North Yorkshire Council Plans to Reintroduce Campervan Parking Restrictions

North Yorkshire Council is planning to reintroduce parking restrictions for campervans in several Yorkshire Coast towns, including an area of Scarborough.

The restrictions, which were previously in place from 2012 to 2015, were lifted due to a large number of objections from the campervanning community. However, a recent surge in the popularity of campervanning, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to an increase in complaints from residents. This has prompted the council to reconsider its stance and propose the reintroduction of parking restrictions.

The council is initially focusing on three high-profile areas: Sandsend, Royal Albert Drive in Scarborough, and Cayton Bay. These locations were chosen because they have been the subject of numerous complaints and represent areas where restrictions were previously in place but were allowed to lapse in 2015.

The council plans to implement an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) in November 2024, which will prohibit overnight parking for motor caravans in these three locations. The ETRO will be in place for a trial period of 18 months, with a public consultation running alongside the trial for the first six months. The consultation will include the Easter 2025 holiday and school holidays, allowing for feedback from a wider range of stakeholders.

The council is also considering restrictions for other sites, prohibiting waiting, rather than overnight parking.

A petition against the proposed ban on overnight parking for motorhomes in Scarborough, specifically on Royal Albert Drive, was received by the council. The petition, containing over 1,128 signatures, was presented to the Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee on 3 October 2024. The petition argued that a ban would negatively impact local businesses and suggested turning parts of Royal Albert Drive into an "Aire" with a modest charge for overnight stays.

In response to the petition, the council clarified that all highway aspects pertaining to the overnight parking of motor caravans were considered in a report presented to the Corporate Director Environment and Executive Member for Highways and Transportation on 9 August 2024. The report concluded that an ETRO was the most appropriate course of action to address the concerns raised by residents and businesses.

The council also addressed the petition's suggestion of introducing overnight charging for motor caravans, stating that it was not currently proposed. This decision was based on concerns that charging would not alleviate the existing adverse impacts on amenity and could exacerbate them. Additionally, the council does not wish to compete with or harm local campsites.

Helen Watson is the local authority's Highways Improvement Manager:

Following the six-month consultation period, the council will compile a report summarizing the feedback received. This report will be presented to the Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee in the summer of 2025. The committee will then provide its recommendations to the Director of Environment and the Executive Member for Highways and Transportation. A final decision on the implementation of permanent restrictions will be made in autumn 2025.

The outcome of this process will shape the future of campervan parking in the region and will require a balance between the needs of residents, the interests of local businesses, and the desires of campervan enthusiasts.