CONCERNS about a snack van travelling from the Scottish Borders to an East Lothian coastal car park have been expressed.

East Lothian Council gave planning permission to Tommy To You for a snack bar at the Linkfield car park of John Muir Country Park.

In the application to East Lothian Council, it was stated that the snack van would be brought to the site each day and removed overnight.

However, that attracted concern from the community council in neighbouring West Barns, which wrote to the local authority’s planning department.

The planning officers’ report noted the group called for permission to be in place for no more than three years in a bid to safeguard the character and the amenity of the site.

At the same time, the report sums up a comment from the community council as: “There should be a green travel plan, particularly as it looks like the van will be coming from Lauder on a daily basis.”

The suggestion was dismissed by the local authority’s roads services team.

Permission for three years was put in place, while it was also stressed that permission was granted to the applicant and could not be taken up by any other party.

The mobile snack bar can operate only from 10am to 8pm. Planning officers also highlighted why they felt that the site was suitable for locating a snack bar.

They said: “Linkfield car park is a large coastal car park which is used by a range of visitors, including families, surfers, horse riders, dog walkers and ramblers visiting John Muir Country Park and the nearby coast.

It is therefore an important tourist destination in East Lothian. “The proposed snack van is a business use that would serve visitors to the area who are participating in coastal and countryside activities based around and within John Muir Country Park.

“Consequently, the siting of the snack van and the provision of food and drink from it requires this coastal location.

“Therefore, and as it would benefit and further the enjoyment of the visiting public, it is a use that would enable and enhance the attraction of John Muir Country Park as a popular tourist destination.”