Plans to put a mobile snack van in a vacant car park across from a town’s memorial park have been rejected by councillors.
The proposed van would have traded from the former car park for The Original Factory Shop, on the edge of Tranent.
However a meeting of East Lothian Council’s planning committee heard the retail outlet this week closed its doors after the firm went into administration and while the snack van operator still had permission to set up on the site it was not clear what the future held.
Planning convenor Norman Hampshire raised concerns the snack van, if allowed to go ahead, could put future operators off taking on the now vacant retail site.
And local ward councillor Colin McGinn said the business was in the wrong place and gave the wrong impression to people arriving in the town.
He told the meeting: “Local residents have worked hard in recent years to improve the area, It was an APOGI (A Place of Special Interest) and a lot of work has gone into creating an attractive entrance to the town there.
“If we allow snack vans to permanently set up on the main roads into our towns and village, it is not a good look for communities.”
The snack van operator had applied for permission to set up in the car park with plans to operate from 11am to 8pm each day however their agent said they would agree to reduced hours if it helped.
Planning officers had recommended councillors approve the plans for a temporary period of three years to give it time to establish if there was a demand and its impact on the town centre.
However concerns were raised that it would lead to work vans stopping on the main road to get food rather than use the car park with questions raised about whether it would remain publicly accessible now the store had closed.
Councillor Hampshire said the location was wrong for the business saying: “I am not against fast food vans but they should be in industrial estates not near town centres where there are already fast food outlets operating.
“It will also make the site less attractive to other operators looking to take it on.”
The committee refused permission for the snack van by seven votes to four with councillors Hampshire, Donna Collins, Cher Cassini, Andy Forrest, McGinn, Shona McIntosh and Colin Yorkston against it and councillors Liz Allan, Jeremy Findlay, Neil Gilbert and Keith McLeod voting for it.
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
