Yet another u-turn for new car park in North Berwick as plans scrapped for second time

Earlier this year, ideas to help tackle North Berwick’s parking problems were shared at a meeting of North Berwick Community Council (NBCC).

Last month, East Lothian Council said that the proposed new car park, off Haddington Road on the southern outskirts of the town and near Law Primary School and the CALA Homes development, would not go ahead this financial year due to cost restraints and the amount of work needed to be carried out in the short timescale available.

There had also been concerns raised that, at close to a mile away, the site was too far from the town centre and that many people would not park there as a result.

But at the end of last month, North Berwick Trust – which owns the land the car park would be on – said that the facility would be created there after all, with some work already started to prepare the land.

However, that decision has now been reversed after the trust held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the car park.

A spokesperson told the Courier that “despite our best intentions, the temporary car park will now not go ahead”.

They added: “North Berwick Trust are disappointed to announce that it is not possible to offer additional parking for the town this summer.

“Limited works have taken place to tidy up the proposed site and this will be helpful as other uses of this land are considered.

“The trust were advised at a relatively late stage that, to ensure public safety, marshalling of the site would be required.

“It was simply not possible to get this in place within the timescale.

“The trust are keen to work with partners to develop a longer-term solution to parking congestion.

“We are really disappointed that, after trying to do something positive, we couldn’t get this off the ground.”

The spokesperson said that North Berwick Trust did not have the resources to facilitate marshals.

They said that the trust had contacted organisers of the Fringe by the Sea festival to ask if they could help but were told “they are already stretched due to additional Covid measures”.

The car park was to have 120 spaces and operate on five weekends and every day during Fringe by the Sea next month, for a total of 28 days.

It was described as a temporary solution to the town’s parking problems rather than a permanent installation.

The nearest existing car park to the site is at Kirk Ports, near Law Road, about a 15-minute walk away.

A spokesperson for North Berwick Trust had previously said that “for too long we have struggled with a lack of car parking in the town to accommodate the flood of summer visitors”, adding: “Whilst our plan may not be perfect, nor is the current situation and we are being proactive by doing what we can to help.”

When initial work began on the site earlier this month, Judy Lockhart-Hunter, chair of North Berwick Community Council, said: “We did question how popular the car park would be; it is a fair walk from the centre of town to Haddington Road and this could be particularly challenging for families laden with supplies for their day out.

“After a long day on the beach, not all will be willing or able to tackle the mostly uphill walk back to their car.

“Since work began on the site, we have received mostly negative/concerned feedback from residents living close by, with further disappointment expressed at their lack of awareness of the proposal until works were under way.

“NBCC had also been surprised to discover that the car park was going ahead after being told by the council that it was not happening.”

And following the news that the project had again been abandoned, she added: “NBCC are surprised that there is yet another twist in the ongoing saga of the Haddington Road car park – it feels a bit like the hokey cokey!

“It is surprising that works had begun before North Berwick Trust were fully aware of what the car park would require to go ahead.

“We have received a number of complaints from residents who felt they were being kept out of the loop by the trust.

“We hope that the trust will learn from this.”

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “North Berwick Trust approached us regarding its plans to create and manage a temporary car park on land that it owns at the town’s Haddington Road.

“We were supportive of the measures and offered advice on how this could be accommodated within permitted development and the essential road safety measures that would be required for the car park’s operation, including directional signage, lining and traffic management.

“While it’s unfortunate that the trust has decided it will be unable to introduce these measures within the original timeframe, we will continue to provide support for any future proposals.”