Four parking meters at High Street, North Berwick

What was proposed

Planning permission was sought for four solar-powered parking meters on footways along High Street.

“_________ _______________________________________________________ COMMITTEE: Planning Committee MEETING DATE: October 2025 BY: Executive Director for Place REPORT TITLE: Application for Planning Permission for Consideration _______________________________________________________________________ Note: This application was called off the Scheme of Delegation List by Councillor Findlay for the following reason: Given the level of opposition both from residents of these…”

“The building at 125-127 High Street and St Andrew Blackadder Church are listed as being of special architectural or historic interest (Category C). The neighbouring buildings of 59-71 and 75-81 High Street and 84-86 High Street are also Category C listed. The building at 66 High Street is listed as being of special architectural or historic interest (Category B). There are also Category C listed buildings across the road from 66 High Street.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The meters would stand within the conservation area, near several listed buildings including two churches.

“The proposed parking meters would be sited within North Berwick Conservation Area.”

Officer report

Purpose and wider scheme

The proposal aimed to address unlawful parking and improve parking turnover, forming one of twelve applications for 27 meters.

“A Design Statement has been submitted in support of the application, which states that the main driver of the proposals to install parking meters in North Berwick is to reduce current parking issues identified in the town.”

“The Design Statement continues that the proposed parking meters should discourage unlawful parking, and in turn provide a benefit to existing residents and visitors to North Berwick with controlled and more frequent turnover of parking. The Design Statement further states that there would be an economic benefit as the revenue made from parking charges would be used towards the improvement of transport and parking infrastructure in the local area.”

Officer report

Objections received

Seventeen written representations objected, citing obstruction, accessibility problems, visual clutter, congestion, cumulative harm and effects on heritage.

“* The proposed parking meters will cause an obstruction on already narrow pavements, will be an obstacle for pedestrians, wheelchair users, mobility scooters and prams/buggies and will force people onto the road; * The proposed parking meters will not solve parking issues; * The proposed parking meters will introduce unnecessary visual clutter to a traditionally attractive and historically sensitive part of North Berwick; * There is local opposition to parking meters; 27”

“* The proposed parking meters will cause more congestion and traffic problems; * Applications for parking meters should not be split into separate applications and the cumulative impact should be considered; * Individual applications fundamentally misrepresent the scale and impact of the provision of parking meters; * The submitted Design Statement is inadequate; * There are far too many parking meters proposed; * The impact of the meters would be visually harmful.”

Officer report

Community council views

The community council objected, saying the meters would not preserve or enhance the conservation area and recommending refusal.

“The Community Council advise that this particular application covers four parking meters, and have provided a picture which they assert underestimates the true scale and visual impact of a grey and black columns of the size proposed. The Community Council add that additional considerations are that shading of the solar panels of one parking meter may affect its power supply, and that the two meters in front of the churches will detract from the listed buildings.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The Council’s project manager and agent supported the applications, while community and heritage representatives and another objector spoke against them.

How members voted

Members rejected continuing the applications by eight votes to three and supported the officer recommendation by eight votes to three.

“The Convener moved to a roll call vote on Councillor Findlay’s proposal to continue the applications, and votes were cast as follows:”

“The Convener then moved to a roll call vote on the officer’s recommendation to grant consent (option 1), alongside Councillor Findlay’s proposed amendment to grant consent, but to refuse the condition outside St Andrew Blackadder Church by condition (option 2). Votes were cast as follows:”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was granted with conditions requiring development within three years and at least 1.2 metres of unobstructed footway.

“Planning Committee agreed to grant planning permission, subject to the following conditions:”

“The parking meters hereby approved shall be installed such that they allow at least 1.2 metres unobstructed clear footway width to remain available for users of the footway.”

Minutes