Concerns have been raised about the possible introduction of parking charges to the centre of Prestonpans.

The proposals are part of East Lothian Council’s review of parking provisions across the county, which is set to see measures introduced in its six towns.

Radical proposals have already been earmarked for North Berwick, resulting in large opposition from groups in the town.

The move was discussed at a meeting of Prestonpans Community Council, where fears about High Street becoming a charged parking zone were aired.

DJ Johnston-Smith, chair of the group, addressed members to confirm that some measures would be coming to the town.

He said: “It’s coming to the town. [It] is coming to our High Street.

“It has been a strong topic for our colleagues in North Berwick but it is coming here [too].”

He added that a form of resident parking charges to the sum of “up to £40” would be introduced, similar to those proposed in North Berwick.

But members were concerned about the impact measures would have on those who live on High Street, alluding to the different demographics of people who lived there compared to North Berwick.

Janis Wilson, the group’s secretary, said: “It’s a clear way of punishing the poor.”

She clarified that Prestonpans High Street had a lot of council housing and low-income households, and a £40-a-year charge would be a lot of money for some people to pay.

She added: “Why are we punishing them for getting a house on High Street?”

Members also pointed out that any prospective measures would only force traffic onto neighbouring residential streets, which are already extensively used by those visiting High Street.

East Lothian Council officers had detailed the reasons for the schemes at a recent meeting of the Association of East Lothian Community Council’s (AELCC).

They stated that on-street parking charges would raise revenue to deliver road maintenance as well as improved town infrastructure, with North Berwick’s charges projected to raise £1.2m for the cash-strapped council per annum.

While an equivalent estimated figure is not available for the prospective Prestonpans plans, as details of the proposal have not yet been confirmed, members were doubtful whether it would generate the income required to alleviate the council’s financial woes.

The prospect of a car park to dissuade the need for parking charges was also raised by members, but no viable locations were discussed.

Dr Johnston-Smith added: “Housing went everywhere a car park could have gone.”

He also questioned whether there was a need for Prestonpans to be subject to such measures, as it filled a different role to North Berwick, a tourist town that attracts a high number of visitors.

Councillor Colin Yorkston (Lab), ward member for Preston Seton Gosford, previously voted for the introduction of parking charges in North Berwick.

He stated that, while there was a “parking problem in North Berwick”, the same could not be said for Prestonpans.

He added: “[I] can’t say that Prestonpans can be viewed as having a parking problem.

“What benefit is [parking charges] going to bring?”

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “Each of the six main towns in East Lothian are different, with their own distinctive requirements.

“As such, they will be treated individually with a solution tailored to fit rather than a single county-wide solution, and each will have a period of public consultation around parking management within their town centres.

“It would be inappropriate to comment on speculation at this early stage when proposals for Prestonpans haven’t yet been provided.”

Any parking charge regime in Prestonpans is likely to be several years away.

Once a scheme for North Berwick is in place, the council will turn its attentions to Musselburgh.

Dunbar councillor Norman Hampshire, East Lothian Council’s leader, has told Dunbar Community Council that it will be “early 2026 at the earliest” before “anything happened” in Dunbar.