Motorhomes being victimised

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Nov 11, 2009
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Probably not the sort of responses they expected?


I am fairly sure that clamping by private companies is forbidden by law?
Who do you think clamps cars on behalf of DVLA?

“In exceptional cases, the police, the local council or the DVLA can instruct a private company to clamp your car, but only with good reason”
 
Jul 18, 2017
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Who do you think clamps cars on behalf of DVLA?

“In exceptional cases, the police, the local council or the DVLA can instruct a private company to clamp your car, but only with good reason”
Therefore m/h parking is not a good reason especially if it is not causing an obstruction and is legally parked with reference to your post.
 
Nov 6, 2005
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Therefore m/h parking is not a good reason especially if it is not causing an obstruction and is legally parked with reference to your post.
Under the Road Traffic Acts, any parking without authority is obstruction - "If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way willfully obstructs the free passage along a highway he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding ..."
 
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Jul 18, 2017
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Under the Road Traffic Acts, any parking without authority is obstruction - "If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way willfully obstructs the free passage along a highway he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding ..."
I did mention that it is not creating an obstruction in my post? In addition, if they are parked in a proper parking bay why would they be illegal?
 
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Nov 16, 2015
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No way would I sign anything. As a caravan owner i pay to stay on a recognised site and dispose of waste properly, why shouldn't all MH owners do the same. Our local council is having to close beachside toilets as they're being swamped with black waste from motorhomes.
I think it would be a wise move by councils in popular areas to provide Black waste spots for a nominal fee.
 
Mar 14, 2005
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As far as I know provided owners have paid their relevant taxes and duties, we all have equal opportunity to access and use public highways. The same is true of owners of campervans, as it is of caravan owners and indeed all road users.

In certain places there are legal rites to wild camp, and in urban areas there are local by-laws that can define what vehicles may use certain roads, and the same for parking restrictions. This means that some vehicle types may experience more of less restrictions such as no HGV's or Pedestrians have Priority, Taxis only or Bus lanes, permit holders only etc etc.

Some people based on what vehicle they have may be able to do things that you can't, and vice versa. Most of these restrictive limits are applied to larger or commercial vehicles, and private cars usually have greater freedoms than most other classes of vehicle.

Most of the restrictions are applied by local authorities rather than government. So if you think you have a legitimate complaint about a local issue then take it up with the relevant authority,

Not all motorhome and camper vans cost big bucks, some have been home conversions done on a shoe string budget becasue the owners don't have as much spare cash as well heeled caravan owners, and they cant afford the cost of some sites, or perhaps they don't like the site, so if wild camping is allowed in your area, they are not falling foul of any laws or moral rights.

As Beachball constantly reminds to each their own.
 
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Jun 20, 2005
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The majority of County Councils , I exclude Town and Parish Councils, have provided temporary accommodation for “Travellers”for some years. No charge but basic facilities.
I am sure the OP will be made welcome.
 
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The majority of County Councils , I exclude Town and Parish Councils, have provided temporary accommodation for “Travellers”for some years. No charge but basic facilities.
I am sure the OP will be made welcome.
I doubt there's any vacancies, there's always a shortage of travellers' sites because of NIMBYism - nobody wants them nearby.

There's much debate in many parts of the UK about introducing a "tourist tax" which would generate revenue towards the extra cost of providing facilities for visitors, levied as a nightly fee at hotels, guest houses, self-catering accommodation, holiday parks and campsites - those parking motorhomes at the roadside will be very much the target of any new regulations to prevent tax evasion.
 
Jun 20, 2005
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I doubt there's any vacancies, there's always a shortage of travellers' sites because of NIMBYism - nobody wants them nearby.

There's much debate in many parts of the UK about introducing a "tourist tax" which would generate revenue towards the extra cost of providing facilities for visitors, levied as a nightly fee at hotels, guest houses, self-catering accommodation, holiday parks and campsites - those parking motorhomes at the roadside will be very much the target of any new regulations to prevent tax evasion.
The “Tourist Tax” will be collected at source like VAT. The roadside MH will need a Council paid employee to give them the appropriate ticket. Then someone in the office to chase and collect.
How do the Local Authority make it economic to enforce? A bit of a dilemma .

In my small town we get a Wiltshire Council Traffic Warden half a day once a month.
 
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I think it would be a wise move by councils in popular areas to provide Black waste spots for a nominal fee.

I Disagree ! Why should local council tax payers pay?
There are camp sites - let them use one for a night (or more) where such facilities are properly provided ! I resent freeloaders !
Hutch said 'for a nominal fee'. If that covered the operating cost of the facility the people using it wouldn't be freeloading. It would certainly help, but I suspect that some people would still opt for the free option (empty the black waste behind the nearest bush).
 
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Sam Vimes

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Sep 7, 2020
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As I mentioned in a previous discussion about Tourist Taxes, the funds derived from this need to go back to supporting the communities in which it was collected. How you would ensure this I've no idea.

In the Loch Lomond-Trossachs area there is already a permit scheme for most of the year whereby there are a number of defined camping areas. These are for tents, campervans and motorhomes. More details below. We believe there are a number of wardens but I can imagine some would be faced with potential abuse if they ask someone to move on. £4.20 per night upto 3 nights in one area.

 

Sam Vimes

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Just as a follow up -

We've just returned from a long holiday in Cornwall, without the caravan, which includes a long drive there and back from Skye. It was very noticeable, both on the roads and in public places, that caravans are much in evidence in the south but Motorhomes/Campervans are more predeominant in the north. Of these motorhomes a good percentage are rental vehicles.

As someone mentioned previously, and is typical of much legistlation, its the minority of 'me firsts' that spoil it for the rest.
 
Nov 11, 2009
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I’ve been along many riverbanks, and into parks but never felt the need for the council to provide such a grandiose piece of public art as a meeting place. In these straightened times I’m amazed they can defend spending that amount on such a creation. I guess the local graffiti artists will appreciate it.
 
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Jul 18, 2017
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I’ve been along many riverbanks, and into parks but never felt the need for the council to provide such a grandiose piece of public art as a meeting place. In these straightened times I’m amazed they can defend spending that amount on such a creation. I guess the local graffiti artists will appreciate it.
Some of these so called bits of art are totally unrecognisable from their title and just look like pieces of scrap metal stuck in the ground!
 
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Jun 6, 2006
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The excellent Pit Stop on the M4 Jn17 has 87 truck pitches and most nights they are full. We use it sometimes for breakfast or occasionally a late meal if we are heading back home. But like you our local business park has HGVs parked up overnight. Sometimes there will be an occasional MH parked up in the business park.

Land adjacent to the Pitstop will be redeveloped to include 65 brand new HGV parking spaces along with 15 new dedicated van parking bays and 45 new car parking bays also being added.
IONITY are also set to add an additional 12 electric vehicle chargers here, utilising parking bays next to the existing chargers. Works were set to commence in October 2024, with the new parking areas anticipated to be in operation from early 2025.


Recently a caravan pitched up on one of our roads, skylight open, even had the tv aerial extended. No sign of a car or even a person. But it gained an enforcement notice and one day just disappeared.

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All around Glastonbury is littered with people living in their vans, I would think most of them are not towable, some I am surprised they don’t just disintegrate they are that bad.
 

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