Camping warning as numbers increase at beauty spot

PD Ports, which owns the land at South Gare, say people should not be camping overnight there

Visitors to a beauty spot have been warned it is "not a certified camping site" after concerns about an increase in numbers.

Thousands of people visit South Gare, a privately owned peninsula at the mouth of the River Tees, each year.

But the narrow South Gare Road can become congested with mobile homes and caravans – making access difficult, according to the local democracy reporting service.

PD Ports, which owns the land, said it would "continue to monitor the situation".

One local said on one day he'd counted 162 vehicles in the area

Some residents said they could no longer park at the Gare on busy days.

Alan Wallis said he had previously counted 162 vehicles in one day in the area.

“Come the weekend you can’t move for them,” he said.

“It’s a joke now, it’s gone way too far now, with even more vehicles than last year,” he added.

Coatham ward councillor Carl Quartermain said he was aware motorhomes and caravans have been using the area for years.

"I have been alerted to an increase which some may feel is affecting the ambience and the view," he said.

A PD Ports spokeswoman said: "South Gare was built as an operational breakwater by the Port Authority in the 19th century.

"The Gare is not a certified camping site and does not have the appropriate facilities for such purposes."

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