East Lothian Council has awarded £5.1m worth of contracts over the summer period that includes the construction of a new library, new council housing and a new athletics track and sports pitch.

One of the contracts, for £887,000, was awarded for the construction of a new 400m all-weather running track with floodlights and grass sports pitch at Meadowmill.

This is part of the council's 'Legacy Project', which is the creation of sports facilities as part of a Scottish Government and Commonwealth Games Scotland initiative to generate a lasting social, economic and sporting legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Council Leader, Paul McLennan, said that these contracts would also provide a range of benefits to council tax payers across the county.

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He commented: "The new athletics track enhances Meadowmill as a centre of excellence for athletics in East Lothian. The project is the result of extensive discussions with local athletics clubs, coaches and athletes themselves and will be welcomed by both current and future sporting stars."

£282,000 was awarded for 'enabling works' at the new joint school campus for Haddington Infant School and St Mary's Primary School.

The new joint school facility is being procured through hub South East Scotland Ltd (Hubco) and the work will include the demolition of the existing school, asbestos removal and off-site infrastructure works, including the formation of new footpaths to the school.

£1.5m was awarded towards a new facility in Tranent that will bring together existing Council and Library services within a single building which also includes, community meeting and activity space, and office accommodation.

The other contracts awarded include £166,830 for modernisation of a two-storey building in the Queen's Road, conservation area of Dunbar; £290,000 for the creation of a new Communication Provision Unit at Dunbar Primary school which includes four classrooms, offices, quiet room and external play area; £1.6m for 14 new build council homes at Whiteloch Road, Macmerry and £308,000 for a new electronic document and records management system which aims to improve customer service and employee performance through quicker access to documents and from any location.

(JG/GK)