A campaign is under way to save a historic North Berwick building, with residents angered after plans were lodged to demolish it.

A planning application was submitted to East Lothian Council in December by Duns-based solicitors Melrose and Porteous for four flats in a new three-storey building.

This would replace the town’s Coach House, in the Westgate area, which is believed to have been built in the 1800s.

In the design statement submitted with the plans, the architects state that the building has “no significant architectural merit and does not contribute significantly to the character and appearance of the North Berwick Conservation Area”.

However, some locals disgree and have started a campaign to save the building, awarded a Heritage Year Award in 1975 for protecting and enhancing the architectural heritage of the town.

And an online campaign has been started by a group of town residents in a bid to stop the demolition of the Coach House.

A member of the group, who asked not to be named, said: “We want to make people aware [of the plans].

“The building should be kept, but if it isn’t, what is being proposed is pretty ugly.

“They [applicants] have used every square inch of the site to propose something that is too big, too high, too wide and more suitable in Leith, which is fine for there, but not in the middle of a conservation area.What is a conservation area for if it’s not to look after the area?

“It is outrageous that it has reached this stage but we just want to let people know about it and have their say.” The campaign group have also urged North Berwick Community Council (NBCC) to lodge an objection, and expressed further concern at the timing of the application.

“It was lodged just days after they [NBCC] had their last meeting of the year and their next meeting only gives them three days to put together an objection,” they added.

Visit www.facebook.com/savenorthberwick or search on Twitter, using the hashtag #savenorthberwick to find out more about the planning application.

The deadline for anyone to comment on the planning application is January 9.