Dorset parking bans Californias

[Davilu]

I took this photo of the Swanage main beach car park rules in April of this year. I was surprised to see that any vehicle over 4.8m is required to use the designated bays.

 

[Kayleigh]

I took this photo of the Swanage main beach car park rules in April of this year. I was surprised to see that any vehicle over 4.8m is required to use the designated bays.

Ah, that explains why the parking enforcement officers have all been issued with tape measures!

 

[KevH]

I took this photo of the Swanage main beach car park rules in April of this year. I was surprised to see that any vehicle over 4.8m is required to use the designated bays.

Everything again hinges on the council definition of Motorhome. We know that Calis are campervans and that there is a huge difference between that and a MH, but at the end of the day it’s the council definition that counts.
But good to see that we can all use this particular car park during daylight hours.
What a ******* mess.

 

[ArunAlec]

I have a fine which I paid to attest to this.

Lyme Regis. 4.8m max length for vans adapted to cook or sleep in.

At least Lyme Regis has a decent car park that has designated Motorhome parking.

 

[Cali Phillip]

I took this photo of the Swanage main beach car park rules in April of this year. I was surprised to see that any vehicle over 4.8m is required to use the designated bays.

Even the blue badge disabled only get 3hrs free !

 

[Agnes_Cali]

I will take great pleasure to park my 5.4m long car in some of these places, since it's not camper and size restriction doesn't apply. But it's ridiculous, that's allowed, while my shorter Cali is banned.

 

[andyinluton]

I will take great pleasure to park my 5.4m long car in some of these places, since it's not camper and size restriction doesn't apply. But it's ridiculous, that's allowed, while my shorter Cali is banned.

Are you 100% sure that’s allowed ? The parking order lists the permitted vehicles - the list includes motor cars and motor homes and states that the long bays are multiuse and that permitted vehicles >4.8m must use the multi use bays. It doesn’t say that the length restrictions don’t apply to cars.

If I had a few £k spare I would love to have a legal argument with Swanage council.

If it wasn’t for the length restriction I would put a cali in a “car” bay. A M1 registered cali complies with the councils definition of a motorcar!

I also think that using Swanages rules you have nowhere to park if you are a motorhome under 4.8m

Attached is the latest version of the parking order - it looks like it’s too large to post using mobile data on a dodgy Greek mobile , I’ll try again later

 

[Fordiesdocamping]

We camped in Dorset in the spring and planned to visit Lulworth but the parking restrictions, even then, were onerous. We didn’t go, the council lost out on a potential fee, the cafe lost a sale. Nobody came out better off.
We went to Swanage instead and parked on a private CP for a couple of quid. Had a great day.
I have done the survey, told them what I thought. Won’t make a jot of difference of course but you can’t expect change to happen unless you protest.

Went to Lulworth cove last week not sure if you were visiting there? But parking for a ‘large’ van no size mentioned was £24 a day. I just said it was a car so £12. Only Disabled parking was marked out, there was tonnes of parking. You can walk to Durdles door from there but it’s uphill

 

[Hawthorn37]

Maybe we should be trying to understand the reasoning behind what is in effect a ban on parking MHs and campervans on these car parks.
My money is that there is a view that these car parks may be used as unofficial campsites.
I am going to upset a few folk on this forum now by suggesting that those who wild camp, wherever done, have inadvertently brought about this situation.
There, I have said it.
Shoot me down if you wish, but arguing about who lives where and whether a Cali is a van and/or a campervan is largely missing the point.

Agree 100%. Recently went to Castleton for a few nights (CAMC site ). Walking round the surrounding countryside there were multiple spots where camping had or was happening and the mess wasn’t nice.