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Calls grow for overnight camper van parking ban on Morecambe Promenade

Motorhomes and camper vans should be banned from parking on Morecambe Promenade between 8pm and 8am, say councillors.

Morecambe Town Council wants to see tougher action on motorhome owners who park on Marine Road for days.

The town council will write to highways bosses calling for an overnight ban and clear signage warning camper van drivers not to park.

Residents have long complained about large numbers of motorhomes parking for free along the Prom, saying they cause nuisance and pollution.

Councillor Geoff Knight of the Morecambe Bay Independents said large numbers of camper vans were parked on Marine Road East and opposite the Frontierland site over the recent bank holiday weekend.

"I'm not anti-camper van but some of these vehicles cost up to £50,000 or more, only they don't want to pay to park on a camp site," said Councillor Knight, speaking at a meeting at Morecambe Town Hall on Thursday.

He also said that motorhomes had recently been banned from parking overnight on promenades in Lytham and St Annes, and there was a similar ban in place in Arnside.

Town councillors were united across parties, as they spoke out in favour of getting tough on camper van parking on the seafront

Councillor Claire Cozler of Labour said: "In Brighton if you have any Calor gas appliances within your motorhome you can't park anywhere near the front.

"I used to live on (Morecambe) Promenade. They are there for weeks on end. It's dangerous, people using Calor gas appliances on the Promenade with open flames."

Councillor Jim Pilling of the Liberal Democrats said: "I've seen several HGVs parking there overnight too, waiting for the ferry at Heysham. This should have been looked at years ago."

Councillor Joanne Ainscough of Labour said the only reason motorhome owners don't use designated parking sites around the local area "is because it's all over social media that you can park for free on Morecambe Promenade".

In December 2022, a Morecambe resident blasted camper van owners who she said use the town as a "permanent personal car park".

Susanne Smith spoke out while presenting a petition to Lancaster City Council calling for the council to provide facilities within Morecambe car parks for visitors with motorhomes or camper vans.

At the time, she was told that the city council had met with Lancashire County Council bosses, who are in charge of highways in Lancashire, to ask for Marine Road parking restrictions.

A draft Traffic Regulation Order was in place but the county council had asked for new pay-and-display facilities elsewhere on Marine Road to recoup any costs, which could prove an obstacle.

She was also told that providing facilities for camper van owners to stay overnight in existing car parks would be costly.

Motorhomes/camper vans can already park in specified Lancaster City Council car parks, but sleeping in these vehicles on council car parks is not allowed.

Read more: Morecambe resident blasts motorhome owners for using town as "personal car park" - Beyond Radio

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