Motorhome and campervan bans have triggered a major backlash across England, with critics labelling them as "knee-jerk" rules that threaten tourism. Local authorities and councils are introducing bans and restrictions on campervans and motorhomes parking up in various locations.
Campaigner Warns Against Bans
Donald McDonald, Founder and President of the Campaign for Real Aires, warned that the "knee-jerk reaction from a lot of local people for a lot of things is 'ban it, ban it'." He argued that such bans simply displace the problem rather than solving it. "If you put a ban in place that's actually quite suitable, it just moves the problem somewhere else," he said.
McDonald emphasised that motorhome users are willing to pay for parking, provided the fees are reasonable. "We're not advocating free parking. People would be quite delighted to pay for parking, but it's got to be reasonable," he stated.
Opportunity for Local Businesses
He urged councils to work with motorhome users rather than banning them outright. "If you've got the space, accommodate it. Work with us and take advantage of a group of fairly affluent people who have got time to travel off-season and spend money in local businesses," he said.
Drawing a comparison with France, McDonald noted that there, motorhome users can easily travel from village to village without encountering bans. "In France, you can just go from village to village. If it's full up, you go to the next one. There's no big plan, you just travel," he explained.
Councils Seeking Advice
Since the lockdown, the Campaign for Real Aires has seen increased interest from councils. "We've been working hard since lockdown, and now more councils are coming to us. We're viewed as a safe pair of hands that can give good advice," McDonald said.
He clarified that the campaign supports reasonable regulations. "If people don't pay, they get fined. We're not saying there shouldn't be rules," he added. McDonald also highlighted that responsible motorhome use is common, citing his own experience: "I've just spent seven weeks in the south of France, and I've not seen any litter."
Example: Saltburn Ban
From June, visitors to Saltburn's Marine Parade will only be allowed to park in existing marked parking bays on the north side of the road. Motorhomes will not be permitted to park in unmarked areas at any time. The ban aims to tackle growing safety, litter, and overcrowding issues. The move was first announced in August by Redcar and Cleveland Council following complaints about vehicles, the local authority has said.
