G U L L A N E A R E A C O M M UNI T Y C O UN C I L (Representing , , Drem and ) www.gaddabout.org.uk Chairman: J D Findlay Secretary: Tracy Ann Lonie The Coach House 60 The Village, Goose Green Road Archerfield Gullane Dirleton, EH312BA East Lothian EH41 4AB

Mr Keith Scott 15 May 2015 Transport Division, John Muir House Brewery Park Haddington EH41 3HA

Dear Mr Scott

Road Traffic Order Ref. TO/13/070 High St Aberlady.

The Gullane Area Community Council would like to raise some concerns about the above Traffic order, and just as importantly, the forgoing consultation process.

This process was presumably announced in the Courier and usual public notice websites sometime early in November. As far as we can recall, there was no local advice to residents affected by the proposals, such as the neighbour notices that are published when planning applications are made. It is unreasonable to expect ordinary folk to be alert to these notices. We are now in a position where the village, which is strongly opposed to the proposals, will have to apply to the Court of Session to make their views known.

Turning to the Traffic Order itself, this introduces parking restrictions along the A198 around the corner of Sea Wynd, and into what the map attached to the Order incorrectly and rather confusingly calls The Gardens. This is a matter that was considered some fifteen years ago or more, and was firmly rejected by the village after consultation. The reasons for the village’s objection then are just as valid today.

The proposals restrict parking in order to help the flow of traffic through the village. It is our view that it will have the opposite effect. The existing traffic flow is safe and steady. People drive with care and very occasionally there is a bit of traffic congestion, but this clears itself in a few moments. The congestion clears readily because there are normally a few spaces along the Main Street where vehicles can pull in to let oncoming vehicle pass. If the parking is restricted then these existing spaces will close up and there will be nowhere to pull in, resulting in an increase in traffic congestion. That said, there may be limited advantage in restricting parking on Sea Wynd up to, and just round (no more than 10 meters) the corners into what your map labels Market Cross to the west and The Gardens to the East. We see no need to restrict parking on the south side at all.

It is also our view that the narrowness of the road improves pedestrian safety by slowing down the traffic. We have noted that at times when parking in the village is suspended, for instance for the Marathon, the pace of the traffic passing through the village dramatically increases.

The proposal will also damage the local economy. Shops, pubs and restaurants will suffer a loss of trade if there is insufficient parking to permit passing traffic to stop to visit the village.

Aberlady is a traditional coastal village with properties all along the High Street whose residents, with no access to garages, back lane parking etc, have no alternative but on‐street parking for their vehicles. The residents value being able to park close to their homes, and if parking is displaced further up the High Street, this will introduce new risks, particularly for households with young children, or the elderly and infirm. In particular, they will face the risks of having to walk some distance to and from their vehicles along, and perhaps across a road that has faster moving traffic.

Traffic congestion in the village has been a low level problem for many years and congestion, which only arises occasionally, is no worse now that it was fifteen years ago. The village is content with this. If drivers show a degree of common sense and patience, there is no issue with the traffic flow.

East Lothian Council’s role is to support local communities. These proposals do nothing for the community of Aberlady and appear to have been proposed for the benefit of the road users. If the Council wanted to manage traffic flow through Aberlady properly, they would, as we have long argued, strengthen measures to direct larger east‐bound vehicles (lorries, caravans etc) from on the B1377 via Hairlaw rather than through Aberlady. Vehicles have increased in size over the years and clearly some roads cannot be widened to accommodate them due to the proximity to properties.

In summary, we feel these proposals:  Have been introduced in an opaque and undemocratic manner  Will not have the desired effect of improving the traffic flow  Will diminish pedestrian safety by speeding up the traffic  Will reduce “passing trade” to local businesses  Will make it harder for residents to park near their houses

We ask that the Council reconsider the wisdom of this proposal, taking account of the observations above.

Yours faithfully Jeremy Findlay Chairman Gullane Area Community Council