PEDESTRIAN access to Dunbar Railway Station’s newly opened second platform could be improved thanks to a proposed path.

The £13 million platform, which serves trains heading north, was officially opened last month.

Currently, travellers heading to the platform need to access it from Station Road before crossing the line via a bridge or lift.

When plans were revealed, a number of members of the public questioned why there was not also access to the new platform from the south.

Hundreds of houses have been built in the Hallhill area of the town and East Lothian Council is in talks to create a pedestrian link which would connect Hallhill directly to the new platform.

Councillor Norman Hampshire, who represents the town on East Lothian Council, is chairman of the local authority’s planning committee and could not comment on the proposals. But he agreed a pedestrian link would be beneficial.

He said: “Obviously, we have issues at Dunbar station with the limited parking, and better access to the station for pedestrians and cyclists will be better for the community as a whole.

“I cannot comment on the current proposals but the council have been looking at a number of options to improve access to the station for pedestrians and cyclists. If we can reduce car use, that is much better for the environment and better for congestion within the town centre.

“The council will try to create this wherever possible.”

The path would be created as a link off the existing path, which runs from the car park at Hallhill Sports Centre under the East Coast Main Line and joins up with Countess Road, to the north of the railway line.

The route would then link up with the path that runs between Retreat Crescent and Salisbury Walk. A bike shelter, with space for 20 bicycles, is also included in the plans and would sit alongside the proposed path.

Community councillor Craig Rapson lives near the newly opened platform. He said: “Overall, I think it [the path] is a great initiative and I think residents will welcome it. It certainly makes it so much easier to get to the station but we just have to be careful about the impact on residents close to the station.”

Concerns have been raised about an increase in noise in the area, as well as people parking on nearby streets and taking the train into Edinburgh.

An East Lothian Council spokeswoman said: “The new path would link up developments at the station and residential properties.As this application is within the planning process, it is hoped the project can be brought forward but no timescales can be suggested at this stage.”

The new platform, funded by Transport Scotland, replaces the one near Salisbury Walk which was removed during track electrification works in the 1990s.