Northumberland no overnight stay

[barge1914]

This county seems somewhat hostile to motorhomes. Lots of car parks with height barriers, others with long detailed prohibitions including overnight parking and no sleeping in vehicles.
Apart from the more longwinded prohibition signs at pay and display parking others like this have appeared in places such as Boulmer. This has no wording on the front or rear relating to any TRO, bylaw or anything else. I wonder if these are legal or enforceable, or can be regarded as simply ‘advisory’ and intended as ‘offputting’?
Does anyone local in Northumberland know the background to and status of these?

 

[izwozral]

How do you define area? Does it mean within an inch of the sign or 50' or even 50 miles?

 

[barge1914]

A very good question since it doesn’t say so. I don’t think they’ve really thought it through. Another reason to question its enforceability.

 

[barge1914]

Now esconsced at Newbiggin. It says car parking only. But what is a car? My van is cat. M1, I have the privilege of being taxed the same as a new car, ergo I must be a car. Anyway it doesn’t say I can’t sleep here, and it still seems to be a POI.

 

[Robmac]

There is also a 'No fouling' sign with a picture of a dog with a red line through it.

I'm pretty sure my dog would ignore that. Perhaps they should have said either 'no dogs' or 'Please clear up after your dog'.

 

[Moonraker 2]

More and more prevalent in this country, we haven't moved on much from the no Irish no gypsies mentality of the last century.

 

[barge1914]

There is also a 'No fouling' sign with a picture of a dog with a red line through it.

I'm pretty sure my dog would ignore that. Perhaps they should have said either 'no dogs' or 'Please clear up after your dog'.

Yes true. But the ones round here also ref. the applicable legal order and state the fine to which the owner is liable...so I wouldn’t be taking my chances on them being enforceable...even if I had a dog.

 

[jann]

Day time parking is easier in most Northumberland car parks, as a lot of places are disc parking without a charge

 

[Fisherman]

The simple fact is I am embarrassed when chatting to Europeans we meet up here. We are treated like crap, by narrow minded idiots with to much power. I have seen some terrible behaviour in car parks but never from us. But we are easy targets for these nimbys.

 

[runnach]

The simple fact is I am embarrassed when chatting to Europeans we meet up here. We are treated like crap, by narrow minded idiots with to much power. I have seen some terrible behaviour in car parks but never from us. But we are easy targets for these nimbys.

Bill, can you honestly not see why venues are not opened up as you wish ?

Kenspain and others regularly updates what is happening in Spain, only the other week police moving people on because the authorities were fed up of rubbish and effluent being dumped irresponsibly on the beaches and car parks

It’s little wonder the authorities here who must also be aware, fail to even consider wild camping.

 

[izwozral]

There is also a 'No fouling' sign with a picture of a dog with a red line through it.

I'm pretty sure my dog would ignore that. Perhaps they should have said either 'no dogs' or 'Please clear up after your dog'.

That's handy, doesn't show a human fouling with a red line through. Saves filling the cassette!

 

[runnach]

That's handy, doesn't show a human fouling with a red line through. Saves filling the cassette!

Re my Spanish comment above yours Ral emptying cassettes seem more the issue.

On a cs at the moment a large behemoth of motorhomes here at the weekend , bar one all cleared off yesterday ,,,,one decides to open his grey tank and spill its contents all over the car park , I am well aware only water with a bit of food debris and detergent but what message does it send to those passing by ? This is the type of clown who at a spot like Bamburgh would get parking /wilding shut down it doesn’t take many to ruin it for everyone else

 

[Fisherman]

Bill, can you honestly not see why venues are not opened up as you wish ?

Kenspain and others regularly updates what is happening in Spain, only the other week police moving people on because the authorities were fed up of rubbish and effluent being dumped irresponsibly on the beaches and car parks

It’s little wonder the authorities here who must also be aware, fail to even consider wild camping.

Andrew I am not asking for venues to be opened up as I wish.
All I ask is that we are given some reasonable consideration, and treated equally and fairly.

I could quote you plenty of examples were carparks have been vandalised, where people leave their rubbish behind them, where they behave appallingly, and nothing is done about it. I have never wild camped in Spain so my knowledge of what’s going on there is limited. but if people behave like that charge them, fine them, name them. But don’t treat the vast majority of decent motorhomers as if the are leppors.

Take a look at St. Andrews up here.
Every summers day hundreds of cars turn up.
The beech and their carpark are left in such a state their cleansing dept has to clean up the mess every day. Dog £$%^ everywhere. The toilets are left almost unfit for use. And all they have done is stop overnight parking. They even make Motorhomes there, and many local residents have Motorhomes parked in their driveways. Yet again we alone are singled out for special treatment, whilst the culprits are free to return each day.

I am not asking for one penny to be spent on us, anything done for us should be cost neutral. What’s going on in Fife and in particular Lochore should be a template for the future.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

That spot at Boulmer, it was a couple of grumpy local residents who didn't like camper vans parking up at any time, never mind overnight. They badgered the council to get signs erected. Real shame as it was a really good spot for a stopover. There is a nice little public loo there open 24 hours looked after by a local resident who, as far as I'm aware, didn't mind the camper vans either. The beach and immediate sea is used by people flying kites, using jet skis and small boats, general beach-type pastimes etc.

The top sign is about not digging for lugworms and has nothing to do with using the car park.

There's a good pub there, we used to have a meal if we stayed overnight, the landlords were fine about the mohos in that carpark overlooking the sea as they got good extra business as a result and knew it. Boulmer is a tiny two-bit hamlet. In the winter months you don't get much passing trade. The income they used to get from the local RAF base vanished overnight when it shut down just a few years ago. So the ban on moho parking they were not happy about one bit.

I suspect that while a lot of 'residents' around those parts (not just Boulmer) may well be actual long time residents, a lot might also be second-homers, as in holiday homes. And believe me, the second homers in certain places in Northumberland are some of the worst kind. A large percentage are from London and the South. I have a friend (a geordie) with a holiday home herself on the Northumberland coast up that neck of the woods and the tales she tells me about her 'ex pat' holiday home owner neighbours would shock you (maybe not?). A lot are stockbrokers etc. Got me spitting feathers, I can tell you, and I don't even live there! They contribute absolutely zero to the local economy, and as to what they do to put spanners in the works the rest of the time for people who actually reside there full time.... need I say more? And they wonder why there's a north-south divide!

So it's not always just down to irresponsible mohos who cause problems for other mohos, it's can also be down to truly selfish nimbys with absolutely no valid reasons to object. Where the mohos could park at Boulmer is well away from blocking their views etc.etc. I could go on, but what's the point? {yawn}....

PS Northumberland is not Spain, channa, the inside story on this particular hamlet we've actually heard first hand from friendly residents and it has nothing to do with mohos leaving crap behind.

 

[Fisherman]

That spot at Boulmer, it was a couple of grumpy local residents who didn't like camper vans parking up at any time, never mind overnight. They badgered the council to get signs erected. Real shame as it was a really good spot for a stopover. There is a nice little public loo there open 24 hours looked after by a local resident who, as far as I'm aware, didn't mind the camper vans either. The beach and immediate sea is used by people flying kites, using jet skis and small boats, general beach-type pastimes etc.

The top sign is about not digging for lugworms and has nothing to do with using the car park.

There's a good pub there, we used to have a meal if we stayed overnight, the landlords were fine about the mohos in that carpark overlooking the sea as they got good extra business as a result and knew it. Boulmer is a tiny two-bit hamlet. In the winter months you don't get much passing trade. The income they used to get from the local RAF base vanished overnight when it shut down just a few years ago. So the ban on moho parking they were not happy about one bit.

I suspect that while a lot of 'residents' around those parts (not just Boulmer) may well be actual long time residents, a lot might also be second-homers, as in holiday homes. And believe me, the second homers in certain places in Northumberland are some of the worst kind. A large percentage are from London and the South. I have a friend (a geordie) with a holiday home herself on the Northumberland coast up that neck of the woods and the tales she tells me about her 'ex pat' holiday home owner neighbours would shock you (maybe not?). A lot are stockbrokers etc. Got me spitting feathers, I can tell you, and I don't even live there! They contribute absolutely zero to the local economy, and as to what they do to put spanners in the works the rest of the time for people who actually reside there full time.... need I say more? And they wonder why there's a north-south divide!

So it's not always just down to irresponsible mohos who cause problems for other mohos, it's can also be down to truly selfish nimbys with absolutely no valid reasons to object. Where the mohos could park at Boulmer is well away from blocking their views etc.etc. I could go on, but what's the point? {yawn}....

PS Northumberland is not Spain, channa, the inside story on this particular hamlet we've actually heard first hand from friendly residents and it has nothing to do with mohos leaving crap behind.

Marie great post, and none of it surprises me in the least.

 

[izwozral]

Don't get me started on second homers - oh well, here goes. There is a lovely little hamlet near Hawes, it's called Burtersett, it has lost it's pub, it's post office, it's shop and 90% of it's houses to second homers. Not all southerners, in fact most are from up north, In all the years I have been into Burtersett, I have only ever met one couple, who themselves were long time second homers, even they complained about the new influx of holiday home buyers.
What chance have the local young people of getting a house in the area they were brought up in, when outsiders with money to burn can buy for their annual two week holiday?

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Don't get me started on second homers - oh well, here goes. There is a lovely little hamlet near Hawes, it's called Burtersett, it has lost it's pub, it's post office, it's shop and 90% of it's houses to second homers. Not all southerners, in fact most are from up north, In all the years I have been into Burtersett, I have only ever met one couple, who themselves were long time second homers, even they complained about the new influx of holiday home buyers.
What chance have the local young people of getting a house in the area they were brought up in, when outsiders with money to burn can buy for their annual two week holiday?

I've thought for a long time that there should be more restrictions on second-homers, especially where the 'second home' is for holiday purposes only, and especially where it is used purely for family/friends and stands empty most of the year. Similarly the 'investment belt properties' in London owned by Russian, Arab yada yada million/billionaires etc. where many properties are totally unlived in, just seen as an alternative to the stock market to sink their money into.

 

[runnach]

Don't get me started on second homers - oh well, here goes. There is a lovely little hamlet near Hawes, it's called Burtersett, it has lost it's pub, it's post office, it's shop and 90% of it's houses to second homers. Not all southerners, in fact most are from up north, In all the years I have been into Burtersett, I have only ever met one couple, who themselves were long time second homers, even they complained about the new influx of holiday home buyers.
What chance have the local young people of getting a house in the area they were brought up in, when outsiders with money to burn can buy for their annual two week holiday?

Second homers are a problem all up the coast,Whitby and moreso staithes as examples the local folk don’t stand a chance.

Marie I know where raf Boulmer is I have two friends one was stationed there and the other involved with the on camp bar

Of course there can be many local reasons why people object , but what I am saying is when authorities here witness what is happening in Spain and parts of Portugal it is little surprise one potential cause of hassle is removed

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Second homers are a problem all up the coast,Whitby and moreso staithes as examples the local folk don’t stand a chance.

Marie I know where raf Boulmer is I have two friends one was stationed there and the other involved with the on camp bar

Of course there can be many local reasons why people object , but what I am saying is when authorities here witness what is happening in Spain and parts of Portugal it is little surprise one potential cause of hassle is removed

Do 'authorities' here in the UK (I presume you mean local authorities, as in councils) actually witness or are even aware of what is happening out in Spain/Portugal with mohos?! Now that would really surprise me. Cos if they really were 'aware' and actively looking at the whole 'moho' thing as a 'big picture' they would also be seeing on the flip side that aires are a good idea too. Just don't believe that councils have ever looked outside their own parochial state to overseas examples and applied those same examples back home.

More than happy to be proved wrong, though?

 

[in h]

How do you define area? Does it mean within an inch of the sign or 50' or even 50 miles?

There are two signs on the same pole. one has a map, and defines a hatched area quite specifically on that map.
The other sign is on the same post and refers to "this Area"
If it were to come to court, I'm pretty sure the court would accept that "this Area" is the hatched area shown on the map. I can't make out what that is from the photo, though.