PLANS for a new £35million secondary school in East Lothian have been described as one of the “biggest achievements” of the current council administration, after they were given the seal of approval.

At a meeting of East Lothian Council, councillors voted for the proposed new school to be built near Wallyford, as a solution to future capacity issues at Musselburgh Grammar School.

However, SNP opposition councillors abstained from the vote, citing concerns from the community over transport, future funding for Musselburgh Grammar, and the catchment areas.

Councillor Stuart Currie, SNP opposition group leader and ward councillor for Musselburgh East, told the meeting there was a perception in the town that the consultation was “flawed”.

And he said many residents did not believe that the Grammar would continue to receive the investment it needed when the new school was built.

East Lothian Council set out options to deal with Musselburgh Grammar’s future in a public consultation exercise earlier this year, after it became clear the school would not be able to cope with the huge number of houses being built in its catchment area.

Three options were put forward: extend the current Grammar building; create an upper and lower school on two campuses; or build a new secondary school.

Following the consultation, head of education Fiona Robertson said a clear majority of respondents were in favour of the new school, which will be built on land near Dolphingstone, and take in students in the Pinkie area of Musselburgh, as well as Wallyford.

The new school is expected to be ready to begin taking in pupils from August 2020, or as soon as possible after that date.

Mrs Robertson told the council the results of the consultation and the process itself had been reviewed by Education Scotland inspectors and approved. She said: “The council actively engaged with all stakeholders, including staff, pupils and parents throughout the consultation process.

“Having reviewed the feedback, officers concluded that the original proposal remained the best solution to provide appropriate and effective secondary education provision to pupils in the Musselburgh area.”

Councillor John McNeil, ward member for Musselburgh West, described the approval of the new school as “huge”.

He said: “This is one of the biggest achievements this Labour administration has done for years. This is huge news that a new secondary school will be built for Musselburgh and Wallyford.

“Now we have to maintain the high standard of education we have in Musselburgh Grammar School, where we have seen attendance go up and attainment increase as well.

“It is so important we get this new school right.”

But Mr Currie said concerns among parents of Grammar pupils about the consultation and future investment had been raised with him.

He said: “There is a real perception by many that the consultation was flawed. It is not about attacking council officials, it is about people taking a view on their own experience. It is a perception that is there.

“The fact that 1,500 houses will come to Craighall, with developers’ contributions going to the new school while pupils from there go to the old school, raises concern.”

Explaining why SNP councillors would not support the new school plans, he said: “We won’t support the recommendations but will abstain because we do not want to vote against all the hard work that has been done.”

Councillor John Caldwell, ward member for Musselburgh East, said he also had worried constituents.

He said: “There has been a lot of concerns from parents, mostly in the Musselburgh Grammar area; however, I am sure East Lothian Council will meet these concerns and do everything they can to alleviate them.”

And Councillor Shamin Akhtar, cabinet spokesperson for education, said: “A clear majority of responses support the proposal presented to them.”

The final vote approving the new school was 14 councillors, with seven abstaining.

Sean Elliot, co-chairperson of Musselburgh Grammar School Parent Council, said they were disappointed by the decision. He said: “MGS Parent Council is disappointed in this result. We have clearly expressed our views and made our case against this proposal, which we feel is not in the best interests of Musselburgh senior school pupils nor the community as a whole. Only time will tell now whether the decision taken is the right one or a folly.”