COMMUNITY councillors are calling on East Lothian Council to take action to provide a new care home for the elderly in Musselburgh.

Catherine McArthur claimed that “obstacles” were always being put in the way and facilities had been provided elsewhere in the county.

A council-owned site on the footprint of the old Tesco supermarket on Inveresk Road, bought about five years ago, has been earmarked for the project.

But the lack of progress was raised at two recent meetings of Musselburgh & Inveresk Community Council during discussions about plans for 140 new flats on another part of the former Tesco site which is owned by Dundas Estates.

Catherine McArthur said: “Is there nothing about the care home?”

Ward councillor Stuart Currie said: “The footprint of the old store is owned by the council and that’s got outline planning permission for a care home. The rest of that land is owned by Dundas Estates.”

Mrs McArthur said the part of the site at the front owned by the developer should have been allocated for a care home to give potential elderly residents a better view.

She added: “I really think we should be making a bigger noise about this – it’s all about the developers.

“This is a community and we didn’t argue 20 odd years ago to retain Edenhall Hospital.

“We were supposed to have a care home 20 odd years ago and it’s about time people stood up and said, ‘This is what we want’.”

Mr Currie said: “I agree with you entirely.

“The problem is that there doesn’t seem to be any moves whatsoever on a care home at all.

“I have constantly been arguing because it is going to take four to five years from start to finish.

“The problem is that you have to build a facility that is so flexible because by the end three or four years the model of care will have changed.”

He claimed all the council did was “consult and consult”, adding: “It’s paralysis by analysis at the minute. The danger is that the council decide they are just going to sell that land because a developer would be all over it.”

Vice-chairwoman Betty Ramsden said: “It has been lying empty for so many years. All around there are beautiful care homes, including in Tranent, and we don’t really have anything at all.”

The community council is set to contact council representatives, including council leader Willie Innes and chief executive Angela Leitch on the issue.

David Small, East Lothian health and social care director, said: “The council and NHS Lothian are currently completing a comprehensive joint assessment of the future needs of older people in East Lothian for care facilities.

“This needs assessment will include options for extra care housing in which older people with needs that are currently met in care homes can have that care provided in housing units.

“The needs of people in Musselburgh are factored into this assessment.

“It is planned that the council and NHS will look at specific projects during 2017/18.”