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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Marie Sharp

Fight over plans to close East Lothian road 37 years after it was first proposed

Calls have been made to scrap plans to close a road linking two communities - 37 years after it was deemed 'unnecessary' by the local authority.

East Lothian Council resurrected a 1986 plan to shut the Johnnie Cope Road between the towns of Tranent and Prestonpans earlier this year.

Originally due to close when the A1 bypass opened in the Eighties the legislation was never fully introduced and the road remained open to traffic.

READ MORE: Private car park at East Lothian beauty spot can remain - despite wave of protests

Now the council wants to close it to all traffic except emergency and farm vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, but the move has met objections from both towns community councils.

And a motion by the council's opposition Conservative councillors will be put to elected members next week calling for the move to be shelved.

Conservative group leader and local ward councillor Lachlan Bruce said other options need to be considered before closing the road.

He said: "It is very clear that the vast majority of residents are opposed to the closure of the Johnnie Cope Road between Prestonpans and Tranent.

"I think what needs to happen before we move any further down the way towards closing it is that a proper assessment of the alternatives has to be considered such as lights on the bridge or widening the bridge."

The council put plans to 'redetermine' the road, which includes a bridge over the A1, and restrict access out for public consultation in February.

A spokesperson for the council said: "The road was never intended to take the volume and type of traffic currently using it and there is very limited scope to re-engineer the road.

"Safety is, of course, our top priority and this proposal was brought forward because the Johnnie Cope Road lends itself to a sustainable access route for walkers, cyclists and equine with their safety assured.

"The proposal allows for emergency services access, farmer access and access for any residents whilst aligning with national and local policy on active travel."

A motion due to go before the council on Tuesday next week however challenges the plans for the road.

It calls on the council to confirm that "the connections between the communities in East Lothian are vital, particularly in the areas where our county is growing most rapidly" and calls for the current consultation and plans to be paused while more research into any potential negative impacts of the closure is carried out.

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