A bid to give a local park in Dunbar protected status in memory of a former Edinburgh culture boss who served on the East Lothian town’s community council has been given the go ahead.
Retired archaeologist Herbert Coutts was a former director of culture and leisure with Edinburgh Council and was credited with putting the Scottish Capital on the map by bringing stunning exhibitions including the Emperor’s Warriors – life-sized terracotta soldiers – to the city.
He was also the driving force behind the Gold of the Pharaohs exhibition which drew nearly 500,000 visitors to the city – double the numbers who came to see the Emperors Warriors and Dinosaurs Alive and Star Trek shows which also drew more than 100,000 visitors.
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Mr Coutts, chairman of the Scottish Battlefields Trust and a Dunbar Community Councillor, passed away in April this year.
However it emerged just a month before his death he had prepared a report for the community council setting out the case for Lauderdale Park to be made a “Queen Elizabeth Field”.
The group approved the report and asked East Lothian Council to take steps needed to make it happen.
At a meeting this week councillors agreed to instruct officials to take the plan forward describing it as a "fitting tribute" to the former community councillor.
However SNP councillors backing the move voiced concerns that the park's name would be changed and gave consent with comments against such a move.
And Scottish Greens councillor Shona McIntosh abstained from the vote telling fellow elected members: "I love Lauderdale park and wish it well but I am not a monarchist and am not going to be able to vote for something which celebrates 70 years of unelected rule so will good naturedly abstain.”
Council officer Michaela Sullivan assured members: "There is no proposal to change the name of the park it will remain Lauderdale Park”.
Council leader Norman Hampshire, ward member for Dunbar and East Linton, welcomed the move as a fitting tribute to Mr Coutts.
He said: "Mr Coutts was very passionate about what was being done in Lauderdale Park
“It is a well respected park in our community and its protection for its long term future is something Mr Coutts wanted to see happen.
“For the council to take this decision now is a great tribute to Herbert Coutts, not just what he has done to support this park but the things he has done in the community and his service to the community council.”
And fellow ward councillor Donna Collins said: "This is a fantastic tribute to Herbert who wasn’t just passionate about Dunbar, he was passionate about history and he things he has done for the rest of Scotland, for the museums was amazing, bringing the Emperors Warriors to Scotland.
“I think this Field In Trust for him is a fantastic tribute”
There are already six spaces in East Lothian which hold the special status – King George Field, Port Seton; Goolwa Park, Port Seton; Ormiston Park; Polson Park, Tranent; Cuthill Park, Prestonpans; and Winterfield Park, Dunbar.
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