THE six names shortlisted for the new town being created at the former opencast mine at Blindwells have been revealed.

And a public outcry over plans to rename the new town has led to its former name being added to the shortlist.

East Lothian Council had said it wanted a "new name for a new town" which is being built at Blindwells and asked school pupils to help it compile a shortlist.

However, the move brought anger from some areas of the local community, who believed the settlement should retain the name of Blindwells.

Now a report due to go before councillors reveals that the name has been added to the list which will be put out for public consultation next month.

Local residents will be asked to choose between six names, with Blindwells added to five others compiled by a panel of elected councillors and senior officials from suggestions from pupils.

A report to councillors from head of development Douglas Proudfoot says: "The panel meeting agreed that in the light of representations received, Blindwells should also be included."

The full list to be put to the public is: Blindwells, Charlestoun, Hattonfield, Hopetoun, Muirdale and Nethermuir.

Planning permission for the first 1,600 houses at the site has already been granted and groundwork is under way.

The local authority launched its school naming project last month, issuing guidance over potential names and words which could be used to  create the new town's title.

However, there was anger as it was revealed that the schools were steered away from going with Blindwells as the town's name, with council leader Councillor Willie Innes writing to them saying that the council wanted a "fresh, new name".

Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council wrote to the council's chief executive demanding that Blindwells be added to any final list, with neighbouring Prestonpans Community Council also pledging to make their views known.

Harry Cairney, president of Scotmid, who worked at the mine from 1978 until its closure in 2000, described the move away from Blindwells as "unfortunate".

He said: "Everyone calls it Blindwells and they use the name with affection.

"They'll probably end up calling it some long, drawn-out name that no-one has any connection to, and everyone will keep calling it Blindwells anyway."

Tranent community councillor Robert McNeill said that the decision to add the Blindwells name to the shortlist following public representations showed that East Lothian Council had received a "reality check".

He said: "It is good news that they have included Blindwells; there is strong feeling in the community and clearly the council has had a reality check."

The public consultation will be launched online at the council's consultation hub, with forms also included in its Living magazine, which is due to be delivered to households in East Lothian at the end of November.

The new name will be approved at a meeting of East Lothian Council on December 10.