A VISIBLY upset councillor asked a member of a community group to “stop hectoring me” after coming in for heavy criticism for backing the introduction of parking charges in North Berwick – despite being unaware of the town’s longstanding parking problems.

Councillor Carol McFarlane (Labour) was the only North Berwick Coastal ward councillor to attend last Tuesday’s meeting of North Berwick Community Council (NBCC), where members raised concerns that they had been “ignored” as East Lothian Council pressed ahead with implementing the charges.

Mrs McFarlane, who had voted with her party colleagues to introduce the charging system at a meeting of East Lothian Council the previous week, frustrated community councillors when, despite parking issues being a topic of intense debate in the town for many years, she asked them: “Is there a parking problem in North Berwick?”

READ MORE: North Berwick: Green light for town centre parking charges

And she was clearly upset after being repeatedly questioned by NBCC vice-chair Judy Lockhart-Hunter.

The proposal – the biggest shake-up in town centre parking for decades – was given the green light at East Lothian Council’s meeting.

On-street parking charges – varying from 50p to £1 per 30-minute period – from 8.30am to 6pm, seven days a week, all-year-round will be introduced at Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) throughout the town.

The scheme is predicted to generate annual income of nearly £1.2m for cash-strapped East Lothian Council – but will cost £105,000 a year to run and have capital costs of £450,000, including the installation of ticket machines and the hiring of two parking attendants.

East Lothian Courier: Artist impressions for the design changes to the east end of North Berwick High Street

An artist's impressions of how the east end of High Street may look

Some changes were made to the proposals by East Lothian Council to “mitigate concerns” following the consultation.

These include extending the planned initial free parking period on High Street from 30 minutes to 45 minutes and the removal of designated residents’ parking zones by integrating them with charged zones. But residents in designated streets would still be charged £40 for annual parking permits.

Two petitions will now be launched in protest at the charges – and the redesign of the east end of High Street).

Community councillors spoke out against the charges at the meeting.

Member Bill Macnair said: “I am hugely concerned about the financial impact on North Berwick.

“When a High Street like North Berwick dies, it’s impossible to recover. If this fails, will the council take responsibility?”

Community councillors agreed that the consultation was flawed but wanted to create a “constructive” line of communication to “influence” the direction of the plans.

Mr Macnair said: “We have to talk rationally and sensibly, and without attacking [the council].”

He stressed that a combative attitude would only hinder a positive relationship between the community council and the local authority.

“They don’t want to listen to gossip,” Mr Macnair added. “They want documented evidence.”

Members agreed that a petition was a more constructive means of engaging with the council.

'I didn't mean to upset you'

It was then that Mrs McFarlane asked: “Is there a parking problem in North Berwick?”

She went on to clarify that she did not drive, and admitted she was unaware of the issues facing motorists in the town.

And she added: “I can live with [the proposals], I’m sorry.”

Mrs Lockhart-Hunter, who unsuccessfully stood as a Conservative candidate in the North Berwick Coastal ward at last year’s council elections, appeared frustrated by Mrs McFarlane’s lack of knowledge about something she had voted to approve.

She made clear that groups such as the community council, North Berwick Business Association (NBBA) and residents had raised serious concerns about the proposals.

Mrs McFarlane said NBBA had not contacted her regarding any concerns, but Mrs Lockhart-Hunter retorted: “The business association attended our emergency meeting and you didn’t attend.”

Mrs McFarlane stressed the decision was not “set in stone” and there would be a further opportunity to have discussions between the local authority and the community council.

Mrs Lockhart-Hunter replied: “You knew we had an emergency meeting and you didn’t attend.”

Mrs McFarlane suggested she was unaware of the meeting having not seen the email, but Mrs Lockhart-Hunter asked: “Why didn’t you read the email?”

“Stop hectoring me,” Mrs McFarlane replied.

The councillor looked visibly upset at the exchange and Mrs Lockhart-Hunter told her: “I didn’t mean to upset you.”