EAST Lothian SNP councillors have launched a new initiative to allow residents to speak directly to them.

The person-focused initiative aims to provide more opportunities for individual residents to communicate directly with councillors responsible for various county matters.

Councillors visited North Berwick to listen to the concerns of residents.

Councillor Lyn Jardine, SNP Group leader on East Lothian Council, co-ordinated the pilot afternoon event on Saturday.

She told the Courier: "This event wasn’t about us as councillors; it’s about the people who live here and their experience; not our opinions, but their concerns, ideas and comments, many of which were constructive and helpful."

The event was designed to move beyond petitions, emails, tweets and social media engagement by facilitating face-to-face conversations with local people.

For two hours, North Berwick residents engaged in one-to-one conversations with councillors in the Hope Rooms.

Mrs Johnston, a local resident, said it had been "very helpful to have a face-to-face conversation in what felt like an open forum".

Councillor Neil Gilbert noted that the top two issues raised were parking and Airbnbs, while Councillor Cher Cassini said that they were hoping for, and found, "reasonableness" in the discussions and proposals.

Reflecting on the outcomes, Ms Jardine said: "We wanted residents to feel comfortable and welcome, and not rushed.

"We listened as they brought up topics that extended well beyond the recent contentious parking issue.

"I hope they felt ‘heard’ on that, but also on the problems created by Airbnbs, a general concern for the environment, and holding us accountable for how the council works in practice."

Councillor Liz Allan, North Berwick Coastal ward, said: "Casework on behalf of individual constituents takes up most of my time as a councillor; this was a different experience, much more like a ‘town forum’, and a return to a pre-social media style of being not just in the community but really part of it, hearing its thoughts through discussion."

Following the session, Meg Maitland, a local retailer, said: "I welcomed the chance to engage with councillors on an informal basis."

The pilot project will be rolled out across each ward in East Lothian in the new year, with a commitment to meeting Musselburgh residents on January 18.