Musselburgh parking consultation launched

The proposals being put forward are focused on encouraging greater turnover of parking spaces to provide better access for all to businesses and services, supporting the economy and environment. The proposals will also enable greater enforcement, leading to improvements in safety and supporting the council’s environmental commitments in relation to walking, cycling and public transport. Income from on-street parking charges will support investment in local infrastructure, while income from off-street parking income will be used to underpin core services.

A questionnaire is available for those wishing to respond to the consultation, while a drop-in event is also planned for Thursday, 19 June (further details below). 

Engagement to identify issues 

Engagement has taken place with community representatives to consider how best to address Musselburgh parking challenges. This has identified issues such as: 

• A lack of parking enforcement throughout the town
• Pressure on resident parking around Queen Margaret University and the Musselburgh Station
• Commuters using Market Street, New Street, and High Street during work hours
• Limited parking opportunities in Shorthope Street car park due to a low turnover of spaces
• Many vehicles parking for extended periods at Fisherrow Harbour
• Dangerous parking practices around some Musselburgh schools, with some users parking in residential areas
• The need to introduce loading bay provisions for business premises
• A lack of designated disabled car parking spaces
• Residents unable to park close to their properties
• Inadequate parking signage throughout the town.

Councillor John McMillan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment, Economic Development and Tourism, said: 

“I would encourage people to have their say on how we can potentially improve the management of parking in Musselburgh town centre.

“At this stage, no decisions have been taken, as we are keen to work with the community to explore how we address the current problems together

“This is latest in a series of consultations taking a close look at parking in many of our town centres, where demand for spaces can be high, particularly during peak periods throughout the week.

“These proposals are focused on encouraging greater turnover and availability of parking spaces to provide better access for all to businesses and services, supporting the economy and environment. 

“The proposals will also enable greater enforcement, leading to improvements in safety and supporting the council’s environmental commitments in relation to walking, cycling and public transport. Income from on-street parking charges will support investment in local infrastructure, while income from off-street parking income will be used to underpin core services.”

Proposals 

Based on engagements to date, proposals for Musselburgh are based around solutions such as: 

• The introduction of controlled parking where appropriate. Areas could be designated as short, medium or long stay parking
• Short stay car parking areas would offer a limited period of FREE parking time. Once this time has elapsed, a charge would be applied
• The wider introduction of resident parking permits. These permits would allow unlimited parking throughout the day without a daily charge. However, such a solution would likely have an annual fee.
• A provision for healthcare workers to obtain parking permits. Healthcare providers would need to apply to the council to receive permits for their staff
• Improved car parking signage throughout the town. The signage would clearly define the car park location and the type of car park, e.g., short, medium or long stay, as well as any charges that may apply
• Greater enforcement of Musselburgh's parking regulations. This should reduce indiscriminate parking, improve traffic flow, and increase parking space turnover, positively impacting the local economy by providing more parking options for shoppers and visitors. Additionally, better enforcement would improve pedestrian safety by reducing instances of illegal parking.

The council acknowledges the parking issue in and around the train station and its impact on the residential area. Following feedback from recent engagement with the community representatives and having received multiple requests from residents living in the area, the council plans to review the current parking permit scheme and assess the potential impacts of extending it.

Have your say 

The consultation runs for six weeks from 9 June until 28 July. You can complete the questionnaire online; alternatively, hard copies will be available at all East Lothian libraries.  

Any hard copies of the questionnaire can be handed in at the libraries or posted to: 

Musselburgh Parking Management Consultation, Asset and Regulatory Manager, Penston House, Macmerry, EH33 1EX.   

Responses and comments from the questionnaire will be used as a basis to draft Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs), which will be consulted on formally in the Autumn.   

If you have any questions regarding the consultation, please email musselburghparking@eastlothian.gov.uk 

Drop-in event 

People can also attend a drop-in event to provide feedback: 

Venue: St Michael’s Parish Church Hall, 21A Dalrymple Loan, Musselburgh, EH21 7DH

Date: Thursday, 19 June

Times: 2-4.30pm and 6-8.30pm

Background 

The council’s 2018 Local Transport Strategy and Parking Management Strategy highlights providing appropriate parking facilities that support the economic, environmental and accessibility requirements of towns in East Lothian. 

At a council meeting earlier in 2022, it was agreed that consultation would take place to consider and develop options around possible parking measures in town centres. The initial focus was on North Berwick, where consultation has already taken place regarding measures to improve town centre parking management. At the December 2024 meeting of East Lothian Council, following significant engagement with the community over a number of years, elected members approved plans for controlled parking zones, permits for residents, time restrictions and charges for parking on some streets and car parks in North Berwick. These measures will be introduced in the coming months. 

Similar consultations are taking place looking at proposals to improve parking management in Tranent, Dunbar and Haddington.