Motorhomes over 5.5 m Banned
I have learnt that East Suffolk Council has banned all motorhomes over 5.5 m long from parking in all of their coastal car parks from Lowestoft to Felixtowe.
This is absurd given that the country is trying to recover from covid 19 by opening up and generally encouraging visitors to come and spend money in staycation holidays.
I encourage evryone to lobby the council and try to get them to change their mind
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Unless they have MH specific spaces, if we went and parked in one of their car parks, we would take up two spaces plus extend into the access road. So the policy seems fair enough to me. I am sure the car owners and campervan owners feel the same, as they are more likely to get a place. It was our choice to go for a 6.94 m MH, whilst I appreciate any efforts made to provide parking, I don’t see it as a right. You don’t say if you would be prepared to pay extra (over and above the car fee) to park.
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Out of respect for residents, and other folk in general, I won't be lobbying the Council, Fizzy. In fact, I'm surprised they've not banned all MHs.
As Steve said, it's my choice to drive a large vehicle (6m) and I don't expect special treatment.
With regard to spending money locally, consider this. A MH over 5.5m will occupy 2 parking bays and usually contain no more than 2 people who will probably bring their own food and drink with them. Two cars in those bays will probably contain at least 4 people who will most likely visit local cafes/takeaways.
Which makes the most economic sense?
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I’m not a Motorhomer nor do I dislike them, I do dislike the selfish attitude of some of the Behemoth owners. Dalby Forest last week-1 Moho took up 5 car spaces due to the fact if they parked correctly they’d stop all traffic. They wanted to be at staindale lake I’m thinking but didn’t want to walk to it. 2nd one-one of the couples I was with had to reverse 300yds due to a behemoth refusing to reverse. Btw-his partner had to walk behind him to stop any other vehicles from getting into the queue. This is the very first time I’ve ever seen this so it is obvs only a few bad uns. As per it’s the minority spoiling it for the majority🤷🏻♂️☹️
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Yes I have no problem paying for 2 spaces if that is what it takes.
However, my point is i cannot now visit these towns because there is nowhere to park.
the campsites i would normally use are several miles inland and no way of using public transport into them.
I am thinking specifically about Aldebrough, and Southwold and also Size well.
No other local authority in England has banned motorhomes from using their carparks that i am aware of. (happy to be proved wrong)
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I’m thinking - use different campsites, use taxis, use bikes... We motorhomers are not special cases, Fizzy.
Numerous car parks throughout the country have height barriers which prevent MHs using them.
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Southwold is certainly easily reached from the CAMC site at White House Beach, Kessingland. 20 minutes on the costal clipper, which runs every hour. Bus stop about half a mile from the site.
The thing we like about our change to a MH, is how easy it is to move on. We would have a couple of nights at WHB and get the bus to Southwold, then move on to another site convenient to say Aldebrough.0 -
There is a petition here trying to persuade the Council to change their minds. It does seem this Council is discussing how they might reach an accommodation in some car parks for motorhomes longer than 5.5 mts long so perhaps all is not lost. Just a shame they didn't come up with a coherent strategy before banning everything? Ever being the optimist perhaps signing the petition might just nudge them into a positive decision?
David
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No other local authority in England has banned motorhomes from using their carparks that i am aware of. (happy to be proved wrong)
not banned them, but most or our car parks have height barriers or similar calming measures, local councilor told me yesterday that they are going to introduce an £80 fine for anybody using 2 bays, unless you have bought 2 parking tickets and any vehicle protruding out into the roadway £80 fine, this is to stop those who go nose in to a bay with sea view then have rear sticking out into the road.
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We were under no illusions that it would be particularly easy to park, although National Trust properties are often accommodating, particularly if you give them a ring first. However, it’s so easy to move on and with a little research we can usually find somewhere within public transport distance of what we want to visit.
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Whilst I am not averse to a bit of a walk and regard a "prime sea view" as a real bonus, prohibition from car parks anywhere in the county seems singularly discriminatory. Do they wish us to utilise the benefit of our expensive VED and park in side streets?
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According to that council's website the inability to park a motorhome over standard parking bay applies to seaside parking.
eastsuffolk.gov.uk/visitors/parking-services/larger-vehicles-and-campervans/
Larger vehicles and campervans
Campervans and larger vehicles which cannot ordinarily fit in standard parking bays are permitted in some East Suffolk car parks, where there are bays which can accommodate them. However, these vehicles must not exceed 5.5m in length.These car parks are:
The Grove, Felixstowe, IP11 9GA
Manor Terrace, Felixstowe, IP11 2EN
Clifflands, Felixstowe, IP11 9SJ
Landguard, Felixstowe, IP11 3TW
Iken Cliff, Iken, IP12 2EN
Sutton Heath Picnic Area, Sutton Heath, IP12 3TG
Sutton Heath, Sutton Heath, IP12 3TA
Upper Hollesley Common, Upper Hollesley Common, IP12 3HU
Slaughden, Aldeburgh, IP15 6DE
Thorpe Road, Aldeburgh, IP16 4NR
Belvedere Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0PR
Harbour Quay East, Southwold, IP18 6TA
Southwold Pier, Southwold, IP18 6BN
Please also be aware that while all suitable vehicles are permitted to remain in our car parks overnight, no ‘camping’ (ie sleeping in vehicles) is allowed.0 -
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Thanks Wherenext . That's the Aldeburgh problem solved and Southwold Camping/Caravan site will do for that town as well. Why do motorhomers want car park spaces in both those towns? Tear up the petition.
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Discrimination can sadly occur in many ways (race, sex, religion...) however where you can park your motorhome is not one of them.
Also VED reflects how much CO2 your vehicle emits for the first year and nothing to do with where you can park or even which roads you use. Car parks are owned by someone and why do you think just by having a large MH you are entitled to park in them no matter what?
(There is a supplement if over £40,000 but you choose to buy over that price)
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There does appear to be a distinct "them and us" stance in the responses in this thread. It is rather sad that there is still an antipathy towards owners of motorhomes.
I wonder if there would be the same degree of indifference if car parks prohibited any vehicle over 5.5ft wide or caravans outside urban areas were only allowed to use dual carriageways and motorways to prevent impairment of progress of other vehicles?
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Gone are the days when you were renown for your fairness of posting CY. You now help create the antipathy with your uber partisan posts☹️
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I think MH owners have got to be a bit more realistic about what they are contributing to an area. If a local authority has a car park with say 100 spaces, they would probably only fit 30 / 40 MH’s in the same area. I wonder how many would be prepared to pay the £15 a day rather than £5 to make up the loss. They would be far better turning it over to coach parking which brings in many more punters ( per sq metre of parking space) wanting to spend money in the local economy.
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"Why do motorhomers want car park spaces in both those towns? Tear up the petition."
Because not everyone needs to stay overnight - you might just want to stop off for lunch on a coastal tour, before pulling into a site for an overnight stay.
Aldeburgh and Southwold are less than 50 miles from me and a very pleasant day out on a sunny winter or spring day. An ideal way to give the MH a run.
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I think that now you have a motor caravan your posts seem more skewed ,in the content
As for your latest post it seems you have a need to think through what you have posted ,by banning caravans? From certain roads to prevent impairment? Would also need to ban any other vehicle that is also only allowed to travel at the lower than the 60mph national speed limit. for single carriageway roads
As posted by many on here it is the few inconsiderate users of any facility ,that spoil it for the very many, who think how their actions may/ could affect others that all suffer the consequence
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It never enters my head that Iwould be allowed to park a caravan for the day on a town centre seaside car park, but motorhomers seem to think it should be permitted for them. Why?
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Could you post one quote of antipathy towards owners. As far as I can see some people have said is, in essence, if you buy a large MH you shouldn't expect to park it as easily as a car. Your choice.
If I bought a car over 5.5 ft wide under your rules then it's my problem when to park it.
Car parks are owned by someone, be it the local council or privately. They can make whatever rules they want as to who can park in it.
Actually as a caravaner I am limited to 60 mph on motorways and 50 mph on single carriageway roads so I should shout discrimination as certain MHs can go faster?
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