East Lothian parking charges branded 'cash grab' as council plans are delayed

Plans to roll out parking charges across town centres in East Lothian have been delayed after the council said it was taking ‘more time’ to consider feedback from local residents.

Officers have told councillors proposals for Dunbar, Tranent and Musselburgh will no longer be brought to this month’s council meeting due to the ‘level of engagement and feedback’ from local residents.

The move has led to one local councillor calling for the schemes to be scrapped as she described them as a “cash grab dressed up as ‘parking management’”.

East Lothian Council was due to bring its proposed parking management schemes for the towns to elected members this month, but has now said they will be brought to their December meeting, when a plan for charges in Haddington town centre is also due to be discussed.

In a statement circulated to elected members, officers said: “Given the level of engagement and feedback, more time is required to shape and develop the most appropriate parking scheme for each town.”

And they said: ”The feedback received during each of the public consultations on town centre parking management has proved extremely valuable and we are grateful for all of the responses.

“Our goal has always been to work with the communities involved to explore ways to address local parking challenges and make it easier for people to access local businesses and amenities.”

However, Councillor Donna Collins, Conservative ward member for Dunbar, who has opposed the parking charges, said it was clear the council had been overwhelmed by the level of opposition from local residents and businesses to the plans, and she called on the council to listen to the objectors and scrap the schemes.

She said: “It’s no surprise that East Lothian Council’s plans to introduce town centre parking charges have been delayed yet again. From the outset, this has been a poorly conceived policy that risks harming our local businesses and driving shoppers away from our high streets.

“The council’s statement makes clear that they’ve been overwhelmed by public opposition — because residents and traders alike can see these proposals for what they are: a cash grab dressed up as ‘parking management.’

“After months of consultation, the council still can’t produce a workable or fair scheme. That speaks volumes about both the quality of the proposals and the Labour administration’s ability to deliver them.”

Councillors already agreed to introduce parking charges in North Berwick in the town but have seen that project delayed after they had to apply for planning permission to install parking meters in the conservation area.

Earlier this month elected members rejected opposition to 12 separate applications for permission to install 27 meters in the town.

Councillor Collins said the ‘failure’ to get the scheme up and running in North Berwick a year after approving it should have served as a lesson.

And last week, protests were held outside a council meeting in Haddington townhouse as members met to hear a petition calling for a similar plan for the market town to be scrapped.

Councillors rejected the petition insisting they needed to hear the proposals due to go before December’s meeting before making a decision.

Councillor Collins said it was clear the proposals were unpopular with local people and traders and backed calls for them to be scrapped.

She said: “The North Berwick scheme remains in limbo. Despite that failure, they are still determined to impose similar plans on Dunbar, Haddington, Tranent and Musselburgh — against the clear wishes of local residents and businesses. In the process, they’ve left a massive black hole in the council’s finances, which they now seem unable to explain or resolve.

“Instead of wasting more time and money pushing ahead with these unwanted charges, Labour and SNP councillors should admit they’ve got it wrong, scrap the plans, and focus on measures that actually support our town centres, local traders, and deal with the mess they’ve made of the council’s finances.”