Homeowners in North Berwick’s conservation area say the installation of 10ft-high parking poles has come as an unwelcome shock.
The metal posts, installed ahead of the introduction of parking charges, have appeared outside homes on several streets, including Tantallon Terrace and Old Abbey Road.
Residents argue that while the parking scheme itself was known, the scale and placement of the signage was not clearly communicated when the poles were given planning permission.
Homeowners say poles have altered views and privacy
Residents living closest to the new signage say the poles are having a direct impact on how their homes look and feel.
Ross Richardson, who lives on Tantallon Terrace, said a pole positioned outside his bay window was particularly jarring. He said: “From inside the house it’s the first thing you see now. That room was designed to look out towards the street and beyond, and suddenly there’s a tall metal pole right in the middle of that view.”
On Old Abbey Road, homeowner Richard Rogers said the placement of some poles raised concerns about privacy as well as appearance. He claimed: “People naturally stop to read the signs and that means standing right outside front windows. In a street like this, that changes how exposed your home feels.”
Others said the height of the poles made them visible not just at street level but from upper floors, changing the overall outlook from bedrooms and front-facing rooms.
How the poles were approved under planning rules
Because North Berwick is a designated conservation area, the installation of parking meters and associated poles required planning permission rather than being treated as permitted development.
East Lothian Council submitted a series of planning applications covering different streets, seeking consent for 27 parking meters and their supporting infrastructure.
Planning officers recommended approval, advising councillors that the slim design, spacing and positioning of the poles would preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area.
These recommendations were considered under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997, which requires development to preserve or enhance conservation areas.
Despite objections from residents and the community council, the planning committee accepted officers’ advice that the signage would not result in unacceptable visual harm or loss of residential amenity, and permission was granted.
Council response and next steps for residents
East Lothian Council says the poles form part of legally required signage to support new controlled parking zones and enforcement.
A council spokesperson said the wider parking proposals were approved following public consultation and are intended to improve access to local services, manage demand and improve road safety.
The council added that it is willing to consider requests from residents to reposition poles or replace them with wall-mounted plaques where appropriate.
“Where feasible, applications to relocate or alter signage will be considered on a case-by-case basis,” the spokesperson said.
Some residents say this flexibility has come too late, but others hope adjustments will reduce the impact on their homes and restore some confidence in how changes are managed within the conservation area.
