AN OBJECTION was lodged against the colour of the legs on a new historical display board in the heart of a conservation village.

East Lothian Council's planning department gave retrospective advertising consent to the local authority for a new interpretation panel, charting the story of Dirleton, located off the village's Main Road.

It highlights the history of people in the village and the nearby castle.

Two letters objecting to the proposals were sent to the local authority’s planning department.

East Lothian Courier: Historical information display at Dirleton

Concerns included that  "the legs of the signboard are a striking blue colour and therefore dominate the historic elements around the [village] green unnecessarily.”

Another concern was the location of the sign in the village, which faces the village green and is just west of Dirleton Castle.

The planning officer’s report deemed the location was “not inappropriate” but added: “However, the blue colour of the side plinths of the interpretation boards do not reflect the colour of other elements of street furniture in this part of Dirleton Conservation Area.

“Such a blue colour of its plinths causes the interpretation board sign to appear as an overly prominent feature within the conservation area.”

Planning officials gave permission for the panel on the condition that the blue coloured sections should be “painted black or some other colour to be submitted to and agreed by the planning authority”.

East Lothian Courier: Historical information display at Dirleton

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: "The interpretation board is part of a long-established set of tourist routes around East Lothian.

"A number of the boards around the county that had become damaged or had been removed were recently replaced, Dirleton being one of those.

"After the new board was installed some members of the local community raised concerns about its location and the colour of the supporting plinth.

"Consequently it was agreed that a retrospective application for advertising consent would be made to ensure these concerns were properly considered.

"Following the decision by the council’s planning service the supporting plinth of the board will be changed from the original blue to black.”