Members of the public have vented their frustrations at proposed parking charges in North Berwick after a member of East Lothian Council came to speak at July’s meeting of North Berwick Community Council.

Peter Forsyth, project manager for growth and sustainability, spoke at the meeting to explain the proposals and take questions from community councillors and the public.

The proposals, which were approved by East Lothian councillors in the spring, will see the introduction of parking charges in three Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) along with resident parking permits.

But there has been considerable backlash from local businesses and groups, including a 3,000-signature petition opposing the plans.

Mr Forsyth explained the council’s position, declaring that there “is a parking problem in North Berwick” and that the local authority was striving to best mitigate concerns raised following the consultation period to make a plan that was amenable to all.

He said this included the decision to reduce the CPZs from four to three, remove designated resident spots, and extend free parking on High Street to 45 minutes among other changes.

He added: “Not everyone is happy, but in parking you don’t please everybody.

“It’s a difficult journey, I accept that, but it is necessary.”

Concerns were raised by residents that they would now have to pay for a permit to park outside their home. However, the new proposals mean that visitors can also park on the same streets, meaning residents could be forced to park far from their own home.

In response, Mr Forsyth said: “We are trying to balance a limited supply.

“Visitors can park outside your house, you are not entitled to that space. There’s no way I can guarantee a space.”

However, concerns were raised in response that North Berwick residents were “not being treated” equally to visitors and were set to be paying for a situation that was claimed to be worse than the current one.

Concerns then turned to public transport, as residents attending the meeting stressed that the town lacked the services to accommodate the new parking measures.

Additionally, concerns over the capacity of Recreation Park, the town’s largest free car park, were raised, with attendees imploring that an alternative be found before the measures were pushed through.

One member of the public asked Mr Forsyth why “wealthy” North Berwick was being used as a “cash-cow to fund a cash-strapped council”.

Mr Forsyth did not reference any financial benefits to the council.

Susan Oliver, co-chair of North Berwick Business Association, has consistently shared her opposition to the plans, criticising the council for a lack in engagement which she claimed was made clear by the local authority’s insistence on year-round parking measures.

She told the meeting: “What the council say is verbatim, but what we say is hearsay.”

The lack of seasonal restrictions being proposed also meant that these restrictions would be in place in the winter months when the town was noticeably less busy according to residents and businesses, she added.

However, Mr Forsyth disputed this, stating: “North Berwick has changed in the last 20 years.”

At this point, members of the public disappointingly scoffed in unison.

Having spoken for over an hour, Mr Forsyth was then encouraged by another council staff member to end his participation in the meeting.