An advocacy group has called for the end of motorhome and caravan overnight parking bans in place across the UK after highlighting the benefits they provide the local economy.
Campaign for Real Aires UK highlighted that vehicle owners spend between £47 and £50 per night in local areas when provided with suitable overnight parking facilities.
The organisation flagged the “huge benefits” the vehicles provide and reported that 82 per cent of motorhome owners travel throughout the year, dispelling myths about seasonal tourism.
“It’s not people sat round sharing a tin of beans with a cocktail stick,” CAMpRA’s director Carolyn Mitchell told the BBC.
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Motorhomes and campervans have been banned from parking in areas due to heightened fire risks
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According to CAMpRA’s previous research, there are more than 350,000 registered motorhomes in the UK, contributing to an annual spending of £850million.
A charity-run campsite in Woodhall Spa has demonstrated the success of providing overnight motorhome facilities through its European-style Aire initiative.
Jubilee Park manager Rachael Meller said the site now attracts five to six motorhomes nightly, with increased numbers during weekends and events.
The site operates during winter months when the main campsite is closed, offering basic facilities such as waste disposal and water. “Anything we make goes to supporting the charity and it also benefits the local community,” Meller explained.
She noted the minimal operational requirements, as visitors are self-contained and don’t need access to shower blocks or toilets.
The initiative, which began during lockdown, primarily attracts retired people visiting local attractions and restaurants. “Without this provision, the local area would miss out on the additional revenue,” Meller added.
The plea for more overnight parking follows a recent spell of motorhome and caravan bans across the UK. Towards the end of last year, the City of Lincoln Council banned motorhome owners from sleeping overnight in council-owned car parks, citing fire safety concerns.
Joshua Wells, the council’s portfolio holder for the council said vehicles were being parked too close together, “creating a fire risk.”
But CAMpRA’s director called the ban “short-sighted,” arguing it ignores the benefits of accommodating motorhomes near amenities and shops.
Similar restrictions have been implemented in other areas, with North Yorkshire Council launching a trial ban at three coastal sites in November.
Residents in Morecambe have previously complained about what they called a “plague of motorhomes, campervans and even vans with mattresses chucked in the back” along the seafront.
However, some areas are embracing motorhome tourism, with plans recently approved for overnight parking at a car park in Cleethorpes.
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Motorhome and campervans have been banned from parking in numerous spots across the UK
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But Ceredigion County Council has taken the opposite approach and proposed new overnight parking restrictions for motorhomes and caravans in Aberystwyth as part of a wider parking overhaul.
The restrictions would prohibit overnight parking between 11pm and 8am along key routes including King Street and New Promenade.
Meanwhile East Lothian Council implemented new overnight parking restrictions for motorhomes across its coastal areas, operating from 11pm to 4am between April and September.
Councillor John McMillan said: “While it is no surprise that people are attracted to our beautiful beaches, these are wild spaces, and the majority do not have the infrastructure or facilities of a formal campsite.”
