THE Scottish Government has been challenged to reach into its pockets and find the money to fund the infrastructure to match the county’s growing population.

Figures revealed last week show that East Lothian’s population is the fastest growing of any of Scotland’s 32 councils over the last decade.

The county’s population has increased by more than 11 per cent during that time – with the population estimated at 103,050 at the end of June last year – and, with more than 10,000 homes to be built by 2024, that number is expected to increase further.

Figures published by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) project that East Lothian’s population will be 23.3 per cent higher in 2037 than it was in 2012.

In contrast, the equivalent figure for the entire country is just 8.8 per cent.

Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, said the county was experiencing “unparalleled growth” in its population and called for more to be done.

However, the Scottish Government defended its “strong record of investment in East Lothian”.

Mr Gray was unsurprised people were wanting to move to the area but stressed the increased population had its drawbacks.

He said: “The increasing population puts a constant strain on our local services and infrastructure.

“Trains are overcrowded, high streets short of parking, schools and GP surgeries often operating at capacity.

“The biggest age group in the projected increase is 75-plus, a group who will inevitably create disproportionate additional need for NHS and social care services.

“However, these statistics are produced exactly so that we can plan properly for the increased population.

“You would expect that Scottish Government ministers, seeing these figures, would be providing additional investment in East Lothian to allow us to maintain the quality of life we enjoy.

“Unfortunately they have failed to do that. In fact, far too often East Lothian is left behind or pushed to the back of the queue.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Government highlighted a number of projects which had received funding.

He said: “The council’s funding settlement amounts to over £176 million in 2016-17 with a further £7.8 million earmarked for the construction of 162 affordable houses and flats.

“A new £72 million East Lothian Community Hospital is planned and we are investing £4.5 million in the new Wallyford Primary School, which is expected to open in 2018.

“East Lothian Council is part of the City Region Deal for Edinburgh and South East Scotland, and the Scottish Government is committed to supporting and working with them to unlock investment and secure and grow the regional economy.”

Meanwhile, a Transport Scotland spokesman said: “From early 2018 new Class 385 electric trains will be introduced on the North Berwick line, providing six coaches in the peak period and an increase in capacity for passengers in East Lothian.

“The introduction of new electric trains to the Scottish rail network will see seating capacity across Scotland increase by 23 per cent by 2019.

“The Scottish Government is investing a record £5 billion in Scotland’s rail services to 2019 but want to do even more to deliver the kind of rail service passengers rightly expect.

“ScotRail has a £475 million train improvement programme which will see more trains, more seats and more services than ever before on Scotland’s railways.”