“Tranent needs a vaping shop like it needs a hole in the head” according to one of the town’s ward councillors.

Councillor Lee-Anne Menzies, ward councillor for Tranent, Wallyford and Macmerry, was struggling to find any positives with the opening of the new VPZ shop on Tranent High Street.

VPZ, which is the UK’s largest vaping retailer, opened its store in Tranent on Friday (September 1).

The business claims it will improve access to stop smoking advice and provide a centre to dispose of disposable vapes.

However, Ms Menzies said she could not give her backing to the business, and was concerned by the products being sold.

She told the Courier: “I have made my opinions on vaping clear in the past. I do not support it. I worry that in 20 years time we will find out it is as bad or worse than smoking.

“I understand they [VPZ] will be trying to sell the shop in a positive way. But I can’t see it being used for disposing vapes.

“We see a lot of young people vaping now, I think they are being marketed to youngsters, and they will continue to just throw them away."

Ms Menzies did praise the business' call for tighter licensing on who can sell vapes in the UK, but stressed dshe still could not support the new shop.

She said: “I wish I could find the positives in this new business but I just can’t. I can’t support a business that I feel is not good for the community.

“Being honest Tranent needs a vape shop like it needs a hole in the head. It just doesn’t.

“Unfortunately, this is not a business I can back."

A spokesperson said: “VPZ has helped over 700,000 adult smokers quit since we were established in 2012.

“Our new store in Tranent offers a dedicated one-to-one service to help adult smokers quit. VPZ specialists are National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT) qualified, bringing expert knowledge to engage with smokers and educate them on the health and financial benefits of switching to vaping.

“Our approach gives adult smokers the help and advice they need at a time when local stop smoking services across the country are under threat whilst supporting the country’s ambitions to become a smoke free nation by 2030.

“As well as operating an industry-leading challenge 25 policy across all of our stores, we also continue to call on the Scottish Government to implement a licensing and controls framework for selling vaping products.

“The Government have so far failed to take on board our recommendations, however we believe that it would provide a solution to the problem where imported, unregulated, disposable vapes are readily available to underaged people at local convenience stores and other general retailers with no age verification controls.

“We are excited to be bringing our pioneering recycling scheme to Tranent.

“Our insight tells us that there has been strong uptake across our store network and the initiative will prove to be valuable service that will protect and safeguard the local environment.

“Our message is clear on disposables – we fully support a ban and we positively encourage people throughout the area to come in to our store to use our recycling scheme."