THE introduction of bollard 'segregators' along the east end of North Berwick High Street has been abandoned by East Lothian Council after the plans met with opposition.
The works, due to start on March 7, would have seen the installation of about 70 segregating bollards, designed to improve safety and space for pedestrians.
The segregators would have been installed on both sides of the road, commencing a short distance from the junction with Quality Street and extending to the junction with Market Place.
This would have also reduced parking significantly, leaving only loading bays, forcing local businesses to adapt.
Ewan Douglas, owner of Time & Tide and co-chair of North Berwick Business Association, had said of the plans: “North Berwick High Street is a highly successful street, so when people want to mess about with it they’ve got to be careful – we don’t want the baby departing with the bath water.
“That would ruin North Berwick High Street."
However, the plans have now been scrapped after a large number of objections were lodged with the council.
The council plans which have now been scrapped
Judy Lockhart-Hunter, chair of North Berwick Community Council (NBCC), had also been unhappy with the plans.
She said: "NBCC was alerted on Tuesday evening to proposals to be implemented from March 7 which would have seen both sides of the east end of High Street lined with industrial-looking black and white bollards which were not in keeping whatsoever with the High Street in North Berwick.
"Not only were the proposals a huge concern, it stated on the flyer to confirm the works to take place that NBCC, North Berwick Business Association and North Berwick Coastal Area Partnership had all agreed to and supported the proposals.
"NBCC and the business association had never even seen the drawings, let alone discussed them.
NBCC immediately contacted the council asking for our name to be removed from the flyer – we also demanded that the plans were scrapped.
Serious concerns
"The business association had serious concerns about the proposals and what they would mean for their businesses.
"NBCC consider the business association to be the most vital stakeholders in the project. It is their livelihoods that are directly affected by any changes and, without them, there is no High Street for us to visit.
"As an aside, the installation of the bollards would almost certainly have negatively impacted the North Berwick in Bloom entry to the prestigious Britain In Bloom competition and members of In Bloom had also contacted NBCC to raise their concerns.
"Whilst we were pleased to receive East Lothian Council’s email this morning confirming that the works would not be going ahead and we thank them for coming to this decision, it is regrettable that our concerns were not taken seriously earlier in the process."
The proposed bollards would have been similar to these in South Queensferry
Ward councillor Jeremy Findlay also expressed his happiness that the plans were being cancelled.
He said: "I'm glad that East Lothian Council has listened to the community on this."
He added that he hoped that everyone could now get together and form a more viable plan for the future of the east end of High Street.
An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: "Following a number of objections to the planned temporary design for the east end of North Berwick High Street, scheduled to be introduced in March, the council has decided not to proceed at this time with the temporary solution.
"Further discussions with representative bodies and the wider North Berwick community will be held to agree a fully engineered final design."
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