COMINGS and goings at a holiday let in Gullane are “significantly less frequent” than if full-time tenants stayed there, according to an application to allow the business to continue.

East Lothian Council has been urged to issue a certificate of lawfulness for the property on the village’s Main Street.

The three-bedroom second-floor flat is used for less than half the year as short-stay accommodation, with further personal use by applicant Sarah Marley.

The property has been available to let since October 2017 and has proven popular with golfers and families.

A supporting statement with the application notes that there are other short-term let properties within the building.

It notes: “The property attracts families and golfers and has an average booking duration of three nights.

“The comings and goings of short-stay residents are significantly less frequent compared to if the property had full-time tenants or if the owners stayed there full-time.

“The property is managed by Hotel Around Town, which undertakes screening of guests, cleaning and maintenance schedules.”

Changes to legislation have meant that East Lothian Council’s planning department has faced numerous applications regarding short-term lets, particularly in the North Berwick Coastal ward.

The supporting document notes that there have been “no complaints” from neighbours and that there are “strict rules” in place to minimise disruption.

It adds: “Cleaning and maintenance are undertaken only during sociable hours and are not materially increased in scope or intensity by the use of the property for short-term letting.”