After the quiet winter months, Easter is the time of year when traders look forward to visitors arriving in greater numbers. However, Berwick Borough Council has started a three-month scheme to reorganise the layout of the car park and improve pedestrian safety.

John Woodman, Conservative candidate for Bamburgh Division for the forthcoming unitary council election, said: "It's hard to understand what went through the mind of Berwick Council when planning this work.

"The driving force of the economy of this area is tourism. Tourism needs visitors and it needs visitors to leave their cars and spend money. That is what car parks are for.

"Since last October the car park has been largely empty. After the summer holidays, it will again be little used. So why now? It's another sign of the lack of support for small businesses by our council."

He has been speaking to businesses which have taken on staff for the holiday period but are now worried many visitors won't bother to stop.
The council had given business owners no warning of the work and no indication how long it will last. On top of that, repairs to the cobbles at the war memorial roundabout being carried out by Northumberland County Council are taking longer than expected.

Berwick Borough Council environmental maintenance manager Chris Budzynski said: "Major improvements will be taking place at Seafield car park over the next few weeks. The opportunity is being taken to reorganise the layout of the car park and improve pedestrian safety.

"The whole area up to the entrance of the coach park will be resurfaced. This will be done in three stages; the first will take in the area around the entrance to the leisure centre, the second phase the area around the toilets and the final phase will be alongside the Tourist Information Centre.

"The grass overflow area to the rear of the car park will be the main parking area for the duration of the works. The contractors will endeavour to keep as much area of the existing car park open as possible, and there will always be access to the coach parking. The works will also be completed by the end of May or at the beginning of June before the car park becomes really busy for the tourist season.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause but hope that visitors and local residents who use the car park in the future will benefit from the improvements."

Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Conservatives' Parliamentary spokesman said "This highlights the importance of good pro-active communication between the council and businesses. You need people taking decisions in the council who care about our businesses to make that happen."