Three parking meters at Melbourne Place, North Berwick

What was proposed

The application proposed three solar-powered parking meters: one on a footway and two within a public car park.

“_________ _______________________________________________________ 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 parking meters proposed to be instated would be MS1 Parking Terminals, measuring 317 x 305 x 1524mm high. They would have a black frontage housed within a high security stainless steel body, and protected with an anti-graffiti coating. They would be solar powered and would be able to accept cash or cashless payments (chip and pin or contactless card payments).”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The meters would be within a conservation area, near a Category B listed building, without being attached to any property.

“The building adjacent to the public toilet building at 2 Quality Street is listed as being of special architectural or historic interest (Category B).”

“The Design Statement informs that North Berwick Conservation Area includes a variety of land uses including residential, retail, commercial, leisure and recreation. Milsey Bay and West Bay beaches, as well as the West Links Golf Course are also included within the Conservation Area boundary.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval, finding the meters suitably small, visually acceptable, harmless to the listed building and consistent with planning policies.

“The proposed parking meter on the junction of Melbourne Place and Quality Street would be visible in public views, but would be seen in relation to other street furniture with which it would have a visual relationship. The proposed parking meters in the car park would be viewed as a relatively small structures and would also typically be viewed in the context of parked vehicles.”

“The Council's Road Services advise that the locations of the proposed parking meters are acceptable as adequate pedestrian space would remain on the sections of footway where two of them would be installed, namely the one on the corner of Melbourne Place and Quality Street and the one next to the public toilet building.”

Officer report

Community council response

The community council objected, saying the meters would not preserve or enhance the conservation area and that their combined impact had not been properly assessed.

“North Berwick Community Council as a consultee on the application object to the proposed development. The Community Council advise that the Council has a duty under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 to ensure the character and appearance of the Conservation Area are preserved or enhanced, and state that the proposed parking meters are sizeable columns in a number of different locations within the Conservation Area and, whilst certain…”

“The Community Council advise that this is just one application, but the cumulative impact of all of the meters will also be a consideration. They state that the submitted Design Statement assesses impact on trees and listed buildings, but fails in its fundamental purpose by not assessing or otherwise referring to the impact on the Conservation Area. 36”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

Two objectors spoke against the meter at the Melbourne Place and Quality Street junction, including concerns about the missed opportunity for a feature there.

What members discussed

The Convener and Councillor McMillan said the proposals would improve safety and help control North Berwick’s parking problems.

“The Convener and Councillor McMillan commented that these proposals would help enhance safety and to control parking issues, which were needed in North Berwick.”

Minutes

How members voted

Members supported the officer recommendation to grant consent, except Councillor Findlay, who voted against it.

“The Convener then moved to a roll call vote on the officer’s recommendation to grant consent. Planning Committee members voted in support of the officer’s recommendation, apart from Councillor Findlay, who voted against the recommendation.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

Planning permission was granted for the three meters, subject to conditions controlling timing, footway width and road-safety audits.

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

“The parking meters to be installed on the corner of Melbourne Place and Quality Street and next to the public toilet building in Melbourne Place car park both as 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