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The quiet coastal town of North Berwick has unexpectedly become the center of intense opposition following East Lothian Council’s introduction of parking meters. This move has sparked what authorities are calling an “unprecedented” wave of resistance. Several parking machines have been severely damaged, with the destruction estimated at nearly £40,000. Vandals targeted the meters before they even started collecting fees, coating them in glue and other substances to render them useless.
According to Police Scotland, these acts of vandalism are “unacceptable,” and those involved will be found and “held accountable.” The council’s new parking scheme aims to offer motorists up to 45 minutes free parking on the town’s High Street, which lies roughly 30 miles from Edinburgh. After this initial grace period, charges of £1 apply for up to 75 minutes and £2 for a maximum stay of 90 minutes. The system is designed to encourage turnover of parking spaces to benefit local businesses and visitors.
The introduction of the meters has, however, been deeply divisive within the community. A council meeting in December descended into chaos, with car horns blaring outside and one man being removed after shouting “shame” at councillors. Locals working to implement the changes have reported harassment, while new signage around the town has been defaced with the word “Resist.” Many of the meters themselves have been disabled with glue—some card readers are glued shut, and one meter near the seafront was found covered in a sticky black substance. Out of 40 newly installed machines, 30 have been damaged, resulting in substantial repair expenses.
Residents express mixed feelings about the situation. Some claim that the council ignored a petition bearing 7,000 signatures challenging the plans, and hundreds objected during the initial consultation. Jackie Allbrook, a local shopper, described the vandalism as “senseless” but acknowledged that it stems from frustration: “Somebody at some point has just felt that it is the only way to get their point across. But it is going to cost more money for someone to put it right.” Meanwhile, residents like James Campbell worry that imposing parking charges will harm the local economy. He lamented, “It’s going to kill this town… There won’t be any footfall here, people won’t come.” On the other hand, some locals criticize the protesters. One woman, who requested anonymity, said, “If you want to park there in a great big car, put some money in the meter,” and condemned the vandalism as a poor example for younger generations.
The rollout of the scheme, originally planned to start in early November, has been postponed until April. East Lothian Council insists this delay is unrelated to the vandalism. Community councillor John Wellwood is advocating for a legal review
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