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Motorhomes could be banned from parking overnight at coastal beauty spots after numerous complaints from residents about problems caused by the tourist vehicles.
One disgruntled resident said the main coast road in Scarborough ‘looked like the Dover ferry terminal’ at weekends with ‘motorhomes parked bumper to bumper.’
Others have slammed rubbish being dumped, illegal parking, dumping of human waste and anti-social behaviour.
Furious residents raged they were being ‘overwhelmed’ by inconsiderate tourists and ‘cannot manage’ with the volume ‘taking residence’ in streets, in a ‘loophole’ that was being ‘abused’ by campers’.
But the move by North Yorkshire Council was also criticised by other locals who welcomed the tourist business from families in motorhomes and campervans and urged councillors to impose an overnight parking charge as an alternative.
The controversial issue will be discussed at a council meeting on Friday after officers recommended an 18-month overnight parking ban for motor caravans at three coastal sites.
If agreed an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) will ban motor caravans from parking between 11pm and 7am at the A174 Sandsend to Raithwaite road north of Whitby, Royal Albert Drive in Scarborough and Osgoodby Hill and Filey Road at Cayton Bay.
A report by council officers said these were the ‘most impacted locations.’
Furious residents raged they were being ‘overwhelmed’ by inconsiderate tourists and ‘cannot manage’ with the volume
The controversial issue will be discussed at a council meeting on Friday after officers recommended an 18-month overnight parking ban for motor caravans at three coastal sites
A similar overnight ban was enforced between 2012 and 2015 at various locations in the popular tourist area around Scarborough and Whitby.
A parking survey during the early May bank holiday found 210 vehicles parked overnight at the three locations, 73% were either motor caravans or small campervans.
An alternative option of an overnight charge was rejected as it would not solve the problem and ‘could result in exacerbating the existing adverse impacts,’ said officers.
An overnight charge could take business away from the many local campsites, the report warned.
The report detailed complaints from residents.
Lythe Parish Council complained that some motorhome owners ‘have been emptying human waste straight into the land drains which run onto the beach, or even just throwing it onto the verge or road.’
A Scarborough resident complained about ‘shambolic parking of motorhomes and other unsightly vehicles in which people are camping overnight.’ She said ‘it breaks my heart to see how things have deteriorated’ and that the ‘situation is out of control.’
Seafront trader John Senior MBE said: ‘The issue we are overwhelmed by them.
‘If they vacated during the day for day trippers there would be no problem. But they are taking up residence.
‘This is not a camp site. It is for short term visitor parking. If people want to camp over night they need to go to places with proper facilities.
‘We just cannot manage. We are open to all no one minds people coming here who are on budgets. But they are clogging things up so short time parking is clogged with motor homes rather than cars of people coming to the beaches. It needs some common sense. It is a loophole that is being abused. It is shame it has come to this. But it does need to be properly controlled or people will take advantage.’
the move by North Yorkshire Council was also criticised by other locals who welcomed the tourist business from families in motorhomes and campervans
A parking survey during the early May bank holiday found 210 vehicles parked overnight at the three locations, 73% were either motor caravans or small campervans
Adding: ‘We’ve witnessed elderly people stepping out of motor homes chasing after dogs and then falling flat on their face in the middle of the road causing us to brake sharply which is an obvious safety issue.’
Amusement arcade king James Corrigan said: ‘It is quite contentious. All visitors to Scarborough are welcome. Little camper vans are not an issue but motor homes park across four of five bays.
‘I have taken 40 or so photographs over the last few years showing them all taking up multiple spaces. Camper vans are fabulous for domestic tourism but we are a bit behind the curve solving the problem of parking provision. Every space in Scarborough is precious.’
Mr Corrigan added that the local council needed to ‘think more out of the box’.
Another commented: ‘Given the number of purpose-built facilities and camp site businesses available for motorhomes in Scarborough, I am at a loss as to why it is acceptable for these visitors to park for weeks on end toll free. Blotting the wonderful landscape.’
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transport, 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 sea front 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.’
But the proposed move has sparked a heated debate among local residents on social media with some slamming the council crackdown.
Kirsty Jackson said on Facebook: Well done to you moaning lot about campers. Now what’s them few businesses going to do on North bay?’
Peter Lines commented: ‘I am a local and disgusted by the coming ban. Motorhomers often leave the area in a better state than how they found it. If they pay the appropriate parking fees, then there should not be a problem.’
While Tony Steele wrote: ‘Now you’ve got rid of camper vans let’s get rid of 2nd Homer’s and coach trippers.
Build a wall at Osgodby and Seamer to prevent day trippers traffic jams. Close the hotels and bars. Turn them into hostels for the homeless and drug addicts Moaners never stop do they.’
