How we could solve the campervan problem on Exmouth seafront | Opinion

Ed: On Exmouth seafront, motorhomes are currently allowed to park:

• For a maximum of 24 hours in the Maer Road and Queen's Drive Echelon car parks;
• Between 8am and 10pm at the Foxholes, Queen's Drive, Old Lifeboat Station (max. 4hrs), Beach Gardens (max. 4hrs), Imperial Road (max. 4hrs), Imperial Road Recreation Ground, and Estuary car parks;
• From 8am to 8pm on Queen's Drive near Orcombe Point.

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For this month's article, whilst we are all out and about enjoying the glorious summer weather, I thought I would bring up the topic of motorhomes and campervans.

We know that we see vans of various types being driven to this lovely part of the South West, ranging from those of the unconverted short-wheel base panel vans which offer no accommodation, other than a mattress or airbed, through to the large fully self-contained high-specification luxury motorhomes.

The council realised by 2015 that the parking policy for these types of vehicles was not working effectively and agreed that day visitors in motorhomes and campervans should be allowed to use any car park on any day, but only between 8am and 10pm daily with the understanding that drivers of larger vehicles would pay for simultaneous parking sessions in more than one standard parking bay, to reflect the number of spaces their vehicle occupied.

From this idea, our very own Exmouth pilot, which was a joint venture between Devon County Council, East Devon District Council and Exmouth Town Council, emerged and I am pleased to say is now about to enter its fourth season.

'A number of clearly designated car parks could be set aside exclusively for campervans'

What the Exmouth pilot has done is to make the policy case for the need for legitimate short-term overnight parking provision.

As former EDDC Service Lead Andrew Ennis told the council back in February 2021: "The Exmouth pilot – which allowed overnight parking in Imperial Road Recreation Ground, Queens Drive Echelon, and also Maer Road has been broadly successful and there is a significant and growing demand from our visitors for short-duration "aire" style facilities throughout East Devon."

Cllr Rowland, who now looks after car parks, stated that: "We want to attract tourists into the area, but on the other hand, I wouldn't like to think we are providing the facilities and charging that may undercut the businesses that provide the full facilities in the area."

Readers may not be aware that the district council has 5,500 car parking spaces which are empty at night.

It is therefore possible that a number of clearly designated car parks could be set aside exclusively for campervans and motorhomes to support this legitimate short-term overnight parking by making use of dual-use bays to distinguish the daytime use of the car parking bays to that of the night one.

It must be admitted that this can be quite confusing.

Another solution is for the council to consider finding appropriate facilities on a site nearby to, for example, Exmouth, which would then require community consultation and planning consent.

The overall benefits of introducing such a parking scheme would be an additional revenue stream for the council and it would take those camper vans/motor homes into a proper car park at night and away from the seafront itself.

As Cllr Chapman, Brixington Ward member said in 2021: "The summer before last, I counted 38 camper vans on the seafront parked less than one metre apart, and that there should be certain car parks designed for certain jobs as if they can park willy-nilly, it will cause massive problems."

Therefore, in brief, these problems can be classified as being inconsiderate parking and potential litter issues.

Build facilities, and they will come – alleviating current issues

As a council we need to focus on this issue: how does the council hit the sweet spot for charges?

This will then encourage existing visitors to relocate from the desirable Exmouth seafront parking spaces into less intrusive locations within an off-street car park.

This could be done if there were dedicated facilities provided, with both showers and toilets combined with the ability of the visitors to ensure that waste-water discharge and other aspects of domestic refuse are properly dealt with, including the need for such a site to be fire-safety compliant.

There could also be drinking water facilities provided, such as a tap for filling reusable containers or if practical a dedicated drinking fountain.

Such costs could potentially be covered by new overnight charges and would make our district even more tourist friendly. The council would also need to ensure that such a proposal is properly enforced from within its civil enforcement team.

Overall though, our aim as a council must be to try and manage motorhomes and campervans and direct them where they are not going to cause issues to the community or environment.

I hope that this article has shown readers the potential solutions which are available subject to the council's appetite to make change happen and thus provide a solution to this ongoing issue within Exmouth and other nearby towns.

If you would like to contact your councillor, click here.