PROPOSALS for a “multi-generational community hub” to be built on the disused Lime Grove site in North Berwick have been revealed.

Since 2016, a sub-group of North Berwick Coastal Area Partnership has been working on carrying out a community asset transfer of the East Lothian Council-owned site.

And they enlisted the help of SKS Scotland in drawing up a shortlist of proposals, which were revealed at a public meeting at St Andrew Blackadder Church last Monday evening.

At the meeting, Jim Bennett, director and social enterprise specialist at SKS Scotland, outlined the proposals for the two-and-a-half acre site.

He said: “Our idea centres around a community hub that is a centre of community activity.

“We believe it should be a multi-purpose space that is capable of supporting different uses for the whole community.”

More than 100 people attended the meeting and all but one concerned neighbour were in favour of the proposals, but they were keen for re-assurances that the existing community centre on Law Road would not be affected.

Mr Bennett added: “We want to work with the community centre and will be meeting its management committee to discuss the plans soon.”

Lesley Kay, chairwoman of Lime Grove Steering Group and former co-chairwoman of the area partnership, revealed that the deadline for submitting a business plan to East Lothian Council was February 28.

And with that deadline fast approaching, Ian Watson – a community councillor and another member of Lime Grove Steering Group – urged people to get behind the plans.

Mr Watson said: “I think what is needed here is support for the idea in principle, rather than for the finer details of what would be within the space.

“That can be sorted out once the land has been transferred over.

“If the deadline passes and nothing happens, [the council] will market the land and it will go for housing.”

Three ideas for within the proposed site were under-fives’ services, tourist accommodation or ‘tiny housing’ – rented accommodation for older people, those with disabilities or people with additional needs.

Many of those at the meeting were keen to see young people at the heart of any development.

Adrian Girling, who was behind theSPACE, a youth facility at the old Ben Sayers Factory, said: “The potential is huge.

“If something is going to happen it has to be for the whole community and have the potential of being well-used.”

Another local resident added: “I met some young people and they were saying to me: ‘You had everything when you were growing up.’ “They are right and I just feel so sorry for them – there is nowhere for them to go.”

Hilary Smith, area partnership chairwoman, said she had heard tourists saying last summer that there were no young people in the town.

“It hit me like a ton of bricks,” Mrs Smith said, adding: “I have no idea where they all go but you do not see them on High Street.”

Mr Girling encouraged SKS Scotland and the area partnership to consider calling the new development The Space.