While East Lothian Council deliberates over the responses to its recent consultation on car parking in North Berwick, I thought it appropriate to draw attention to campervans.

I have lived on Tantallon Terrace for 57 years and I have recently noticed a major increase in the number of campervans overnighting in the East Bay.

For example, on a recent Saturday, 17 campervans spent the night in the three East Bay car parks, two overflowing onto the road beside the golf course.

The free-for-all following the Scottish Government’s rejection of North Berwick Community Council’s bid to introduce a bylaw prohibiting overnight camping in the East Bay has resulted in websites encouraging campervaners to ‘wild camp’ in the East Bay. Tourism is an important local industry and North Berwick has caravan parks with facilities for campervans – but they cost money and the East Bay is free. No wonder it is popular!

In short, there is no doubt that if the new car park was built it would immediately be used by overnighting campervans throughout the season, some potentially parked within 20 feet of residents’ back doors.

There are many sound reasons for objecting to the construction of a new car park behind Tantallon Terrace, and campervans is only one of them. I urge the council to put the town’s economy and residents’ needs first and to reject the Tantallon Terrace option.

Sheila Richardson Tantallon Terrace North Berwick