A decision to ban parking near a popular reservoir despite no alternative car park being in place came under fire from Midlothian councillors this week.
A meeting of elected members was told a clearway which was introduced at Gladhouse Reservoir between April and October last year was being put back in place this year again.
The action which restricts parking along the U80 Gladhouse Road which provides direct access to the reservoir was required to ensure safe access for emergency vehicles, officers said.
READ MORE: Popular Midlothian reservoir parking ban amid claims wildlife 'chased and hurt'
However it was criticised by some councillors who said it effectively stopped local residents from enjoying the reservoir and questioned why a car park, which Scottish Water who operate the reservoir had promised to build for visitors was still not open.
Councillor Stephen Curran told the meeting: "We received a circular from Scottish Water last year that said the car park would be in place by spring/ summer this year so it is disappointing to see this clearway back.
"It is important that we put pressure on Scottish Water to bring the car park forward."
Earlier the council's chief officer place Derek Oliver told members a planning application for the car park had been lodged with the local authority by Scottish Water.
He said: "It had originally been planned that the clearway order and car park would coincide but this did not materialise."
Mr Oliver told councillors that last year's order while attracting public protests also received some support.
He said: "It has significantly improved road user issues along with less antisocial behaviour and less damage to the verge (of the road) and fencing."
And he said Scottish Water had funded a ranger, who is employed by the council to monitor and challenge behaviour at the reservoir.
However Councillor Peter Smaill questioned what the ranger would do all summer if the parking ban was in place.
He said: "What is currently happening is that there are virtually no usable car parking spaces left so nobody can get here when the clearway is on.
"We have this wonderful leisure facility that actually costs the council nothing to operate and we are effectively, for this year at least, banning the general public from using it.
"So we now have a warden with very little to do because so few people will be able to access the reservoir."
Councillor Smaill said previous discussions about the road had involved local landowners rather than the public adding that "95 per cent" of the public use the road responsibly.
He told councillors it would have been better to hold off for a year and see how the season went before bringing back the clearway.
The report on the proposals was for councillors to note with the decision already made by senior officers.
The local authority introduced the clearway for the first time last year after after reports of wildlife being chased and hurt, and claims of assaults, public urination and litter dumping.
It was reported more than 100 cars had been recorded at the reservoir at any given time during the summer months with vehicles parking on grass verges, regular damage to the surrounding area and emergency vehicles unable to access it.
Council officers said at the time: “Visitors have been parking on the grass verge and often erect large campsites, with general antisocial behaviour, including ‘wild toileting’ being reported.”
The reservoir is a Ramsar site – a protected wetland because of a population of pink-footed geese.
It is also home to a large number of greylag geese as well as other waterbirds from tufted ducks to greater crested and little grebes.
Councillor Kelly Drummond supported the parking restriction saying: "It is a beautiful spot and I would fully encourage people to enjoy what it has to offer but this has to be done in a manner that is safe and does not put people at risk."
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