'Thousands of complaints' over motorhome parking

Royal Albert Drive on Scarborough’s North Bay is among the locations where a trial restriction on overnight motorhome parking is in force

Thousands of complaints have been made about motorhome owners parking outside people's houses since North Yorkshire Council banned the vehicles from parking overnight in three areas, a meeting heard.

The trial ban - which applies in Sandsend, part of Scarborough's North Bay, and in Cayton Bay - was launched last November.

But parking has been displaced to other areas, where some motorhome users had been hanging washing on hedges, using public taps and intimidating residents, a councillor claimed.

The council said a review of the ban would look at the impact on surrounding areas.

The ban affects the A174 Sandsend to Raithwaite road, Royal Albert Drive in Scarborough and Osgodby Hill and Filey Road in Cayton Bay.

The trial means that campervans are not allowed to park at the locations between 23:00 and 07:00.

North Yorkshire Council said the changes were prompted by an "unprecedented level" of complaints about overnight parking and concerns over safety.

'Unintended consequence'

More than 2,000 complaints have been made by residents since the ban came into force, Councillor Rich Maw told a meeting.

"Campervans are now parking directly outside homes overnight, discharging grey water into verges, using public taps, hanging washing on hedges, and in some cases causing noise and intimidation," Maw said.

​"These incidents are being logged weekly by residents with the police and highway officers - in fact, I am aware of at least 2,000 incidents having been reported."

He said he believed the traffic order had been introduced "in good faith" but had "simply moved the problem rather than resolved it".

Councillor Malcolm Taylor, executive member for highways and transportation, said he was aware the ban had had an "unintended consequence".

He confirmed that a review of the trial would look at options including the reinstatement of overnight parking on Royal Albert Drive with enforcement and signs in the affected residential areas, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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