Overnight parking at East Lothian beauty spot scrapped after 'abuse' of rules
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Overnight parking at a popular East Lothian beauty spot will be removed after councillors admitted they did not have the resources to stop it being abused.
The three spaces at Shore Road, Belhaven, brought in over £3,500 in revenue for East Lothian Council last year but also sparked a wave of complaints from local residents who said visitors urinated in public and left their sewage and litter behind them.
A meeting of East Lothian Council's Labour administration cabinet today approved a proposal to remove the bays with council leader Norman Hampshire saying the local authority would continue to look for alternative places for motor homes to stop..
The bays were introduced two years ago alongside three overnight bays at Yellowcraig car park near North Berwick as a trial. The Yellowcraig bays will remain and be made permanent.
Councillor Hampshire said the views of the local community in Belhaven had been listened to by the local authority.
He said: "Although Shore Road is a very popular site, we don't have the facilities or staff to manage it when somebody is abusing the site, so for that reason we can't continue there."
Mr Hampshire pointed out there is a private caravan site a short distance from Shore Road which was available to visitors.
However, he added: "I agree there is a need for more. The number of camper vans visiting our coastal areas is greatly increasing and it would be wrong of us to say we don't want camper vans. We need to accommodate them either as the council ourselves as a landowner or there may be some private landowners who may wish to accommodate them."
Councillors also agreed to make permanent an overnight ban on parking across all coastal car parks between the hours of 11pm and 4am.
Initial plans to bar parking from 10pm to 6am were reduced after protests from early morning swimmers, dog walkers and photographers who use it at dusk and dawn.
Anger over the impact of the Shore Road overnight bays has had on residents living in the area was compounded, local community councils said by the lack of 'policing' of the site.
In their objections they said promises the situation would be reviewed after a 'summer trial' were not met by the council and claims the bays would be monitored by a pre-booking system did not happen with people paying the £10 nightly charge through the Ringo app or at cash machines onsite.
Several residents claimed up to ten motor homes could be found in the car park on any given night with people also parking in cars and vans.
One said: 'I have witnessed people using the dunes as a toilet, lots of different rubbish being left and barbecues being lit in the long grass/dunes even when signs are up saying not to in dry weather.'
Another added: 'They are arriving at all hours and some of them are not self-sufficient as in having toilets in them, so can imagine they are doing the toilet in surrounding grass area.
'There is no one around to police the camper vans and they seem to do as they like.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
17 hours ago
- The National
£1m in funding announced for Scottish coastline restoration
The Solway Coast and Marine Landscape Connections Project (Scamp) will receive £1.4 million in funding, which will see natural habitats restored along the Dumfries and Galloway coast. The Scamp scheme will be delivered over 10 years, and five key habitats, including seagrass meadows, native oyster reefs, salt marsh, coastal woodland, and sand dunes, will be prioritised. The project will also see 120 miles of new coastal trails created, with 10 seaside 'gateway' sites developed. REA MORE: John Swinney defends 'two-horse race' comments after by-election loss to Labour Panels along the coast and trails will also be installed, allowing people to learn more about the Solway Firth and the surrounding area. Karen Morley, Scamp programme manager, welcomed the funding, adding it will help the team make a 'real impact' in their restoration efforts. 'It is rare for a nature restoration project to attract this level of investment over a prolonged period of time,' she said. 'But it is also essential for this ambitious innovative programme of work to be delivered by ourselves and our partners and ensure we can make a real restorative impact on our Solway land and seascape.' Scamp is the first project to secure support through the National Lottery Heritage Fund's (NLHF) £150m Landscape Connections initiative. The project is the first of around 20 across the UK which will benefit from the funding aimed at boosting nature recovery, helping rural economies, and attracting more visitors. NLHF chief executive Eilish McGuinness said it was the 'perfect project' to start the initiative. (Image: Cumbria Tourism) She said: 'The Solway Firth's rich natural heritage has supported communities along its length since the earliest settlement. 'The heritage of millennia of human habitation are reflected in the landscape and history of the people, places and communities. 'This will be enhanced with National Lottery player support to deliver large-scale, long-term, meaningful change for the environment and its people, furthering our vision for heritage to be valued, cared for, and sustained for everyone, now and in the future." Dumfries and Galloway Council is leading the Scamp initiative alongside a list of local partners. Council leader Gail MacGregor said: 'With a potential total investment of almost £8m from the heritage fund this commitment demonstrates the huge potential of our Solway Coast to become a leading light in coastal and marine nature restoration, playing its part in helping with the nature and climate crisis. 'By allowing our coastal and marine environment to thrive we will be bringing opportunities for learning, green jobs, wellbeing and nature-related economic development to our communities.'
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
New 8pm to 8am parking ban kicks in for thousands of Brits – will YOU be impacted?
DRIVERS have been issued a warning after a new overnight parking ban kicks in for thousands of Brits. The new regulations will see motorists banned between 8pm and 8am at a popular tourist location following local concerns. Hampshire City Council has banned motorhomes and campervans from resting in Keyhaven. The new restrictions come after visitors flocking to the holiday hotspot have been leaving the area in a state. It has led to local concerns with county councillor highlighting a a massive spike in campervan numbers flocking to Keyhaven post-Covid. County Counillor, Fran Carpenter, told Birmingham Live she visited " a few days ago" and reported seeing "visible litter in the salt marsh". She said: "Campervans, some bigger than buses, were parked as far as the eye could see. "A van selling souvenirs and an Uber Eats car blocked the road while dropping off pizzas." Councillor, Lulu Bowerman, Hampshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways and Passenger Transport, warned there was a clear impact of having the larger vehicles in the area. "There are no public facilities overnight for parking, and campers use the local land, and many residents have asked for these controls to be introduced," she said. Bowerman explained "the new proposal will manage the situation". "I think the scheme would bring order to this particular beautiful part of Hampshire, and I think it's very necessary to maintain full accessible travel at all times." Additionally, she mentioned a "modest charge" in the area, which falls in line with similar locations, will deliver broader benefits to visitors. It will also help with the upkeep of the ecologically delicate area. New Pay and Display arrangements will be introduced at New Lane and Saltgrasss Lane, Keyhaven. The charges have been set at £1 per hour, up to a maximum stay of all day, operating Monday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. But as part of the new traffic management arrangements, motorhomes and campervans won't be able to park between 8am and 8pm. Award-winning holiday park in St Ives In a council press release, Bowerman said: "Proposals to introduce parking charges on two seafront roads in Keyhaven stem from local concerns about unrestricted parking, resulting in an increase of overnight stays by motorhomes and campervans. "This has led to littering and other anti-social issues linked to camping activities for which the location is unsuited. "Introducing parking charges enables the County Council to curb overnight parking more effectively and to encourage a quicker turnaround of daytime parking so more people can enjoy this popular location. "We have carefully looked at the feedback received through two rounds of consultation and believe that on balance, a modest charge in line with those in place at similar locations, will deliver broader benefits to visitors whilst importantly, supporting the management of this ecologically sensitive site.' The new charging scheme is expected to be introduced later this year. A change to parking rules at Southeastern railway stations also caught drivers off guard in February. The new regulation saw a "pay and display" machines scrapped in favour of Automatic Number Plate Recognition with drivers now having to pay for their parking online. The move was designed to be "quicker and easier" for motorists who previously had to walk to the machine and back to their car to display their ticket.
Powys County Times
4 days ago
- Powys County Times
Millions in funding secured for transport and roads in Powys
Over £10 million has been secured in levelling-up funding to improve roads and transport. MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, Steve Witherden has announced £10m secured for 'vital economic regeneration projects' in Powys. Ministers have confirmed Powys will receive an allocation of up to £10,797,949.27 in 2025/26 as part of this Government's economic regeneration initiatives, the largest amount provided to a local authority in this round of funding. The funding, which comes as part of the Levelling Up Fund scheme, will enable Powys County Council to start work on projects to boost connectivity and support the tourist economy. The scheme includes support for rights of way refurbishment and road resurfacing as well as measures focused on active travel. Powys County Council bosses told the County Times that further details on specific projects would be revealed in the coming weeks. 'I'm really delighted we've been able to secure this funding,' said Mr Witherden. 'This money will go a long way towards improving our community infrastructure across Montgomeryshire. 'I was elected last year on a promise to deliver the vital upgrades to infrastructure that we need both locally and nationally after many years of decline. 'This money will improve the state of our roads, broaden connectivity, and help to boost the local economy. 'I will continue working hard to get a fair deal for people in Powys and make sure that we build on this progress.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app The government has said that these projects will 'make a meaningful contribution to strengthening community infrastructure and connectivity in Montgomeryshire'. Simon Lightwood MP, Minister for Local Transport, said: 'This money is proof that this Labour government is serious about bringing change all across the country. Creating sustainable, local growth is a key priority for this Labour government and this funding will help deliver that. 'Improving local transport and connectivity will make a massive difference by making it easier for people to travel to work and education, visit friends and family or access vital appointments. 'I'm grateful to Steve Witherden for his constructive support and will continue to work closely with him as we deliver our Plan for Change.'
