NORTH Berwick Rugby Club has apologised to residents following a traffic jam that saw one of the town's streets gridlocked. 

Last month, the Courier reported that traffic jam "chaos" had occurred on the town's St Baldreds Road on September 8, with the event being highlighted by many residents on social media.

This led to many cars and a bus being gridlocked.

At the time, there was the suspicion the commotion was caused by a rugby tournament at Recreation Park, leading to a lot more traffic than usual. 

READ MORE: North Berwick: Concerns raised after traffic jam 'chaos'

Now, North Berwick Rugby Club has addressed the incident in a statement. 

Ken Muir, club president, said: "Parking is a complex area in North Berwick and, as a club, we'd like to take a responsible approach towards residents' requirements in all local roads to Recreation Park on days where we have events.  

"As an example, we don't condone the type of parking that, on that day, rendered Lochbridge Road impassable for service buses and caused them to have to divert via St Baldreds Road. We do not, though, take responsibility for, or have the power to police, bad parking.

"I have apologised to the residents for any disruption caused on St Baldreds Road that Sunday by the large volume of traffic and visitors to North Berwick, that our event contributed to, and for any inconsiderate parking by our guests that took place.

"As a club, we have conducted the after-event reviews that are common in such cases; these allow us to improve our future events for numerous stakeholders.

"On St Baldred's Road parking in particular, the organising team had been in touch with the council roads team requesting that cones be placed down one side of the road for the duration of the event. Unfortunately, the council declined that request due to it being too late to arrange a traffic regulation order.

"The mini rugby organising teams are now aware of the timeline to present to the East Lothian Safety Advisory Group and have resolved to follow that process going forward."

Kathryn Smith, secretary of North Berwick Community Council, was among those caught up in the traffic chaos that gripped St Baldreds Road that day. 

At this month's meeting of the group, she told members that it took her 25 minutes to get to her home from church that day, rather than the usual five-minute drive. 

She said that the road had been "absolute gridlock".