PROPOSALS for a major development at one of the main entrances to North Berwick have been revealed – as the developer raised the possibility of shifting the scheme to a different site in the town.

Goldcrest Communities Ltd held a public exhibition last Thursday, with more than 100 residents and interested parties attending.

The early plans for the land at Castleton Farm, east of the town and north of the A198, show a 60-bed care home with up to 160 private/public accommodation with care units.

Guy Bailey, director for developer Goldcrest Communities Ltd, said: “There was a lot of reaction, I would say, in terms of visual impact. That is the principle concern.

“Adversely, there were a number of very serious enquiries about potential timescales and what might be available.”

Mr Bailey said the developers were due to meet next week to discuss the next step for the plans.

He added: “We are still very keen to progress the project, whether it is on this site or another in North Berwick.”

Angela Paterson, spokeswoman for the recently-formed Save North Berwick Views group which opposes the plans, described what was on offer at the exhibition as “fairly basic in terms of information”.

She described the general mood in the room as “heated and negative” and said: “I asked one of the representatives quite a relevant question that if all the people in North Berwick were against the development, would they still go ahead and build it? He said a lot of the people in North Berwick were very happy with it.”

She noted the majority of people were against the scheme because of the location, while other people did not approve of the plans as a whole.

Save North Berwick Views is holding a public meeting at 7pm on Wednesday at Glen Golf Club and has urged all interested parties to attend.

At last Thursday’s event, a number of information boards detailed the reasoning behind the proposals and what they would entail.

One described the site as being in a “convenient location with good public transport links” and noted it was needed “as a result of a rapidly increasing local ageing population”.

A planning application could be submitted in the spring which, if approved, could see work start in summer 2020.

The town’s community council was due to discuss the plans yesterday evening (Wednesday).

Ward councillor Jim Goodfellow told the Courier that the scheme fell “outside the local plan area for development”.

Ward colleague Councillor Jane Henderson said the plans were “difficult for me and for many I represent” due to the loss of agricultural land and the fact the development fell outside East Lothian Council’s Local Development Plan.

“In the light of these two points I consider the detail of any plans for this land somewhat academic,” she added.

And Councillor Jeremy Findlay added that he would have to “wait and see what the actual application is” but noted residents’ concerns about the loss of views, as well as neighbouring Glen Golf Club’s fears that “any works to do with drainage and water supply will have go through the club and through at least four holes”.