Anger over Swanage's seafront motorhomes (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Anger over Swanage's seafront motorhomes
5:00pm Tuesday 10th May 2011 in News By Jim Durkin
ANGRY residents are demanding an end to the growing ranks of parked motorhomes that obscure Swanage’s picturesque seafront.
Scores of campervans regularly arrive on Shore Road before dawn and stay all day to take advantage of the sea view, say residents.
One disgruntled Daily Echo reader said the problem had worsened so much in recent weeks, that Shore Road often “resembles a line of refugee transport”.
Complaints have been flooding into councillors, who say they will be looking into the matter as soon as the dust has settled after the elections.
Mike Norman, of Redcliffe Road, said: “These vehicles cause major obstruction to other vehicles, especially buses and commercial vehicles that have to drive on the pavements for extra room and, at the same time, be aware of open car doors and people crossing.”
Residents are calling for Shore Road to become a No Parking area – but council officials are quick to point out that any such action would also affect cars as well.
Tony Reynolds, who lives in Victoria Road, said: “The vans are no doubt fuelled up outside of Swanage and have full fridges and food cupboards.
“They pay no fees and our local caravan site owners lose out.
“They have a free sea view to wake up to and use the drains to discharge their waste.
“They contribute little or nothing to the local economy and spoil the appearance of our Victorian resort.
“On the pavement side they open their doors, tie up dogs and site folding chairs and all manner of beach items on the pavement.”
Comments(44)
Upkeep
says...
5:46pm Tue 10 May 11
I get the feeling this is all about jealousy.
Red Panda
says...
6:17pm Tue 10 May 11
Afcbpete wrote:This is so true..........we have gone away on motorhome holidays in the UK and have found so many restrictions on parking because of height and lack of parking bays that sometimes we have had to park on industrial estates and walk into town............some
The problem IS this country is Motorhome UNFRIENDLY... Which is why it's such a pleasure going over to France. They cater for Motorhomes in a big way. Over here, it's a nightmare in most towns trying to find somewhere suiteable to park. In many instances there are height restrictions and bays just not big enough. So ok ban Motorhomes, but give us somewhere thats a reasonable compromise, we pay our road taxes and fuel duty the same as everyone else and get little in return.....
times quite a distance........wher
e as I can understand the obscuring of peoples views there has to be a compromise.........p
ark and ride systems are often great for this sort of thing........and sites are not losing out...........we camp on them overnight but unlike a touring caravan (don't get me started on those) we have to uproot to go anywhere.........eno
ugh of this NIMBY culture.........wake up to reality and accept that most of the year you have a fantastic view..........you chose to live in a holiday resort so live with it............
Peggy Babcock
says...
6:31pm Tue 10 May 11
purbeckprospector
says...
6:51pm Tue 10 May 11
Have we got to wait until somebody trying to cross the road gets killed like has happened down there before?
Red Panda
says...
7:15pm Tue 10 May 11
purbeckprospector wrote:Most users park sensibly so as not to obstruct traffic............a
as a Swanage resident, and a driver who drives a lorry delivering in Swanage, the motor home problem is getting worse, they have effectivly made shore road a single track road, car have to dodge their way between them. Some of them are there overnight, 2 in particular are regular there for a week or more. Where are the owners emptying their chemical toilets? 3 guesses where? The owners of these vehicles pay alot of money to purchase them, so why cant they pay to use a campsite?
Have we got to wait until somebody trying to cross the road gets killed like has happened down there before?
nd as for those who do not then they are just giving us sensible users a bad name...........as are those who just empty their chemical toilets wherever they feel like it..........I do not visit Swanage with one as I am local and always park up on a site at night...........
I am not sure what to make of your last comment..........you only have to try and cross the road anywhere to be knocked down..............mo
torhome there or not............
MageRage
says...
7:40pm Tue 10 May 11
Shore road has become dangerously narrow with the added danger of car doors opening into the road.
Finbarr Finkelstein
says...
10:36pm Tue 10 May 11
Now is the time to do what you are claiming expenses for. Either sort out the vans or tell the whingers to wind their neck in. Either way do something
rayc
says...
11:06pm Tue 10 May 11
Motorhome users are mainly independant and do not need camp site facilities which are not in any case geared up for single night stays and are expensive.
Xchurch-man
says...
11:11pm Tue 10 May 11
So most likely as honest citizens, the council will ban them.
ronlin
says...
11:21pm Tue 10 May 11
WibbleFishBananna
says...
12:39am Wed 11 May 11
purbeckprospector wrote:A lorry driver trying to take the moral high ground, give me a break.
as a Swanage resident, and a driver who drives a lorry delivering in Swanage, the motor home problem is getting worse, they have effectivly made shore road a single track road, car have to dodge their way between them. Some of them are there overnight, 2 in particular are regular there for a week or more. Where are the owners emptying their chemical toilets? 3 guesses where? The owners of these vehicles pay alot of money to purchase them, so why cant they pay to use a campsite?
Have we got to wait until somebody trying to cross the road gets killed like has happened down there before?
There seems to be an epidemic in Dorset of being ANTI FUN & NIMBYism.
Get a life people, it is not your own personal playground. In these difficult financial times you ought to be glad that people are visiting and bringing money to the area.
Bob49
says...
1:19am Wed 11 May 11
.
Try telling it to this bunch of selfish cretins. Or try spending an hour or so at any of the viewpoints around Corfe Castle where these parasites seem to think it is their private space.
.
There's many things we would all like to do but common sense, respect for others and praticalities dictate otherwise. We are fastly becoming a society where the word 'no' is unheard of and it matters little how your actions impact on others as long as you are doing exactly as you please.
.
This greedy and pig ignorant behaviour is only possible because it is only a minority that engage in it. Were the rest of us to take this '**** you jack I'm ok' this lot would be the first to whinge that they cannot even get near the town.
.
Anyway I'm off to dust down my tent so that I can pitch it up on the clifftop along the East Cliff tomorrow. Why shouldn't I have a sea view, the same as the others who live on the cliff top have ? After all there's loads of space there, at the moment.
Motorhome owner
says...
7:19am Wed 11 May 11
It is very rare, however, for any evidence to be presented.
If there is illegal activity going on then by all means let the residents, the council or whoever obtain evidence and use it to prosecute the guilty, If, however, the motorhome owners are acting legally then do not deny them the right to do so.
poole man in france
says...
8:14am Wed 11 May 11
rayc
says...
8:48am Wed 11 May 11
poole man in france wrote:Your right about one thing, I'm hating you already.
People will hate me for this, but I'd love to see camper vans and caravans taxed off the road. They cause traffic jams, frustration and road rage. If people want to stay in caravans let them stay in mobile homes on camp sites thus avoiding conveys of these horrible tin snails clogging roads. Ah, I feel better now that's off my chest :-).
Ban campers, ban caravans, ban cars towing trailers and boats. Ban 4x4's, SUV's and MPV's. Very soon it will be the turn for your chosen mode of transport to be banned and we will then have the Government authorised peoples car which of course only the rich will afford.
saynomore
says...
10:31am Wed 11 May 11
poole man in france wrote:I drive a camper van and get fed up wioth morons like you who try and overtake when I am doing the maximum speed limit,you idiots can't see what is in front of me you overtake and oh S**t there is another car in front, brakes on, pull back and cause an accident,idiots.
People will hate me for this, but I'd love to see camper vans and caravans taxed off the road. They cause traffic jams, frustration and road rage. If people want to stay in caravans let them stay in mobile homes on camp sites thus avoiding conveys of these horrible tin snails clogging roads. Ah, I feel better now that's off my chest :-).
tonyrichards1
says...
10:52am Wed 11 May 11
Hope they all enjoy their lives while they can...good luck
rogerblack
says...
11:30am Wed 11 May 11
rook
says...
12:17pm Wed 11 May 11
There are too many people here, so anything using up space such as large vehicles parking (yes, legally) on roads which make them become single-track is crazy. It's also why the French can afford the land for specialist camp and motorhome sites. This is why people with caravans and motorhomes who want a stress-free holiday should go there.
Toby10
says...
12:35pm Wed 11 May 11
poole man in france wrote:I certainly don't hate you but your comments are cretinous and wide of the mark. I have a round trip to work of 60 miles which I do every day of the week. I rarely see a caravan or motorhome on these trips but see road rage every single day.
People will hate me for this, but I'd love to see camper vans and caravans taxed off the road. They cause traffic jams, frustration and road rage. If people want to stay in caravans let them stay in mobile homes on camp sites thus avoiding conveys of these horrible tin snails clogging roads. Ah, I feel better now that's off my chest :-).
.
Road rage is caused by drivers being unable to accept that other road users have rights. They are also unable to accept that law-abiding drivers are not required to get out of the way of others who continually break speed limits.
.
Today the govt. announced plans to introduce on the spot fines for drivers caught by police driving dangerously or without care. I thought it was a bad idea until I read your comment.
tobydog
says...
1:21pm Wed 11 May 11
I used to have a VW camper and I used to love parking down at Boscombe seafront (where you pay for the privilege) and I'd love to have a great big camper to tour around in, but again, I'd expect to pay to park and I'd want to be sure I wasn't putting other people in danger or causing a jam.
Shore Road ought to be one-way with parking bays for disabled badge holders only and wider pavements so that pedestrians can get to the beach safely.
Swanage has motorhome parking bays in the three large car parks and loads of room in the campsites for overnight stays. One of the car parks even has some of the best views of the bay!
Afcbpete
says...
3:28pm Wed 11 May 11
rayc wrote:A few things, were Aire de Service available here, the the problem of chemical loo's would be sorted, same with parking, as you rightly say, you can rarely stay for one night. As for Park and Rides, several I've seen have height restrictions, so thats a non starter. The area given over to Motorhomes need not be that large, indeed in France some parking your restricted time wise, so your not parked up during the working day. I would NEVER say Bournemouth, Poole or any other town locally, indeed ANY town I've visited in this country, to be Motorhome friendly, far from it and YES, I can't wait to get back to France and spend my money over there....
How about turning part of the main car park into an aire de camping car as per french standard with proper servicing facilities? The French know the value of the silver euro with thousands of German, Dutch, British and of course Fench touring the country all year.
Motorhome users are mainly independant and do not need camp site facilities which are not in any case geared up for single night stays and are expensive.
ledge374
says...
4:15pm Wed 11 May 11
rayc
says...
4:57pm Wed 11 May 11
The truth is I do not think the residents of Swanage want any visitors.
keithjj
says...
9:03pm Wed 11 May 11
rayc wrote:tonyrichards1, bournemouth says...
poole man in france wrote: People will hate me for this, but I'd love to see camper vans and caravans taxed off the road. They cause traffic jams, frustration and road rage. If people want to stay in caravans let them stay in mobile homes on camp sites thus avoiding conveys of these horrible tin snails clogging roads. Ah, I feel better now that's off my chest :-).Your right about one thing, I'm hating you already. Ban campers, ban caravans, ban cars towing trailers and boats. Ban 4x4's, SUV's and MPV's. Very soon it will be the turn for your chosen mode of transport to be banned and we will then have the Government authorised peoples car which of course only the rich will afford.
10:52am Wed 11 May 11
I have got a bike only and I fell off trying to overtake parked camper van. But then was invited in for tea and bis quites which was nice...so they pay their taxes and do not cause any more hold ups than lorry's, cars and my bike.
Hope they all enjoy their lives while they can...good luck”
I have got a bike only and I fell off trying to overtake parked camper van. But then was invited in for tea and bis quites which was nice...so they pay their taxes and do not cause any more hold ups than lorry's, cars and my bike. Hope they all enjoy their lives while they can...good luck
Blimey, what beer are they serving in swanage? he can hardly see a ginormous MOTORHOME (it's not a campervan) then falls off his bike! I'll have some of that but i'll have to park on the sea front because i dont drink and drive. :)
ronlin
says...
10:31pm Wed 11 May 11
rayc wrote:You hit the nail on the head .
For a county which has miles of coastline Dorset is very poorly served for places where anybody can sit in a vehicle of any type overlooking the sea. Rivers are the same, everything is privatly owned or National Trust or some such thing. The truth is I do not think the residents of Swanage want any visitors.
tobydog
says...
9:38am Thu 12 May 11
rayc
says...
11:28am Thu 12 May 11
tobydog
says...
12:38pm Thu 12 May 11
Jezport
says...
1:01pm Thu 12 May 11
poole man in france wrote:What a joke! I drive a PHGV motorhome and can drive at the legal speed limit on all but the steeper hills. it is more often that I get stuck behind small cars driven by people who are not fit to drive. I pay my road tax, insurance etc and spend all my holiday money in the UK!
People will hate me for this, but I'd love to see camper vans and caravans taxed off the road. They cause traffic jams, frustration and road rage. If people want to stay in caravans let them stay in mobile homes on camp sites thus avoiding conveys of these horrible tin snails clogging roads. Ah, I feel better now that's off my chest :-).
You have a very blinkered view of motorhomers. I hope you have a wider vision If you drive!
Jezport
says...
1:21pm Thu 12 May 11
Tony Reynolds, who lives in Victoria Road, said: “The vans are no doubt fuelled up outside of Swanage and have full fridges and food cupboards.
(I fill my van when it needs fuel. I have a family of four and a small fridge, I buy local food and we dine out and enjoy take away food and also buy milk and bread daily)
“They pay no fees and our local caravan site owners lose out.
(We pay road tax and fuel tax the same as other road users. Motorhomes are not like caravans so do not need caravan sites)
“They have a free sea view to wake up to and use the drains to discharge their waste.
(The sea veiw is free for everyone! Motorhomes have waste tanks, mine has 140ltr capacity, I have never seen a motorhomer dumping waste illegaly)
“They contribute little or nothing to the local economy and spoil the appearance of our Victorian resort.
(How do you know that? On my last trip I spent £100 on diesel and over £100 on food and around £80 on shopping and gifts. Victoroan resorts should cater for motorhomes by providing acceptable Aire style sites)
“On the pavement side they open their doors, tie up dogs and site folding chairs and all manner of beach items on the pavement.”
( should we climb out of the roof? Do cars not have doors also? When visiting a beach with children are we now not aloud to unload beach toys and chairs? Is it not more of a case that motorhomes are not catered for so that inconvenience to both the motorhomer and ather resort users is minimised?)
isnsrti
says...
3:09pm Thu 12 May 11
It comes across as poorly-organised and asking for accidents.
The road isn't wide enough for them and I think the council should reduce the number of spaces allocated to motorhomes and reduce the width of the road they are allowed to take-up.
This is my objective opinion as I don't own a motor-home and don't live in Swanage.
Afcbpete
says...
3:39pm Thu 12 May 11
Jezport wrote:Very valid points, but as I've already said, would much rather go to France. Usually FREE parking, often can park beside the sea, although some Aires may charge up to 10 Euro's for 24 hours, YES 24 hours, NOT £6.40p for only 4 hours. Please don't come up with we're only a small Island blah blah, that will only start me off on another track LOL.....
I feel I should comment on the following quotes.
Tony Reynolds, who lives in Victoria Road, said: “The vans are no doubt fuelled up outside of Swanage and have full fridges and food cupboards.
(I fill my van when it needs fuel. I have a family of four and a small fridge, I buy local food and we dine out and enjoy take away food and also buy milk and bread daily)
“They pay no fees and our local caravan site owners lose out.
(We pay road tax and fuel tax the same as other road users. Motorhomes are not like caravans so do not need caravan sites)
“They have a free sea view to wake up to and use the drains to discharge their waste.
(The sea veiw is free for everyone! Motorhomes have waste tanks, mine has 140ltr capacity, I have never seen a motorhomer dumping waste illegaly)
“They contribute little or nothing to the local economy and spoil the appearance of our Victorian resort.
(How do you know that? On my last trip I spent £100 on diesel and over £100 on food and around £80 on shopping and gifts. Victoroan resorts should cater for motorhomes by providing acceptable Aire style sites)
“On the pavement side they open their doors, tie up dogs and site folding chairs and all manner of beach items on the pavement.”
( should we climb out of the roof? Do cars not have doors also? When visiting a beach with children are we now not aloud to unload beach toys and chairs? Is it not more of a case that motorhomes are not catered for so that inconvenience to both the motorhomer and ather resort users is minimised?)
Jezport
says...
4:00pm Thu 12 May 11
isnsrti wrote:Surely it would be better to offer motorhomers a facility to park safely rather than persecute them for parking where they can?
As an unbiased Dorset person, I have to say that when I have visited Swanage over the last few years and seen the way the cars and buses have to weave in and out, I have been surprised and shocked.
It comes across as poorly-organised and asking for accidents.
The road isn't wide enough for them and I think the council should reduce the number of spaces allocated to motorhomes and reduce the width of the road they are allowed to take-up.
This is my objective opinion as I don't own a motor-home and don't live in Swanage.
Bare in mind many motorhomers have a high disposable income and France and other EU contries go out of their way to attract them.
Afcbpete
says...
6:22pm Thu 12 May 11
Jezport wrote:SOME may have a high disposable income, I'm skint, please don't assume, because many like me don't. Like my wife and I they also find it a cheaper and hassle free holiday compared to flying anywhere, especially from Bournemouth LOL...
isnsrti wrote:Surely it would be better to offer motorhomers a facility to park safely rather than persecute them for parking where they can?
As an unbiased Dorset person, I have to say that when I have visited Swanage over the last few years and seen the way the cars and buses have to weave in and out, I have been surprised and shocked.
It comes across as poorly-organised and asking for accidents.
The road isn't wide enough for them and I think the council should reduce the number of spaces allocated to motorhomes and reduce the width of the road they are allowed to take-up.
This is my objective opinion as I don't own a motor-home and don't live in Swanage.
Bare in mind many motorhomers have a high disposable income and France and other EU contries go out of their way to attract them.
groveswhitnall
says...
3:28pm Mon 16 May 11
paul.p
says...
8:00pm Tue 17 May 11
groveswhitnall wrote:I agree. It makes me wonder what all the fuss is about, the place looks like a Lego town with the bits in the wrong places with roads that don't have any markings on them so drivers don't know which side of the road to drive on.....bizarre.
I Hate Swanage! Its A Tip Anyway And Should Be Leveled!
The town council isn't much better either.
Just ban overnight on road parking for anything more than 15 foot long. that should also get rid of most of the works lorries and vans that are scattered across the area.
Simca
says...
10:22am Wed 18 May 11
Jezport
says...
10:45am Wed 18 May 11
Simca wrote:This does not solve the problem just moves it.
A problem easily solved just charge for parking on the Shore Road,we have to pay every where else so why not there? Another option no parking at all between May-Oct as is the lower part of Shore Road,its really not that hard is it.
Provide services for motorhomes and you will attract trade to the area.
tobydog
says...
10:52am Wed 18 May 11
keithjj
says...
9:33pm Sun 22 May 11
One last thing dont say things like they should be charged for parking, if you do you will finish up paying for parking, "everywhere". The next bit is for wannabe politicians, just because one person makes a suggestion it doesn't mean you can or should do it.
Pork Pie
says...
6:32pm Sat 28 May 11
If you had a choice in your car to pay £25 for a car park or park over the road for free which would you choose? A motorhome can be self sufficient for days. Campsites are for Caravans and Tents.
Why do you think so many of us disappear with our hard earned cash to France, Germany, and Italy etc? I’ll tell you why because every town and village has an Aire de Service which are often free and are just for self sufficient motorhomes. Guess what? We love them and we trundle off on our push bikes, scooters or whatever and spend our cash in their restaurants, shops and bars.
I doubt very much if anyone would dump toilet waste down a drain or in a hedge. It simply wouldn’t happen. You may see someone discharge waste water thats been used for brushing teeth or washing dishes which is no worse that you washing the car or similar at home but even then most people will hold it until they reach an emptying point.
This country is seen as the laughing stock of the European Motorhome world and they are dead right. We are backward and very unwelcoming. So not only are you sending wealthy motorhomers abroad, Johnny Foreigner motorhomer doesn’t want to come here either to face height barriers, no parking and no overnighting signs on every car park.
Still, do what you like you small minded dimwits. I’ll be off to Europe for the next few years in my motorhome and I’m taking my money with me.
JonCris
says...
3:39pm Tue 7 Jun 11
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Afcbpete says...
5:28pm Tue 10 May 11