East Lothian drivers asked to decide what is 'reasonable parking charge' for town centres in new consultation

Drivers will be asked to decide what is a “reasonable charge” for parking in East Lothian’s town centres as part of a new consultation.

Proposals to introduce on-street and off-street charges as well as short stay spaces and residential zones will all be included in the public consultation which will start next month.

Council leader Norman Hampshire told a virtual council meeting on Tuesday that residents in town centres were “living a nightmare” because of parking problems.

The Labour MSP warned: “Doing nothing is not an option.”

However concerns were raised about making sure people across the county were able to have their say in the 10-week consultation with claims some of those most affected were often “least heard.”

And Conservative councillors refused to back the consultation saying charging people in the current cost of living crisis would damage high streets because people would stay away.

Councillor Lachlan Bruce told the meeting: “We are less than two months out of a local government election when no party included introducing parking charges in their manifestos.

“It will harm our town centres and local businesses.”

Council officers said introducing on and off street parking charges could bring “significant income” to the local authority.

But they said a ‘reasonable charge’ would have to be established to ensure it did not drive people to out of town shopping centres such as Fort Kinnaird where free parking was available by overcharging.

Cllr Hampshire said the pressure on residents in some towns who could not find parking spaces near their homes had to be addressed.

He said: “Doing nothing is not an option, we will damage our town centres if we do not do something for the people who are living there who continue living in a nightmare, not able to get parking spaces.”

However Cllr Bruce questioned whether charges would drive people out of towns at a time when shops needed business more than ever.

He said: “I do not understand how we can have a town centre first policy but introduce a policy, which will discourage people from using the town centre.

“This proposal comes at the same time as we have a surge in the cost of living and it will make it harder for some people to use town centres.

“It will make it harder for people who need a car, coming in from rural communities or with mobility issues.”

Councillor Lynn Jardine, the SNP opposition leader, welcomed the “extensive consultation” and urged fellow councillors to ensure as many people as possible were encouraged to take part and have their voices heard.

The consultation was approved by 16 votes to three.