COMMUNITY councillors have reiterated their opposition to plans to ‘relocate’ East Links Family Park.

In June, East Lothian Council turned down the bid to move the popular attraction from Hedderwick Farm, on the outskirts of West Barns, to East Fortune.

However, East Fortune Holdings Ltd, which is behind the plans, has appealed the planning committee’s decision to the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA).

Information is being sent to Reporter Robert Seaton, who will decide on the fate of the proposals.

Haddington and District Community Council, which also covers nearby Athelstaneford, has submitted a letter repeating its opposition to the scheme.

READ MORE: Bid to 'relocate' East Links Family Park turned down

Morgwn Davies, secretary of the group, said that most of the group's objections related to “the impact that the family farm at East Fortune would have on traffic volume on narrow country roads”.

He said: “The argument advanced by those seeking planning permission is that they hoped that the bus companies would increase services, relocate bus stops and add new ones, none of this guaranteed.

“It was also highlighted that reducing traffic volume could be achieved by running buses from the nearest train station at Drem to the family farm at East Fortune.

“We asked how realistic it was to suggest that a family with children – who, after all, are the target customers – would potentially catch a bus to their nearest train station, then take a train, maybe even two trains, to Drem, then a bus to the site at East Fortune.

“It's hard enough to envisage a family doing this on the way there but, after a few hours, a morning or afternoon of children running around the family farm, to believe that a family would undertake this journey when there are to be 250 parking spaces on site.

“There was no opportunity for a reply to be given.

“At the planning committee meeting, councillors raised and agreed to add to the grounds of objection the loss of prime agriculture land by allowing the development of a family park at an existing farm.”

READ MORE: Appeal lodged in plans to 'relocate' East Links Family Park

The existing East Links Family Park was established more than 20 years ago and has become a major tourist attraction in the county, bringing in more than 100,000 visitors each year.

The current lease is due to expire in 2026 and Grant Bell, the leaseholder, is keen to open a similar facility at East Fortune.

At the same time, the landowner at Hedderwick Farm has stressed that a new operator would come in to continue running the established facility.

The East Fortune site would continue as a working farm while also featuring a light railway, paths through the site, a children’s play area featuring crazy golf, trampolines and pedal go-karts, and a farm shop, café and admissions facility.

When the scheme was put before councillors, they were told that there were 552 representations received regarding the plans.

READ MORE: Plans for family park at East Fortune Farm now revealed in full

The majority of those – 461 – were in opposition to the plans, with concerns ranging from the impact on the surrounding roads, noise pollution and the likelihood that both businesses would not survive.

A further 88 letters were sent to East Lothian Council in support of the scheme.

Reasons for support ranged from the creation of jobs on the site, keeping a family farm park facility in the county and that the facility would encourage children to “spend time outdoors which is good for their development and good for their whole family’s wellbeing”.

A decision from the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division could be made next month.