Last week, the East Lothian Council started eight weeks on the city's high street, which lasted until the end of March, to improve the road and footpath.
However, a late decision to add a charging bay outside the police station in a “popular equipment area” with benches and planters has angered a number of residents.
Read more: Council that is accused of “undemocratic behavior”
Now the North Berwick Community Council has started a petition entitled “Save the Apparity Space at the police station”.
The room consists of four benches, along with two planters that are entertained by North Berwick in Bloom. The area that is reset from the street is popular with residents and visitors.
The East Lothian Council said that the loading of loading bay was created after the consultation with companies. It emphasized that the benches and planters would be retained.
In a statement on the petition, the North Berwick Community Council said: “The equipment room in front of the police station in the North Berwick High Street is currently being redesigned.
“Benches are retained, but a charging bay is being built in the room, so that individuals and groups that use the seating area that are exposed to traffic and exhaust gas vapors.
“The calm and calm of the room – one of the only places on the main street where people can sit in the sun – will be lost.
“The design currently installed is neither the design that made East Lothian Councils and voted on January 21 of the cabinet, nor the design that was published before the work.
“The decision to change the plans was not exposed to a suitable democratic process. Many group groups that use space are against the new design.
“We signatories call the East Lothian Council and chose the city councilors of East Lothian to reverse the undemocratic decision to build a charging bay and to keep the equipment area.”
Read more: Section of the North Berwick High Street closed for traffic for eight weeks
The petition, which is available at Change.org/p/save-i-ama-Space-at-the-polic station, has so far been signed by more than 80 people.
In a comment on the petition, one of those who signed: “The loss of this public convenience for the benefit of a business – without public consultation – is undemocratic, a waste of precious public.”
Another said: “This area was a fabulous room to rest, chat, wait and just enjoy the main action. Perfect space if you have mobility problems or buggies. I'm so disappointed with ELC, especially as you have explained, especially as you have explained that accessibility is a priority.
North Berwick in Bloom manages the equipment area. His chairman Libby Morris said: “The equipment area outside the police station was restored in 2022 for its original purpose.
“It has become a popular place for people to sit, meet, make snacks and contacts.
“Everyone supports the shops and they do not have to be loaded in the seating area. 'On the movement', an alternative loading area on the south side of the High Street suggested.”
Brett Walker, chairman of On The Move, a group in the North Berwick Coastal Area Partnership, which aims to promote sustainable trips and improve access, said: “What exactly is going on in the offices of the offices [the council’s] Street services that can make such a change only two weeks before the start of construction without dialogue for a long -approved plan?
“At least two of the three local council members knew nothing about the change that takes away one of the most valuable rooms in the city.
“Yes, the benches can be maintained, but intimidating trucks and vans, probably when idle, will be in the faces of the people (and lungs).”
A spokesman for East Lothian Council said: “The proposal to record an additional loading/discharge bay in the High Street in North Berwick emerged from ongoing engagements and consultations with local companies.
“As part of the layout plan for the seating area, the existing four benches are kept together with planters. Two of the larger wood planters were laid on both sides of the seating area. The layout of the loading bay has a curb line to differentiate it from the footpath. This applies to the other keys along the High Street.
“It was always intended that this seating area would continue to support those who live, work and visit the main street, and the shop is naturally a very temporary activity.
“The Council tried to improve the area and at the same time better improve the High Street in order to improve security and benefit the residents, companies and visitors.
“These improvements are temporarily presented using an experimental traffic regulatory order (ETRO). The ETRO gives the Council the opportunity to monitor the suggestions in practice. This also enables the public, companies and community groups the opportunity to withdraw when they experience the measures on site.
“The Council will take over all comments on board to determine whether the changes work and whether they should be permanently, changed or removed. A report will then be brought to the cabinet in the future.
“In the meantime, the Council welcomes further discussions with community groups at the locations of the larger wooden planters.”