ShiftZZ
LIFE MEMBER
MOTORHOME owners have returned to a Lincolnshire car park which had its height restriction barrier torn down.
Moggs Eye car park, between Anderby Creek and Sandilands, had its barrier forcefully removed during the weekend of September 21 and 22 for the second time in a few weeks.
Lincolnshire County Council recently installed barriers at various coastal car parks to prevent camper vans and motor homes from staying overnight.
On Sunday, local people reported seeing a group of motorhome owners gather in support of the last remaining vehicles to leave the neighbouring Huttoft car terrace where similar gates were recently erected.
Bob Palmer, from Nottinghamshire, is the owner of one of the motorhomes parked in Moggs Eye car park.
He said: "We are the salt of the country and this is one step too far.
"Not one official has come to speak to us - we want a full debate with a local councillor.
"We are not going away – we will be a thorn in their side."
Paul Marriott, a businessman from Spalding, said there was no evidence to suggest motorhome owners were responsible for the littering and damage to local amenities that had prompted a spate of complaints from local residents.
"Those people should have been policed and moved on, we are not just tinkers, vagabonds – we are genuine people.
"Unfortunately we are all being tarnished with the same brush.'
Other motorhome owners labelled the council's tactics as discriminatory and pointed to countries such as France, where motorhome-only sites provide access to local amenities and limit the duration of each stay, as a possible source of less contentious measures.
Some, such as Steve Darker, from Sheffield, say they are providing a vital contribution to the local economy.
He said: "We go shopping, we buy fish and chips, we spend our money here."
His wife, Sue Darker, suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and claims the barriers restrict her access to the beach.
"I have written to the council to ask for disabled access - we cannot park miles away and walk to the beach," she said.
Councillor Colin Davie, executive member for the environment at Lincolnshire County Council reiterated that the council would continue to use preventive measures to stop overnight use of the car parks and condemned the damage to the Moggs Eye barrier.
He said: "This is criminal damage, the actions of a minority group of people.
"The public want us to look after this site for the majority to enjoy - those who are still there will be removed."
"There are plenty of facilities for motorhome owners to stay in which support the local community
"These people are spoiling it for everyone because of their errant behaviour."
Reports from local residents suggest the barrier at Moggs Eye was later found metres away in the sea.
The police are investigating.
Broken Link Removed
Moggs Eye car park, between Anderby Creek and Sandilands, had its barrier forcefully removed during the weekend of September 21 and 22 for the second time in a few weeks.
Lincolnshire County Council recently installed barriers at various coastal car parks to prevent camper vans and motor homes from staying overnight.
On Sunday, local people reported seeing a group of motorhome owners gather in support of the last remaining vehicles to leave the neighbouring Huttoft car terrace where similar gates were recently erected.
Bob Palmer, from Nottinghamshire, is the owner of one of the motorhomes parked in Moggs Eye car park.
He said: "We are the salt of the country and this is one step too far.
"Not one official has come to speak to us - we want a full debate with a local councillor.
"We are not going away – we will be a thorn in their side."
Paul Marriott, a businessman from Spalding, said there was no evidence to suggest motorhome owners were responsible for the littering and damage to local amenities that had prompted a spate of complaints from local residents.
"Those people should have been policed and moved on, we are not just tinkers, vagabonds – we are genuine people.
"Unfortunately we are all being tarnished with the same brush.'
Other motorhome owners labelled the council's tactics as discriminatory and pointed to countries such as France, where motorhome-only sites provide access to local amenities and limit the duration of each stay, as a possible source of less contentious measures.
Some, such as Steve Darker, from Sheffield, say they are providing a vital contribution to the local economy.
He said: "We go shopping, we buy fish and chips, we spend our money here."
His wife, Sue Darker, suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and claims the barriers restrict her access to the beach.
"I have written to the council to ask for disabled access - we cannot park miles away and walk to the beach," she said.
Councillor Colin Davie, executive member for the environment at Lincolnshire County Council reiterated that the council would continue to use preventive measures to stop overnight use of the car parks and condemned the damage to the Moggs Eye barrier.
He said: "This is criminal damage, the actions of a minority group of people.
"The public want us to look after this site for the majority to enjoy - those who are still there will be removed."
"There are plenty of facilities for motorhome owners to stay in which support the local community
"These people are spoiling it for everyone because of their errant behaviour."
Reports from local residents suggest the barrier at Moggs Eye was later found metres away in the sea.
The police are investigating.
Broken Link Removed