CHANGES to parking in Dunbar town centre could include the creation of a new car park and the extension of parking at the town’s railway station.

Discussions between East Lothian Council and various parties to try to add spaces to the town and improve the general flow of traffic are ongoing. Among the steps being considered is the creation of a 25-space car park between Woodbush and Church Street.

Furthermore, the council’s transportation team is looking at the possibility of extending the car park at the railway station, which has 76 spaces, while potentially putting time restrictions on the car park at Abbeylands, which is home to more than 30 spaces.

A planning application for the new car park, which would be accessed by Lamer Street and Woodbush, has been submitted by the local authority to its own planning department.

The car park, which is described as being on land adjacent to the Coastguard Cottages, could also provide parking for the nearby Assembly Rooms, which have long been earmarked for development.

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council said: “The proposed car park is promoted to meet demand and to compensate for future road space enhancement within Dunbar town centre. It has also previously been identified that the Coastguard site could potentially provide parking for any new flats in the Assembly Rooms.”

A metal staircase linking the car park to the adjacent Church Street and the town centre is also included as part of the proposals.

Pippa Swan, chairwoman of the town’s community council, had mixed thoughts on the scheme.

She said: “Largely, there is a demand for parking.

“However, these car parking spaces would require traffic to move past a very small group of cottages that have enjoyed a degree of privacy in effectively a cul-de-sac all the time they have been there.

“Initial messages I have had from residents are of horror.

“The prospect is that green space will be tarmacked over and become a pretty significant car parking lot.”

The spokeswoman for the local authority highlighted the proposed car park was part of a wider project surrounding parking in the town.

She said: “The project that transportation is considering has nothing to do with the Assembly Rooms but rather a straight forward look at available space to act as long stay and to change Abbeylands parking to short stay.

“The council is currently negotiating with Transport Scotland and Network Rail to increase the capacity of the rail station car park to stop indiscriminate parking on local streets. This site provides an opportunity to add some additional supply into the town to encourage parking behaviour that is more appropriate.”

Councillor Norman Hampshire, who represents the Dunbar and East Linton ward, was unable to comment on the specifics of the proposals as he is convener of the council’s planning committee. But he said but said there was a need to address parking problems in the town.

He said: “The old part of the town, the narrow streets around Church Street and Castle Street, is very congested with the number of cars parked there because of the restrictions on the High Street. Traders and people who work in the premises park on the surrounding streets and they are very congested.There is definitely a need for more parking in the town centre.”

Councillor Paul McLennan, who also represents the town, is not part of the planning committee and welcomed the possibility of a car park being created. He highlighted some neighbouring streets had a number of parked cars on them and this could reduce that.

He said: “If you go along Church Street in Dunbar, there is very little parking.”