PLANS to build two new barns on a farm in East Lothian were described as a "Trojan horse" by a councillor, amid concern they would become part of a family theme park proposed for the land.

The application for the sheds at East Fortune Farm was granted by councillors, after the landowners said that the lease of their current storage sheds had run out and they needed to move to the new buildings.

However, the plans brought 59 letters of objection from members of the public, who claimed that the buildings were the first phase in a proposal to create a new family park at the site which would be run by the current operators of East Links Family Park, near West Barns.

Ward councillor Jeremy Findlay said: “I believe these sheds are just a Trojan horse for what is coming and, as some of the other objectors have pointed out, are far too large for a farm of this size and are being done on prime agricultural land.”

The application, lodged by the Brand family who own East Fortune Farm, was for two sheds – one 49 metres by 12 metres and six metres high, the other 24 metres by 12 metres and the same height.

Objectors highlighted that early proposals for the family park at East Fortune Farm included two barns very similar in size and location to the two barns which featured in the planning application. 

READ MORE: New family park at East Fortune: Claim residents selling homes

However, planners said that the application was for agricultural sheds and any change of use would have to come back to the council for planning.

Councillor Norman Hampshire, planning convenor, reminded councillors that they could only determine the application in front of them, which was for two agricultural sheds on the land.

He said: “We can’t take into consideration something which may happen in the future.

"This planning committee will determine any future application but it is not relevant to today’s discussion.”

It was announced in February that East Links' operators were talking to the Brand family about setting up a new park on their land when the existing park's lease runs out in a few years – the landowners at East Links have since stated they will be bringing in new operators for the existing park at that time.

READ MORE: First look at plans for new East Links Family Park at East Fortune

A pre-application notice was lodged with the council for the new family park, but no formal planning application has yet been submitted.

The committee approved the sheds application by nine votes to one, with Mr Findlay voting against.