COUNTY residents have been praised for their “amazing” response after joining forces to offer support during the ongoing refugee crisis – as East Lothian Council announced it would “play its part” in accommodating refugees.

More than a dozen drop-off points have been set up throughout East Lothian as residents hand over everything from shoes and tinned food to toiletry bags.
The county’s MSP, meanwhile, has suggested Gullane’s former fire college could be transformed into temporary accommodation, in a move echoing what happened with Cheylesmore House in North Berwick during the Balkan War.
Provost Ludovic Broun-Lindsay told the Courier: “It is very, very good the way the public are responding.
“It’s not just a problem for East Lothian or Europe but worldwide. The response has been brilliant and it shows just how good people are in situations like this.”
Louise Hare, who has been heavily involved in setting up the group CalAid East Lothian, was another who was taken aback by the response of county residents.
She said: “What’s been going on, it’s breaking my heart.There has been an amazing response though.”
Mrs Hare noted that collection points were being set up across the county in both shops and people’s homes.
A group called Dunbar Helps Syrians has also been established with plans for a charity walk leaving Belhaven’s‘Bridge to Nowhere’at 2pm on Sunday before heading into Dunbar.
The county’s MSP, Iain Gray said: “In recent days there has been a real outpouring of concern about the plight of refugees fleeing conflict in Syria and other parts of the Middle East and Africa. 
“The grassroots effort which has developed locally in response to the growing crisis is typical of the compassion shown by people here in East Lothian, and mirrors concerns across Scotland and the rest of the UK. 
“The donations and offers of help will make a real difference to the lives of those who are suffering in this crisis.”
Mr Gray also suggested the Scottish Fire Services College, on Gullane’s Main Street, could be of use as part of a refugee resettlement programme.
He said: “The Fire Services College is, of course ,closed, but with accommodation blocks and catering facilities it seems an obvious possibility for use as part of a refugee resettlement programme, just as Cheylesmore House in North Berwick was during the Balkan War.
“The building still belongs to the Scottish Government, or at least the Fire Service, so I have written to the First Minister suggesting that consideration be given to using it when a programme is developed.”
The college shut its doors for good in March after more than 60 years on Gullane’s Main Street.
It has  an accommodation block, with more than 100 single bedrooms as well as catering facilities and a large sports hall.
Mr Gray noted North Berwick area residents felt “quite proud” at being able to help previously.
Councillor Jim Goodfellow, who represents North Berwick, said: “It is wonderful to see people in my ward display the same generosity to those involved in this crisis as they did 20 years ago to the refugees in Bosnia.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service noted they had not been approached by the Scottish Government about the idea.
He said: “The service is happy to work with the Scottish Government to explore all possibilities to respond to this humanitarian crisis.”
Jeremy Findlay, chairman of the village’s community council, “cautiously welcomed” the idea but stressed it was something that would need to be discussed as a community.
He said: “The village would probably be sympathetic to the idea but it would be dependent on the SFRS to decide what happens.”
Collection points have been set up across the county, with kind-hearted East Lothian residents handing over everything from shoes and trainers to toiletry bags and tinned food.
Similarly, a Facebook page entitled CalAid East Lothian has been established encouraging people to do what they can.
Mr Gray said: “I worked for Oxfam for many years and know that the brunt of refugee crises is always borne by countries in the area affected, often poor or conflict-torn themselves. There are over 1 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon for example. Yet we can and must play our part, and many people in East Lothian are already responding by donating supplies for refugees.”
MP George Kerevan had a similar view and described himself as “proud to represent such a big-hearted constituency”.
He noted there was a long history of the county taking in refugees and migrants from foreign lands.
He said: “East Lothian gave shelter to the Bosnians 20 years ago, and there are still Bosnian families living in the county. We should be doing the same for the Syrians. 
“This is a humanitarian crisis of the greatest gravity, and East Lothian should be helping to alleviate the distress of all these displaced people.”
Already, an operational task force has been established by the Scottish Government to coordinate Scotland’s response to the refugee crisis.
The taskforce is working with organisations across Scotland, including COSLA.
Councillor Willie Innes, leader of East Lothian Council, told Tuesday’s cabinet meeting in Haddington: “This administration is strongly of the view that East Lothian Council should play its part in accommodating refugees in line with arrangements being set up by the Home Office and the Scottish Government. 
“I am seeking agreement today to instruct officers to confirm through COSLA this council’s intent to assist with the crisis and indicate to COSLA that we will accept our responsibility and accommodate our share of the families that come to Scotland.East Lothian has a fine tradition of supporting people in crisis and we intend to play a full role in helping to support these families in their time of need.”