A DECISION to turn the “most iconic seafront” in the county into a temporary car park has been shelved after a huge wave of opposition, including a petition signed by more than 5,000 people.

Councillors and council officials have this week been inundated with angry comments from disbelieving residents, protesting against cherished recreational area Elcho Green, at North Berwick’s West Bay, being utilised for an 80-space long-stay car park.

The local authority said in a statement last Tuesday that, as part of various measures in North Berwick to provide extra space for physical distancing to protect public health and suppress a resurgence of Covid-19, including widening pavements at the east end of High Street, it would be “converting part of Elcho Green to a temporary car park to support access to the High Street area”.

It stated that “following a meeting with local traders, North Berwick Community Council and North Berwick Coastal Area Partnership, agreement has been reached to introduce a number of temporary measures in the town” – but both the community council and area partnership told the Courier they had not given backing to the Elcho Green changes.

The council’s own timetable had Elcho Green car park opening last Friday (July 17).

An online petition, West Bay not Parking Bay, to “protect stunning and iconic West Bay in North Berwick”, was launched by resident Sarah Russell and had attracted more than 5,000 signatures in less than a week.

It said: “East Lothian Council have announced plans to turn Elcho Green into a longstay car park.

“Whilst the council state that this is a temporary measure to comply with their Covid Spaces for People initiative, it is greatly feared that this will, in fact, lead to a permanent car park in the most iconic seafront location in East Lothian.

"North Berwick residents and visitors alike will be robbed of the very essence of this beautiful recreational space that personifies this famous conservation area seafront.

“Temporary or otherwise, Elcho Green is not the correct location for any car parking and we would urge you to help us stop this environmental catastrophe.”

Among those supporting the campaign was world-famous golfer and North Berwick resident Catriona Matthew, captain of Europe’s winning Solheim Cup team.

The Courier has been swamped with letters and emails against the plans (see three-page letters special).

The scheme was described as “indefensible” and “undemocratic vandalism” by some residents, while many asked why there had not been specific consultation on the plan and highlighted that the land had been gifted to the town by the late Sir Hew Hamilton-Dalrymple for recreational use in 1958.

On Monday, East Lothian Council released a statement that it was placing the “Elcho Green temporary car parking proposal on hold to allow us a further opportunity to engage and consult”.

It is the second time in a month that the council’s plans to transform town centres have hit the buffers.

Earlier in July, proposals to suspend parking in town centres were put “on hold” after traders and residents in Haddington reacted with anger as cones and parking suspension signs were put up overnight, sparking widespread concern.

In Monday’s statement, Councillor Norman Hampshire (Lab), environment spokesperson, said: “East Lothian Council has successfully implemented a number of physical distancing measures on North Berwick High Street to support the need for safe access to the town centre and economic recovery.

“A further support for Spaces for People was a proposal to utilise a small part of Elcho Green in North Berwick as a temporary car park.

“The benefit of this would have been a reduction in the number of vehicles circling and queuing for parking spaces, enhanced safety for pedestrians and cyclists within the town centre, and improved air quality.

“East Lothian Council is a listening authority and we are aware of the various perspectives being raised within the North Berwick community.

“As such, we intend to place the Elcho Green temporary car parking proposal on hold to allow us a further opportunity to engage and consult.

"This delay will also enable us to monitor the impact of increased traffic as a result of visitors and to assess the effectiveness of measures introduced.”

Councillor Stuart Currie, SNP Group leader, said that recent u-turns were down to a “lack of political leadership” within the Labour administration.

He said he received more than 200 emails objecting to the Elcho Green plans.

He called for a report on the Spaces for People plans, and in particular parking proposals in North Berwick, to be put before a meeting of elected council group leaders in two weeks’ time for approval.

Under emergency Covid-19 procedures, normal council business is currently suspended and decisions are taken at monthly meetings of the group leaders and council chief executive.

He said: “The decision must be approved by councillors at the leaders’ group meeting and it should be open and transparent and open to the press.”

Mr Hampshire accused Mr Currie of “playing politics” in “an emergency situation”.

“We have allowed him to take part in the meetings with officers at every point during the discussions,” said Mr Hampshire.

“I have got to say the Conservative Group have been fully behind what we are doing.

"For the SNP to try to play politics in a situation where their own Government is instructing local authorities to create spaces in town centres is unbelievable.”

Conservative councillor Craig Hoy called on the administration to “take notice” of the recent problems caused by parking proposals.

He said the Scottish Government had failed to give councils enough time to push through emergency Covid measures in town centres.

Councillor Hoy said: "Scottish Councils are operating under huge pressure with limited resources, but that does not remove the need for them to consult fully and communicate clearly on big issues which impact our communities. 

"I hope East Lothian Council and the Labour administration will take notice of the recent problems in North Berwick and fully engage with stakeholders." 

Hilary Smith, chair of North Berwick Coastal Area Partnership, stressed that the area partnership had not attended any meeting regarding Covid-19 plans for the town or given its approval to the plans.

North Berwick Community Council said it had not discussed Elcho Green prior to its meeting on Tuesday.

East Lothian Council received £1.4million from Scottish Government funding for Spaces for People projects to make social distancing easier in town centres and encourage people to return to them safely.

The council launched a consultation in May, asking people for their county-wide views.

It attracted 3,000 contributions and more than 750 comments, including more than 100 from the North Berwick area.

But North Berwick residents have not been asked their specific views on Elcho Green car parking.

The council said it had given consideration to parking availability at a number of sites in North Berwick.

In response to questions from the Courier, the council said: “The high school and sports centre are both due to re-open in coming weeks so were unsuitable to use.

“An area of Elcho Green is considered suitable to take traffic arriving from the west to park for people visiting the town to intercept the flow of traffic and stop vehicles circulating through the town unnecessarily searching for parking spaces and generating additional traffic pollution.

“It also seemed reasonable considering the area of land is used annually for Fringe by the Sea events.

"A maximum of 80 places had been identified for use as a potential temporary car park which is not part of the Spaces for People grant but provided as part of the programme.”