CONCERNS have been raised over a North Berwick restaurant owner’s planning application for an outdoor seating area.

Stirling Stewart, who owns The Rocketeer Restaurant on Victoria Road, has used the land south of the restaurant at Anchor Green as an outdoor seating area since May last year, due to the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing rules.

Now, Mr Stewart has lodged a planning application with East Lothian Council to temporarily change the use of the land to an outdoor seating area for three years, and to install monoblock paving on the existing path around the restaurant.

Documents included within the planning application state that tables will be erected and placed each morning, and collapsed and stored overnight.

Efforts will be made to maintain the quality of the grass, including shifting the positions of the tables and chairs each day.

Social distancing measures will also be retained, with the application being for 10 tables, covering a maximum of 40 people.

The planning application was discussed at a virtual meeting of the town’s community council last week.

Most members expressed concerns over the three-year temporary period, saying it was too long and suggested a more permanent fixture.

Many suggested that six months would be a more appropriate length of time for a temporary fixture.

Member Bill Macnair said: “I object to giving them exclusive use of that area. Six months is temporary; three years is not temporary. We are losing the amenity space.”

His views were echoed by fellow members Kelly Evans and Mairi Benson. Mairi said: "You’ve got to have a short-term thing in the short term.”

Gordon Moodie, vice chairman, said: “They are wanting to take possession of that grass area. I don’t see why we should support this; they are taking over common land.”

Member Peter Hamilton added: “It is a picturesque area so why mar the view with tables and chairs and encourage seagulls to gather?”

Mr Stewart, who also owns the town's The Nether Abbey Hotel as well as the Lobster Shack at the harbour, described the application as “a little bit of good news” and said it would also help with local employment and support other local businesses.

He said: “When we were operating the outside area during the restrictions last year, there were no issues and it proved popular among a lot of people. It will also allow for more jobs to be created in the hospitality business and will also help local businesses as we only use local produce at the restaurant.”

The grassy area, owned by Sir Hew Dalrymple, is home to a Celtic cross monument to Catherine Watson, who died in 1889, aged 19, as she tried to rescue children who had been swept out to sea.