CONCERNS over noise from new hot tubs planned for a Dunbar hotel have been dismissed by planners, as councillors prepare to decide on the plans at a meeting next week.

The owners of the Bayswell Park Hotel have applied for planning permission for a three-storey extension which will add 15 new bedrooms – nine of which will have hot tubs.

READ MORE: Bayswell Park Hotel’s plans for hot tubs overlooking North Sea

In their application to East Lothian Council, the agents say that current hot tubs already offered with some ground-floor rooms have become “extremely popular”.

However, the planned extension has drawn 20 objections, with local residents raising concerns about the noise from the hot tubs, the electricity needed to operate them and the impact on local wildlife.

The application said that hot tubs at the hotel had proven a draw for guests, "attracting guests to Dunbar from all over Scotland and the north of England”.

Objectors claimed that the hot tubs and proposed balconies on the extension would look “unsightly” from the John Muir Way coastal path and said that the noise from their use would “harm the wellbeing of, and have a negative impact on, the occupiers of neighbouring properties and will disturb local wildlife”.

However, the planning officer's report said: "The proposals would not cause a significant loss of amenity to any neighbouring residential properties. Any complaints if they arise with regards to noise nuisance could be investigated by the council's environmental health service under the relevant statutory nuisance legislation."

And on wildlife, it stated: "Due to the nature of the works on a previously developed site and the distance between the Firth of Forth SPA (special protection area) and the existing hotel, the proposed extensions would not have a significant affect on the SPA or any adverse impact on wildlife."

READ MORE: Claim John Muir would be ‘turning in his grave’ over hotel’s proposals

The planning officer's report said that objectors also claimed “the amount of electricity needed to power the hot tubs will be huge and will not be environmentally friendly”.

But in response, the report said: "The matter of the amount of electricity required to power the hot tubs on the extension is not a material planning consideration relevant to the determination of this planning application."

The report added: “Some of the objectors state that they recognise the need for the hotel to be upgraded, especially given that it benefits from spectacular views across the sea which will attract visitors from across the globe all year round.

“However, they state that there is no need for hot tubs and ugly extensions.”

Dunbar Community Council also objected to the planned extension, raising concerns the additional building could “pull away from the main building”, but planners said that there was no evidence this was a possibility.

The planning application will go before East Lothian Council’s planning committee next week.

Officers are recommending the application be approved, but councillors will have the final say at Tuesday's meeting.