Work must be done to ensure Tranent does not become a “satellite of Edinburgh” following several businesses leaving the town, according to a ward councillor.

Lee-Anne Menzies, ward councillor for Tranent, Wallyford and Macmerry, spoke at a meeting of Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council to express concerns about the number of businesses leaving the town and proposals for more housing in the area.

She said: “It is vital that Tranent does not become a satellite of Edinburgh, where it is merely a collection of houses where people live and are expected to travel into Edinburgh for work and entertainment.

“We are seeing too many big developers trying to build homes in Tranent and we are now seeing businesses leaving, too.

“We need to work hard to protect our businesses and our town and not allow these big developments to ruin it.”

The comments came after Royal Bank of Scotland announced that its branch on Tranent High Street would close in July, while electrical appliance business Bissett and Steedman left for Prestonpans in January, after 90 years in the town.

At the beginning of March, East Lothian Camera Shop, on Winton Place, also closed its doors after 46 years.

Mike Falconer, chair of the community council, said: “We need to look at how we can reform Tranent, how we bring it forward into the future.

“The closure of RBS has angered the community for many reasons, but one big one is that it will be another empty building on the High Street, just adding to how bare the area is at the moment.

“We don’t want Tranent to keep going in this direction. Something has to change.”

Robert McNeill, community council member, said a “serious look” must be taken into how economic development could be improved in Tranent.

He said: “We are seeing so many businesses leaving Tranent now and the RBS closure isn’t going to help with a reduced footfall in the town centre.

“We need to have a serious look at economic development in Tranent and how we can improve the development of businesses in the area or more businesses are going to leave.

“There are a number of reasons why footfall is low on the High Street and they are all contributing to this issue.”

Mr Falconer said that, while there was little to be done to change the minds of the businesses already leaving the town, the community council would continue to think of ways to help support development for businesses.