RESIDENTS are to be consulted on Prestonpans Community Council's vision for the future of ScottishPower land, which includes a ferry terminal, industrial estates and the transfer of the sea wall and lagoons to Musselburgh Common Good Fund.

Among the proposals drawn up by the community council would be the retention of the Greenhills, but plans by the Battle of Prestonpans Heritage Trust to create a memorial and preserve the battle site have been dismissed in favour of creating an industrial and commercial estate.

Community councillor Calum Miller said there was "no desire" for a battle site within the community. He said: “Nobody is interested in the battle site, there is no desire for it at all. What people want is jobs to be created.”

The community council set up a sub-committee to draw up a draft plan for the land which will be submitted to the ongoing consultation, which is being funded by East Lothian Council and Scottish Enterprise.

The sub-committee has split the land into 10 blocks running from the west of the town to the east, with proposals for each section.

Block one, which runs from Prestongrange Museum along the coast to Musselburgh, is proposed to be taken over by the Musselburgh Common Good Fund.

Mr Miller told the community council: “East Lothian Council is minded to move it into the Common Good Fund with some additional funding going into that and we are happy with that, as long as the ash lagoons were removed and made into a small amenity site.”

Blocks two and three on the proposal stretch along the coast eastward from the museum to Lidl and it is suggested the area is made safe, the disused waste pipe removed and landscaping work carried out; however, the community council would oppose any deal to buy the land by the local authority without the removal of the pipe, amid concerns it would be filled in and left.

Block four covers the land between Lidl and Appin Drive, which is used by the town’s yachting and boat club – it is suggested this is maintained as a boat yard with the formation of a slipway.

Blocks five and seven cover the current Greenhills area, which would be maintained as a green space for residents.

Block six, the site of the former Cockenzie Power Station, is proposed to be a ferry terminal or a new power station.

Blocks eight-10 cover the land behind Whin Park Industrial Estate, stretching from the old coal storage area the length of the coal road to the B1361, including the battle site.

Jimmy Yule, Prestonpans Community Council chairman, agreed with the industry proposal, saying it made sense, particularly if a ferry terminal was created at the former power station.

He said: “If the ferry terminal was there this land would be ideal for creating jobs which could feed that terminal. That is what we need real jobs being created.”

There are also proposals to create a cycle path around the industrial blocks which would link Cockenzie with Prestonpans.

The draft plans will be finalised by the community council before being placed in the town’s noticeboards for public consultation.