Sir, Firstly I would like to thank all those who supported the objections for the original Rosetta Caravan Park application. This was withdrawn and sadly a new revised planning application submitted.

Although the new planning application is an improvement it looks to include two, three, four and five bedroom private properties which would be out of reach financially for most Peebles residents and it does not state the number of houses proposed in the planning application.

I spoke to the Scottish Borders council Planning Department and was told that all our original objections still apply but we could add further objections for the revised planning application, which I would encourage the residents of Peebles to do.

The site for the Rosetta Caravan Park application is not denoted for housing in the current Local Development Plan (LDP) or the new proposed draft Local Development Plan under consultation.

The listed buildings in Rosetta Caravan Park are Rosetta House and Stables and its interest is more historical than architectural.

Two hundred years ago, Napoleon Bonaparte sent an army to invade the coastline of Egypt, which they successfully did. But the British fleet attacked their ships at the battle of the Nile, which left the French army stranded. Bonaparte had not only sent soldiers but also archaeologists on this adventure and while they were marooned in Egypt, they discovered a large stone embedded in the fortified walls surrounding a village called Rosetta.

The battles that ensued saw the British victorious and one of the spoils of war was the Rosetta stone. This is why it is housed in the British Museum today. On Dr Young’s retirement from the army he bought himself a plot of land in Peebles known as Acrefield where he built himself a house and named it Rosetta after his adventures in Egypt.

He then spent many years studying the stone and finally succeeded in deciphering the hieroglyphics, although a French man, with whom he was corresponding made claim to being the first.

From this new found ability to read the language of the Pharaohs, many of the tombs were eventually discovered.

Young went on to study the stone and had a replica built into the porch of his house.

Many Peebleans have over the years walked their dogs, courted, been on nature trails and many Great Grandparents, Grandparents, Parents and children have played in the caravan park over the years, walked, admired the woodland and appreciated the wildlife, it would a shame to lose such a large part of our heritage.

Again I would encourage the residents of Peebles to support the objections or raise their own objections by contacting the Scottish Borders Council Planning department to oppose this application. If we do nothing, then where next?

I am, etc.

Cliff Scupham Peebles