Anger as tourists in campervans take over seafront parking spaces
Clevedon’s remodelled seafront parking is proving a hit with holidaymakers - with campervan owners using the spaces as an overnight stop off. North Somerset Council changed the layout of parking along The Beach[1] earlier this year as part of its £1million road scheme.
The changes saw the parking redesigned so rather than vehicles parking looking out to sea, they now park parallel to the seafront[2]. And it seems the changes - with the bigger spaces - are attracting a different kind of visitor, with camper vans parking up along the seafront overnight in recent weeks.
Parking restrictions are in place along the seafront[3] meaning people can only stay in the spaces for a maximum of four hours. The parking restrictions are in force every day between 8am and 6pm - but not in the evenings.
Local residents and businesses say the campers are taking up valuable spaces for other visitors and that the vehicles are blocking the view to the seafront[5]. Others claim the campers are staying there for numerous days, with no traffic wardens on site to move them on.
Some people say the campers are preventing them using the spaces in the evening to visit bars and restaurants while residents in the area are struggling to find a space to park outside their homes at night. Save our Seafront[6] spokeswoman Cathy Hawkins said: “The changes to Clevedon seafront have been shown to be even more crazy with camper vans parking on Saturday night for free and all day Sunday.
"Encouraging visitors to Clevedon is great for business but camper vans parking on the limited seafront spaces for days is not. We want North Somerset Council to put the seafront[7] back to what it was before and stop this nonsense and remove the unused dangerous cycle lane and parking chaos."
North Somerset Council said as long as the campers use the bays within the permitted times, they are not breaking any rules. A North Somerset Council spokesperson said: “Timed parking restrictions are in place on The Beach[8] every day between 8am and 6pm, with a maximum stay of four hours.
"Outside these times there are no restrictions in the timed bays, but restrictions apply at all times in the disabled bays and loading bays.Vehicles, including campers[9], displaying a valid blue badge can park without time restrictions at any time in these bays according to government rules.
“Vehicles below a certain weight limit, which would include most campers, are legally entitled to park on the highway[10], so as long as they are not breaking the time restrictions in place, they are not breaking any rules. Camping on the highway is illegal and should be reported to the police.”
The controversial changes to the seafront[11] started this week and is expected to be completed by the autumn.
References
- ^ The Beach (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ seafront (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ seafront (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Somerset folk can't access numerous public areas after insurers dump council (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ eafront (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Seafront (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ seafront (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ The Beach (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ campers (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ highway (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ seafront (www.somersetlive.co.uk)