A SPEED check in Dunbar has found that 40 per cent of motorists are breaking the new 20 miles per hour (mph) speed limit.

The reduced speed limit was introduced throughout much of the town in the summer and has been met with a mixed reaction.

Police have identified monitoring the new speed limit as a priority at the last two community and police partnership (CAPP) meetings.

Constable Gavin Ross, who chairs the meetings, told members a speed check had been carried out on Queens Road.

Out of the 15 vehicles that had their speeds checked, five were stopped and issued with warnings.

A sixth vehicle was stopped and the driver was charged for doing 35mph and will be reported to the procurator fiscal.

The officer, who was joined by his colleague PC Jennifer Stewart at a recent CAPP meeting, said that officers planned to continue carrying out regular speed checks.

The new speed limit is currently temporary and will run into 2020, when East Lothian Council will weigh up whether or not to make it permanent.

The scheme applies to roads north of the railway line, with major roads such as Belhaven Road also included.

The new order mirrors what is already in place on roads south of the East Coast Mainline in the Hallhill area of the town, where all the streets with the exception of Kellie Road are covered by the 20mph speed limit.

However, various criticisms have been raised on social media, with even reports of vehicles overtaking each other in the area covered by the 20mph speed limit.

The town’s community council has been influential in the introduction of the reduced limit.

Herbert Coutts from the group stressed that the order was still in its infancy and there had been public support when the group carried out a consultation.

He said: “We will have to see what happens.

“The trial has been established and there was public support for it.

“We did our job as a voice of the community. That is all we can be.

“There was enough evidence that there was support to go forward.”

Fellow community councillor George Robertson noted that the community council had proposed a widespread 20mph speed limit in the town.

However, the group had suggested that arterial roads – like Belhaven Road – should remain as 30mph limits.

East Lothian Council opted to make the reduced speed limit more widespread.