A bid to shelve 37-year-old plans to close a road linking two local communities has been delayed after East Lothian's council leader called for it to be pushed back two months.
Conservative group leader Lachlan Bruce has called for the proposals to shut the Johnnie Cope Road, which is in his ward, to be put on hold and alternatives considered.
But at a council meeting on Tuesday. his motion was delayed after Councillor Norman Hampshire raised a successful 'procedural motion' asking it to be put back until the council meets in June to allow officers to produce a full report on the closure.
READ MORE: North Berwick first East Lothian town to charge for town centre parking
The move came after fellow Conservative councillor Jeremy Findlay saw his own procedural motion to delay a decision on introducing parking charges in North Berwick rejected by Labour administration and SNP councillors.
And it sparked a post meeting response from Councillor Bruce who accused elected members of 'sticking their fingers in their ears' and ignoring public opinion.
Reacting to the decision to delay the motion on Johnnie Cope Road, Councillor Bruce said: "The views of the majority in in Prestonpans on the future of the road is clear and continuing the motion was a complete waste of time in my view.
“Councillors should have taken the opportunity to actually move the issue beyond the closure which the public is against and began the journey to finding a solution that keeps the road open to everyone rather than kicking the can down the road for two more months.
“On this, and parking charges, today was a day where Labour and the SNP in East Lothian stuck their fingers in their ears and completely ignored the views of the majority in East Lothian.
“When it comes to standing up for residents in East Lothian they’ve been found completely wanting."
East Lothian Council officials began looking at shutting down 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 after the road was deemed 'unnecessary', the legislation was never fully introduced and the road remained open to traffic.
A council spokesperson said the road was "never intended to take the volume and type of traffic currently using it" however the move led to protests from local residents.
READ NEXT:
'Serious concerns' over £8.5m Musselburgh care home as inspectors rate it 'weak'
Bid to open East Lothian car wash next to retail park rejected because it's in the countryside
East Lothian developer to pay £1.3m towards new school spaces
Closure of last bank in East Lothian town branded 'appalling'
Private car park at East Lothian beauty spot can remain - despite wave of protests
