A pilot scheme is running in Northumberland that will allow motorhomes to stay overnight at three carparks across the county.
A small number of motorhomes will be allowed to stay at these three carparks, following the granting of temporary planning permission. The sites are Links Road in Bamburgh, Amble Braid in Amble, and the overflow car park in Beadnell.
There are plenty of beautiful sights to see if you head to Northumberland – for instance, Bamburgh was recently voted Britain’s best seaside destination, with the Castle (pictured above) and the beach proving popular with the public.
It will now be easier than ever to explore the picturesque area, with temporary changes to Traffic Regulation Orders allowing people to stay overnight in individually numbered motorhome bays between 6pm and 8am at the three designated off-street car parks.
20 bays will be available across the locations – these are combining “existing marked bays and areas of hard standing” which have been created for ‘vans alongside fencing that mark out the poles. As well as this, there will also be extra bins.
However, sleeping in the remaining parking areas will still be prohibited.
It will cost visitors £12 to stay overnight – anyone thinking of visiting will also be unable to book for consecutive nights, with vehicle registration required when booking.
Motorhome users will need to confirm their vehicle meets certain requirements, including being self-contained (meaning it has a toilet, washing facilities and on-board waste storage). You can book your stay here.
Councillor Jeff Watson, Cabinet Member for Tourism, said: “We know how much of an attraction our coastline is for visitors, and staying in motorhomes is becoming an increasingly popular way to visit our beautiful county.”
“For some time we’ve been looking for the best way of improving the Council’s offering to tourists while also resolving concerns about inconsiderate motorhome parking – we appreciate it’s a fine balance.”
“There can be fewer more spectacular places to wake up and watch the sunrise than Northumberland and we hope the scheme can be rolled out to other areas in time.”
“The aim of the charge is to cover site set up costs and ongoing management of the pilot. We want to reassure residents we’ll be monitoring this closely – seeking feedback from motorhome organisations, parish councils and local stakeholders.”
“We’ll also monitor complaint levels and enforcement officer feedback; as well as how many people are using the sites. All this information will help to inform any decision on implementing a scheme on a permanent basis.”
If you’re looking to stay in other parts of the region, be sure to take a look at our guide to the best motorhome sites in the North-East.
Image courtesy of Getty Images/iStockphoto
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