THE planned closure of Johnnie Cope’s Road by East Lothian Council has been objected to “unanimously” by Prestonpans Community Council in a letter describing the plans as “absurd”.

The group outlined the strong opposition it had to the proposals, detailing a number of issues with the council’s justification, which it claimed was contradictory.

The letter also highlighted the consultation that the community council had undertaken with residents, with 95 per cent of respondents wanting the road to remain open for a variety of reasons.

Johnnie Cope’s Road starts in the north at the junction with Gardiner Terrace, near Prestonpans Railway Station. It then crosses the A1 by bridge and joins Brickworks Road in Tranent to the south.

It was originally due to close as a through route when the A1 Tranent bypass opened in 1986, but be kept open for walkers and cyclists.

However, the closure was not legally effective as the then highways authority – Lothian Regional Council – never made the necessary TROs (traffic regulation orders) needed to authorise it.

Now the plans have been revived as council officials aim to close the road to all vehicles except emergency vehicles and local access.

READ MORE: Council set to close Johnnie Cope's Road: proposal branded 'insane'

The letter criticises the council’s decision to “belatedly” seek to enact a provision from the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, with specific reference to one clause which states that the road in question “will become unnecessary”.

The community council declare this justification as “demonstrably incorrect”, as the usage of the road has greatly increased over the last 36 years, with the population of both Tranent and Prestonpans increasing significantly.

A council spokesperson previously stated: “The main reason for the road to be closed to vehicular traffic is on the grounds of road safety.

“The structure was not designed to take the volume of traffic using it.”

But the community council claims that this contradicts the council’s position on closing the road, calling it an “inadvertent admission” that the road is heavily used and therefore “necessary”.

It was also claimed that the council had “failed in its statutory duty to ensure that the bridge’s owner, Transport Scotland, has kept the bridge connecting the two sides of your adopted road in a condition that is appropriate to the needs of our busy and growing local communities”.

Members of the community council argued that the repair and rejuvenation of the road on either side of the bridge, with new traffic calming measures such as lights and improved pedestrian provision, would make more sense that the road’s closure.

'Ludicrous'

DJ Johnston-Smith, community council chair, concluded the letter by stating: “Your office has offered no qualitative or quantitative evidence to support closure beyond pale, unsubstantiated assertions.

“Public opinion overwhelmingly supports not just the road staying open, but that it be properly maintained, traffic-calming on the road and traffic lights introduced at the bridge and proper pavements constructed.

"But you have ploughed on regardless with this unwanted scheme, convincing yourselves the stopping up to mechanised traffic of a long-established right of way is somehow a better solution for the needs of two busy towns in 2023.

“With only two direct routes connecting two population centres of 10,500 and 12,500, one of which is also the only current route out of and into an emerging ‘new town’, it is ludicrous to the point of absurdity to suggest that one of these two roads is now classed as ‘unnecessary’.”

A council spokesperson said in response to the letter: “The views raised by Prestonpans Community Council will be taken into account as part of the current consultation process.”

The public consultation period takes place for five weeks and opens on Monday.