Members of the public are being encouraged to give their views on the recent Tranent town centre charrette, after visions for the future of the town centre were unveiled.

The charrette, a community planning and design exercise, took place in March and saw contributions from more than 150 local people on what they thought could be done to improve the town centre.

And at the end of April, a meeting was held at Ross High School, which gave those who organised the charrette the chance to feedback their proposals and present some suggestions to the public.

The key ideas suggested by the community included improving the functioning of the traffic on High Street, a new square and sense of ‘heart’, and drawing more on the town’s heritage.

At the meeting, Kevin Murray Associates, which ran the charrette, unveiled a display with suggestions as to how to improve the town.

Tom Shearer, head of communities and partnerships at East Lothian Council, said: “It has been great that so many local people have been involved in this process and I would encourage anyone who has not yet fed back about the ideas to do so and ensure a wide range of views are considered before the proposals are presented to the Fa’side Area Partnership.

“Public consultation, engagement and support on the regeneration of Tranent town centre is vital and also helps to ensure we are able to bid for resources and funding, as was the case with the recent award of £570,000 from the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme.” Robert McNeill, a member of Fa’side Area Partnership and Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council, encouraged people to get involved.

On TECC’s Facebook page, he wrote: “Your comments would be most helpful – you still have time to comment before we consider the final report. Forms can be picked up from the George Johnstone Centre or East Lothian Council website.” Some members of the community council had previously said they were concerned about the timing of the charrette, with some events during working hours, ut Maureen Allan and Mr McNeill, the community council’s representatives on the area partnership, were quick to defend the timing of the charrette, and said: “We had to do it then or we’d have lost the funding.” Drawings of the suggestions for the redevelopment of the town’s High Street can be viewed until the end of today (Friday) at the town’s library, or online at East Lothian Council consultation hub until Sunday.

Members of the public are being encouraged to give their views on the recent Tranent town centre charrette, after visions for the future of the town centre were unveiled.

The charrette, a community planning and design exercise, took place in March and saw contributions from more than 150 local people on what they thought could be done to improve the town centre.

And at the end of April, a meeting was held at Ross High School, which gave those who organised the charrette the chance to feedback their proposals and present some suggestions to the public.

The key ideas suggested by the community included improving the functioning of the traffic on High Street, a new square and sense of ‘heart’, and drawing more on the town’s heritage.

At the meeting, Kevin Murray Associates, which ran the charrette, unveiled a display with suggestions as to how to improve the town.

Tom Shearer, head of communities and partnerships at East Lothian Council, said: “It has been great that so many local people have been involved in this process and I would encourage anyone who has not yet fed back about the ideas to do so and ensure a wide range of views are considered before the proposals are presented to the Fa’side Area Partnership.

“Public consultation, engagement and support on the regeneration of Tranent town centre is vital and also helps to ensure we are able to bid for resources and funding, as was the case with the recent award of £570,000 from the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme.” Robert McNeill, a member of Fa’side Area Partnership and Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council, encouraged people to get involved.

On TECC’s Facebook page, he wrote: “Your comments would be most helpful – you still have time to comment before we consider the final report. Forms can be picked up from the George Johnstone Centre or East Lothian Council website.” Some members of the community council had previously said they were concerned about the timing of the charrette, with some events during working hours, ut Maureen Allan and Mr McNeill, the community council’s representatives on the area partnership, were quick to defend the timing of the charrette, and said: “We had to do it then or we’d have lost the funding.” Drawings of the suggestions for the redevelopment of the town’s High Street can be viewed until the end of today (Friday) at the town’s library, or online at East Lothian Council consultation hub until Sunday.