A LEGAL challenge could be made in protest at a decision to change the East Lothian Council ward boundaries and axe one of the county’s councillors.

The Scottish Government confirmed last month that East Lothian’s council numbers would drop from 23 to 22, with Musselburgh West and Musselburgh East & Carberry wards scrapped to create a single Musselburgh ward.

That ward will be manned by just four councillors, as opposed to the current six, despite plans for thousands of houses and an increase in population in the town.

Further changes will see Wallyford and Whitecraig come under the Fa’side ward, the same as Tranent, but Pencaitland and Ormiston will then move from that ward to the Haddington and Lammermuir ward, which will be served by one additional councillor, taking the total in that ward to four.

The changes were unanimously opposed by the county’s 23 councillors but their pleas fell on deaf ears.

Now, councillors are split on whether they should accept defeat or whether they should continue to challenge the decision and the issue is due to be discussed at a meeting of East Lothian Council tomorrow (Tuesday) in Haddington Town house.

East Lothian Council leader Willie Innes (Lab) has suggested they could take the matter further but SNP group leader Stuart Currie felt it was time to move on.

Mr Innes said: “We have been absolutely consistent in our support for ward boundaries which support historic community ties.

“That position had enjoyed cross-party support until SNP ministers rubber-stamped the Boundary Commission’s plans to introduce significant disruption to local communities. It appears that SNP leader Councillor Currie has now been ordered by SNP ministers to change his position.

“He has simply rolled over and agreed to what his party bosses in Edinburgh have told him to do.”

Mr Innes’ party colleague Iain Gray, East Lothian’s MSP, also raised concerns at Holyrood when Boundary Commission representatives gave evidence to the Parliament’s Local Government and Communities Committee.

Mr Gray added: “This is nothing to do with party interest – it is all about defending East Lothian from being singled out for an illogical attack on our local democracy.

“East Lothian has the fastest growing population of any local authority area in Scotland, with the number of residents here predicted to grow by nearly 25 per cent over the next 20 years.

“Given this soaring population, it just seems to fly in the face of common sense that East Lothian should be facing a reduction in its number of councillors.”

Meanwhile, Mr Currie claimed it could cost the local authority £25,000 to launch a legal challenge, with additional costs to be incurred they lost. He stressed he “didn’t welcome the decision” but felt they had to accept it and move on.

He said: “I think, ultimately, like the vast majority of local authorities in Scotland, we have put forward our case. The starting point was 21 councillors and we argued for 23 – they have met us halfway.

“I’m as disappointed as anyone else but there is a point where, to be honest, we have to get on with it.”

He felt challenging the decision in court could see East Lothian Council handing out tens of thousands of pounds, money Mr Currie felt could be used better in the county’s communities.

A spokeswoman for the local authority added: “East Lothian Council is extremely disappointed that the Scottish Government has fully accepted the Boundary Commission proposals for East Lothian, which will see a reduction in the number of councillors and the creation of new wards which do not reflect historic and established local community boundaries.

“A working group of elected members and senior officials met to consider our options, which may include legal challenge and possibly a joint approach with other authorities.”