Disgruntled residents and traders from North Berwick marched on East Lothian Council headquarters in protest at the proposed parking charges set to be implemented in the town.

Accompanied by a piper, more than 30 people representing the community council and local traders arrived in Haddington to hand over a petition signed by more than 4,500 people in opposition to the scheme.

Holding placards that read 'Save our High Street' and joined by Conservative councillors Jeremy Findlay and Donna Collins, they marched to the skirl of the pipes along Haddington's Court Street and then to John Muir House.

The petition was launched by North Berwick Community Council following local backlash to the scheme, which would see the implementation of controlled parking zones (CPZs) and residents' parking permits.

The plans are set to be the biggest shake-up of town centre parking in North Berwick for decades, with local groups suggesting that they could be the "death knell" for the town's independent High Street traders.

A second petition, numbering 2,380 signatures, was also submitted in protest of the proposed changes to the east end of the High Street. 

After the protest, Kenny Miller, chair of North Berwick Community Council, explained why the group was so opposed to the plans

He said: "This thing has been ill-thought out and really will cause immense problem for the town in terms of its place as a tourist destination, as a place to live, as a place to visit.

"It's potentially very damaging for our town. This is clearly about [generating] income [for the council] and the figures that are being produced seem to be unfounded.

"How the council think they are going to make the money they think they are going to make is very unclear.

"The consideration given to residents who live in these proposed parking zones is almost nil. They will be competing for parking spaces while paying for a parking permit – they are getting nothing for that money.

"It really seems incredibly unfair."

Susan Oliver, co-chair of North Berwick Business Association, was also in attendance.

She said: "We know from other towns within Scotland where there have been new parking measures introduced, it has really had a big negative impact on the town centre.

"The fundamental issue is that the council is trying to impose these measures without producing an alternative. Giving people [a free-charge period of] 45 minutes to go to the High Street doesn't give them enough time to do their shopping on the street.

"It's going to be very difficult for the residents of North Berwick to carry out their day-to-day business.

"For business itself, we have already lost some businesses in North Berwick in the recent months and losing more is a very strong possibility.

"On the back of Covid and the current financial crisis, some businesses are already struggling and the addition of parking charges could just be the death knell for them."

On-street parking charges – varying from 50p to £1 per 30-minute period – from 8.30am to 6pm, seven days a week, all-year-round will be introduced at Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) throughout the town.

The scheme is predicted to generate annual income of almost £1.2m for cash-strapped East Lothian Council – but cost £105,000 a year to run and have capital costs of £450,000, including the installation of ticket machines, new signing and lining, IT systems, offices, and the hiring of two parking attendants.