Wells on Sea...no go area!

[Rolyan57]

There have been so many pages now that I can’t remember the full discussion.

Are the barriers now fitted permanently, 12 months of the year? Or only when the Police advise it in specific circumstances?

 

[Harrytherid]

Yes witzend, we should. How do we do that? Also, how do we tell them that we do not either need nor want what sites have to offer.

Harry

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Parked up near Blakeney in Norfolk and thought we would go to Wells for the day, have lunch and a bit of shopping. All car parks now have 2.2 m height barrier even the, manned, coach park! Spoke to chap on duty, thinking he would raise the bar as he was sitting there and a coach already parked. The answer was "no, we are onhigh alert for travellers"! I pointed out that this means Wells don't want any motorhomers spending their money there, he agreed and helped us tiurn round and leave! Absolutely fuming as this is just so short sighted. We have visited often up till now...why not have barriers and pay to leave parking? Will be writing to the council to express our disgust

This was a car park where entry is controlled by human operatives. Maybe the 'chap on duty' could be instructed by management to exercise a bit of discretion? Surely there must be ways to distinguish between genuine tourists/day trippers in a single motorhome/campervan and a group of travellers turning up mob handed?

It's a thorny problem, and a very unfair situation. Vehicles are driven by all sections of the population, no matter what their race, creed, religion or ability.

To have a whole class of vehicle type banned because of the anti-social actions of a minority group who happen to use that type of vehicle is a nonsense. It's done because our type of vehicle is distinctive and stands out from everyday run-of-the mill cars and vans. As 'leisure motorhomers' we are still very much in a minority/specialist group of road users.

These are public car parks. The attitude of councils like Norfolk is lazy and 'jobsworth', but unfortunately more typical than not. But it is definitely discriminatory, imo. Unfortunately I just don't think there's a big enough volume of motorhome users like us to have any clout with changing some local council attitudes. Change happens incredibly slowly in the public service arena in Britain.

It's a real shame, but the only place I now think is worth making the effort to travel around in a camper with the minimal amount of aggro and local hostility is on the other side of the channel.

 

[Fisherman]

This was a car park where entry is controlled by human operatives. Maybe the 'chap on duty' could be instructed by management to exercise a bit of discretion? Surely there must be ways to distinguish between genuine tourists/day trippers in a single motorhome/campervan and a group of travellers turning up mob handed?

It's a thorny problem, and a very unfair situation. Vehicles are driven by all sections of the population, no matter what their race, creed, religion or ability.

To have a whole class of vehicle type banned because of the anti-social actions of a minority group who happen to use that type of vehicle is a nonsense. It's done because our type of vehicle is distinctive and stands out from everyday run-of-the mill cars and vans. As 'leisure motorhomers' we are still very much in a minority/specialist group of road users.

These are public car parks. The attitude of councils like Norfolk is lazy and 'jobsworth', but unfortunately more typical than not. But it is definitely discriminatory, imo. Unfortunately I just don't think there's a big enough volume of motorhome users like us to have any clout with changing some local council attitudes. Change happens incredibly slowly in the public service arena in Britain.

It's a real shame, but the only place I now think is worth making the effort to travel around in a camper with the minimal amount of aggro and local hostility is on the other side of the channel.

As you say Marie these are public carparks, paid for and run by public bodies financed from public taxes, but sadly they don’t reckon that we fall within the definition of “members of the public.”

 

[barge1914]

We’ve just had a months tour round East Anglia. Not an experience we are likely to repeat anytime soon. Virtually all the one-time Wildcamping spots anywhere near the coast or immediate hinterland have disappeared behind ‘signs’ or height barriers. In numerous towns, not just Wells it is almost impossible to even park for height barriers, size, length or weight restrictions. This is January, a large proportion of the seaside carparks were virtually deserted, but inaccessible, and in towns where the numbers of empty boarded up shops suggest local businesses could benefit from some winter visitors.

In the majority of car parks in East Suffolk there is a blanket ban on vehicles longer than 5.5m. (which you only know about if you did around on the councils website…it seems they prefer to dish out £80 fines rather than put signs up to tell you).

An email from the council at Woodbridge elicited that ‘you can still park on the street’ (where legal) ….not exactly beneficial to the flow of traffic or the houses of those I had to park in front of…and of course it arrived several days after I had already left. They generously on reflection after receiving complaints have designated 12 car parks in the whole county where we can park (not stay) , clumped together in places such as the dismal bowels of Great Yarmouth, most towns with nowhere at all to even park…even inland ones. If it wasn’t for our SNT card which at least gave access to National Trust car parks I think we’d have turned tail and headed north to Scotland (but we’ve been there 5 or 6 times already in the last 18 months).

We are most definitely going to continue with spring and Autumn in Europe, winters in Scotland…b****r England! But thanks to Boris and Brexit we’ve still got to find something for the intervening 3 months. Every year I seem to like my country less and less…there was a time when I never thought I would say that…long ago!

 

[Norfolk NewBoy]

For clarification, Gt Yarmouth is in Norfolk, not East Suffolk. You can park foc for approx 1 mile along the beachside north of the Venetian Waterways. This is closer to the town centre/amusements than CAMC site at the racecourse. I don't think I would overnight there.

There is also plenty of parking foc along the A1243 South Denes Road, although there is a lot of industrial port activity. The side roads are also available and even South Beach Parade has some spots.

"Just" across the river (probably 3-5 mile trip) is Gorleston with nice spots near the pier (Quay Rd) and you can get right next to the beach if you are early enough. I've seen folk parked on Riverside but, again, it's semi industrial. (I would advise not trying to get to the High Street by going up South Icehouse Hill.)

Gordon

If you park in E Suffolk spots, the first 30 mins is free BUT you need to get a ticket from the machine!

 

[barge1914]

Oh sorry, I’m conflating Yarmouth with Aldeburgh. Albeit we managed to find a little layby by the coast just outside Aldeburgh.

 

[Rolyan57]

So, does anyone know if the original car park now has the height barrier in place 24/7? Or like the proverbial parrot has it now ‘ceased to be’ and is no longer a problem?

 

[NudeJude]

Would it do any good to start one of these petitions to the government asking for us to be treated the same as other road users who have parking supplied for them

I was just wondering the same thing, maybe it's time to start standing up for ourselves, although like so many other petitions I can't help thinking people will be too lazy to just click a few buttons to add their name, and wait for someone else to do the job for them.

 

[Rolyan57]

I was just wondering the same thing, maybe it's time to start standing up for ourselves, although like so many other petitions I can't help thinking people will be too lazy to just click a few buttons to add their name, and wait for someone else to do the job for them.

It needs 100,000 names just to get it discussed. That discussion is a subcommittee discussing it in a small ante room. That decides if it can progress further.

So no, there’s not a snowballs chance in hell of getting a petition asking for parking through to the Bill stage.

 

[Slowho]

If those groups are protected, but we are not, surely that is discrimination in itself towards us....

They get round with height restrictions baning certain sized vehicles is not against the law..

 

[Steve C]

As you say Marie these are public carparks, paid for and run by public bodies financed from public taxes, but sadly they don’t reckon that we fall within the definition of “members of the public.”

I believe it has been pointed out before that these are privately owned carparks, owned by the Holkham Estate.

 

[Fisherman]

I believe it has been pointed out before that these are privately owned carparks, owned by the Holkham Estate.

Really, then perhaps you can inform us all why on post 18 the council replied to an enquiry about what happened at the carpark mentioned by the OP. Also even if you are correct, you are completely missing the point. We as a group are constantly discriminated against by such treatment, and by some shameful uncorroborated reporting within the media. Clearly this thread does involve some if not all car parks which are council run, hence why Tom has been involved in protracted discussion with Norfolk District Council over this issue. Also please take a look at post 20, were the council give justification for the installation of the barriers. There are other posts relating to council replies on this thread for your perusal.

 

[Norfolk NewBoy]

We visited Wells in the car last week and although I can't guarantee these observations, I'm pretty sure they are correct.

Port of Wells Private car park: £5 for 24h [cash, card, app]; camper vans banned by notice. ANPR in action so possibly get a PCN.
Freeman Street: £1 for 1h upwards to £4(?) [cash, card, app]: 2.1m height restriction by metal barrier (in action).
Stearmans Yard (long term): £2.50 (?); 2.1m height restriction by metal barrier (in action).
Wells Town car park (8am-5pm (?) £3.50 (?) [Holkham estate]); 2.1m height restriction by metal barrier (NOT in action). Several MHs parked overhanging grass areas.

I didn't go to Beach Road car park.

Gordon

 

[Rolyan57]

There are barriers fitted to various car parks owned by the Council and Holkham Estate.

The Council reported that they are not permanent and are only closed when the local police supply intelligence that travellers are going into the locality. This is usually the week either side of the 15th August but there have been other unforeseen closures.

It was reported on here that the barriers are in response to the damage, violence and intimidation when travellers had previously taken over the car parks. Having witnessed this first hand I can understand the response.

Perhaps we would achieve more if we appreciated and supported the locals concerns and focused on ensuring that the closures are not permanent.

 

[Fisherman]

There are barriers fitted to various car parks owned by the Council and Holkham Estate.

The Council reported that they are not permanent and are only closed when the local police supply intelligence that travellers are going into the locality. This is usually the week either side of the 15th August but there have been other unforeseen closures.

It was reported on here that the barriers are in response to the damage, violence and intimidation when travellers had previously taken over the car parks. Having witnessed this first hand I can understand the response.

Perhaps we would achieve more if we appreciated and supported the locals concerns and focused on ensuring that the closures are not permanent.

I wholeheartedly agree, that any justified concerns from any local community should be paramount in any decision making process. It’s just a shame that in many cases that these concerns are based on false or exaggerated reporting, and it’s also a shame that our concerns for these local communities are never reported within the media.

 

[mistericeman]

.

 

[yorkslass]

There are barriers fitted to various car parks owned by the Council and Holkham Estate.

The Council reported that they are not permanent and are only closed when the local police supply intelligence that travellers are going into the locality. This is usually the week either side of the 15th August but there have been other unforeseen closures.

It was reported on here that the barriers are in response to the damage, violence and intimidation when travellers had previously taken over the car parks. Having witnessed this first hand I can understand the response.

Perhaps we would achieve more if we appreciated and supported the locals concerns and focused on ensuring that the closures are not permanent.

If the councils statement is correct.....the barriers are not permanent, I wonder why they are being used over winter, seems a bit of overkill.

 

[Rolyan57]

I wholeheartedly agree, that any justified concerns from any local community should be paramount in any decision making process. It’s just a shame that in many cases that these concerns are based on false or exaggerated reporting, and it’s also a shame that our concerns for these local communities are never reported within the media.

If the councils statement is correct.....the barriers are not permanent, I wonder why they are being used over winter, seems a bit of overkill.

To me, that’s the bit we should be questioning. Assuming those with barriers used over winter are not private ones that have always used them.

 

[suneye]

I haven't read all of the comments above but some of the general 'feel' of the posts make me really sad. My Grandad was a Romany gypsy and many of my mum's standards came from this culture. All I can say is that the Gypsies ( and I cannot comment on travelers ) have very high standards of conduct and hygiene and my mum was obsessive about cleanliness and tidiness. Having lived in other countries during my life I am also aware that people are people and all communities have good and bad, unfortunately we often choose to only note the bad and tar everyone with that brush. If we used the same criteria to judge ourselves we could not be so self righteous about our own 'high' standards. Only last week I was in a once pristine NT carpark and it had pile of toilet paper that had obviously come out of a MH cassette toilet. One of our local roads is used by MH and vans in the summer and I do not think that any of us could be proud of the state many leave behind despite it being a protected nature reserve. I don't think we can say that 'they' are bad and 'we' are good. I hate the laws in this country that do not allow us to park overnight but also accept that most of time I am actually, probably breaking some law or bylaw by sleeping in my van. Please try to treat people as you would want to be treated and judge people as you find them not by prejudice or stereotyping. PS One post used the word Pikey because it was able to be used on this group when the word he wanted to use was not, I would like to say that in 2022 I wonder what these standards are based on.