Proposals to improve the management of parking in North Berwick town centre have been approved.
Controlled parking zones, permits for residents, time restrictions and charges for parking on some streets and car parks will be introduced as a result of the decision made at Tuesday's full meeting of East Lothian Council.
It follows significant engagement with the community over a number of years, with the aim of increasing the turnover of parking spaces to make it easier for people to park and access town centre businesses and amenities during busy periods. In response to concerns raised by residents, a number of additional mitigations have been agreed.
Key points
Time limits and charges vary due to different parking demands. It is recognised that many trips into the town centre are very short. On High Street, there is free parking up to 45 minutes (previously increased from 30 minutes). Parking for up to 75 minutes on High Street would cost £1, while there would be a £2 charge here for parking up to a maximum of 90 minutes. This is to incentivise turn-over of parking spaces. In other locations within the town’s Controlled Parking Zones, parking costs 50p for 30 minutes up to a maximum of six hours length of stay.
At the Haugh and sewage works, parking up to 60 minutes would cost 50p. It would then be 50p for each 30 minutes thereafter up to eight hours (or £15 up to 24 hours). Parking at the community centre and museum/library is free of charge but restricted to users of the facilities only. Parking outwith the Controlled Parking Zones would remain free, including the car park at the Recreation Park.
In August, the council published simplified proposals taking account of feedback and which drew a distinction between on and off street parking, as well as addressing motorhome parking provision.
The simplified proposals included the introduction of day visitor permits for the use of family and friends visiting residents, as well as visitor permits for trades people and weekly permits for short term let properties is proposed. Permits for the RNLI were also proposed, as well as healthcare worker permits to allow them to undertake their essential work without penalty.
Additional mitigations
A report considered by councillors at Tuesday’s meeting highlighted objections received and that, in response, a number of additional mitigations were being brought forward to address concerns.
These include:
- 15 minutes free parking within Glebe car park to allow drop off and pick up at the nursery on St. Andrews Street
- Free parking in Lodge (East Road), Imperial (Quality Street) and Glebe (St. Andrews Street) car park from the last Sunday October to the last Sunday in March annually
- Introduce permits to allow church goers to use the Community centre car park during the times of worship
- Remove the charged parking spaces and waiting, loading and unloading proposals in Glasclune Gardens and Greenhead Road
- Applying parking charges on Westgate which are the same as High Street
- Extend the High Street non-chargeable hours 8:30-10:00am and removing the charge after 4pm Monday to Saturday, which was a request from the business association. This means that charges here will apply from 10-4pm Monday to Saturday, which is a shorter period of time than previously proposed
- Permitting owners of motor caravans who reside within a controlled parking zone to have a residents parking permit
The officer recommendations were approved by a majority vote. Elected members unanimously approved an amendment which requires a review of the impacts and operation of the four Traffic Regulation Orders to be provided to Council within a year of being implemented. The review should include a summary of what has gone well, anything that has not, and recommendations to address and approve any issues raised.
Cllr John McMillan, Cabinet Member for Environment, Economic Development and Tourism, said:
“The changes agreed today will help us to address many of the challenges associated with parking in North Berwick, where demand for parking spaces can be high, particularly during busy periods. We want to make it easier for people to park by increasing the turnover of available spaces in the town centre. By providing easier access to the town centre for purposes such as shopping, we hope to see increased footfall within local businesses.
“Most other council areas in Scotland already have a form of town centre parking charges and it is clear that incorporating charges, alongside other restrictions and residents parking, is a necessary part of improved parking management.
“The changes we are making will also support enhancing the environment, promoting active travel, improving safety through better enforcement and encouraging use of public transport.
"The North Berwick Business Association had previously requested lengthening the proposed free charge period of 30 minutes to 90 minutes on the High Street. Data from parking management schemes elsewhere indicate a shorter time period for parking increases turn-over of spaces and so also increases space availability. However, taking views on this into account, the non-chargeable period increased by from 30 minutes to 45 minutes.
“We have previously responded to concerns by removing designated residents’ only spaces and combining those with on street paid spaces which will greatly increase parking space availability, and agreed to increase the proposed five hours to six hours in the west area and from four hours to five hours in off street car parks.
“Reflecting people’s concerns that the problems are seasonal, we have made further changes in response to feedback on the draft traffic regulation order, such as introducing a non-chargable fee for parking in the Lodge, Imperial and Glebe car park from the last Sunday October to the last Sunday in March.”