The introduction of three motorhome parking bays at Yellowcraig has resulted in less waste being dumped at the beach, according to East Lothian Council.

Three parking bays have been installed on a trial basis in the car park, near Dirleton, enabling motorhomes to park overnight at a cost of £10.

The trial will be in place until September next year.

The council stated that the area has seen a decrease in overnight campers in tents since the trial was launched.

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “In comparison with previous years, there have been fewer overnight tents at sites to date this year, and therefore significantly less human waste left.

“This is continuing to be monitored but the early indications are that the areas are recovering, with less ground/vegetation compaction and disturbance.

“Throughout the summer of 2022 there was anything between two and 15 campervans and motorhomes parked overnight at Yellowcraig, with generally the higher number at weekends.

“This is now being restricted to the three bays, with a resulting significant reduction in incidents.”

However, some concerns still remain.

One local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I am very concerned about Yellowcraig at the moment. There has been a real change in recent months, from what was a beautiful place to walk to now seeing waste being dumped here.

“I feel there should be somewhere put in place for caravans to dispose of [toilet] waste as they are not taking it home and it is being dumped around the bay.

“It is not right that a beautiful area like Yellowcraig is ruined by people dumping waste in the area. I feel like the overnight parking spaces have made the situation worse.”

However, the council said the bays are intended only for fully equipped motorhomes and that waste should be taken away with the motorhome owners when they depart.

The spokesperson said: “The toilets at Yellowcraig, similar to many on our coastal sites, are on a septic tank and so this infrastructure would not support a chemical waste disposal. So, at present, these bays are only for fully equipped motorhomes.

“Countryside rangers are on site on a daily basis and carry out patrols, including the car park, and are unaware of any chemical toilet waste being dumped either around the motorhome bays or down the drains since the motorhome bays have gone in.

“Following one report from a member of the public last week, the drain and sand trap at Yellowcraig was inspected but fortunately there was no sign of any dumped waste.”

The resident also expressed concerns about a man living in a tent in the area, saying he often acted aggressively.

The East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “There was someone who appeared to be camping long term at Yellowcraig but he was arrested and we believe is no longer there.”