A TRANENT woman has been sworn at, hooted at and had rude hand signals made at her for riding her mobility scooter along the coal road at Cockenzie.

Anita Gray, of Tranent Mains Road, regularly takes her dog on walks along the public path on the former Tranent to Cockenzie Waggonway.

When the northern section of the footpath ends and joins the B6371 coal road (see image), Anita is unable to get her scooter onto the raised pavement on the other side of the road.

Therefore, if she wants to continue her journey to Cockenzie, she has no option but to travel on the road for about 100 yards till she reaches the roundabout at Alder Road and can rejoin the pavement.

Anita told the Courier: “I get tooted at and shouted at so often. It can be quite frightening, especially since cars come down that road very quickly.

“It’s just one of many problems that people on mobility scooters have to face. We already have to deal with narrow pavements, wheelie bins in the way, cars parked on pavements blocking our way through, and now this.”

The 62-year-old often takes her West Highland terrier Charlie out and about, especially in good weather, but finds there are certain points where there is not an appropriate pavement for scooters and therefore has to go on the road.

She added: “My scooter is allowed on the road and I am very considerate to drivers, pulling in when I can and trying to stay out of the way, but that doesn’t stop the abuse.”

Anita is a semi-retired charity worker who still has a car for longer journeys but enjoys travelling around locally on her scooter.

She added: “I’ve been driving cars and motorbikes for years yet people treat me like an idiot when they drive past me.

“The council have been informed many times about the fact that there is no access to the pavement. I think now they are doing something about it.”

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council confirmed this, saying: “A lowered kerb is due to be installed in June on the B6371 Coal Plant Road opposite the Waggonway and near to the Cockenzie roundabout to allow access to the public footway network.”

The work does not require a temporary traffic regulation order (TTRO).