CALLS have been made for people in Musselburgh to be given their say on the future of a former supermarket site.

Andy Wightman, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, is urging townspeople to speak out about the former Tesco site, on Mall Avenue, which he says has become a local eyesore.

The land was bought by developer Dundas Estates from Tesco after it moved to a new store, built next door and opened in 2010.

Mr Wightman said the firm, which is based in Livingston, paid Tesco £4.8million for it, with East Lothian Council buying an additional part of the land for £1million.

Despite the sale and planning in principle being granted for 140 flats, detailed plans for the site have still not been finalised.

It is understood that detailed plans for 140 flats for the site – shown to community councillors in the autumn – were submitted to East Lothian Council but they have not been validated, as additional information is required from developers before they can be properly lodged.

Two years ago, Dundas was given a three-year extension to its housing plans after it pointed to the credit crunch for causing a delay.

But Mr Wightman said it was now time the land was handed over to the people of the town after it became an “eyesore”. He said: “The saga of this old supermarket site is a classic example of how our current approach to planning and land use fails our communities.

“If a vacant land tax had been levied there would have been an incentive for developers to get building or sell on to someone else who would. Instead, the people of Musselburgh have been left with an eyesore for almost a decade.

“The community should be in the driving seat on this. Rather than continuing to pin hopes on a profit-driven developer, I’d encourage local people to have their say on what this site could look like.”

Jason Rose, Musselburgh Green campaigner, backed the politician and called on East Lothian Council to help locals develop a masterplan for what they want on the land. He said: “Those of us who live in Musselburgh We are fed up with this blot on our town centre and riverside landscape. The council have shown no urgency in bringing this site into productive use.

“I’d like to see social and affordable housing, land for community food growing and space for children to play. I have asked the council how, as a community, we can be supported to develop a masterplan for the site so we actually get what we w