The measures include the introduction of three Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ), waiting restrictions and parking charges.
Parking permits are available for residents and their visitors and licensed short-term lets within the CPZs, as well as for health and social care workers and North Berwick RNLI.
Permits can be purchased online on the East Lothian Council website at www.eastlothian.gov.uk/NB-parking.
The council announced the 1 June ‘go live’ date in April to provide a suitable period of time for permit registrations and to complete the installation of the scheme’s infrastructure. The scheme is legally enforceable under Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs), including requiring payment for charges, and parking attendants will start operating in the town centre from Monday.
The council is in the final stages of issuing permits to applicants and responding to a high level of requests for further information. Permits will be sent out shortly via email while a record of registration numbers submitted by all applicants will be used to ensure vehicles will not face enforcement action if an application is still in progress.
Easier Access
The parking management scheme was approved at a Council meeting in December 2024 following extensive public consultation and engagement.
Councillor John McMillan, Cabinet Member for Environment, Economic Development and Tourism, said: “The majority of council areas in Scotland already have some form of town centre parking management in place. In introducing appropriate parking management measures in North Berwick, we aim to improve the turnover of parking spaces and make it easier to access businesses and facilities. We hope to see greater footfall as a result.
“The measures will also help us to increase enforcement of illegal or unsafe parking by funding the deployment of two full-time parking attendants in the town, generate income to fund transport infrastructure improvements, and promote active travel.
“The scheme was developed following extensive engagement with local communities, including business owners. After receiving feedback during the public consultations, a significant number of key changes to the proposals were made including, for example, increasing the amount of time for free parking before charges apply.”
Different parking demands
Under the scheme, time limits and charges will vary across three zones to address different parking demands in the town with a recognition that many trips into the town centre are very short:
- Charges across the zones is from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and Sundays 1pm to 4pm. Tantallon Terrace is 10am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 1pm to 6pm on Sundays.
- High Street and Kirk Ports car park offer free parking for up to 45 minutes. Parking for up to 75 minutes will cost £1 while there will be a £2 charge for parking up to a maximum of 90 minutes to help incentivise the turnover of parking spaces in these central locations.
- In other locations within the town’s Controlled Parking Zones, including Imperial, Lodge, Glebe and Castle Hill car parks, parking will cost 50p for 30 minutes, with Glebe car park offering 15 minutes free parking before charges apply.
- Sewage Works and The Haugh car parks are designated for cars, campervans and motorhomes and offer up to 60 minutes for 50p. It will then be 50p for each 30 minutes thereafter up to eight hours (or £15 for up to 24 hours).
- Parking at the community centre and museum/library will be free of charge but restricted to their customers only with a tablet to sign-in on entry. Parking outwith the Controlled Parking Zones will remain free, including the car park at the Recreation Park.
- Imperial, Glebe and Lodge car parks will continue to provide free parking from last Sunday of October to last Sunday of March.
Further details about the parking management scheme in North Berwick can be found on the council website at www.eastlothian.gov.uk/NB-parking