Management at the club are embroiled in a bitter dispute with Musselburgh publican Rickie Ross, who purchased the Limeylands Road premises for £37,000 in 2002.

It is alleged that the sale was made on the proviso that a bowling green and clubhouse be handed over to East Lothian Council.

However, in August last year, elderly bowlers were left in tears when Mr Ross evicted them without notice and boarded up the clubhouse.

Club president Stewart Johnston has since repeatedly called for the local authority to intervene.

Backed

Ahead of the Monday February 1 meeting, to be held in the Village Hall, he told the News: "I am totally disgusted and disapointed at the whole affair.

"The community council has backed us 100 per cent but I would like the council to do more.

"We are in a hole and want to make people aware of the situation — we need to lever some pressure on the council."

Specific

Labour councillor Jim Gillies has called on SNP Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, Paul McLennan, to "stop dithering" and step in to secure the sporting and social facility for the community.

Councillor McLennan said: "We have no legal powers to stop the owner demolishing the building — it's not our building, not our land, and Jim Gillies has not come forward with any specific proposals on this.

Full report in East Lothian News, January 29, 2010