PARKING restrictions could be introduced at a car park off Dunbar High Street in a bid to free up more spaces.

The Abbeylands car park was opened more than two years ago, taking vehicles off residential streets surrounding the town’s railway station.

However, with no parking time limit, the car park is regularly full with vehicles parking there all day.

Ward councillor Michael Veitch told members of Dunbar Community Council that the idea of putting a time limit on the car park was being considered by East Lothian Council.

Mr Veitch, who is also the local authority’s spokesman for roads and transport, said: “I have been asked by the roads department to say that, because we now have traffic wardens, they are keen to consider a time limit on the car park. I have mixed feelings on that.”

Currently, the car park is used by a mixture of town centre residents, people shopping on High Street and people parking before commuting into Edinburgh on the train.

Proposals for a second platform and bridge, as well as a car park extension, at Dunbar’s railway station are currently being drawn up.

Preliminary works were carried out more than a year ago and it is hoped work on the full project could begin next year.

Currently, the railway station car park caters for about 50 vehicles, with the extension to double that figure.

Mr Veitch feared introducing the time limit to the Abbeylands car park before the work was carried out at the railway station would simply see neighbouring streets lined with vehicles.

He said: “The most obvious problem would be for commuters because of the absence of anywhere else for them to go.

“If a time limit were in place more traffic could be parking on Church Street, Woodbush Brae and Countess Road.”

A public consultation would need to be carried out before any time limit could be introduced at the car park.

At this stage, no decision has been taken on when any consultation could be launched.

Similarly, no specified time limit has been proposed, although Mr Veitch’s personal view was for it to be longer than the 90-minute limit enforced on High Street.

He urged the community council to think about the suggestion and report back to him with their views.

Mr Veitch added: “My own view is perhaps to wait until the station car park works.”