HISTORIC buildings at a former hospital are continuing to be damaged – despite extra police patrols.

Concerns about anti-social behaviour at Herdmanflat Hospital have been ongoing for a number of months.

East Lothian Council, which purchased the site from NHS Lothian in March 2020, has already confirmed that a number of buildings will be demolished.

Work, including increased security measures to ensure the safety of the general public and integrity of the listed buildings, is expected to last until the summer.

Community police officers highlighted that there were still issues at the site, off Haddington’s Aberlady Road, during a virtual meeting of the town’s community council last month.

The written report to the community council noted: “Despite extra patrols by outreach workers, community wardens and local community officers, there have been continuing issues at the old Herdmanflat Hospital grounds.

“There have been a number of calls regarding youths causing anti-social behaviour and damaging the buildings, throwing stones, etc.”

East Lothian Council intends to develop the site for older people’s housing, although no proposals have yet been revealed.

The hospital took its name from Herdmanflat Farm, which was once on the site.

A medical facility on the site dates back to the 1860s but it closed its doors in 2020 as all services were moved to the nearby East Lothian Community Hospital, which was built on the site of the town’s former Roodlands Hospital.