South Scotland MSP Craig Hoy has launched a petition calling for East Lothian Council to reopen Macmerry Recycling Centre.

The centre “temporarily closed” last October as the council looked to find savings.

A spokesperson for the council said at the time that customers could still make use of recycling facilities in Kinwegar, Wallyford; North Berwick and Dunbar.

However, Mr Hoy has launched a petition calling for the Macmerry centre to be reopened siting concerns of fly-tipping as a central concern.

He said: “Macmerry Recycling Centre served residents of Macmerry, Haddington and surrounding villages including Gifford, Pencaitland, East Saltoun, West Saltoun and Longniddry until it was temporarily closed in October 2023.

“Since its closure, residents have raised concerns about increased fly-tipping and diversion of traffic through Tranent High Street.

“I am calling for a reversal of the 2024-25 council budget to retain this vital service at a time where East Lothian's population is growing as a result of house-building.

“An alternative budget presented by East Lothian Conservative Councillors would have allowed for significant savings to be made to the council’s budget through the closure of bureaucratic area partnerships, reduced managers at East Lothian Council headquarters, savings made by opposing the roll-out of town centre parking charges as well as abandoning the £109 million Musselburgh Flood Protection scheme and pressing for a fairer funding settlement for East Lothian by retaining the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities’ funding floor to keep £2.7 million of funding meant for East Lothian.

“This alternative budget would have allowed for a £1.2 million investment into the county’s education services and result in £6.5million less borrowing, while ensuring the protection of frontline services such as reversing Labour’s plan to permanently close Macmerry Recycling Centre, protecting libraries from closure and preventing the withdrawal of police from the streets.

“If, like me, you support the reopening of Macmerry Recycling Centre, please add your support to my petition”

The petition can be viewed at: https://www.craighoy.co.uk/petition-save-macmerry-recycling-centre?fbclid=IwAR05LevGAKdDPssf0mWEHP9gw-oHXQ1ZZYuAH0mrVdFtpdwaMSMT0LF-Yso

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “The council took the decision to temporarily close the Macmerry recycling site due to current financial considerations and staffing shortages. "The remaining three recycling sites available at Kinwegar, North Berwick and Dunbar are open seven days a week to receive a wide selection of materials.”