Our 2009 AGM took place on Sunday 25th October in the Library with 14 members attending. Formal business came first with reports from outgoing Chair Mitchell Manson and from Treasurer Maggie McClure. The main events of the year 2008-09 had been -

1) the securing of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for an archaeological investigation of the Botanic Cottage

2) the award of a Green Flag (see separate article)

Of our four office bearers, two were standing down – Chair Mitchell Manson and Vice-Chair Julie Johnston. In their places we voted in Eileen Dickie as Chair and Mitchell as Vice-Chair. Secretary Christine Savill and Treasurer Maggie McClure will remain in post for another year. A new member of the committee was voted in – student Kathryn Wylie. You can find the full list of names and contact details in teh Friends section of the website.

Guest speaker Jim O’Donnell of Cobalt Construction then took over and gave a very interesting talk on the plans for the Haddington Place site, answering the two questions uppermost in our minds –

 Answer - a Park Inn hotel which is a brand of the Radisson hotel group, in the 3-star plus category. There will also be a Sainsbury outlet on the ground floor.

 Jim gave a very detailed account of the roles and responsibilities of all those involved in the design and construction, spelling out the strict guidelines which have to be adhered to regarding such things as noise, delivery of supplies, keeping free access to Annandale Street Lane, security, environmental issues etc, all bearing in mind that this is an inner city site situated next door to a Nursery, a Library and residential buildings. Regular meetings will be held with local residents and groups such as the Friends to keep us up to date with developments and allow us to voice any complaints.