A local businessman is bidding to become a councillor after accusing East Lothian Council of missing out on a £16million cash pot by failing to create a county port.
Calum MIller says the local authority, which bought the former Cockenzie Power Station site from ScottishPower in 2018, should have cashed in on its potential as a port by now.
And he points to a working port in Tallin which has reported £19 million Euros profit this year to date as an example of the money which could be coming in.
Now the frustrated businessman, who has been a vocal critic of the council's performance, is standing as an independent candidate in the upcoming council by-election sparked by the death of council leader Willie Innes.
Mr Miller said: "I had great respect for councillor Willie Innes who sadly passed away recently. I was lucky enough to work with him on Prestonpans Community Council over the last few years.
"Willie was part of a great Labour Party generation that removed class as a barrier to success in politics.
"That’s been an inspiration to people in communities like Prestonpans who never felt inhibited from following their footsteps.
"However, I've become increasingly frustrated with the lack of activity on the economic front in East Lothian.
"Over the last few years, I've been researching and promoting a new Port at Preston Links on the old Cockenzie Power station site.
"In my 25 years of running a company, I've never seen such a wasted asset.
"In the first 9 months of this year, The Port of Tallin reported a 19-million-euro profit. That's the kind of money that could be generated at Preston Links and flowing into the coffers of East Lothian Council.
"These are transformative amounts of profit."
Mr Miller said the council could use the money to address child poverty adding: "Instead of launching yet another child poverty survey, our Council could end it."
He said: "Yet when I raise the port with our current political class they are all at sea. They're embarrassed by the potential and terrified at the thought of having to do something.
"Well I've lost patience with their prevarication and endless petty excuses. If they won't move on the port, or another serious alternative, then I'll move on them."
Mr Miller, 53, who lives in Prestonpans with his wife Suzanne has run his firm Millersoft in Musselburgh for 25 years.
He is the first candidate to step forward for the by election which has been scheduled for Thursday, January 20.
