"DISAPPOINTING", "poor" and "shocking" are just some of the words that were used by residents in East Lothian's newest town, after hearing they must wait two more years before they can have their own shops.
Hargreaves Land, developers of the new town of Blindwells, recently revealed that it would be "another couple of years" before retail units would open at the town, located between Prestonpans, Tranent and Longniddry.
READ MORE: Blindwells residents face two-year wait for first shops
Planning permission for Blindwells town centre is set to be decided upon by East Lothian Council this week.
READ MORE: Plans to make Blindwells town centre pedestrianised
The Courier spoke to a number of Blindwells residents on their continuing wait for local shops.
Jane Grant, 69, formerly a Musselburgh resident, has lived in Blindwells for about two years.
"I really think that what has been said about a two-year wait just isn't good enough, it feels like I have been miss-sold my home.
"It would be great if we could get a wee local shop that just had basic essentials."
Scott Lloyd, 28, moved to the town from Leith a year and a half ago and says he feels "disappointed".
Flanked by his Pomeranian/Jack Russell Peanut, Scott said: "I am fairly disappointed in what was advertised.
"It would be nice to have somewhere, shops-wise, in walking distance."
READ MORE: Blindwells residents eager to see work start on town centre
Lorna Telford, 63, has lived in Blindwells for just over a year and said the long wait for shops was "shocking".
Lorna is disabled and relies on friends and family to bring heavy, bulky or large shopping orders to her.
"Not everyone drives and we just need something reasonably priced.
"Kids need somewhere to get sweets and old people to get their messages and newspapers.
"I am lucky to have a supportive family and friends, there are a lot of people who just don't have that support."
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Amy Mckenzie, 35, has lived at Blindwells with her family for two years.
The quantity surveyor said ther her overall experience had been "poor".
On the wait for shops, she said: "This isn't what was promised and they just haven't communicated this with us.
Niall McLean, from Hargreaves, said that a meeting had been held with the newly formed Blindwells Tenants and Residents Association and they were left "in no doubt at all" about locals' eagerness to have shops on the site.
He said: “We are looking into how we might provide that with temporary structures just now to mitigate for the fact the town centre is running behind where we had hoped to be at this stage.
"We now have more than 340 houses occupied.”
Asked how long it could be before the town centre would be up and running, Mr McLean said: “From the granting of consent, I would be working on the basis of another couple of years to build, construct and occupy the units, which is why we are looking at temporary accommodation.
“In terms of critical mass, a supermarket generally will look for circa 1,000 units and, by the time we have built that, we will not be too far off that.
“There has to be chimney pots but there is also an element of 'if you build it, they will come', so when we have the formal consent for the town centre, we can start the formal marketing and look to bring it forward.”
A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: “We understand and acknowledge the concerns raised by residents about the pace of delivery at Blindwells.
"The approved new settlement includes 1,600 houses, employment, a new primary school, open space and retail units as part of a new local centre.
"We have been progressing the planning application for the local centre as quickly as possible and are hoping that it can be decided by planning committee [this week].
"The primary school is due to open to children for the new term in August.
"The council’s economic development service is working closely to support the active marketing of the new centre, helping to raise awareness and attract interest from potential occupiers and investors, but it is recognised that it could take some time for retail units to be developed on site.
"In the interim, it is understood that Hargreaves are considering provision of a temporary retail unit, which could be a beneficial facility for residents until the retail units have been developed.
"Major developments of this scale are delivered as the new community and demand grows over time.
"But we are listening carefully to community feedback and remain firmly committed to working with developers, local residents and elected members to ensure Blindwells grows into a place with a strong identity, local opportunity and high quality of life.”
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