A COASTAL path damaged by storms at the beginning of last year is unlikely to reopen in its current location, the leader of East Lothian Council has warned.

The walkway, known as Doo Rock Coastal Path, in Dunbar, was closed following heavy rainfall at the beginning of last year.

A matter of weeks later, the path, at The Glebe, collapsed and warnings were issued that more of the path could be lost due to strong northerly winds and high tides.

Now, Councillor Norman Hampshire, the leader of the local authority, has warned any repair scheme would likely be costly.

READ MORE: Dunbar: 'Extremely unstable' coastal path collapses due to erosion

Mr Hampshire, who attended the town’s community council on Monday night, told the Courier: “It’s just such a difficult place to get access to.

“Thomson’s, who are local civil engineers, are saying to get down there, there used to be a road to get down to the pool.

“When they took the pool away, they took the road away.

“Now, there is no road down and you would need to create a new road down – that is quite a big construction job to do.”

The route forms one of the most eastern parts of the John Muir Way.

The 134-mile route stretches from John Muir’s hometown of Dunbar to Helensburgh on Scotland’s west coast.

READ MORE: Coastal path in Dunbar closed due to erosion issue

It was opened by then First Minister Alex Salmond in 2014 and has proven a popular tourist attraction with people walking and cycling the length of the route or ticking off different sections.

Mr Hampshire, who represents the Dunbar and East Linton ward on the local authority, noted there was a diversion in place, slightly further up The Glebe.

And he warned that there were other parts of the county’s coastline that could need repaired in the coming years.

He said: “The sea is getting more powerful because of climate change and sea levels are rising.

“We have got some major issues here in East Lothian.

“A survey has been done of the coastline and identifying the vulnerable areas that need work done to them.

“It is a major issue.

“Some time in the future, we are going to have to invest to come up with solutions to protect the vulnerable coast, especially where we have got residential properties close to the coast.”

READ MORE: Concerns storms could again damage Dunbar's Lamer Street

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council described any works at the Dunbar site as “complex”.

They said: “The path remains closed until further notice with an alternative route available.  

“Access to the beach remains restricted.

“We are currently applying for external funding and, subject to this becoming available, we would initially seek to undertake the removal of the remainder of the wall that would allow access to the beach.

“Any works are complex given the location and access challenges however we continue to monitor the situation.”