CONCERNS about how plans for more housing on the western edge of Haddington will impact upon the town's infrastructure have again been raised by the town's community council.

Planning permission was given to proposals for Dovecot Farm, off Pencaitland Road, in March last year after an appeal to Scottish Ministers.

Work is already under way for 109 houses and four flats on the site, with the properties ranging from two to five bedroom in size.

In July, a second application for planning permission in principle for a residential development to the west of the already approved site was submitted.

According to the design statement, “an attractive, socially inclusive and well connected development of around 80 houses” would be created.

The two developments are just part of a housing boom at the western side of the town.

Plans for sites, such as those at Letham Mains, Gateside and off Haldane Avenue, take the total of new homes to more than 1,000.

Pat Lemmon, from the town's community council, told Haddington's community council: “It puts pressure on the police, the fire service and the doctors.

“It means the whole infrastructure is affected.

“We know there is going to be changes at the Aubigny Sports Centre and there is money coming from developers for an extension at Knox Academy and a new primary school at Letham Mains but the infrastructure has got to be able to cope.”

Mrs Lemmon feared the feeling of community would be lost with the increased development and the chance of the town becoming split would increase.

Meanwhile, Paul Darling, also from the town's community council, felt there needed to be conditions attached before any plans were given the go ahead.

He said: “My own personal opinion is we can comment that we would not like to see them building houses there until the rest of the houses in phase one are built.

“They could give them planning in principle but say they cannot build on the second part until the rest of it is built.”

Under the plans, which were submitted by Geddes Consulting and Hallam Land Management, work would be complete within three years of starting.

A public exhibition showing the plans was held in the Railway Hotel in January.

Twenty-two people attended while nine feedback forms were completed, with concerns including the capacity of local schools to cope with additional pupils.

Other concerns raised at the time include the cumulative impact of various developments on existing facilities, such as the local medical practices.