REPRESENTATIVES from Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council have met with East Lothian Council to discuss how to bring more businesses back to Tranent High Street amid a series of closures.

Concerns about the number of businesses closing in the town have been previously highlighted by community council members, with businesses such as the Royal Bank of Scotland, Nettie’s takeaway on High Street, as well as East Lothian Camera Shop on Winton Place, all closing in 2023.

The latest announced closure was of Farmfoods on High Street, which will close at the end of this month, while the future of Italian restaurant Giancarlo’s – which has been shut since May – remains in doubt.

Mike Falconer, Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council chair, met with representatives from East Lothian Council last month to discuss how the community council could get involved in bringing business back to Tranent High Street.

Mr Falconer said at the September meeting of the community council that establishing who owned closed premises on High Street was a key part of making a plan of action.

He said: “We met with the council and had a productive conversation about our concerns. I think importantly what this was was the start of a conversation about how we can improve High Street and bring business back to the town.

“We want to engage with the owners of these closed properties to find out what they are doing with them, what the next step is and how we can get them open again.

“We will be meeting with the council again before Christmas where we will hopefully have a better understanding of who owns these businesses.”

Neil Ellis, vice-chair of the group, added: “It’s about engaging with these businesses and how we can encourage them back into action. We all want to see Tranent High Street lively again.”

Councillor Lee-Anne Menzies, ward member for Tranent, Wallyford and Macmerry, told the Courier that recent closures in the town were a big concern.

She said: “It is worrying. I think the situation with Farmfoods was that it was a reasonably well-used shop. I think parking was an issue and that is a wider thing that needs to be addressed. People couldn’t park outside the shop so they would go elsewhere.

“Having all these empty buildings in a High Street is not a good look. It gives the impression that Tranent is derelict. Tranent is not derelict. It is a vibrant town and a great community. We have to do all we can to encourage businesses to come back here.”

Fellow ward councillor Colin McGinn said that the battle against online shopping was a key issue.

He said: “I think the increase in online shopping doesn’t help. Farmfoods was well used, for example, but we are seeing an increase in grocery deliveries online, as well as other online shopping sites grow massively.

“I don’t have the figures to single that out as the problem but it is a problem. It is vital we get an understanding of who owns these empty buildings and try and work with them to grow business in Tranent.”