already covers cruise ships in the Forth, much more can and should be done to protect our environment. Liners at rest in port have their engines running continually where there are no plugin facilities. The Port of Prestonpans would be the first port in the UK to provide electricity direct from a wind farm to power boats at rest. This represents a vast improvement on the current situation where cruise ships anchor upwind of us in the Forth and belch fumes all day. East Lothian already has waste management facilities in place that would recycle food (anaerobic digestion near Haddington) and other waste (Wallyford). Anything left over would be sent to Viridor at Dunbar. An active focus on recycling ship waste would help spread the jobs across East Lothian. It should be remembered that pollution and over fishing in the 60s and 70s killed off the fishing grounds in the Forth; all that s left are a few prawns, a sad sign of decay. Consequently, the Cruise ship industry posses no threat to the fishing industry, on the contrary, more local fishing boats will be needed to supply fresh fish to this new and hungry sales channel. The experience of local fishermen will also be needed to provide short boat trips or fishing trips. Port impact on housing The Port of Prestonpans will introduce a virtuous circle for private property: the more successful the Port the higher the demand for property. A steady stream of tourists will ensure the area can sustain quality local shops, cafes and restaurants; particularity with homeport status and the non-tidal marina. The better the local facilities the higher the demand will be to live here. Increased workers in the area, all wanting to live locally, can only send the housing market in one direction UP. By boosting the revenues of East Lothian Council, the Port could also help fund additional council housing for rent. LINKING EAST LOTHIAN TO JOBS 11

12 Conclusion At long last East Lothian Council have taken the former power station site into public ownership and they need to move quickly if they are to maximise the cruise and ferry potential of the site. The onus is now on East Lothian Council to explore further the potential of a cruise/ferry pier at the former power station site. East Lothian Council officials have stated that the consultants masterplan failed to resolve the questions over cruise related activities at the former power station and that more work needs to be done. Prestonpans Community Council commissioned their own study and Dr Alfred Baird (formerly Professor of Maritime Business at TRI Edinburgh Napier University) concluded that a well-designed cruise ship pier with appropriate alignment and making effective use of available water depths, tidal range and dredged material could be constructed at relatively low cost. No community on earth is campaigning to close it s local port because once in place, they are powerful engines of economic growth. Nobody can place an exact figure on the employment figures but hopefully we have given a flavour of where those jobs will come from. Only a forced failure of imagination could sink this proposal. There are no technical, environmental or financial blockers on realising the Port of Prestonpans; the Cruise Ship Industry crying out for it. The concept of converting a former power station site into a valuable port is also nothing new. Forth Ports are doing exactly that...at Tilbury, in England. We want to see similar investment in Scotland, at the edge of the Forth, in the Port of Prestonpans. Sure, the place will get busier but that is the price of success and that has to be better than counting the cost of failure. Turbulent economic times are upon us and they re not departing anytime soon. The Port of Prestonpans won t solve all our problems but it will help shrink our areas of social deprivation and give future generations hope of a job in their own community is the year of young people and Prestonpans Community Council recognises the potential of this opportunity, particularly for OUR young people. But we need your help to realise it and give our young people a future in their own community. Come on board and help Prestonpans and East Lothian continue the story of a working industrious community for all. Please register your support at PortPrestonpans.com (Port of Prestonpans, the next logical step on the journey) LINKING EAST LOTHIAN TO JOBS 12