A LETTER was sent to East Lothian Council criticising the state of Tranent’s cemetery and an area of the town looking “like a slum”… in response to plans for a dispenser at a pharmacy.

The local authority approved Amiry & Gilbride Healthcare Ltd’s proposals for Dears Pharmacy, 49-51 Tranent High Street.

However, the council’s planning department also received a letter raising concerns about “the wider area of Tranent rather than the host property itself”.

The planning department said the letter stated “the area has become an eyesore around the Civic Square”, complained of “broken windows and the surrounding area looking like a slum”, as well as the cemetery being “in a poor state”.

East Lothian Council’s planning department gave the scheme the green light after consulting various departments within the local authority, who raised no objections.