Motorhome and campervan owners will no longer be allowed to park overnight in Keyhaven, Hampshire, under new regulations introduced by Hampshire County Council.
According to an article by Birmingham Mail, the new rule, which prohibits parking by these larger vehicles between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., comes in response to rising concerns over environmental damage, congestion, and lack of public facilities to support overnight stays.
County Councillor Fran Carpenter noted a sharp increase in campervan visits to Keyhaven since the pandemic.
“I visited a few days ago. There was visible litter in the salt marsh. Campervans, some bigger than buses, were parked as far as the eye could see. A van selling souvenirs and an Uber Eats car blocked the road while dropping off pizzas,” she said.
Councillor Lulu Bowerman, Hampshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and passenger transport, echoed the concerns, stating that larger vehicles have had a clear impact on the area.
“There are no public facilities overnight for parking, and campers use the local land, and many residents have asked for these controls to be introduced,” she said.
Bowerman believes the new restrictions are necessary to keep Keyhaven accessible and orderly.
“I think the scheme would bring order to this particular beautiful part of Hampshire, and I think it’s very necessary to maintain full accessible travel at all times. The new proposal would manage the situation,” she added.
To further manage traffic and tourism in the area, Pay and Display parking will now be enforced at New Lane and Saltgrass Lane in Keyhaven, with charges set at £1 per hour for up to a full day.
These charges will be in effect from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Bowerman said: “Proposals to introduce parking charges on two seafront roads in Keyhaven stem from local concerns about unrestricted parking, resulting in an increase of overnight stays by motorhomes and campervans.”
“This has led to littering and other anti-social issues linked to camping activities for which the location is unsuited. Introducing parking charges enables the County Council to curb overnight parking more effectively and to encourage a quicker turnaround of daytime parking so more people can enjoy this popular location,” she clarified.
“We have carefully looked at the feedback received through two rounds of consultation and believe that on balance, a modest charge in line with those in place at similar locations will deliver broader benefits to visitors whilst importantly, supporting the management of this ecologically sensitive site,” she explained.