North Yorkshire Council is set to review a proposed Public Space Protection Order this Friday to tackle a surge in illegal camping, fires, and anti-social behaviour along the coast.
Local councillors are preparing to review tough new measures aimed at curbing illegal wild camping, open fires, and the use of disposable barbecues across the Yorkshire Coast.
A proposed Public Space Protection Order is slated for discussion by North Yorkshire Council on Friday, 1 May. The move comes in response to a surge in unauthorised encampments that have blighted parks and green spaces in both Scarborough and Whitby.
According to a recent council report, the financial toll of these activities has been significant. Between May and October 2024, the local authority spent more than thirty thousand pounds clearing away abandoned camping gear and repairing damaged amenities. This figure excludes the additional financial burden placed on North Yorkshire Police and the local fire and rescue service when responding to related incidents.
Executive member for managing our environment, Councillor Richard Foster, explained the reasoning behind the proposed restrictions.
He said:
"We are proposing a PSPO to help to control and, hopefully, stop illegal wild camping to ensure everyone can continue to enjoy our picturesque coastal towns. To clean up after irresponsible campers brings a significant cost to the taxpayer and affects the quality of live for everybody who lives, visits and works there. It’s clear from the consultation that the majority of people acknowledge the issue and will welcome quick and firm measures."
The local authority has identified nine specific problem areas that would fall under the new regulations. In Scarborough, the restricted zones would include Castle Dyke, Marvels, Peasholm Park, Royal Albert Park, Museum Terrace and Gardens, Scalby Beck, alongside South Cliff and the Italian Gardens. Meanwhile, in Whitby, Pannett Park and the open spaces surrounding Whitby Abbey are also earmarked for the new rules.
During a public consultation held earlier this year, over four hundred responses were collected. The feedback highlighted widespread dismay among residents and business owners regarding the deteriorating state of these public areas. Common complaints involved severe littering, with tents, sleeping bags, and food waste frequently left behind.
Furthermore, respondents raised serious public health concerns regarding the frequent discovery of human waste in these green spaces. The consultation also revealed that families and dog walkers were actively avoiding certain areas due to intimidating behaviour, late-night noise, and drug use associated with the illicit camps.
Local businesses also voiced their frustrations during the consultation process. Many noted that the visible environmental damage and lack of cleanliness were tarnishing the family-friendly reputations of the coastal towns. Some business owners even reported falling booking numbers and a noticeable drop in visitor confidence.
Executive member for community safety, Councillor Heather Phillips, highlighted the profound negative effects on the coastal communities.
She said:
"In recent years, the impact of wild camping has been detrimental on the environment in popular locations across Whitby and Scarborough. There has been an influx of littering and antisocial behaviour, including damage to seats and benches, burning of the ground and vegetation, and defecating and urinating. I would like to thank everybody for sharing their views in the consultation, which will help to shape our decision."
If the order is officially adopted, environmental enforcement officers and the police will be granted enhanced powers to disband unauthorised camps. Those who refuse to comply could be handed a fixed penalty notice of up to one hundred pounds. In more severe cases, offenders could face prosecution in a Magistrates' Court, carrying a maximum fine of one thousand pounds.
Despite the strict new penalties, the council report emphasises that the rules will be applied carefully. The local authority states that the legislation is part of a broader, holistic strategy. Officers pledge to continue working alongside rough sleeping teams to offer support and housing options to genuinely homeless individuals, rather than simply issuing them with punitive fines.
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25 Feb 2026 - Whitby MP Alison Hume and Malton's Kevin Hollinrake called for a rethink of wild camping rules and said that there “should be consequences”.
27 Dec 2025 - People are being urged to share their views on wild camping, fires and barbeques in nine locations across Scarborough and Whitby.
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