Buckinghamshire County Council
On 17th July 2009 a request was sent to the council asking for details of on-street daytime parking which:
1) is able to be used for parking of motorhomes, including use of multiple bays if allowed
2) is not able to be used for parking of motorhomes
together with any restrictions (e.g. height, weight, length limits) which apply.
The council was also asked to supply details of those areas (if any) which may be used for overnight parking and whether or not sleeping/eating in the vehicle is allowed.
On 30th July 2009, the Council provided the following information regarding on street parking:
A motor home cannot park in areas where a Traffic Regulation Order prohibits vehicles from parking, for example, on double yellow lines all vehicles are prohibited. In streets where residents parking exists someone who is eligible for a permit may not find that their motor home is not eligible for a permit. Our latest Traffic Regulation Order which is to be replicated throughout the County says the following:
Classes of vehicles for which permits are applicable
Subject to the provisions of this Order, permits may be issued in respect of classes of vehicles being passenger vehicles, light goods vehicles, motor-cycles and disabled persons vehicles.
“passenger vehicle” means a motor vehicle (other than a motor-cycle or invalid carriage) constructed or adapted solely for the carriage of not more than twelve passengers (exclusive of the driver) and their effects and not drawing a trailer;
“light goods vehicle” means a motor vehicle under 1500 kg in weight which is constructed or adapted for use for the carriage of goods or burden of any description the overall height of which does not exceed 2.3 metres and the overall length of which does not exceed 5.25 metres and is not drawing a trailer;
However we will consider applications for permit on a cases by case basis and the final decision will rest with the issuing authority.
There are no specific bans on the parking of motor homes on the highway.
Buckinghamshire County Council have parking details/links for the county on their web site.
Aylesbury Vale District
On 4th June 2008, in response to a follow-up request, Aylesbury Vale District Council provided an update to the information originally supplied on 7th September 2006. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here. The council pointed out that the Civic Centre multi-storey car park will close for redevelopment of the site (date not yet announced) and that replacement capacity will come on-stream at the new Walton Street multi-storey car park before then.
Aylesbury Vale District Council have further details on their web site Here.
Chiltern
On 31st August 2006, Chiltern District Council provided a schedule of public car parks, which can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
The council also provided the following information:
1. Height Restrictions. None other that that physically imposed by the height of construction at Amersham Multi Storey Car Park.
2. All vehicles are required to park within a marked bay.
3. Toilet Facilities which include waste disposal facilities are at: Dovecote Meadow Car Park, Amersham Old Town; Snells Wood Car Park, Little Chalfont; Star Yard, Chesham; Link Road, Great Missenden; High Street, Prestwood.
4. Parking provisions for motorhomes and caravans. None specifically provided.
5. Overnight Parking. No ban on overnight parking but parking order controlling car parks does not permit "Camping" or such use of parked vehicles.
6. No restricted access to any car parks.
On 17th April 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the Council pointed out that a copy of the Chiltern District Council Off-Street Parking Places Order 2004 (as amended) and subsequent Amendment Orders are available for public inspection by visiting the Council's website Here.
The council also provided the following information:
1) Paragraph 1 of Part III of the Schedule of the Order defines Class of Vehicles and Column 2 of Part I of the Schedule of the Order defines the Classes of Vehicles permitted to use the Parking Place and position in which vehicles may park.
Class 1 vehicles are defined in the Order as "Motor cars within the provision of Section 136(2)(a) of the Act".
Section 136(2)(a) of the Act states:
"(2) In this Act "motor car" means a mechanically propelled vehicle, not being a motor cycle or an invalid carriage, which is constructed itself to carry a load or passengers and of which the weight unladen -
(a) if it is constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects, is adapted to carry not more than 7 passengers exclusive of the driver, and is fitted with tyres of such type as may be specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State, does not exceed 3050 kilograms;"
It is the responsibility of each user of a parking place within the Chiltern District to ensure that they comply with the Order.
Consequently, an owner of a motor home would have to ensure that the vehicle complied with the definition of a Class 1 vehicle, as contained in the Order, and if it did so comply and was a Class of vehicle which was permitted to be parked in the parking place the owner must park the vehicle wholly within a marked bay.
2) In addition, Dovecote Meadow Parking Place, Amersham has a width restriction for vehicles using the parking place of 2 metres (6ft 6ins) due to rising bollards at entrance and exit of the parking place.
3) Column 3 of Part I of the Schedule of the Order states the Days and Hours of Operation of Parking Places within the Chiltern District. Article 9(2) of the Chiltern District Council Off-Street Parking Places Order 2004 (as amended) states:
"No person in a parking place shall:- (d) use any part of the parking place or any vehicle in it for sleeping, cooking or camping purposes; (f) engage in any other activity which causes disturbance or annoyance to users of the parking place, occupants of neighbouring premises or passers-by."
So sleeping, cooking and camping is not permitted under Article 9(2)(d) and Article 9(2)(f) provides for any other activity which may cause disturbance or annoyance.
Chiltern District Council have further details on their web site Here.
Milton Keynes
On 23rd August 2006 Milton Keynes Council provided the following information:
As a general point the council does not as such make any specific provision for motorhomes within the car parks under its control. Having investigated this matter in some depth recently in response to a specific inquiry from a member of the public, it was concluded that in regard to the Central Milton Keynes, owners of such vehicles could only park across a number of 'Pay & Display' bays provided that they purchased sufficient tickets in line with the number of bays that they were occupying.
In respect of the general borough of Milton Keynes, the council owns and operates a number of 'Off-Street' car parks. Currently there are no parking charges applied to these areas. However, the council is in the process of introducing various other restrictions which could affect users such as limited time waiting and the requirement to park solely within marked bays. At the moment, such restrictions are of an experimental nature and only apply to the various car parks in the Stony Stratford area. The plans to introduce similar restrictions across all the 'Off- Street' car parks are still under consideration and consultation with the various bodies that would be affected by any change to the current regulations. These council controlled car parks are in Bletchley / Fenny Stratford, Bow Brickhill, Woburn Sands, Newport Pagnell and Olney. The current regulations for these car parks would not prohibit their use for parking but would restrict overnight stays if occupied.
The only car park with a height restriction is the one at Bow Brickhill (and also Ostlers Lane in Stony Stratford). The maximum permitted vehicle height is 7 feet.
As a generalisation, as far as I am aware, the council do not provide any specific facilities for toilet and waste disposal.
Finally, there are no width restrictions at the entrances / exits of any of the council car parks.
On 13th December 2007, in response to a follow-up request, Milton Keynes Council provided the following update:
Although Milton Keynes Council own a number of off-street car parks there is no specific provision for motor homes. Please be advised that the only off-street car parks that have height restrictions is the one located adjacent to Bow Brickhill Station and Ostlers Lane in Stony Stratford. All the other information supplied is still valid. The council attached a copy of a list of all the off-street car parks that Milton Keynes Council maintains. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
Further details, including a 'Parking' map for the Central Milton Keynes area can be found Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
We went to Milton Keynes shopping place (thecentre:mk?) just before Christmas, couldn't find anywhere big enough to park apart from the coach park. Not wanting to risk getting clamped or worse we asked a nearby traffic warden who said it wasn't her patch so we called the coach park owners, asking if we'd be OK for a few hours. We were told that if we had 8 seats or more then we could be classed as a bus and so we could park. She gave us her name and number and said to contact her if we had any problems. (Thanks to SS for this information, received on 21st February 2009).
South Bucks District
On 5th September 2006 South Bucks District Council provided the following information:
South Bucks District Council car parks do not have any facilities for parking motor homes for an overnight stay as most car parks have height barriers and
no toilets. However if you have a motor home that is small enough to fit into a single bay and would like to go shopping, we have 3 car parks in the district that do not have height barriers and are listed below:
Penncroft Car Park, Burkes Road, Beaconsfield, HP9 1PB
The Broadway, Beaconsfield Road, Farnham Common, SL2 3PQ. This car park has toilets.
Neville Court off Dropmore road, Burnham, SL1 8BB.
On 7th March 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council confirmed that it only has the 3 car parks listed above that do not have height barriers and could be used for motorhomes parking. However they would have to park within the confines of a standard parking bay.
South Bucks District Council have further details on their web site Here.
Wycombe
On 28th September 2006 Wycombe District Council provided the following information:
1. The majority of our car parks do have height restriction barriers ranging from 6'2" - 6'9". See details on web site (link below). The Park & Ride site situated on Cressex Island has a height barrier of 6'9".
2. Should a vehicle over hang or encroach on an adjacent bay then two tickets must be purchased for each bay used.
3. Toilets can be found in the following car parks: Dovecot Multi Storey; Easton Street Multi Storey; Richardson Street Car Park; Central Car Park - Marlow; Wakeman Road Car Park - Bourne End; Horns Lane Car Park - Princes Risborough; Beaumont Way Car Park - Hazlemere; Mill End Car Park - Hambleden; Handleton Common - Lane End. As far as waste disposal is concerned, information on recycling sites can be found on the Wycombe District Council website Here.
4. Parking provisions for motorhomes and caravans. Not applicable.
5. Overnight Parking. Not permitted at any time for moveable dwellings.
6. Access to the car parks is suitable for all vehicles authorised to park within the car park.
On 26th March 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council provided the information that the above is all still correct, with one exception. There are no longer toilets in Dovecot Multi Storey. The car park is no longer owned by Wycombe District Council, and is being redeveloped by Sainsburys. Part of the redevelopment plan is to build toilets, but as yet this has not been completed.
Wycombe District Council have further parking details on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
High Wycombe
1) Parking for 2 hours max is available at Morrison's superstore - Cost £20 minimum purchases in store (2007). Receipt must be provided together with entry ticket on exit. (The meals are quite good). Good toilets. Petrol Station outside barrier, also a bottle bank, etc. Directions, from A404 at very large roundabout at bottom of Marlow hill, turn west (between college and fire station onto the dual carriage way fly over (A40). At other end, at roundabout by new Eden shopping centre turn right (north) onto dual carriageway. Pass under railway bridge and immediately there is a turning to left. Turn left at traffic lights, and at end of short road, around roundabout (take care here as crossing main traffic flow) into Morrison's store. Park at far end of car park. The store is very busy at lunch time with workers popping in and car park likely to be full. Open 8am to 8pm. (Many thanks to JD for this information, supplied 24 February 2007).
2) Update to the above. From early 2010 the 2 hour time limit is now enforced by number plate recognition cameras. Beware of overstaying your welcome for any reason. NB: we have not had any trouble but as locals suddenly spotted the official notice. No longer a man out in the rain with his hand held computer. (Many thanks to JD for this information, supplied 24 March 2010).
Return to Motorhome Friendly and Unfriendly Parking home page.
Last updated: 24 June 2010