Monday April 27th 2026
Whitekirk village community share excess produce in their telephone box
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
A village resident hopes to share the fruits of their labour with neighbours through the local phone box after being given the go ahead to put a polytunnel next to their home.
East Lothian planners granted permission for the ‘polycrub’ to be put in a grazing field behind the applicant’s cottage in the small rural community of Whitekirk.
In a supporting statement agents for applicant Kathy Tankey said she hoped to be able to share home grown vegetables from the new plot with neighbours using the red phone box near her home.
They said: “Whitekirk telephone box is currently used by the community to share excess produce which the applicant plans to contribute towards if required.”
They said the polycrub, which is described as a stronger version of a polytunnel which is better equipped for high winds, would be placed in the field owned by the applicant which would still be used mainly for grazing but provide her with space to grow as the current domestic garden is small.
Applying for a change of use of the agricultural land to garden to accommodate the ten metre long polycrub the agents said: “The applicant wishes to enhance and take care of the area that they see themselves based in for the foreseeable future.”
Planners granted permission for the change of use of the land saying they did not believe it would impact on the neighbouring listed building Whitekirk Church or the surrounding conservation area.
They said: “The proposed polytunnel would be visible in long distance views from the public road of the A198 to the south east of the site. However, the proposed polytunnel would be a lightweight structure that would be relatively well contained due to the stone wall that exists to the south of the site.
“Due to its relatively small size, scale and massing within the agricultural field, the proposed polytunnel would be appropriate to its agricultural and countryside setting. The proposed polytunnel would not harm the character and appearance of the Whitekirk Conservation Area.”
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