A NEW restaurant in the centre of Prestonpans could give the town’s high street a new lease of life and encourage more investment in the town centre, it has been claimed.

Property developer Ross Brunton wants to replace the former Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) building on Ayres Wind with a newly-built restaurant with two flats above it.

The proposal, which was originally rejected by East Lothian Council’s planners, will be considered by the local authority’s local review body on appeal today (Thursday).

And it has been given the backing of Prestonpans Community Council after Mr Brunton put his case to them at a meeting last week.

He told the community council that he believed the development was exactly what the town needed.

He said: “Prestonpans is growing and growing and this is something I feel will work well and bring people into the high street.

“The flats are important and will be amazing. I feel Prestonpans needs more investment and hope this will be the start of something new for the town.”

Mr Brunton revealed he already had interest from at least two parties who were keen to open a restaurant in the town and said it was likely to be an Italian-style eaterie, although no deal has been agreed.

He acknowledged that the design team he had brought in had initially suggested he could build seven flats on the site, but said his plan had never been for more than two flats, each of which will have two storeys.

And he told the community council the restaurant would simply “not be viable” without the flats.

He said: “This is a real chance to get something positive into the community; if it is rejected investors will just go elsewhere.”

Community councillor Finlay Lockie said there was concern that the bank building would lie vacant for years if this proposal was turned down.

He said: “If we do not support this and it is refused all we could get is a vacant building for 10 years.

“I think it is fantastic – we have not had a substantial new premises open here in years.”

Community council chairman Brian Weddell said that the group would write to the local authority supporting the application, adding: “It is what we need.”