LOCAL residents admitted they were confused about the exact purpose of a meeting in North Berwick this month.

The community conversation meeting took place in the Spiegeltent, with more than 100 local residents turning up to air their views on the future of the town.

Ian Watson, chairman of the North Berwick Arts Centre Steering Group, gave a presentation about possible sites for a new arts centre, or theatre, in the town.

That sparked confusion from locals, who believed the meeting was wider-ranging than to discuss a new arts centre.

One man said: “I was led to believe this meeting would be about parking issues, not an arts centre.”

At the meeting, Mr Watson put forward a number of sites for the proposed new arts centre, including land at Lime Grove, the Lodge Grounds, the current community centre and part of the Mains Farm development.

Dr Deborah Ritchie, a former community councillor, added: “We are going to have a much bigger population, and a much greater older population, and my understanding was this meeting was to let us do some ‘blue sky thinking’, as we have an opportunity to do some of these things through the money fromNorth Berwick Trust.”

Lesley Kay, one of the co-chairwomen of the area partnership, said that was “exactly” what the meeting was about, rather than just an arts centre.

However, Mr Watson said last Monday’s meeting was “the first in a series” to shape the community’s views on the future of the town.

He added: “If there is anyone who is not here, pass on the message because there will be another meeting – this is the first in a series.”

Organisers admitted they were stunned at the turnout.

Lesley Kay and Sue Northrop, co-chairwomen of the area partnership, said: “The numbers exceeded our expectations and there was a great buzz and energy about the meeting. We heard from people about what makes North Berwick great and what needs to change."