Parking meters and bollards at Quality Street, North Berwick

What was proposed

The application proposed three solar-powered parking meters, bollards and a small hardstanding area at Quality Street and The Lodge 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 meter proposed for The Lodge car park would be positioned at the northwest side of the car park, on the east side of the entrance to it. In front of the proposed parking meter would be formed a level hardstanding area measuring 1.5m by 1.2m and at each corner would be positioned a 0.67m high black bollard. The bollards are proposed to protect the meter and users of meter from potential vehicle strikes.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The meters would be within the North Berwick Conservation Area, near listed buildings and, at The Lodge, a listed building and designed landscape.

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

“To the west of the parking meter proposed to be installed in The Lodge car park is the building of The Lodge, which is listed as being of special architectural or historic interest (Category B). The site of this proposed parking meter is also within The Lodge Grounds Local Garden and Designed Landscape.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

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

“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 state that all three of these particular meters are in prominent parts of the town. The first one is on the main thoroughfare between the High Street on one end, and the Seabird centre and East beach on the other, and sticking out like a sore thumb on this stretch of pavement.”

Officer report

Objections received

Six written representations objected, citing visual harm, pavement obstruction, street clutter, cumulative effects, listed-building impacts and possible tree or parking-space loss.

“* The proposed parking meters would amount to a disfigurement of the conservation area with street clutter and visual affronts; * The proposed parking meters would be on narrow footways and cause an obstruction for pedestrians, the visually impaired, wheelchair users and prams/buggies; * The proposed parking meters are there to raise funds; * The proposed parking meters would completely undermine conservation area planning policy and practice, as this would material…”

Officer report

Who spoke

[name withheld] presented the report, while [name withheld], [name withheld] and [name withheld] spoke against aspects of the proposal; officers answered members’ questions.

What members debated

Members discussed the closeness and positions of the meters, street clutter, pavement width, tree protection, vehicle safety and possible cycle parking.

“Councillor Findlay felt that having two meters so close together was unnecessary, and asked officers to reconsider this proposal. He agreed with the objectors’ comments about street clutter and narrowing of the footway.”

“The Convener did not have concerns about the distance of the parking meter from the wall, but did accept concerns that two meters may not be required so close together; he would support the application, but would ask officers to review the positioning of all meters. He thought that the tree in the car park had to be protected from moving vehicles, and suggested that the remaining space could be used for cycle parking.”

Minutes

The vote

Members voted to support the officer recommendation, with Councillor Findlay voting 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 decision

Planning permission was granted for the development, subject to conditions requiring clear footway space, road-safety audits and protection of the tree.

“The parking meters to be installed to the rear of the footway between nos. 23 and 25 Quality Street and opposite no.13 Quality Street as hereby approved shall each be installed such that it allows at least 1.2 metres unobstructed clear footway width to remain available for users of the footway.”

“Immediately following completion of the development, the date of which shall be provided in writing to the Planning Authority, a Stage 3 Road Safety Audit - Post Opening shall be submitted to and approved by the Planning Authority for the parking meter and associated infrastructure to be sited in the Lodge car park (shown in inset C on docketed drawing no. 332611186-STN-GEN-XX-DR-TP-0406 Rev P02).”

Minutes