MORE than 50 objections will be considered by councillors deciding the fate of plans for new sports facilities in Dunbar next week.

The controversial proposals would see a pump track, skate park and basketball court built alongside a café and changing rooms on land near Lochend Wood.

Members of East Lothian Council’s planning committee will rule on Robert Peters’ plans on Tuesday.

The application, which is recommended for approval, would have been given the go-ahead by planners without councillors having a say, but was instead called in to be decided by the planning committee by Councillor Shona McIntosh, who deemed that it had “clearly caused a significant amount of interest and comment within the town”.

The proposed pump track would be created on land to the north of a grass football pitch and the skate park would be on land to the north of the pump track.

The café building and changing room building would be formed to the west of the skate park.

READ MORE: Plans for new skate park and pump track in Dunbar revealed

A total of 76 representations were sent to East Lothian Council’s planning department regarding the proposals.

More than two-thirds of the comments – 55 in total – were against the application and outlined 28 different concerns.

Many of the issues highlighted concerns surrounding the proposed development’s impact on wildlife.

Similarly, the location was described as “inappropriate” while there were also concerns that the area was “where young people congregate to drink, take drugs and make fires and the proposals would exacerbate these anti-social behaviour matters”.

Another objection looks at the lack of parking, as well as the potential for flooding at the site.

Dunbar Community Council opted not to object to the plans but did highlight concerns about access for emergency vehicles and the “limitation of risk” surrounding potential anti-social behaviour.

Jacquie Bell, a member of the community council, was pleased to see the issue being discussed at the planning committee after she had objected to the scheme.

She said: “I spent four days chasing councillors trying to get it called in [for councillors to decide on].

“There are 55 objections. I was really concerned that it was recommended for approval.”

Meanwhile, support for the application came from people keen to see more facilities on offer for children and young people in the town.

The planning officer’s report noted: “Skate parks and pump tracks are multi-generational spaces that build respect in communities and allow the younger generation to learn and grow from the older generations, in a relaxing and supportive environment, which is lacking in Dunbar.

“The play park area and football pitch at this site have already received planning permission and the additional facilities proposed through this application address the need for inclusive community facilities in Dunbar for young people within a growing town.

“The proposed skatepark and pump track would create a social hub and could become a great place for a diverse mix of young people to hang out, to be safe, to do positive things and to be supported and encouraged.

“A survey carried out in 2022 focused on the skate park and pump track proposals at Hallhill with around 500 people responding – 73 per cent of which were under the age of 18 – just over half were male and just under half were female.

“Eighty-eight per cent of the respondents supported the idea of a new outdoor skate park and pump track in Dunbar and 72 per cent said that someone in their family would use the facility.”

Councillor Norman Hampshire, who is also chair of Dunbar Community Development Heritage Trust, has been “assisting with the promotion and submission” of the planning application.

Council leader Mr Hampshire, who represents the town on East Lothian Council, is the convener of the planning committee but will not be able to take part in the discussions or cast a vote due to his involvement with the plans.