“SIGNIFICANT” improvements have already been carried out in a number of the county’s coastal car parks, according to East Lothian Council.

Charges at coastal car parks were introduced in July, despite opposition from a section of the community and politicians.

However, one member of the public claimed there were still large potholes at Yellowcraig, which dated back to before the charges were introduced.

She said: “I took friends who were visiting the area to Yellowcraig on Saturday and was shocked to find the huge potholes at the entrance to the car park still there.

“They’ve been there since early summer and no work has been carried out to fix them that I could see.

“I’d like to know where the money from tickets is going, it’s definitely not there.”

Councillor Michael Veitch, the local authority’s spokesman for transport and roads, has previously outlined his opposition to the charges being introduced.

He said: “A large proportion of the coastal car parking charges are in the Dunbar and East Linton ward, which is one of the reasons I was particularly unhappy about the policy.

“There is obviously scope for improving car parks such as Shore Road and Whitesands.

“There has been investment going in at Whitesands with the road improvements.

“I and others who strongly opposed coastal car parking charges will expect to see the investment in car parks.”

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council told the Courier: “Significant improvements in a number of the coastal car parks have already been undertaken this year.

“The majority of this was completed prior to the charges being introduced in July 2015.

“Further improvements will be looked at in the future.”

A £2 daily charge was brought in for using 10 coastal car parks in the county earlier this summer.

Anyone visiting Longniddry Bents 1, 2 and 3; Gullane Bents; Yellowcraig; John Muir Country Park at Tyninghame Links, Linkfield and Shore Road; Whitesands; and Barns Ness has to pay the charge.

Alternatively, county residents and visitors can buy a season ticket to park for a year for £40.

Earlier this month, it was revealed police officers in East Lothian did not issue a single fine in coastal car parks in the first three months of charges being introduced, despite reports more than a third of vehicles did not display a ticket.

Police Scotland confirmed that between July 1 and October 1 this year no fixed penalty notices were dished out to vehicles found not displaying a ticket in any of the car parks.

The lack of fines was revealed after a Freedom of Information request.

The county’s two traffic wardens were taken off the streets in February last year after Police Scotland decided to axe the service.

However, the local authority is still in the process of applying for deregulated powers to introduce its own parking attendants, with these not expected to be in place until April next year.

Money from the coastal car park charges is expected to fund the new parking wardens but, until they are introduced, police in East Lothian have been tasked with ensuring the charges are being paid.