CLAIMS that a student flat on a street once plagued by fireraising attacks could "degrade community spirit" have been rejected by councillors.

The owner of the three-bedroom flat on Beach Lane, Musselburgh, applied to renew her House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) licence to rent it out to three students.

However, a meeting of East Lothian Council's licensing sub committee heard that a local resident had objected over concerns it could impact the hard work of the street's award-winning tenants’ and residents’ association (TRA) in creating a sense of community.

Beach Lane TRA was established after the residents found themselves at the centre of a frightening string of fireraising incidents.

In February 2016, residents of the Beach Lane flats were evacuated after a vehicle was found well alight under the three-storey block of flats, which were heavily smoke-logged.

ScottishPower was called to isolate the power in the street and the building was ventilated as a total of 22 firefighters were called to battle the blaze.

The following month, a flat was set alight and within hours nearby Fisherrow Harbour and surrounding streets had seen a fishing boat destroyed, another damaged, six cars and a van set alight.

READ MORE: Police investigate 10 fireraising incidents in one night

More incidents took place in the town over the next five days.

Later that year, residents were alarmed again after a car was set alight on Beach Lane in the early hours of the morning, although police described it as an isolated incident.

In December 2016, Euan Walker, from Trinity, Edinburgh, was jailed for 20 months for offences relating to a number of the March fires, including setting alight a campervan while the owner slept inside.

READ MORE: Man jailed for Fisherrow fire spree

Beach Lane TRA was established the following year and has gone from strength to strength, winning a Sparkle award from East Lothian Tenants and Residents Panel at its annual awards in December.

At a virtual meeting of the licensing sub committee this week, an objection to the HMO raised concerns that it would have a negative impact on the association's work.

It said: "I believe an HMO, which I believe will be used as student accommodation, will degrade the community spirit that has been built."

Flat owner Ann Guthrie told committee members that she had initially bought the flat in 2008 for her daughter, who was a student at nearby Queen Margaret University at the time, to stay in with two friends.

She said that after her daughter graduated, she applied for her first HMO and has rented it to students ever since, bringing Edinburgh-based DJ Alexander Lettings Ltd on board as her agents in recent years to oversee its management.

Ms Guthrie was asked if she would consider asking the agents to employ a cleaner to come in to meet requests for tenants to take their turn cleaning communal areas, which had been raised as an issue and agreed.

The members of the sub-committee unanimously agreed to grant the new HMO licence for three years, after ruling that the employment of the agent gave residents a path to resolve any issues in the future.

Councillor Colin McGinn, convenor, said: "I think the owner taking on a reputable agent and taking onboard the idea of bringing in a cleaner is to be commended.

“I see no reason not to grant the licence."