Permanent Overnight Campervan Parking On North Yorkshire Coast Welcomed by Councillors

North Yorkshire Council is set to decide on making an experimental ban on overnight motorhome parking in Scarborough and Sandsend permanent following reports of anti-social behaviour and safety concerns.

Plans to make a ban on overnight campervan parking permanent in parts of the North Yorkshire Coast will be discussed at a council meeting this Friday.

North Yorkshire Council's Environment Executive Members will review the results of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), which was introduced in November 2024. The order prohibited the overnight parking of motor caravans between 11pm and 7am on the North Bay in Scarborough and on the A174 immediately south of Sandsend village.

The original trial also included Cayton Bay, but this location was abandoned due to repeated episodes of vandalism to the signage.

A report prepared for Friday's meeting recommends implementing a Permanent Traffic Regulation Order, citing the success of the trial in improving the amenity of the areas and reducing dangers associated with tightly packed vehicles.

During a public consultation, the council received over 3,000 responses. While over two-thirds of respondents identified as motorhome owners—with 90 per cent of those objecting to the ban—local councillors have voiced strong support for the permanent restrictions.

Scarborough Councillor Janet Jefferson said:

"I have nothing against motorhomes, but I also think to me the ETRO has worked for the town and people continually come in and say to me how much better it is that they can actually park there.

There's people that want to come for the day or for the holiday. it also enables our residents throughout Scarborough Whitby and Filey to come and vice versa to the towns.

They just continually complained to me that there was nowhere to park."

The council report highlighted that before the ban, the seafront resembled a campsite, with visitors using the highway as a socialising space. It also noted fire safety concerns raised by the Fire Authority regarding the close proximity of vehicles carrying Liquified Petroleum Gas.

In Sandsend, near Whitby, similar issues with long-term parking were reported before the restrictions were put in place.

Local Councillor David Chance said:

"We used to see the pavement blocked so people couldn't get down the pavement. The campervans were very tightly packed together which was extremely dangerous and contrary to recommendations as regards to gas cylinder use.

I've seen public urination down there. I've also seen soil cassettes being emptied down the banking on the revetment. It has stopped that so it's alleviated that problem."

Councillor Chance feels the ban on overnight parking has worked:

"The emergency ETRO on the Sandsend road has been successful.

The parking of campervans has been problematic for a number of years down there. Preventing overnight parking has addressed the problem of campervans parking for long stays which is something that they used to do. I actually saw several campervans which stayed for up to two weeks at a time. They did it free of charge and one of them was so large it took up approximately four car spaces.

I think we've been successful in that respect."

Scarborough Councillor Eric Broadbent has also backed the implementation of the permanent ban.

He noted the visual improvement to the area, adding:

"Our Marine Drive is is perhaps the most beautiful part of of Scarborough. On a night now it's lovely there's no vehicles there.

During the summer when when they were there you could count up to 50 vehicles parking there in the in the height of summer.

So the the emails say that you know people sort of recommending to me saying please you know we don't we don't want to spoil our beautiful view again."

Whilst supporting the ban becoming permanent Councillor Broadbent added that more needs to be done to ensure that campervans can still visit the resort and make use of existing camp sites.:

"I don't wish Scarborough to become the town against campervans motorhomes.

Watch a bit of YouTube I'm sure we all have and you get these these guys saying Scarborough's anti motorhomes. I don't want that reputation to stick.

They do bring money to in into our town and really if they go to the sites and I think that's where they should go to where there's facilities for electric for toilets and washing etc."

The council has stated that providing dedicated facilities for motor caravans on the highway is not currently a viable option, though a wider review of parking across Scarborough, Whitby, and Filey is planned for the future.

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