MEMBERS of North Berwick Golf Club have appealed to East Lothian Council to make them exempt from parking charges due to be introduced on the streets around their club.

A report to councillors next week sets out the results of a consultation into plans to introduce new parking charges in the seaside town with on-street and off-street parking fees.

The proposals also include residents' permits which will allow some parking in zoned areas of the town.

READ MORE: North Berwick parking charges 'blatant money-making scheme'

A report into the consultation revealed that members of North Berwick Golf Club had called for their own free parking permits, saying it was unfair they would have to pay to park.

And they were not alone in asking for exemptions, with the report revealing that tennis club members who lived in surrounding villages had also asked to be given special permits to park outside their regular sports venue free of charge.

However, council officers were not impressed by the arguments of the private club members, saying giving them an exemption would create a "disparity" between them and other residents and businesses, as well as putting too much pressure on demand.

In the report, officers say that concerns were raised by members of the golf club, who said that the cost of parking was too high.

Officers said that they had amended the maximum stay restrictions on the parking order to allow for a round of golf, estimated as up to five hours, to ensure that the fee would be a standard £5.

However, golfers had said this would mean that if they played two rounds a week, it would cost up to £520 extra a year.

The club recently closed its waiting list to male applicants due to the high number of those already on it, although it will still accept female applications. A round of golf for visitors costs up to £285 in green fees.

READ MORE: Council accused of intimidating parking charge objectors

The report on the parking charges consultation says that the club is a business and issuing permits to players could be considered the same as providing them to customers on High Street.

And they said that a call from local members living in the proposed new ‘east zone’ of the town, to allow their permits to extend to cover parking at the golf club, had also been dismissed because they could walk.

It says: “The maximum walk distance from the east zone to the golf club is approximately 1.6km, a walk time of 18 to 22 minutes.

“This, when considered against the walk distance for a round of golf being six to eight kilometres and a potential five-hour play time, does not appear to be overreaching acceptability for those within walking distance to consider a mode change to visit the golf club.”

The report reveals that there had also been calls from people living outwith the town to have permits.

It said: “These requests have been particularly for users of the tennis club in the east zone and those undertaking regular trips to the town.

“The allowance of additional permits for the wider community is likely to place a higher demand on streets with residential parking, which would disadvantage residents of those streets which the scheme looks to give priority.”

The full proposals and amendments following the consultation will be considered by councillors at a meeting next week.

The report is available to read on the council website.