Motor Caravan Parking Restrictions question

[Deleted User]

sammynunes said:

[Deleted User] said:

sammynunes said:

[Deleted User] said:

Herzlos said:

You're going to spend a lot of time and effort fighting the fines even if your camper doesn't technically count.

And annoy locals in the process. Park up and spend your money at places that welcome you...

We've always felt welcome by the businesses of Dartmouth on the occasions we've over-nighted on the sea-front and paid for breakfast in the morning, so who would be annoying?

The people who have complained? The council haven't spent money on signage for no reason. It's a very hot topic for costal communities around the UK.
If you want to visit South Hams, the council have five locations available, they're actually one of the more 'friendly' councils.
Take advantage of what they're offering, make it a success. If it works and they generate an income, there's far more chance that they'll increase provision in the future.

If you choose to ignore the signs, it gives ammunition to the opponents who will say that even when provision is made, van dwellers are still parking where not wanted. This can lead to more draconian measures being introduced and existing provisions being removed.

 The council offering is actually quite poor....who in their right mind is going to pay £10 to park overnight in a car park which is free for other users. What exactly are they providing for the £10?

We've used the sea front on and off in Dartmouth for years, in and out of season and it's never been overly-used by overnighters despite it being a great spot with public showers avallable. Why a council acts on the behest of a few Nimby's I'll never know.

Lots of visitors don't want to see rows of vans parked along the seafront.
Councils are under incredible financial pressures and under no obligation to offer van dwellers something for free.
Public toilets and showers cost money, emptying rubbish bins cost money, maintaining car parks costs money. Cleaning up after filthy campers costs lots of money.

 I absolutely support councils charging £10 per night. Can you not see why locals would get upset by tourists coming for a free holiday?
It's a slap in the face for those councils who are making a real effort to accommodate us, despite very vocal (and sometimes justified) opposition.

I'm saying this as someone who owns both a motorhome and a campervan and does lots of 'non campsite' living.

sammynunes

[Deleted User] said:

sammynunes said:

[Deleted User] said:

sammynunes said:

[Deleted User] said:

Herzlos said:

You're going to spend a lot of time and effort fighting the fines even if your camper doesn't technically count.

And annoy locals in the process. Park up and spend your money at places that welcome you...

We've always felt welcome by the businesses of Dartmouth on the occasions we've over-nighted on the sea-front and paid for breakfast in the morning, so who would be annoying?

The people who have complained? The council haven't spent money on signage for no reason. It's a very hot topic for costal communities around the UK.
If you want to visit South Hams, the council have five locations available, they're actually one of the more 'friendly' councils.
Take advantage of what they're offering, make it a success. If it works and they generate an income, there's far more chance that they'll increase provision in the future.

If you choose to ignore the signs, it gives ammunition to the opponents who will say that even when provision is made, van dwellers are still parking where not wanted. This can lead to more draconian measures being introduced and existing provisions being removed.

 The council offering is actually quite poor....who in their right mind is going to pay £10 to park overnight in a car park which is free for other users. What exactly are they providing for the £10?

We've used the sea front on and off in Dartmouth for years, in and out of season and it's never been overly-used by overnighters despite it being a great spot with public showers avallable. Why a council acts on the behest of a few Nimby's I'll never know.

Lots of visitors don't want to see rows of vans parked along the seafront.
Councils are under incredible financial pressures and under no obligation to offer van dwellers something for free.
Public toilets and showers cost money, emptying rubbish bins cost money, maintaining car parks costs money. Cleaning up after filthy campers costs lots of money.

 I absolutely support councils charging £10 per night. Can you not see why locals would get upset by tourists coming for a free holiday?
It's a slap in the face for those councils who are making a real effort to accommodate us, despite very vocal (and sometimes justified) opposition.

I'm saying this as someone who owns both a motorhome and a campervan and does lots of 'non campsite' living.

The parking restrictions most places have prevent long term parking. What we're talking about here is a council being "cute" because in reality there is no law against sleeping in a vehicle on the highway overnight.

You then move on to suggest that motor home owners should be a target for councils to boost their coffers....I'm not sure why that is justified (even as someone who doesn't own one). Why should a council target one group of vehicles over another?

[Deleted User]

sammynunes said:

[Deleted User] said:

sammynunes said:

[Deleted User] said:

sammynunes said:

[Deleted User] said:

Herzlos said:

You're going to spend a lot of time and effort fighting the fines even if your camper doesn't technically count.

And annoy locals in the process. Park up and spend your money at places that welcome you...

We've always felt welcome by the businesses of Dartmouth on the occasions we've over-nighted on the sea-front and paid for breakfast in the morning, so who would be annoying?

The people who have complained? The council haven't spent money on signage for no reason. It's a very hot topic for costal communities around the UK.
If you want to visit South Hams, the council have five locations available, they're actually one of the more 'friendly' councils.
Take advantage of what they're offering, make it a success. If it works and they generate an income, there's far more chance that they'll increase provision in the future.

If you choose to ignore the signs, it gives ammunition to the opponents who will say that even when provision is made, van dwellers are still parking where not wanted. This can lead to more draconian measures being introduced and existing provisions being removed.

 The council offering is actually quite poor....who in their right mind is going to pay £10 to park overnight in a car park which is free for other users. What exactly are they providing for the £10?

We've used the sea front on and off in Dartmouth for years, in and out of season and it's never been overly-used by overnighters despite it being a great spot with public showers avallable. Why a council acts on the behest of a few Nimby's I'll never know.

Lots of visitors don't want to see rows of vans parked along the seafront.
Councils are under incredible financial pressures and under no obligation to offer van dwellers something for free.
Public toilets and showers cost money, emptying rubbish bins cost money, maintaining car parks costs money. Cleaning up after filthy campers costs lots of money.

 I absolutely support councils charging £10 per night. Can you not see why locals would get upset by tourists coming for a free holiday?
It's a slap in the face for those councils who are making a real effort to accommodate us, despite very vocal (and sometimes justified) opposition.

I'm saying this as someone who owns both a motorhome and a campervan and does lots of 'non campsite' living.

The parking restrictions most places have prevent long term parking. What we're talking about here is a council being "cute" because in reality there is no law against sleeping in a vehicle on the highway overnight.

You then move on to suggest that motor home owners should be a target for councils to boost their coffers....I'm not sure why that is justified (even as someone who doesn't own one). Why should a council target one group of vehicles over another?

I'm out, we have very different views of what our responsibilities are....

lordmountararat

Why a council acts on the behest of a few Nimby's I'll never know.

Because they're the people who pay the local Council Tax.

sammynunes

lordmountararat said:

Why a council acts on the behest of a few Nimby's I'll never know.

Because they're the people who pay the local Council Tax.

I wish my council would take on more serious problems I've compained about with equal zeal.

I suppose it takes all sorts though. I live in a lane in Wiltshire where we often get camper vans parking up for the night. It annoys the bejesus out of our next door neighbour but I'll often go and have a chat with the occupants. I've even taken some visitors tea in the past.

Grey_Critic

So who did the conversion? If it was done by a professional then they would have had the vehicle registered as a motorhome. Question is does it comply with Construction & Use regulations as a motorhome or is it just a van? How is it insured?

As far as parking is concerned most local authorities do not allow overnight parking except in designated places but thyen people don't like to pay.

TooManyPoints

I suppose it takes all sorts though. I live in a lane in Wiltshire where we often get camper vans parking up for the night. It annoys the bejesus out of our next door neighbour but I'll often go and have a chat with the occupants. I've even taken some visitors tea in the past.

And I think there's the crux of your problem in Dartmouth. You don't mind camper vans parked for the night nearby, but your neighbour does. Obviously some people in Dartmouth don't like the idea of their seafront (which, IIRC, is quite picturesque) being turned into a dosshouse every night.

sammynunes

TooManyPoints said:

I suppose it takes all sorts though. I live in a lane in Wiltshire where we often get camper vans parking up for the night. It annoys the bejesus out of our next door neighbour but I'll often go and have a chat with the occupants. I've even taken some visitors tea in the past.

And I think there's the crux of your problem in Dartmouth. You don't mind camper vans parked for the night nearby, but your neighbour does. Obviously some people in Dartmouth don't like the idea of their seafront (which, IIRC, is quite picturesque) being turned into a dosshouse every night.

Dosshouse?

 

The normal class of visitor we've seen on the sea front in Dartmouth is tucked up in bed by 8 to watch TV and their worst vice is crawling round in the morning to find the most freshly ground java.

sammynunes

Grey_Critic said:

So who did the conversion? If it was done by a professional then they would have had the vehicle registered as a motorhome. Question is does it comply with Construction & Use regulations as a motorhome or is it just a van? How is it insured?

As far as parking is concerned most local authorities do not allow overnight parking except in designated places but thyen people don't like to pay.

Our van was professionally converted but it's what you might call a day van....has a bed but no cooking facilities....the DVLA weren't convinced by the microwave I'd fixed in. 

So it's a van, the DVLA think it's a car and it's insured as a campervan. Definitely not a motor caravan though.

You're right about local authority car parks, although some councils do allow overnight stays for free in their car parks. I'm looking at Shropshire for their fantastic policy.

Herzlos

sammynunes said:

Why should a council target one group of vehicles over another?

You don't think there's any difference between car users and camper users?