A COMMUNITY right-to-buy is one of the options being explored for the Lime Grove site in North Berwick.

The East Lothian Council site, which includes garages rented out to local residents, has long been discussed by members of the town’s community council as a possible location for a community facility.

There have been calls for a centre for young people to be built there, after theSPACE, at the site of the old Ben Sayers Factory, closed just over a year ago.

Now, North Berwick Area Partnership is planning to hold a public meeting during the Fringe by the Sea festival next month to gauge local public opinion on the matter.

North Berwick Community Council (NBCC) members discussed the issue at their most recent public meeting, last Tuesday.

Ian Watson, who is also involved with the North Berwick Youth Project, said: “We need to find some community site to host a replacement for theSPACE, and what about Lime Grove?

“It is earmarked for sale, and I would really question whether we need any more housing in the town.”

Mr Watson also questioned whether a new youth facility could be built on part of the Mains Farm site to the south of the town, on the land held in trust by North Berwick Trust.

The development proposals include a community hub site, and Mr Watson asked fellow NBCC members: “Is that what we could be talking about?”

The community council agreed to write a letter to Angela Leitch, East Lothian Council chief executive, expressing their wish that the sale of Lime Grove be mothballed.

David Kellock, NBCC chairman, added: “I am of a mind that we should write to the council to say that we want to stop the sale of the Lime Grove site.”

Councillor Jim Goodfellow, ward member, urged that the letter state that the group is looking at exploring a community right-to-buy option.

He added: “I would make clear that is your intention in the letter, so the process is halted.”

An East Lothian Council spokesperson confirmed that a letter had been received by the local authority, and said the proposals “will be considered in due course”.

The public meeting will take place on Monday, August 15, in the Spiegeltent at North Berwick Harbour.