A businessman whose dream of turning an historic building into flats received huge public support has been left devastated after his appeal to Scottish Ministers was thrown out.
Alexander Williamson, 74, saw the development as his "pension pot" but his plans to convert Dunbar Assembly Rooms were rejected by East Lothian Council amid concerns over parking and alterations to its roof.
He appealed to Scottish Ministers and a petition launched online by his family gathered more than 300 signatures from people backing his vision for the building.
