NORTH Berwick Community Council has called on Fringe by the Sea organisers to introduce improved parking measures after the “chaos” it claims occurred at this year’s festival.

Primarily based in the town’s Lodge Grounds, Fringe by the Sea (FBTS) took place over 10 days in August, bringing together music, talks, comedy and events by both local and international acts.

Ticket sales were up more than 17 per cent on 2022 levels, with about 41,000 sold.

Rory Steel, festival director, and Jackie Shuttleworth, general manager, attended last week’s community council meeting to discuss the success of the event and plans for next year, including greater community consultation on issues such as parking.

The festival was named Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival at the recent Scottish Thistle Awards, run by VisitScotland.

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FBTS organisers highlighted the community links they wanted to strengthen for 2024, along with a traffic management plan they are creating with East Lothian Council to try and limit problems arising from increased numbers of people visiting the town at festival-time.

They stressed that they would be sending out letters to homes closest to the festival site, such as those on St Baldreds Road, early in the new year, as well as encouraging people to attend a future community council meeting where they could raise any concerns.

Members of the community council welcomed the proposal but also expressed concern about parking and traffic problems caused by the event.

Kathryn Smith, the group’s secretary, said inconsiderate parking during FBTS “was chaos” and that there were no traffic wardens to police the streets surrounding the Lodge Grounds.

Many of her neighbours experienced problems throughout the 10 days of the festival, she added.

Mr Steel highlighted that East Lothian Council was responsible for policing of traffic rules and that they “can’t legislate for eejits” who fail to follow rules.

Bill Macnair, community councillor added: “[The problem was] no one was there to issue parking tickets and people were ignoring the rules.

“If we are going to have these rules they have to be policed – they need to make sure it works.”

Kirsty Towler, a member of the public who attended the meeting, described the parking as “absolute hell” and raised her concerns about a lack of community engagement prior to the event.

She said: “There was no consultation in advance – no one knew what was happening. When things went wrong, they went terribly wrong. People are effectively marooned inside their house or outside their house. It was appalling and unsafe.”

Organisers acknowledged the issues raised by the group, and stressed their desire to open a more direct line of communication with residents at the planned future meeting, as well as setting up a sub-group to deal with issues directly.

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The festival taking place at the same time as well-attended North Berwick Highland Games – which will again happen in 2024 – was also raised. Mr Macnair urged FBTS bosses to talk to Highland Games chiefs to mitigate parking issues as much as they could.

FBTS organisers said that early conversations had already begun and that there was a mutual desire to “ease the pressure where we can”.

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “East Lothian Council works closely with event organisers through safety advisory group meetings to minimise inconvenience and maximise safety. Fringe by the Sea is a major event which attracts large numbers of visitors to the area and the traffic management plan is debriefed and reviewed after each event. North Berwick is well served by bus and train and we would encourage visitors to use public transport rather than private cars.”

FBTS returns August 2-11, 2024.