Parking charges approved for North Berwick despite objections from locals

Plans to introduce parking charges in an East Lothian seaside town have been approved despite hundreds of objections from local residents.

East Lothian councillors backed the revised plans for introducing new traffic orders covering North Berwick.

They dismissed calls from Conservative colleagues for a public hearing, insisting the proposals would make the town a ‘safer’ place to live and visit.

Local ward councillor Jeremy Findlay accused council officials of treating objectors as ‘children in a playground’ by making amendments to traffic orders as he put forward a motion calling for a public hearing.

He said: “The council is taking the role of school teacher to children in the playground, effectively saying,’ Here are a few more sweets. Now go away and be quiet and let the grown-ups deal with it.’

He and fellow Conservative councillor Lachlan Bruce, who seconded his motion, both accused the council of a ‘cash grab’ saying the scheme did not benefit the town or its residents.

However, his motion was defeated after fellow councillors insisted that people be consulted and that opportunities be given.

Council leader Norman Hampshire told the full council meeting, “These changes are needed, or North Berwick will die.”

Initial plans to introduce parking charges, residential permits and controlled parking zones across the town were withdrawn by officials before four revised Traffic Regulations Orders were put forward in August.

At today’s meeting, officers added amendments to the orders after considering representation from the public. They also urged councillors to set aside outstanding objections and agree to continue the process of introducing the regulations.

Among the order changes was reducing charging in three car parks—Glebe, the Lodge, and Imperial—from all year round to between April and October only.

Waiting restrictions for car parks at the town library and community centre were also amended to allow churchgoers to use the community centre car park on Sundays. Councillors also agreed to amend the order covering 11 controlled parking zones across the town with permits and charges to allow them to be monitored and reviewed as needed.

It also saw the chargeable hours on the High Street shortened to between 10am and 4pm during the week and 1pm and 4pm on Sundays. Plans to introduce parking charges and waiting restrictions in Glasclune Gardens and Greenhead Road were withdrawn, and it was recommended that parking in Westgate be charged the same as on the High Street.

The meeting heard that income from the charges would help fund five new parking attendants to police the new orders in the town.

SNP council leader Lyn Jardine proposed reviewing the new parking system after a year of use to ensure its effectiveness.

Provost John McMillan said he believed people had been consulted, and there had been opportunities for everyone to have their opinion heard during the process.

Councillor McMillan backed the SNP amendment for a review, saying he thought it was important to review the scheme. The councillors unanimously supported it, and went on to approve the officer’s revised orders by 16 votes to three, with the Conservative councillors opposing it.