EL Business Parking Charges Impact Survey

This survey has been organised by local East Lothian business representatives to quantify the concerns of town centre businesses with regards the potential impact of parking charges on their business.

Whilst the Council has agreed in principle to introduce parking charges across all the towns listed (and residents permits for some), only North Berwick is currently proceeding. All other towns are waiting for East Lothian Council to publish Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) which will provide further details of the individual schemes. It is expected that across all towns the free wait time on town centre streets will be 30 - 45 minutes with charging thereafter - as opposed to the current 90 minute free parking provision. The period of enforcement will also vary for each town. Many car parks will also be subject to restrictions.

Please visit this website for further details about the proposals for each town.

This survey is only intended for those businesses whose operations will be directly impacted by the proposed charges. If you wish to comment as a business that operates outwith the town centre please email hello@ourdunbar.com

2.Do you think there are problems with parking in your town?

Parking is very problematic all year round

Parking can be an issue but only during the peak summer months

There are a few issues that better policing would resolve ie existing controls are adequate

There are a few issues in other localities of the town that need better controls

No issues at all

Other (please specify)

3.Considering local bus services for you, your staff (or volunteers) and customers. Do you feel they are:

Excellent and serve the community well

Good, but timings of services are restrictive

Limited and only serve a small number of areas / populations

Very limited and make it difficult to travel without a car

Especially limited for rural communities who have no alternative travel options

4.What type of business are you?

Other (please specify)

5.How long have you been trading in the High Street or town centre.

Less than 1 year

1 - 5 years

6 - 10 years

10 + years

6.How long do customers typically stay when visiting your business?

Less than 15 mins

15 - 30 mins

30 - 60 mins

More than 1 hour

8.What specific impacts do you expect (tick all that apply)?

Other (please specify)

10.Would parking charges change how you operate?

Yes

No

Unsure

12.How confident do you feel about your business's long term viability if charges are introduced?

13.Is there anything else you'd like decision makers (ELC staff and elected officials), to understand about how parking charges could affect your business or the High Street as a whole?