MORE than 500 people have contacted East Lothian Council regarding plans to “relocate” East Links Family Park.

Councillors on the local authority’s planning committee will decide the fate of the proposals later this year.

The farm-themed family park has been popular with visitors since it opened its doors on the outskirts of West Barns more than 20 years ago.

Each year, more than 100,000 people visit the attraction, which is home to a play fort, a variety of animals, a light railway and other play areas.

However, Grant Bell, who operates the facility, is looking to move to East Fortune Farm and open a similar facility there.

READ MORE: East Links Family Park looking to move to East Fortune Farm

His lease at West Barns expires in 2026 but the owner of the existing site has stressed that there will continue to be a family park at Hedderwick Farm.

The deadline for members of the public to comment on the proposals has now passed.

READ MORE: Plans for family park at East Fortune Farm now revealed in full

In total, 545 people got in touch with the local authority’s planning department regarding the scheme.

The majority of those representations – 440 – were voicing concerns about the proposals, with 87 in support.

More than a dozen were sent after the deadline for representations and the remaining three did not state whether they were for or against the proposals.

Protest group Stop the Theme Park is calling on the council to reveal the reasons for the objections – something the council only does when a report is put before the planning committee or a decision has been made by the planning department.

READ MORE: Job losses feared over family theme park plans

David Johnston, spokesman for the group, said: “These days everything is meant to be about openness and transparency but in East Lothian a cloak of secrecy surrounds the planning process.

“Other local authorities list the names and reasons for representations over new plans on their websites so people can see who and why folk are for or against any particular plan – not in East Lothian, though, and this must change.

“There is absolutely no reason the council here should not follow the practice of others and be open about what is going on.

“We are not trying to say they have something to hide – but good practice should mean they show they have nothing to hide.”

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council confirmed the plans would go before members of the planning committee but no date had been set for when the item would be considered.

They said: “There is no legislation that requires planning authorities to make representations public, and it is therefore for each planning authority to decide whether or not to do so.

“East Lothian Council does not make representations public.”