Enforcement of North Berwick parking management to start on 1 June

The measures include the introduction of three Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ), waiting restrictions and parking charges, and a permit system for residents and their visitors.

From Monday, 27 April, parking permits will be available for purchase online by visiting the East Lothian Council website at www.eastlothian.gov.uk/NB-parking. Information on permits will be shared directly with residents in the CPZs who will receive letters in the coming days.

Work will shortly get underway to complete installation of the scheme’s infrastructure, including repairs to machines which were vandalised before becoming operational. The council has confirmed that any further criminal damage to the machines will not prevent the scheme going live as app-based payment systems are available. Instead, the authority warned it would increase the scheme’s overall costs and inconvenience people without smartphones by forcing them to use online methods or risk a Penalty Charge Notice for illegal parking.

Enforcement will start on 1 June to give residents and other eligible parties ample time to apply for their permits.

The parking management scheme was approved at a meeting of East Lothian Council in December 2024 following extensive public consultation and engagement.

Enhanced road safety

Tom Reid, the council’s Head of Infrastructure, said: “All of the component parts of the scheme needed to be properly in place before enforcement could commence. Now that a ‘go live’ date has been confirmed, we would encourage residents and other users to ensure they apply for the appropriate parking permit.

“The majority of council areas in Scotland already have some form of town centre parking management. The measures being introduced in North Berwick are designed to address local challenges such as a lack of parking spaces during busy periods. By increasing the turnover of spaces, we aim to make it easier for people to access businesses and amenities.

“In addition, the measures are intended to provide better parking enforcement and enhanced road safety while encouraging sustainable travel.”

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.

Permits are being introduced for residents and their visitors and licensed short-term lets within the Controlled Parking Zones, as well as for health and social care workers and North Berwick RNLI. 

Further details about the parking management scheme in North Berwick can be found on the council website at www.eastlothian.gov.uk/NB-parking