CALLS for a new 20 miles per hour speed limit to be extended to include the section of road at Seton Sands Holiday Village have been made.

East Lothian Council has introduced lower speed limits in many towns and villages – including Cockenzie and Port Seton – as part of a project to make the streets safer for pedestrians and the increased number of cyclists who are being seen out and about.

It is also creating a temporary cycle path between Cockenzie and Port Seton and Prestonpans which will run along the north side of the B1348 coast road.

Community councils in these areas have welcomed these changes, which were announced after the local authority received £1.4million in funding from the Scottish Government’s Spaces for People initiative.

However, Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Council has called for its 20mph road speed limit to be extended to include the section of the B1348 at Seton Sands Holiday Village, to the immediate east of Port Seton, which has been the scene of tragic road accidents in the past.

Bryan Hickman, community council chairman, said while some concerns had been raised on social media about the money being spent on measures and their temporary nature, the majority of people commenting supported the changes.

He said: “Most people, including the community council, are in agreement. Any work that makes the roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists must be welcomed and supported.

“It is felt, however, that the 20mph zone needs to be extended beyond Seton Sands holiday camp.

“This stretch of road is very prone to speeding and has had a number of accidents, some unfortunately fatal.”

Brian Weddell, chairman of Prestonpans Community Council, said they, along with neighbouring community councils in Cockenzie and Port Seton and Longniddry, had been campaigning for lower speed limits around their communities.

And he said the introduction of the three-metre wide cycle lane on the coast road would be welcomed by cyclists and motorists alike.

He said: “With the huge increase in cyclists on our local roads and shoppers having to queue on pavements measures aimed at slowing the speed of traffic in the town are to be welcomed.

“The three community councils in the Preston Seton Gosford ward have been campaigning to get speed limits lowered on the roads around the local towns and villages and hopefully this will also be introduced by East Lothian Council.

“The dedicated cycle route between Prestonpans and Cockenzie will be particularly welcomed by local children who have taken to their bikes during the pandemic. The two-way cycle path will also be appreciated by motorists who have been getting frustrated at the significant increase of cyclists using the coast road.”

Additional plans under Spaces for People include installing, in the autumn, electric bike hire stations featuring eight e-bikes at two locations in Prestonpans and one in Cockenzie in autumn.