What we want to achieve
Reliable and affordable transport that helps people reach work, education, healthcare, shops and other services without always needing a car.
How this work began
The East Lammermuir Local Place Plan, adopted in 2024, identified access to public or community transport as an important local priority.
It called for a public or community transport service to link the East Lammermuir villages with Cockburnspath and Dunbar, and to connect with other bus and rail services.
East Lammermuir currently has very limited public transport. Innerwick is served by the 253 Borders Buses route, but Spott, Stenton and Oldhamstocks have no scheduled bus service.
Learning from East L Go
Between March and July 2024, East L Go provided a trial demand-responsive transport service for parts of East Lammermuir.
Rather than following a fixed route and timetable, passengers could book journeys using an app or by contacting the operator directly.
During the trial:
- 391 people signed up;
- 1,252 bookings were made; and
- 757 journeys were completed.
People used the service to connect with trains, attend work, medical appointments, clubs and classes, and meet other people.
The trial showed clear demand for a flexible local service. However, an attempt by East Lothian Council to continue it through a subsidised contract received no bids from bus operators, and the service ended.
The experience provides useful evidence and lessons for developing a future service.
The community workshop
On 22 January 2026, East Lammermuir Community Council held a Community Transport workshop.
The workshop was attended by 33 people, including local residents, representatives from Cockburnspath and Cove, community organisations, local employers, East Lothian Council, transport specialists and an energy-transmission project representative.
It was facilitated by Beth Landon, Energy Projects Partnership Manager for East Lammermuir, with support from East Lothian Climate Hub and the Community Transport Association UK. It was funded by SP Energy Networks through capacity-building support connected with the Eastern Green Link 1 project.
The workshop brought together information about existing services, the East L Go trial and other community-transport models. Its purpose was to identify the available pieces of a possible transport solution, understand the gaps and develop recommendations for moving forward.
What the workshop explored
Participants considered four possible approaches:
- campaigning for improvements to scheduled bus services;
- reintroducing an adapted demand-responsive service based on East L Go;
- establishing a new community-run East Lammermuir transport service; and
- working with the existing Borders Wheels community-transport service.
Combinations of these options were also considered.
The strongest preference at the workshop was for an improved demand-responsive service based on East L Go. However, the workshop vote was not intended to make the final decision. A wider community survey was carried out afterwards to understand demand and help determine the type of service local people need.
What people told us
Several important requirements emerged from the workshop and wider research.
Any future service should:
- have the potential to serve all East Lammermuir villages, Cockburnspath and Cove, and connect them with Dunbar;
- be affordable and, if possible, accept concessionary bus passes;
- be easy to book, including for people who do not use a smartphone;
- be reliable and well publicised;
- connect effectively with existing bus and train services;
- use vehicles suited to narrow rural roads;
- support shared journeys and social connection;
- be designed with the local community; and
- not depend entirely on volunteers to operate.
Participants also highlighted the importance of early-morning and evening transport, healthcare journeys and connections across the East Lothian and Scottish Borders boundary.
The Community Transport Report
In February 2026, the East Lammermuir Community Transport Report was published.
It brings together the local transport background, lessons from East L Go, workshop discussions and recommendations for taking the Community Transport ambition forward.
The report recommends:
- using the follow-up survey to understand demand and shape the preferred service;
- carrying out modelling to explore the possible service area, operation and costs;
- providing dedicated capacity to develop the service with the community;
- establishing a community steering group;
- identifying the public, commercial and community partners needed;
- exploring funding from community benefits and other sources; and
- establishing clear agreements between the organisations involved.
What is happening now
Local research has confirmed that better transport is needed across East Lammermuir.
So far:
- 107 people have responded to the Community Transport survey;
- a community workshop has explored possible solutions;
- lessons have been gathered from the earlier East L Go service; and
- possible transport and funding partners are being explored.
People supported a mixture of improved scheduled buses and more flexible, bookable transport. No final service has been chosen yet.
What happens next
The next step is to develop a practical service model.
This includes deciding:
- which communities and destinations it would serve;
- what days and times it would operate;
- what types of journeys it would support;
- what size and type of vehicles it would use;
- how journeys could be booked;
- whether drivers would be paid, voluntary or a mixture of both;
- how it would connect with existing bus and rail services;
- how much it would cost to operate; and
- how it could be funded over the longer term.
Cross-boundary links with Cockburnspath, Cove and the Scottish Borders will also be considered.
Residents will continue to be involved before any final decision is made.
Read the full report
This page provides a summary to make the information easier to read on phones and tablets.
The complete report includes the background, workshop findings, consideration of the four possible approaches and recommendations:
Download the East Lammermuir Community Transport Report, February 2026 – PDF, 22 pages
How can I get involved?
Residents will have further opportunities to share where and when they need transport and help shape the service as the options develop.
Further opportunities and progress updates will be published on this page.
Update: August 2026