Two communities face being cut off from each other after a council decided to resurrect plans from over 30 years ago. Calls have been made to scrap plans to close a road linking two communities some 37 years after the move was deemed 'unnecessary'.
Highway bosses said they want a bypass closed to traffic but people living in the two linked towns have objected to the move. East Lothian Council has dusted off the plan, which originated in 1986, to shut the road. The local authority says the busy route cannot cope with the volume of traffic, EdinburghLive reports.
Originally due to close when the A1 bypass opened in the 80s, the legislation was never fully introduced and the road remained open to traffic. 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 communities.
In a motion by the council's opposition, Conservative councillors will be put to elected members next week calling for the move to be shelved again. Tory 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.
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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."
