AN APPLICATION to take the vacant site of a former council depot at North Berwick’s Lime Grove off East Lothian Council’s hands and turn it into a community hub will be reviewed after it was previously turned down.

Following the council’s initial rejection of the plans for a community asset transfer, more than 750 letters were written to the town’s three ward councillors asking them to support the application.

The letters were handed over to the councillors last Monday.

The council’s petitions and community empowerment committee, which is made up of four councillors, will take another look at the application this week.

If the review is successful, local community group North Berwick Community Development Company will have six months to negotiate the terms of the sale with the council and raise the necessary funds.

At a meeting of the Lime Grove Asset Transfer Group last week, the group decided that if the review was not successful, it would appeal to the Scottish Government.

North Berwick Community Development Company, which has more than 1,200 members, would have 20 working days to lodge an appeal to the Scottish Government.

Lesley Kay, chair of Lime Grove Asset Transfer Group and a director of North Berwick Community Development Company, said: “We really hope the council will approve the request for the community to take over the Lime Grove site.

“We would like to thank the community for their support, which can be seen in the number of people willing to write to their councillors and the number joining the company. This is the last piece of brownfield land in North Berwick where people can come together to meet their needs and aspirations.”

Under the Community Empowerment Act, the council cannot sell, lease or dispose of land to anyone until a community asset transfer request is decided.

The proposed plans for the space include a community hub, youth space, multipurpose theatre and cinema room, cafe, soft play area, community garden, hostel and car parking.