CLAIMS have been made that youngsters are using a lane off Haddington High Street as a toilet amid concerns that anti-social behaviour is still a problem in the town.

East Lothian Council, Police Scotland and a number of other groups had worked together earlier this year to tackle the issue.

A Problem Solving Partnership (PSP) was set up in April but was dissolved after calls to police “reduced substantially” – with just eight calls made in July.

However, a trio of business owners believe anti-social behaviour is still a problem.

Falko Burkert, Erica Muirhead and Jim Graham, who run businesses on High Street and are members of the town’s community council, felt there was still work to be done to fully address the problem.

Mr Burkert said the new bus shelters on the busy High Street acted as a “meeting point” for the youngsters.

He said: “I don’t think [the PSP] should be dissolved – there are still problems to be solved.”

Mrs Muirhead “backed up” her colleague.

She said: “I have noticed quite a lot of behaviour on High Street in the early evening with young lads using the alleyway by the Chinese restaurant.

“They are using it as a toilet.

“I challenged them on it and asked them please not to do it.

“I have not reported it but I will now so there is a record of it.

“They can close the doors and they are not being seen.”

The business owner, who has run Erica’s Florist for more than 40 years, stressed that work was being carried out to address anti-social behaviour and she was hopeful that it would continue.

She said: “There is a lot of good work going on but we need to keep it going.”

Mr Graham echoed that sentiment and said: “I think that the PSP was prematurely disbanded last time and I am a wee bit concerned it is being disbanded again.”

Haddington and Lammermuir ward councillors at the virtual meeting encouraged residents to report any anti-social behaviour to the police or East Lothian Council.

Councillor Tom Trotter, who was previously a member of the community council, told the meeting: “The key thing is to report it.

“Every time you have got concerns, report it.”

The PSP brings together not only police officers and East Lothian Council representatives but also councillors and representatives from a variety of community groups.

A council spokesperson said: “Following concerns expressed earlier in the year around incidents of anti-social behaviour within Haddington, the PSP partners established a number of measures to address the problem which has resulted in a significant reduction in reports.

“The council’s safer communities team continue to respond to any complaints of anti-social behaviour and we would ask any concerned residents to contact the council on 01875 824307 or Police Scotland via 101 to report any such complaints.”

When the PSP was dissolved earlier this year, Chief Inspector Jocelyn O’Connor, Police Scotland’s local area commander, said: “The vast majority of our young people do not cause any trouble; however, there is a small minority who do. I would ask parents to assist us by taking an interest in where their children are, what they are doing and who they are with. There is no doubt that, without the partnership work and dedication of key agencies, it is unlikely we would have seen a reduction in anti-social behaviour.”