Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Marie Sharp

Call for lifeguards at East Lothian's beaches as visitor numbers soar to three million

A call for lifeguards to be brought in to protect visitors to Scotland's 'busiest' coastline has been made by it's council leader.

East Lothian has seen tourist numbers swell since the pandemic, with an estimated three million people heading to its 40-mile stretch of coast each year.

Now the council's leader says more needs to be done to protect people in its busy beaches - but said additional support could not be funded by the cash-strapped local authority.

READ MORE: Bright blue East Lothian water station gets green light in conservation area

Councillor Norman Hampshire said: "There is no way this council has any resource to fund a lifeguard service but that certainly is something I think should be provided."

Councillor Hampshire raised concerns about the number of people now using the beaches and coastline with no "knowledge of the sea".

He told a meeting the the council's Labour administration cabinet this week: "We have 40 odd mile of coastline here in East Lothian and most of it is accessible by the public.

"When they get to that coastline they now, in big numbers, enter the water whether they are swimming or using some kind of craft which they can buy cheaply at a supermarket and have no training or any knowledge of the sea."

He called for lifeguards to be brought in to protect visitors saying: "The coastguard and RNLI do a fantastic job but the coastline itself needs more protection and that is something where we can hopefully find a source of funding to allow us to develop a lifeguard service within our busy beaches in East Lothian.”

The call came as cabinet approved a new water safety policy drawn up by officers.

The policy which looks at ways to prevent and educate people over dangers was drawn up by a council group working with partners including Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, Coast Guard, RNLI, Water Safety Scotland, Scottish Water and ROSPA.

Eamon John, the council's countryside service manager, said talks had been held about increasing services but to date the council had been “mitigating through signage”.

He added: "Any further full blown direction of travel in respect of lifeguards on our sites would come at a cost.”

Cabinet approved the new safety policy.

READ NEXT:

Overnight parking ban at East Lothian coastal sites gets go ahead

Holiday flat owner warns East Lothian rules are damaging the tourist trade

Future of East Lothian care home residents 'must come first' after closure announced

East Lothian council workers get extra holiday to mark King's coronation

East Lothian councillor asks if £3.4m Cosla fee 'value for money' in cost of living crisis

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.