North Berwick green space car park plans suspended after local campaign

The temporary plans have been put on hold.

East Lothian Council has delayed plans for a temporary car park on a seaside green space after a local campaign against it.

Proposals for up to 80 car parking spaces on Elcho Green in North Berwick were met with fierce opposition from locals, and a petition opposing the move gained almost 4,000 signatures.

The plans, part of the government Spaces for People initiative which gives local authorities funding for temporary social distancing measures, were designed to reduce pressure on North Berwick High Street.

Elcho Green in North Berwick

But locals said a temporary car park would take space away from walkers, cyclists and those wishing to relax on the grass, and argued that there are other locations in the town where parking could be made available.

East Lothian Council said it has delayed the car park proposal and will consult will local residents and monitor the impact of increased traffic in the area as lockdown restrictions ease.

Ronnie Wightman, 52, an NHS worker who lives locally and has campaigned against the temporary measure, said: "It’s a bit of green space which is used very much. It’s often the first thing people see when they drive into North Berwick.”

"There is absolutely no need to create more car parking spaces in the town, what is needed is for the current spaces to be properly signposted.”

Mr Wightman said he also feared East Lothian council could use the temporary measure as a ‘foothold’ to tarmac over the green space in future and use it as a permanent car park.

Environment spokesperson Councillor Norman Hampshire said in a statement: “Elcho Green provides a temporary car park solution that replaces the loss of spaces on the High Street and augments through the provision of a maximum of 80 spaces.

"The benefit of this would have been a reduction in the number of vehicles circling and queuing for parking spaces, enhanced safety for pedestrians and cyclists within the town centre and improved air quality.

"Equally, we are aware of the risk from visitors of displacement of parking throughout North Berwick and as a local authority, we have limited power to manage such risk. For these reasons Elcho Green could provide a temporary solution benefitting both local residents and visitors.”

He continued: “East Lothian Council is a listening authority and we are aware of the various perspectives being raised within the North Berwick community. As such we intend to place the Elcho Green temporary car parking proposal on hold to allow us a further opportunity to engage and consult.

"This delay will also enable us to monitor the impact of increased traffic as a result of visitors and to assess the effectiveness of measures introduced. We have seen in recent weeks, with the gradual easing of restrictions, large numbers of visitors coming to the East Lothian coast, towns and villages.

"North Berwick offers a unique environment and it’s a fine balancing act accommodating the varied needs of visitors, residents and businesses with necessary public health measures at this time and we’ll continue to engage with key stakeholders regarding Spaces for People.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

Subscribe to the Edinburgh Evening News online and enjoy unlimited access to trusted, fact-checked news and sport from Edinburgh and the Lothians. Visit https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director