EAST Lothian Council remains committed to exploring the possibility of building a controversial transport hub on the edge of Haddington, with a planning application expected this summer.

Two public exhibitions have been marked by protestors against the scheme marching along the town’s High Street.

The facility, which would include 220 parking spaces, would be accessed off Whittingehame Drive.

Reports had been made that the local authority would be submitting a planning application shortly, with an economic assessment to be completed first.

An East Lothian Council spokesman said: “We remain committed to enhancing parking provision in Haddington as well as improving options for active travel and public transport.

“Further work is required before any formal plans are submitted.”

The proposals have been dogged by controversy since they were first unveiled last year, with the initial proposal of application notice withdrawn.

Changes to the time and date of the first public exhibition also caused concern, with more than 400 people attending the second two-day exhibition in February.

At that time, plans of the car park were unveiled, showing spaces sandwiched between the town’s 3G pitch and St Martin’s Cemetery and a further section of car park to the south of the skate park.

Proposals discussed at that time also included changing the long-stay car park near the town’s Tesco store to short-stay, with the possibility of making a small number of spaces at the council’s car park at John Muir House available throughout the working week.

The plans have been criticised by members of the town’s community council, including long-standing chairwoman Jan Wilson.

Mrs Wilson had planned to step down from the group but reversed that decision amid fears over changes to Haddington town centre.

She revealed that, due to her concerns, she would not be standing down and said: “I just want to see them get it right first time and not lose all the spaces and find we are in the midst of a ghost town.”

Councillor Tom Trotter, who lives in the town, agreed it was an issue that had attracted plenty of attention from Haddington residents.

He said: “Rightly so, because it affects a lot of people and, rightly so, people have made their views known.”

Mr Trotter is not on the planning committee, which will likely decide the fate of the proposals. He has been in touch with the local authority officers to try to get an up-to-date picture of the plans.