Agenda item

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

The Transport and Parking Services Manager (TPSM) summarised the responses received following public consultation on proposals to introduce restrictions on the parking of motor homes along Dover Seafront, at the beach in Walmer and at the Quay in Sandwich.  In respect of Dover, 65 respondents favoured restrictions, with a general consensus that these should be enforced between 6.00pm and 08.00am.  75 Walmer respondents were in favour of restrictions, preferring all-day controls.  Six responses were received in respect of the Quay with no general consensus.  Officers recommended that a balanced approach should be taken at all three sites, with motor homes allowed to park for a maximum stay of 2 hours and no return within 3 hours.   The sites would be on a Pay & Display charging model.  Such controls would allow motor homes to wait for their ferry but keep spaces turning over.

Councillor C A Vinson queried why charging was recommended when this was respondents’ least favoured option. The TPSM explained that the display of a parking ticket made it easier to monitor and enforce restrictions.  With restrictions only and no charging, vehicles would have to be logged and then checked later. Charging would also help to cover the schemes’ implementation costs. 

Several Members were concerned that the maximum stay was too short.  At a time when Dover was trying to regenerate and encourage more tourism, these proposals sent out the wrong message.  Whilst there was sympathy for residents, Members questioned where motor homes would go, and stressed the importance of finding alternative parking sites for these vehicles. 

Mr Paul Carter commented that owners were buying a Sandwich resident’s parking permit and using the Quay car park as a cheap place to stay or store their vehicles.    Alternative parking sites were needed, and he was disappointed that a better solution was not being proposed.  Councillor M J Holloway found it unhelpful that all three schemes had been lumped together.  It was evident that the Quay was being used as a camping site, even though there were alternative parking sites in Sandwich (i.e. Gazen Salts and the Guildhall).  The residents he had consulted were in favour of the proposals. However, he questioned how the scheme would be enforced overnight.  It was essential that vehicle owners should not be able to purchase residents’ permits as this would undermine the scheme. 

The TPSM advised that there was an informal motor home site at Maison Dieu in Dover. Whilst the Council did not want to scare visitors off, it needed to find a  solution to the problem.  The consultation had been a test to gauge the general feeling of the public.  Motor home parking in car parks was not acceptable and more enforcement could be undertaken.        

Councillor N J Collor commented that this problem had been around for years.  The level of public response to the consultation had been very disappointing.  Whilst inappropriate parking was annoying for residents, alternative parking sites were not easy to find.  In response to Councillor J P Haste who suggested higher charging for dedicated bays, the TPSM advised that dedicated bays could not be used by cars and would thus exacerbate pressures on parking. 

Councillor N S Kenton stated that this issue was a ‘running sore’ for the Council.  The consultation had achieved very little as it had not included alternative options or covered the potential impact on residents’ parking.  In his view, it was pointless to introduce parking schemes unless it was clear they could be effectively enforced.  He proposed that a full assessment should be undertaken by Officers, identifying alternative parking areas for motor homes, and how any restrictions could be enforced.  This assessment should then be subject to further consultation.   In response to the TPSM, he advised that he was not expecting the Council to purchase sites for motor home parking.

RESOLVED:  That the item be deferred in order for Officers to undertake a full assessment of options, including identifying alternative parking sites for motor homes, etc, and how parking restrictions could be enforced.  The assessment should then be subject to a further period of public consultation.