A SEAFRONT action day in Musselburgh attracted about a dozen volunteers who helped clear weeds from kerbs in the area and picked up litter.

Organised by Fisherrow Harbour & Seafront Association (FHSA), the recent initiative in the promenade area was supported by Musselburgh StreetClean.

Free tea and coffee was supplied by local catering van Sizzlers.

Claire Tochel, volunteer seafront co-manager, said: “We cleared sprayed weeds from the kerbs, neatened up the edges of the path and collected four bags of litter.

“Many thanks to everyone that came along – it was lovely to meet some new faces.

“We really appreciated the support from Musselburgh Street Clean and the kind gesture from Sizzlers of donating the teas and coffees for everyone.”

She stressed one of the issues the association was hoping to tackle was to support people who had “adopted” a planter on the Promenade to add personalised signs to their planters, as there have been “a couple of incidents” with plants being stolen.

She added: “We’re hopeful that making it clearer that these are a community project, with plants bought and tended by local people and groups, might discourage theft.”

She said that someone had already attached a plaque to say their planter was in memory of a loved one and a local group planned to install a sign to say it had sponsored a planter.

FHSA is also hoping to redesign the planting at the flagpole in the harbour area with a waterfront theme with funding from East Lothian Council.

Future plans include the addition of new picnic tables in the traffic-free space at the harbour created as part of the Safe Promenade scheme. A picnic table, which was damaged a couple of years ago near the playing fields, will be replaced.

CCTV could be installed at the harbour after requests from boat owners for improved security. Planning permission is being sought from the council, with funding from boat owners and the FHSA.

It is also hoped to upgrade more ladders and stonework to ensure safe access to boats. A dozen have already been improved, with costs covered by the Musselburgh Common Good Fund.

The installation of a new mooring rail round the top of the harbour to replace the current “worn and damaged” rings is planned.

Another proposal is to extend the harbour slipway to make the launching and recovery of boats easier.