A MEETING with council officials is being held to find a solution to a long-running problem involving traffic safety issues outside a retirement park.

Discussions about the speed that vehicles are travelling along the A199 outside Monks’ Muir Park, west of East Linton, have been going on for a number of months.

Residents fear that it could be only a matter of time before someone is injured – or killed – as they attempt to cross the road, which regularly sees traffic moving at 60 miles per hour, to catch a bus to Haddington.

Concerns about drivers breaking the 60 miles per hour speed limit were originally raised more than four years ago, while it has also been suggested that vehicles travelling at the speed limit are still going too fast compared to the time it takes pensioners to cross the three-lane road.

Various suggestions have been put forward – from a traffic island to more signs highlighting people crossing – but as yet no solution has been found.

The issue has been raised at Dunbar’s Community and Police Partnership (CAPP) meetings and once again was raised earlier this month.

Jim Heron, from Monks’ Muir Park, stressed that the situation facing residents was unique compared to other locations.

He said: “We have identified that the markings on the road are not working because overtaking is still happening.” Complaints have already been made to police and East Lothian Council about people overtaking over the chevrons as cars head from East Linton towards Haddington.

Claims have even been made of vehicles travelling three abreast, with cars overtaking vehicles which are already overtaking.

Mr Heron said that whatever solution was put forward, there had to be something in place to ensure it was working.

He added: “It is an issue now but it will be worse in the winter when the darkness comes in. It is potentially a hazard, as far as I am concerned.” One aspect of the solution could be to see signs put in place on the A199 highlighting that drivers are entering Monks’ Muir, similar to those to all the other towns and villages across the county.

Constable Gavin Ross said the CAPP had taken the issue as far as they could, with it now up to Monks’ Muir Park residents to try to progress it further.

He added: “You are an elderly population that is getting older.

“I would encourage you to raise a meeting with the required people and point out the average age now and what the average age will be in five years’ time.”