A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a house in the centre of Humbie has been approved – despite the objections of dozens of villagers.

Councillors admitted they found it difficult to come to a decision on the application by Alex Clowes to build the house next to the village shop and Post Office.

Councillor David Berry (ind) – former council leader – moved to have it refused at a planning committee meeting on Tuesday, branding the bid a “pig’s breakfast”.

But his motion fell after colleagues agreed with planning officials’ recommendation to approve the house.

Planning permission in principle for a house on the site already existed.

Twenty written objections had been made – while a petition of 67 objectors’ signatures was handed to councillors.

The site is currently used as an informal car park for the shop, but is not owned by the shop.

Mr Clowes told the meeting that the land had been freely available for purchase on the market for a “lengthy period of time” before he bought it and that “no other offers had been received”.

“There then followed detailed and lengthy discussions with an architect and officials to ensure the design and construction of the proposed building met necessary criteria,” he said.

However, Al Beck, of Humbie, East and West Saltoun and Bolton Community Council, claimed the bid would jeopardise the viability of at least three jobs in the adjacent shop – which has plans for expansion.

Concerns were also raised over double-parking on the main B6368 road, with two spaces available outside the shop and a handful across the road.

Mr Beck admitted that the community council had not objected to the original housing application, but said: “Circumstances were different at that time. There is now a major opportunity for our community [through the village shop expansion].” Resident Sandy Hodge, also objecting, claimed that the footpath at the site would be forced into the middle of the main road by the building’s position.

Councillor Ludovic Broun-Lindsay (Con), Haddington and Lammermuir ward member, said: “The problem comes in the conflict between the community, who view this as an ad-hoc car park, and the rights of the land owner to [promote] land for such use as they can legally, properly obtain for it.

“If the community was so certain that they wanted this as a car park, they should’ve put their hands in their pockets and bought it.” Fellow ward councillor John McMillan (Lab) said: “I find this possibly the most difficult application that’s come before me in this committee.

“[Mr Beck’s argument] makes me think more and more this is not an issue about the house – it’s an issue about what the community does to look for better access, for better parking, to improve the road, to reduce the speed [of traffic], to reduce the danger.” Councillor Willie Innes (Lab), council leader, said: “Many of the arguments put forward are five years out of date, in a sense, because the principle [of a house] has been [accepted].

“To refuse this application, given the principle of housing has been established on that site – if taken to appeal – would lead us to ridicule.” But Mr Berry said: “This is a pig’s breakfast of an application.” He said members were accepting a bigger house on a smaller area than had been detailed in the initial planning permission.

He added: “We are ignoring [the community] and we are abdicating our responsibilities as a representative body if we ignore the community.” The committee unanimously backed the bid, except Mr Berry.