MORE than £700 has gone towards boosting two projects in a popular Dunbar park.

Earlier this year, Dunbar Community Council unveiled plans for an initiative to help youngsters discover the joys of reading.

As part of the proposals, books will find a home in a “book barn” in the town’s Lauderdale Park.

The community council initiative has been joined by plans for a sensory trail in the park, which is located between Bayswell Road and Parsonspool.

Community councillors proposed awarding £224 for materials for the book barn, with another £486 going towards the sensory trail.

READ MORE: Dunbar: Plans for 'book barn' to come to Lauderdale Park

The proposals were passed – but Jacquie Bell, community councillor, refused to back the latest plans for the book barn, questioning how the scheme would target youngsters who did not have access to books.

Mrs Bell added: “I would prefer to give the money to the library, where services are under threat.

“I am going to abstain.”

Previously, Pippa Swan, chairwoman of the community group, outlined plans for the book barn.

She said: “We became aware or know lots of children do not have ready access to books or sometimes are not encouraged to use a library.

“We had an idea to make books readily available to children at no cost.

“What we are hoping to do is put up a little children-friendly building in Lauderdale Park next to the play area.

“We intend to make it fully accessible for children with mobility issues and we are going to have it modified so there are going to be books which children can read while there or take away and keep.

“Hopefully we will have children, when they are finished, bringing them back to the book barn.”