A RETAIL park on the outskirts of Haddington should not be called ‘Haddington Retail Park’, according to community councillors.

Aldi, Home Bargains, The Food Warehouse, Costa Coffee and Euro Garages have all been confirmed for the site at Gateside on the town’s western edge.

The occupier of a further unit on the site is yet to be revealed.

The land had previously been earmarked for a Sainsbury’s store before the supermarket giant pulled out.

The retail park development drew a mixed reaction from members of the public when it was first proposed three years ago.

Earlier this month, East Lothian Council’s planning department approved a sign saying ‘Haddington Retail Park’.

However, Graham Samuel, from the town’s community council, questioned if that was the most appropriate name for the development.

He asked ward councillors John McMillan and Shamin Akhtar, who attended the virtual meeting of the group earlier this month: “Who sets the names for these kind of places?

“I noticed in the application it is called Haddington Retail Park. I know quite a lot of people would like to see it kept under the Gateside name because obviously that is the area.”

Mr Samuel was backed in his opposition to the potential retail park name by fellow community councillors.

Pat Lemmon, the group’s vice-chairwoman, said: “I think, mainly, because it is at Gateside, it would be nice to call it something like ‘Gateside Retail Park’.

“It is a terrible thing to say but what happens if we end up with another retail park at the other end of Haddington – what does that get called?

“I’m not sure it is a great reflection of the independent businesses that exist in the town centre as well.

“There are a number of high-quality small businesses in the town and to call it Haddington Retail Park is maybe not a great reflection on what you are driving into the town to see as well.”

Usually, community councils play a role when it comes to the naming of streets in new housing developments.

Mr McMillan was unsure if that extended to the naming of other developments.

Community councillors agreed to write to both East Lothian Council’s planning department and EPIC (No 2) Ltd, the retail park developer, to see if there could be further consultation on the name.

The development is due to open in the summer, with work on it already well under way.

When the proposals were previously discussed, it was suggested that 200 jobs would be created at the retail park, which will have nearly 300 free-of-charge parking spaces, with 75 construction jobs during the building process.