Motorhome and caravan drivers in England face new '18 month ban'
Motorhome and caravan drivers have been warned a ban could be launched in a major region preventing thousands of drivers from parking for 18 months. The ban is being brought in by North Yorkshire Council after reports of anti-social behaviour and warnings of the risk of fire where large numbers of motorhomes were parking up.
The trial - at a parking spot on the A174 near Whitby, in part of Scarborough's North Bay, and in Cayton Bay - would be reviewed after six months, the authority said. Councillor Keane Duncan said: “We know how important the tourist economy is to the Yorkshire coast and motorhomes are as welcome to park on the seafront as any other vehicle during the day.
“However, extended stays, which usually include significant numbers of motorhomes parking overnight, are causing issues for nearby residents and are posing a serious safety hazard." A petition was launched shortly after the ban was announced, amassing thousands of signatures within the first few weeks.
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It read: “If you push them out of town then they will either avoid Scarborough altogether or spend less time and less money in the town and on the seafront. Turn parts of Royal Albert Drive into an Aire and charge a modest amount per night up to let's say three nights at a time.
“Enforce a ban on tents, fires, BBQs as they obviously belong on a campsite. And make the parking accessible for decent-sized campers and RVs. As a Council, it noted that you installed chemical toilet facilities at the public toilets on Royal Albert Drive, so we would presume this was to encourage RV's and campers to stay.”
Keane Duncan, the senior North Yorkshire Conservative councillor in charge of transport, said motorhomes could still be parked on the seafront during the day as normal. But he warned that extended stays, usually including significant numbers of motorhomes parking overnight, were posing a "serious safety hazard".