EAST Linton’s community council has outlined its opposition to proposals for as many as 150 houses being built on the eastern edge of the village.

Early proposals for land at Preston Mains, to the north-east of Preston Road, were submitted to East Lothian Council at the end of October.

A public exhibition was held last Tuesday afternoon in the village’s community hall, with representatives of the potential developers in attendance to answer any questions, with a number of community councillors among the dozens who popped in.

Judith Priest, Dunpender Community Council chairwoman, told the Courier the group opposed the proposals for the site, which have been put forward by Clarendon Planning and Development Ltd and Barratt David Wilson Homes.

She said: “There was not anything that we didn’t already know about.

“It is just in the wrong place – too many houses in the wrong place.

“We talk about a sustainable development and it does not tick my sustainability boxes.

“Everybody would need to drive from there – it is too far out.

“People will not walk to the school or to the bus stop to get to Dunbar Grammar School or to the railway station – it is a 20-minute walk.”

The exhibition showed very early proposals for the nine-hectare site, with plans for more detailed blueprints expected to be submitted early in the New Year.

According to one of the four display boards: “The design of the housing development at Preston Mains is still at a conceptual stage.

“The final layout of the future development will be informed through technical studies including the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, together with the Heritage Assessment, both of which are currently being undertaken.

“Although at an early stage, the development will provide approximately 100 to 150 residential units, of which 25 per cent will be affordable housing.”

A campaign group – Save East Linton From Excessive Expansion (SELFEE) – was established earlier this year in opposition to housing proposals on the eastern and western sides of the village.

A spokeswoman for the group said they had concerns about the latest plans, particularly relating to the likely impact on High Street. She said: “Transport, I think, is a main concern for the people of East Linton.

“High Street is a bit of a free for all and it is busy.

“The number of houses they are proposing, if every house has two cars I just don’t see how it is possible.”

Mansoor Ali, development director, Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes East Scotland, said: “Following this week’s public consultation on our proposal for new homes at Preston Mains, East Linton, we have been able to gather a great deal of important feedback from the local community.

“This exhibition allowed us the opportunity to meet with the residents and they highlighted traffic and education as key areas for attention in any future proposal.

“This has been a very useful exercise and the findings will help guide our decision making and next steps in the planning process.”