CONES have appeared in town centres across East Lothian after the local authority applied for a six-month suspension of parking on nearly 2km of streets to help social distancing.

East Lothian Council received £1.4million in funding from the Scottish Government’s Spaces for People project to allow it to prepare for shoppers to return to its high streets.

However, plans to suspend parking have sparked anger from local traders, who say the council’s decision is “crazy”.

The council issued nine Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs)using the reason of "Covid-19 Public Safety" which come into effect from tomorrow and run until December 31.

It insisted the orders are a "mechanism" to allow them to redesign parking in the town centres and would not be enforced in full or for the entire period of time they have been issued to cover.

A council spokesperson said that implementing the changes it has already outlined for town centres as part of the Spaces for People funding meant some spaces would need to be "temporarily suspended for a matter of hours".

They said: "A TTRO is the legal mechanism required to introduce any changes or restrictions to the public road/footways. We put the signs and the order up first in advance of any changes to give people notice and to allow the interventions to be introduced.

"While the TTRO says suspension of parking in reality the action we are taking is largely about re-configuring existing parking spaces temporarily to accommodate more pavement space."

In Haddington, where the council has its head office, nearly 300 metres of on-street parking is suspended under the new traffic orders with yellow signs appearing in the centre of town telling people the temporary parking suspension is “to assist with social distancing”.

The local authority said despite the order, 100 of Haddington's 125 town centre spaces would be retained.

The appearance of the cones and signs sparked panic among local traders who feared the impact on their premises.

One shop owner described her devastation at discovering cones outside her business just a week after reopening to customers.

She said: "This morning we were met with cones laid out against all parking spaces in the town.

“These plans are to remove nearly every single car parking space for the town centre. If this is about social distancing then the whole town needs to be closed down.”

Her comments received a huge response on social media, with many people pledging to support local businesses.

One person said: “It feels like the Covid situation is being used as a smokescreen for their ulterior motive of wanting to eventually reduce parking in the town centre ”

However the council insisted that in Haddington "the vast majority" of parking spaces would continue to be available.

And it said many of the measures being introduced would see parking spaces in the town's centre moved into the main carriageways as pavements are widened rather than lost.

Councillor Craig Hoy, ward member for the town blamed the Scottish Government for forcing “over-stretched councils to develop Spaces for People programmes without giving them sufficient time, financing or guidance."

He said: "The confusion surrounding the precise nature of the plans in Haddington has been an unfortunate start and this needs to be urgently resolved.

“We must ensure there is no damage to trade in the town centre and current levels of parking provision must be protected by opening up new spaces where capacity is cut elsewhere to allow essential social distancing.

"I hope East Lothian Council and the Scottish Government remain alert to the risks to recovery, while ensuring we support our town centres by creating welcoming and safe spaces for shoppers.”

A council spokesperson said: "East Lothian Council is committed to working with local businesses and the community in the interests of public safety, as we continue our work to respond to the challenges of COVID-19.

"Temporary measures are being implemented because the council wants to promote the town centre as a safe and welcoming environment, encouraging local residents to support local businesses and help stimulate economic recovery.

"Pedestrian safety is of paramount importance – particularly at a time when physical distancing is vital in continuing to suppress COVID-19.

We would like to clarify that the vast majority of parking spaces will continue to be available in Haddington town centre.

"The temporary measures are focused on protecting public health, supporting social distancing and preventing a second wave of the outbreak.

"We also want to help give people increased confidence when moving around our communities and encourage residents and visitors to support local businesses, which East Lothian’s economic recovery depends on.

“The national and local response to the COVID-19 outbreak has been a fast-changing situation and has required organisations such as East Lothian Council to respond swiftly.

“These temporary measures will remain under review."

The TTROs allow the local authority to suspend just under 300 metres of parking in Haddington, with Court Street, High Street and Market Street affected.

In North Berwick, an order suspends parking on a large stretch of High Street, with 145 metres of the road closed completely.

Over half a kilometre of on-street parking is also approved to be suspended on High Street, Quality Street, Church Road and Market Place.

In Musselburgh, the county’s biggest town, 370 metres of High Street parking can be suspended under the new regulations and Shorthope Street is closed for 22 metres.

Parking can also be suspended in Prestonpans on 65 metres of High Street.

And in Tranent a traffic order suspends 630 metres of street parking along High Street, Bridge Street and Winton Place, with 60 metres in Dunbar's High Street and neighbouring Countess Road also suspended.

The suspension orders and road closures come days after the council also announced plans to reduce the speed limit in all its towns to 20 miles per hour (mph) and introduce temporary cycle lanes at various locations across the county.