Friday June 12th 2026
East Lothian councillor Colin Mcginn (credit: ELC website)
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
A licensing boss has spoken out against copycat objections to applications warning protestors they lack ‘oomph’.
Councillor Colin McGinn said identical emails and letters which have clearly been shared among protestors did not have the impact of individual concerns.
Speaking as East Lothian Council’s licensing sub committee approved an application for a terraced house in North Berwick to be used as a short term holiday let, Councillor McGinn, committee convenor, commented on two objections which contained identical reasons.
Both objections set out the impact on neighbours privacy and amenity as well as noise and traffic concerns.
The committee heard from the father of the applicant who asked for a change of use of the end terrace house on Dirleton Avenue, who argued that house rules would be used to ensure no adverse impact on neighbours in the residential street.
He said he would be managing the day to day use of the property pointing out it had its own private entrance and garden area.
The committee approved the change of use and Councillor McGinn said that while he welcomed objections on applications and discussions within communities identical presentations had less impact.
He said: “It is just a personal opinion, I think it is good that people take the time to look at what is happening in our communities and if that bring objections great. It is always good to try and find some harmony and a route to avoid complaints.
“I think it loses something if we get identical objections coming in that are just copy and paste. that is just a personal opinion of mine. I think it loses a bit of that oomph, if you like, if they are identical.”
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