TIME has been called on the world's oldest golf pub, after plans to transform it into a house were given the green light by East Lothian Council.

Pleas were made at the meeting on Tuesday morning for members of the local authority's planning committee to turn down plans for Mrs Forman's, on Ravensheugh Road, Musselburgh.

East Lothian Council received 66 representations, with many of those coming from golfers from around the world, against the plans for the long-closed former pub and restaurant.

Among those calling for the plans to be rejected was Mungo Park, a relation of one-time Open winner Mungo Park and two-time Open winner Willie Park Jr.

He said the business had been "closely linked" with Musselburgh Old Course – the world's oldest golf course – for 200 years and was keen to see the link remain in place.

He added: "I can see no reason why it should not be a pub again. In fact, I can see every reason why it should."

He warned that once a change of use was granted to turn the building into a house it would not return to use as a pub or restaurant again.

Also attempting to persuade councillors to go against the recommendation was Neil Laird, who runs a website dedicated to golf history.

He said: "Mrs Forman's is the world's oldest golf pub, a major item of Scottish heritage and golf tourism is a major industry."

Historically, it was a popular resting point on the course, with drinks being served to the golfers through a window adjacent to the green of the fourth tee.

According to Edinburgh-based Clifton March's plans, a four-bedroom house would be created, with alterations carried out inside the building, which is not listed, despite its historic links.

The planning application had been called in front of the committee by Musselburgh East and Carberry Councillor John Caldwell.

However, he was unable to attend the meeting in Haddington's Corn Exchange and so it was left to his two ward colleagues, councillors Stuart Currie and Andrew Forrest, to offer their thoughts on the scheme.

Mr Currie said: "In terms of the application, the issue for me is purely down to what are the planning reasons why the committee would reject an application."

He noted the building had been up for sale for at least a year, with no one willing to come forward and carry on the history of it being run as a pub or restaurant.

He said: "I'm going to support the application. At some point in the not so distant future the application would be successful on appeal and permission would be granted."

Ward colleague Mr Forrest similarly backed the proposals. He added: "It is a pity that Mrs Forman's closed. It was not for want of trying from previous owners to keep it going.

"If you are going to leave it empty that building is going to go into a state of disrepair and we could end up with it being demolished.

"If somebody is willing to keep it and keep it in the shape it is in, I don't see anything to vote against."

Members unanimously – apart from Councillor John McMillan, who abstained – gave the scheme the green light.