Overnight campervan parking said to be "biggest complaint in Morecambe" as ban talks continue

Campervans and motorhomes parking on Morecambe Promenade is the "biggest complaint" among residents with "anger about it everywhere" - Lancaster City Council has been told.

Councillors debated the issue of motorhomes and campervans parking on the Prom and in council car parks during a meeting on Wednesday.

A motion by Labour councillors had called for an outright ban on parking in council-run car parks.

But following a lengthy debate, councillors instead voted to 'consider' a ban in Morecambe, rather than immediately banning them.

Councillor Margaret Pattison, who brought the issue before the meeting of full council on Wednesday, said her intention was "not to stop campervans and statics visiting Morecambe, it's to stop overnight parking on the highways and in our car parks, for environmental health".

"For many decades tourists have visited our resort for the stunning beauty and views across Morecambe Bay, and enjoyed our Promenade, all of which are cherished and enjoyed by Morecambe residents," she said, during the meeting at Morecambe Town Hall.

"Campervans down the Promenade have been a feature of that. However in recent years, especially this summer, some of the owners of such vehicles have been using our Promenade in a way that is reducing the beautiful views, with inappropriate use of our local environment.

"We are here today to take on board our residents' concerns.

"Our highways, car parks and Promenade are to provide temporary parking for vehicles and not to act as a camp site."

She said some campervans were "staying for six months at a time".

"After the summer we've had, we just can't have this any more," she said.

"We've had so many complaints. It looks a mess.

"There's nothing in Morecambe after 11pm. There is no need for campervans and statics to park on Morecambe Promenade.

"It needs a ban on Morecambe Promenade at night, between 8pm and 8am."

Councillor Kate Knight, of the Conservatives, said: "Morecambe doesn't necessarily shut at 11pm.

"This weekend we have several hundred punks arriving for the Morecambe Punk Festival. Two weeks ago we had a dance music event with over 800 in attendance that certainly didn't finish at 11pm. They don't all go to bed at 11pm!"

Councillor Roger Dennison, of the Morecambe Bay Independents, said: "It's rather a confused proposal.

"As far as I'm aware, (Lancashire County Council) have originally suggested that they've already got a programme about doing something about parking on the Promenade. It's becoming more confusing, because there's this thing now about banning campervans in council car parks.

"One of the problems is, that if a campervan owner parks and uses a hotel overnight, that's what sometimes overnight parking is for.

"The overnight parking van that already exists relates to people occupying vehicles parked overnight.

"The other problem is, if we (ban campervans in council car parks) we lose revenue. And if people leave the car parks, where are they going to park? On the Promenade."

He called for a "more coherent proposal".

Councillor Claire Cozler, of Labour, said: "This is the biggest complaint we get all the time.

"We get what are you going to do about parking on the Promenade?

"I've seen people cooking on the Promenade, I have seen people emptying chemical toilets on the Promenade. It's not pleasant. It's not hygienic. It's against another bylaw about using gas appliances on the roadside.

"People who are cooking could create a real amount of danger on the roadside for residents. I totally support this."

Councillor Paul Hart, of the Liberal Democrats, said: "It's a county matter. It's really good to see our county councillors engaging with this.

"It is years late. Ominously, there is a call for even more talking and consultation.

"That bothers me. If you go out and about in Morecambe, you'll find there are really strong feelings about this. There is anger about it everywhere.

"There is a tremendous public pressure to simply make an order to stop these vehicles parking overnight on the Promenade. I feel that time has run out. we've really got to get something done. We need this to be enacted now. What we can't do, is kick this can down the road."

Councillor Gina Dowding, of the Greens, said: "I fully support the sentiment of getting rid of the campervans on the Promenade and I really understand that this has been a long-standing problem and it really is infuriating for residents, businesses and hotel owners.

"But this was debated in this chamber two years ago. 

"Banning campervans on the Promenade requires a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) and they are not cheap.

"We really tried to press them to take some action. There might be other changes to traffic when Eden opens, so additional measures might be required.

"So two years ago, they were saying this TRO costs a lot of money, has to go through a whole legal process, and they were very reluctant to do something that costs money with no return, so they came up with a scheme for the introduction of pay and display (on the Promenade).

"So there were the makings of that dialogue and it just needs taking forward. There is absolute support.

"But to bring it again to Lancaster City Council is a bit questionable. It needs heads knocking together (at county level) about how it's going to be funded. It's not just a matter of saying 'let's do this'.

"There are 72 (campervan parking) sites in the district. Hundreds and hundreds of spaces for people to go, but they have to pay. 

"How much trade are we going to lose by campvervans not going in any of our car parks across the district?"

Councillor Andrew Gardiner, of the Conservatives, said: "She's right, we have already debated this once already. Eden is the issue. Until Eden's road systems are approved, the county council won't spend any money on TROs. That's a fact.

"I totally agree, it's a big issue. We need to resolve it. But (the motion is) too airy-fairy. I can't support it. It needs to be rewritten for the good of all the residents in Morecambe."

Councillor Roger Cleet, an Independent, said he would support the motion, but asked if it would also include "wagon units who park on Morecambe Promenade, waiting until 7am to get their loads at Heysham".

"They are all over the district but do tend to park quite often on the Promenade," he said.

Councillor Pattison said this could be discussed if a working group was formed.

After a number of amendments were suggested to the original motion, councillors voted by a majority to:

• Engage with partner organisations, including Lancashire County Council, Morecambe Town Council and Lancashire Constabulary, to seek to enact a ban on overnight parking on Morecambe Promenade for camper vans and motorhomes.
• Consider a ban for overnight parking across all Lancaster City Council car parks in Morecambe for camper vans and motorhomes.
• Establish a working group with partner organisations, to explore alternative locations which can be used by camper van and motorhome users within the district.

All councillors voted in favour except Conservatives, who abstained.

Read more: Vote to be held in Morecambe on overnight parking ban for campervans - Beyond Radio

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