Whitby motorhome parking campaign

Kate Taylor · Nov 13, 2015

Whitby may be most famous for its key location in Bram Stoker's Dracula novel, but now there's some real-life night time drama that may interest you!

Motorhome parking campaigner Andy Strangeway has organised a series of motorhome meets in Whitby to challenge the 'no motorhome parking' rules. You can read all about it in the North Yorks Enquirer's news story and also on Andy Strangeway's Wordpress website.

A few nights ago, Andy organised motorhome meets in 'no motorhome parking' areas in Whitby and notified the town and county council. The council did not issue penalty notices.

As we understand it, there are a few defences regarding the 'no motorhome parking overnight' rule:
1. If there's no PCN Code for a type of vehicle, the council can't issue a parking ticket. Whitby has no PCN code for a motorhome.
2. No motorhome parked had a table – As a motorhome that does not contain a table is not a motor caravan, as per the EU Directive, the restriction does not apply.
3. If some of the motorhomes might contain new travellers, then it comes under New Traveller legislation. So the council would have to give 48 hours to 14 days notice to leave an unauthorised site.

Meanwhile, the article says that Andy's planning another motorhome meet overnight on 5 December.

We'll watch with interest and we're grateful to reader Richard Ineson for drawing our attention to the latest in this ongoing story.

In the meantime, for those who would much rather avoid any risk of conflict, disturbances and parking fines we do recommend that you use our fantastic motorhome-friendly Nightstops. They're all legally permitted to welcome five motorhomes overnight, thanks to the Practical Motorhome Nightstop scheme with our friends at the Motor Caravanners' Club.

gjh · Nov 13, 2015

So this idiot is back onto motorhomes after falling out with UKIP is he? Last time he indulged in this lunacy (Huttoft) he didn't even have a motorhome, just a Fabia estate.
He knows very well that NYCC will not respond to these stupid stunts just so he can feed his ego.
The current parking orders are the result of public consultation which took into account the needs of all sections of the community, not just a few motorhomers who want somewhere free to stay overnight.
All this will do is harden attitudes against motorhomers in general and we will find more and more places barred to motorhomes in the day time as well as overnight.

Graham

gjh · Nov 14, 2015

Last night, when I first read this thread, I was in a bit of a hurry so the tone of my previous post reflects my frustration with Strangeway's antics as much as anything else.

Now that I have more time, let's examine the "defences regarding the 'no motorhome parking overnight' rule" that Strangeway claims exist:

1. If there's no PCN Code for a type of vehicle, the council can't issue a parking ticket. Whitby has no PCN code for a motorhome.
All the legislation (The Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (England) General Regulations 2007) requires is that the PCN states the grounds on which the civil enforcement officer serving the notice (or the enforcement authority if service is by post) believes that a penalty charge is payable. The legislation makes no mention of a "PCN Code". The PATROL association has agreed a set of codes which are used by all its members for simplicity. Code 01 is "Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours" which covers the restrictions on motorhome parking in North Yorkshire completely.

2. No motorhome parked had a table – As a motorhome that does not contain a table is not a motor caravan, as per the EU Directive, the restriction does not apply.
Most motorhome owners will know that the Registration Certificate (V5) contains a Body Type of "Motor Caravan". Merely removing the table (whether temporarily or permanently) has no effect on the status of the vehicle, it is still a Motor Caravan.

3. If some of the motorhomes might contain new travellers, then it comes under New Traveller legislation. So the council would have to give 48 hours to 14 days notice to leave an unauthorised site.
What on Earth is "New Traveller legislation"? Try Googling the phrase. "New Traveller legislation" simply does not exist. Strangeway is probably displaying a lack of understanding of S77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. It is true that that section requires a LA to issue a notice directing unauthorised campers to leave land but that is a separate matter from a liability to pay a fine arising as a result of issue of a PCN and it does not prevent a LA from making (and enforcing) an order restricting parking.

There are 10 streets in the Scarborough District Council area which are affected by the NYCC order banning overnight parking of motorhomes, 4 of them in Whitby. As NYCC itself points on its Motorhome Parking Page, "Any other unrestricted road remains available for motorhome parking.". There is, therefore, plenty of scope for people to overnight on street in the area if they wish, just not on the restricted streets.

If Strangeway and his supporters continue with their campaign it will do motorhomers no good at all. Council members and officers will be given the impression that motorhomers are selfish people who will just take what they want. That will increase the likelihood of further facilities for motorhome overnighting being refused.

I would hope that PMH, as a responsible publication, would distance itself from Strangeway's actions.

Graham

rayjsj · Nov 15, 2015

gjh said:
So this idiot is back onto motorhomes after falling out with UKIP is he? Last time he indulged in this lunacy (Huttoft) he didn't even have a motorhome, just a Fabia estate.
He knows very well that NYCC will not respond to these stupid stunts just so he can feed his ego.
The current parking orders are the result of public consultation which took into account the needs of all sections of the community, not just a few motorhomers who want somewhere free to stay overnight.
All this will do is harden attitudes against motorhomers in general and we will find more and more places barred to motorhomes in the day time as well as overnight.

Graham

Not everyone is 'Just looking for somewhere to stay Free overnight' as you state, a lot, US included are just looking for somewhere to park LEGALLY during the day, for shopping and sightseeing, for which we are quite prepared to pay a reasonable fee, ANY action which increases the amount of parking spaces (for daytime Parking) I am wholeheartedly behind, I am fed up with being discriminated against because of the vehicle I drive, which is no differant from thousands of Commercial vehicles. Whose side are YOU on ?? or are you another that only Motorhomes on the Continent and has no sympathy with us who Tour in the UK ? If I lived closer to where this Guy is staging his protests I would be very tempted to join him, Time to choose sides and show that we are NOT just a 'Few'.

gjh · Nov 15, 2015

rayjsj said:
Not everyone is 'Just looking for somewhere to stay Free overnight' as you state, a lot, US included are just looking for somewhere to park LEGALLY during the day, for shopping and sightseeing, for which we are quite prepared to pay a reasonable fee, ANY action which increases the amount of parking spaces (for daytime Parking) I am wholeheartedly behind, I am fed up with being discriminated against because of the vehicle I drive, which is no differant from thousands of Commercial vehicles. Whose side are YOU on ?? or are you another that only Motorhomes on the Continent and has no sympathy with us who Tour in the UK ? If I lived closer to where this Guy is staging his protests I would be very tempted to join him, Time to choose sides and show that we are NOT just a 'Few'.

I think you will find that there are rather more parking restrictions which affect commercial vehicles than motorhomes. Indeed, many height barriers are in place to prevent commercial vehicles from taking up spaces to the detriment of others, not to prevent parking by motorhomes.

As regards the continent, I have never held a passport so all my touring is in the UK and I have no problems parking

I am pleased that you are wholeheartedly behind any action which increases the amount of parking spaces for daytime parking. There are rather more available now than when I started my web site some 9 years or so ago and started contacting councils to encourage provision. If rather more than a handful of people would make constructive approaches to councils then perhaps even more progress could have been made

Graham

516yuanyuan · May 16, 2016

maggyd. · May 18, 2016

There is parking in Whitby for motorhomes , as well as the park and ride there is parking on West Cliffe both along the road and in the three car parks up there.

What they dont allow is overnight parking and as there are plenty of camp sites in the area so what is the excuse besides saving money is there ?

TonyJones · May 18, 2016

I'm not familiar with the situation in Whitby, Maggy, but in many cases the problem with UK campsites is that, for motorhomers, they're in the wrong place.
Motorhomers (mostly) don't have additional transport with them, and most sites are too far from the towns or other attractions they serve. Understandably, as they were originally planned for caravanners and tent campers.

The beauty of the continental system - especially in France - is that "Aires" are often at or near the centre of a town or village, or right by an attraction. Plus, overnighting is permitted by default, wherever a car can be left overnight (as long as nothing is deployed outside).
It's not just about saving money (although UK site fees are another subject!) - it's about what "works" for people using different sorts of leisure vehicle.

gjh · May 19, 2016

You are right, Tony, but at the same time there simply isn't sufficient demand and/or there aren't suitable sites for the establishment of campsites in most town centres. If there were then people would have set them up and be making money from them.

Having said that, unless there is a local restriction there is nothing to stop anyone overnighting on street so long as normal parking regulations are complied with. Even in Whitby that is the, case apart from 4 specific streets and any streets with restrictions affecting all vehicles.

Graham

maggyd. · May 19, 2016

There is a good site opposite the golf course and another I know of up behind the Abbey area both just a Good stretch of the legs as some would say.

I don't think U.K will ever have the same parkings as on the Continent Tony our councils arent far sighted enough , but where I live near Redcar there is a lovely aire type parking looking out to sea, and if you have a bus pass you can be in Whitby in 30 mins.

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