CYCLISTS could fill Haddington as the town prepares to “go Dutch” for a day.

A special event is being planned for next month, which it is hoped will encourage people to get in the saddle in the town centre.

It is the idea of Donald Smith, who lives on the outskirts of the town. However, he stressed that the organisation of the event was still to be finalised.

Mr Smith sent an email to the town’s community council, which met last Tuesday evening, highlighting his plan.

The email read: “I am writing to see if the community council would like to be involved in an event I am hoping to organise at the end of March called ‘Haddington goes Dutch’.

“The idea is for the town to get an idea of what it might be like if there were more people cycling around town, and inspired by my experience of Dutch towns.

“The plan is for cyclists to gather on Court Street (for some Dutch-style cakes) and then for them to go along Market Street, down Sidegate and back along High Street, maybe doing a few laps over the course of less than half an hour.

“This is not a demonstration or a protest, and there would be no intention to block other traffic – in fact, it will probably hold us up!”

Amsterdam is home to about 850,000 residents but there are thought to be more than 880,000 bicycles in the Dutch capital.

Residents in the city regularly cycle due to Amsterdam’s small size and flat terrain, and because of the convenience.

Mr Smith has already been in touch with East Lothian Council about the proposed event, which could take place on March 28, the final Saturday of the month and the same day as the town’s farmers’ market.

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council said that the local authority was aware

of the event but there was no

need for road closures.

Chris McEwan, vice-chairman of Haddington’s community council, confirmed that the group had received the proposal but was yet to speak to Mr Smith.

He suggested a Sunday might be a better day to hold the event, in a bid to lessen disruption in the town centre.

Mr Smith said: “I think it is a brilliant idea.

“If it was held on a Sunday and good weather, I would probably go along with my bike.”