CONCERNS that three new houses could hinder a new access to a railway station platform have been dismissed.

The southern platform at Dunbar Railway Station officially opened in late 2019 as part of a multi-million-pound project.

Discussions have taken place since then about creating a pedestrian access from the south to save people from walking round to the other platform and then crossing back over the bridge to the newer platform.

However, nearly five years on, there has still been no new access created.

READ MORE: Hopes of improving access to train station from south

Now, plans to build three new homes at Ashfield Gardens – between Salisbury Walk and the East Coast Main Line – have been given the go ahead.

Dunbar Community Council had written to East Lothian Council’s planning department to object to James Leslie’s proposals.

According to the planning officer, the community council deemed three homes on the site to be “overdevelopment”.

At the same time, the group said: “We consider that the development will impact the potential to design and deliver a fully accessible cycle and pedestrian access route to the southern platform at Dunbar station, which is a key part of active travel aspirations for Dunbar.”

The application was for permission in principle but drawings included with the documents highlight the potential locations of the homes, which would be accessed via Salisbury Walk.

'Not satisfactory'

Historically, the existing property has been served by a lane off Countess Road under the railway line.

Council officials were keen for that to stop and said: “This lane is narrow, has poor visibility for vehicle users, and does not benefit from any space for pedestrian movement.

“The continued use of this lane to access the site is not satisfactory in terms of road safety.

“Therefore it should be made a condition of any grant of planning permission in principle that ensures that all development and post-development vehicle access is only from Salisbury Way.”

A statement included with the plans notes that the existing house on the site would be demolished.

It goes on: “The applicants have lived in the existing house for many years and it no longer meets their requirements.

“They wish to build an accessible, energy-efficient house on plot one which will become their main residence.

“The erection of the new house will allow them to create a home that they can manoeuvre around easily as they advance in age, along with installing renewable energy supplies to lower future energy costs.

“The remaining garden ground of the site will be too extensive for the couple to maintain and they therefore seek permission for the erection of two further dwelling houses within the site indicated as plot two and three.

“The sale of these plots will allow the applicants to construct their house and give some extra retirement funds.”