A BEER garden outside East Lothian’s smallest pub has been given the green light.

David Mackinnon applied to East Lothian Council’s planning department for a retrospective change of use to the rear of the Station Yard micropub.

Permission was given, despite concerns from a member of the public and Dunbar Community Council.

The member of the public claimed that the building, on Station Road, had gone from being derelict to becoming a micropub with up to 40 customers, to now potentially welcoming 120 people.

The “potential tripling” of customers was also noted with regard to toilet facilities, with claims that “customers are using the road and surrounding area as a toilet”.

The community council called for the issue to be discussed by the local authority’s planning committee but the application was approved by the planning department.

Concerns included noise generated in the beer garden and the potential for litter.

However, the planning officer said: “The matter of litter, the number and type of toilets provided within the building and the matter of patrons urinating in the street are controlled by legislation other than planning legislation.

“Therefore they are not material planning considerations relevant to the determination of this planning application.”

The triangular fenced-off area measures about 12.1m by 10.1m and was previously used as a garden for the Coast2Coast Surf School, a previous tenant of the adjacent building.

Planning permission was granted for one year, with the outdoor drinking area not to be used after 10pm.