East Lothian Courier | News | Fears of ‘ghost town’ Tranent

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 28th February, 2008 10:00

Fears of ‘ghost town’ Tranent

THE regeneration of Tranent should be East Lothian Council’s “top priority”, community leaders declared last week – as they described their town as the “worst” in the county.

In a bid to address members’ growing concerns about the town’s future and status within East Lothian, Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council invited residents, East Lothian Council officials Susan Smith, manager of economic development, and department spokesperson, Councillor Paul McLennan, to a public meeting last Tuesday.

Haddington Farmers Market organisers David Pate and Peter McLaren also attended the meeting, held at Tranent Day Centre, to advise community councillors on the possibility of launching a similar market in Tranent to boost local trade.

Beginning the discussion, community councillor Robert McNeill declared: “Tranent, out of the six major towns in East Lothian, has the poorest high street.

“Our fear is that in 15 year’s time, we could find that Tranent has become the seventh town in East Lothian, if Blindwells comes along. We could become a ghost town.”

A number of suggestions subsequently emerged on ways of improving Tranent , amid growing concerns that the town centre has become blighted by a poor and “dirty” appearance, lack of diverse shopping options and worsening traffic congestion.

The possibility of a new town at nearby former mining site Blindwells has plagued community councillors for months. They are concerned that Tranent is being overlooked by East Lothian Council.

Community councillor Paul Johnson explained: “Tranent has got a serious problem and it’s probably the worst problem in East Lothian.

“We need to be your priority,” he told attending Fa’side councillors, Ruth Currie, Kenny McLeod and Donald Grant.

As members and residents discussed their “long term vision” for Tranent, council officials explained how they could assist.

Councillor McLennan admitted: “The council simply doesn’t have the money to develop the whole of Tranent.

“But we can act as facilitators for any sub-group or organisation that is set up to tackle this project. The key thing is to decide where exactly Tranent wants to go with Blindwells and Wallyford (housing development) in the background.”

As the local authority’s transport and environment spokesman, he added that one of the council’s aims over the next five to 10 years was to improve traffic management in the town.

“We have to look at the Tranent infrastructure with regard to travel,” he said.

As previously reported in the Courier, many businesses in Tranent town centre say they have experienced a downturn in business.

Receiving “substantial” investment from local traders would be an essential aspect of any long-term regeneration of Tranent, economic development expert Susan Smith explained.

“I think putting together a long-term plan for the town is something that we would support,” she said.

“However, there would have to be cash found to support this project.”

Group chairman Raymond Strang later told the Courier: “We will now establish, with East Lothian Council and the Fa’side Community Planning Partnership, which organisation is responsible for taking the regeneration of Tranent to the next level.”

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