“ACTIVE discussions” are being held about a campaign to oppose proposed boundary changes in East Lothian.

Boundaries Scotland has revealed plans to scrap the East Lothian constituency at Holyrood and instead split the county, electorally, into two new seats: Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent – which would also include Elphinstone, Whitecraig and Wallyford – and Lothian Eastern, covering the rest of the county.

READ MORE: East Lothian name at risk at Holyrood as Tranent set for switch under new proposals

Concerns raised by members of Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council claimed Tranent could become a “suburb of Edinburgh” as a result of proposed changes.

At a meeting last week, Robert McNeill, a member of the group, called for a campaign to stop the proposals.

He said: “This is a numbers game and is not at all about connections.

“There have been concerns raised in the past that Tranent could become a suburb of Edinburgh – this just adds fuel to that.

“We need to call on politicians, all our politicians, to fight this and safeguard the future of Tranent and Elphinstone in East Lothian.

“I think we need to have a serious discussion about some sort of campaign to fight this.”

READ MORE: Council agrees unanimously to oppose planned Holyrood boundary changes

Meanwhile, Councillor Lee-Anne Menzies said: “Tranent is not a satellite town of Edinburgh. Belters are proud to be living in East Lothian.”

Group chair Mike Falconer has said discussions are ongoing with other community groups about a campaign to oppose the plans.

He told the Courier: “We are having active discussions with the chair of community councils association, as well as other groups in the community, with the view of starting some sort of group action against the plans. What we don’t want is people saying ‘oh, that’s terrible’ but not actually objecting to it. We need people to not just voice their concerns but to act on them.

“I’m pleased to see that there has been cross-party support in opposing this and we will continue to fight.”

Meanwhile, East Lothian Labour Party has voted unanimously to oppose revised proposals for Scottish Parliamentary constituency boundaries in the area.

Local party members debated an emergency motion tabled by Councillor Colin McGinn, who represents Tranent, Wallyford and Macmerry, the ward most affected by the proposals, calling for them to be rejected and mandating the party’s chair, former East Lothian MSP Iain Gray, to write to Boundaries Scotland and urge it to reconsider the plans.

Members expressed intense opposition to the plans, especially the proposal to move Tranent and Elphinstone out of the existing East Lothian constituency and to change the constituency’s name to Lothian Eastern.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Gray said: “I was immensely proud to represent the East Lothian constituency for 14 years.

“Throughout that time, I was always very conscious of what a special place East Lothian is and how great a privilege it was to represent it at the Scottish Parliament.

“These devastating proposals would not only end the East Lothian name at Holyrood, undermining our status and voice there, but also splinter the historic community links between Tranent and Elphinstone and other parts of East Lothian.

“East Lothian Labour Party is crystal clear that this is unacceptable and that we cannot allow a numbers-driven exercise to damage our area in this way.

“We will oppose the revised proposals and seek to work with local communities, groups and other political parties to push for Tranent and Elphinstone to remain in an East Lothian constituency based on its current boundaries."