Cumbria 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 27th July 2009, the Council replied: "The County Council does not retain regulation information specifically relating to motor homes, primarily because we do not specifically restrict the use of such vehicles. It is possible that a number of TROs exist that restrict vehicles, which may ultimately include some motor homes by virtue of their width, length or height. Any restriction on eating/sleeping would relate to any vehicle and not just motor homes."
The council was, therefore, asked to supply details of on-street daytime parking within its control which is covered by a TRO restricting use based on height and/or weight and/or length limits. 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.
A response was eventully received on 14th September 2009 indicating that the only way the council could provide the information requested was by the supply of hard copy in the form of 3,000 sheets of paper. As that is not a practical option in respect of this web site the request for the information is not being pursued.
Cumbria County Council have parking details/links for the county on their web site.
Allerdale
On 22nd September 2006, Allerdale Borough Council provided the following information:
1. Height restrictions. – Two Car Parks in Workington carry height restrictors – ‘Brow Top and the Former Lorry Park’
2. Requirements for parking within bay confines (including any requirement for purchasing two parking tickets where the length of a vehicle means that it overhangs a second bay at its rear). All vehicles must park wholly and only within the confines of the bay. The staff will overlook vehicles parked such that the end of the vehicle is protruding over a grassed area, or if the vehicle is occupying 2 or more bays and the owner of the vehicle has purchased 2 or more P&D tickets.
3. Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities. The following Car Parks have Toilet Facilities on or adjacent to them: Bell Close, Lakeside, Central Car Parks in Keswick; Water Street Car Park in Wigton; Queen St Car Park in Aspatria; Bitterbeck Car Park in Cockermouth.
4. Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans. There is no provision of Spaces aimed particularly at Motorhomes.
5. Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. Overnight parking is not banned, however camping is not allowed.
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances. No restricted Access.
On 30th September 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council provided the following information:
There are only two Car Parks in Workington that carry height restrictors – ‘Brow Top’ and ‘the Former Lorry Park’. These Car Parks will cease to exist in early 2009. All Car Parks except those two can be used by Motorhomes, providing the wheels of the motorhome can fit within the confines of the bay, or the driver of the vehicle purchases and displays sufficient tickets to cover the number of bays his vehicle occupies. Overnight parking is available in all Allerdale Car Parks, free of charge after 18:30 hours until 08:30 the following day. Camping is not allowed.
Allerdale Borough Council have further details of council car parks on their web site Here and a link to National Park car parks Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
We live in Cumbria and you may be interested to know that in Allerdale Car Parks holders of disabled badges have restricted privileges and sometimes none at all. People are well advised to read the small print on the various notice boards to avoid being caught out. We are in Cumbria Centre of the Caravan Club and always warn those attending our rallies to beware. Generally disabled badge holders have to pay the same as everyone else. You certainly have to pay in Keswick. (Many thanks to MT for this information, received on 11 June 2007).
Allonby
I have parked many times at Allonby. Toilets open all night. Very good pub just opposite and ice cream & sweet shop. Near the beach. (Thanks to JR for providing this information on 9 August 2009).
Keswick
(1) Two possibilities. Take Crow Park Road (the approach to the CCC Keswick and Derwentwater sites) and park in the Rugby Club car park (which is run by the council on behalf of the Club) where parking is easy as there are no marked out spaces. This is five minutes walk from the town centre facilities. Alternatively, head to the car park nearest to the theatre and Derwentwater where there are some longer spaces and others with a verge to overlap. This can get very busy and you must be wholly within a marked space. This is very handy for the lake but further to walk into the town. (Thanks to TW for providing this information on 7 February 2007 - "Personally 'tested' within the last 3 years. Like anything else, changes may have taken place since my visit and charges WILL have risen!").
(2) Keswick RFC. Pay and display car park at the rugby club, a very short walk from the town centre. Latitude: 54.60080944583286; Longitude: -3.143291473388672. (Many thanks to RG for this information, received on 22 March 2007).
(3) The car park near the lake has recently been extended and the spaces which we found so easy to use in the past are now not motorhome friendly. Thankfully there are still a number of spaces where you can park a motorhome (look for the ones where you can overhang the soon to be grassed areas between the old car park and the new area). Unfortunately a lot of the spaces at the back of the car park are not usable as there is a bank behind them, but as you move further towards the back corner of the car park the bank reduces in height and is less of a problem.
We spoke to the Car Park Attendant recently and asked if we could park in the (empty) coach spaces. The answer was a very pleasant but definite no - he explained that he would instantly issue a ticket as the spaces must only be used by coaches. Went back a few days later and saw a number of vans parked there with tickets. It pays to get there early to pick one of the motorhome friendly places, but please make sure you don' t straddle 2 berths as that's another ticket scenario!
The parking at the Rugby Club remains probably the easiest. (Many thanks to JC for this information, received on 5 June 2008).
Barrow-in-Furness
On 4th October 2006, Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council provided the following information:
1. Portland Walk Multi Storey is the only car park with a height restriction. The height restriction is 6'6". All the other car parks are surface car parks. These surface car parks have a weight limit which is 1500kgs. This tends to exclude motorhomes from the car parks.
2. The Car Park Regulation Orders state that a vehicle must be parked within the bay markings, generally if it doesn't fit into the bay it contravenes the weight limit.
3. There are no provisions for toilet and waste disposal facilities, with the exception of Fell Street car park where there are public toilets. However there is no waste disposal anywhere.
4. There are no specific spaces for motorhomes or caravans
5. There are no provisions for overnight parking. The TRO and car park sign states "Use of space for domestic purposes. No overnight sleeping or camping.”
6. There is no restricted access due to narrow roads/entrances.
Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council have further details of council car parks on their web site Here.
Update 24 July 2007:
Some time after the initial reply from Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council above it came to my notice that many other vehicles (e.g. large 4x4s) weigh in excess of 1500 Kgs (some of the largest 4x4s even being heavier than many motorhomes). A further request for information was sent to the council asking for clarification. In response the council stated "The Council has not distributed any materials to our parking attendance to enable them to judge whether or not a vehicle exceeds the 1500kgs weight limit on surface car parks. Basically if the vehicle fits within a single parking bay we allow it."
On 11th June 2009, in response to a follow-up request, the Council confirmed that the information above was still valid and added "We have no designated facilities for motorhomes, on or off street parking".
Carlisle
On 15th September 2006, Carlisle City Council provided the following information:
1. We have no height restrictions on our car parks.
2. We accommodate vehicles such as caravans, campers and vehicles with trailers in Devonshire Walk Car Park only. None of the other city car parks can accommodate such vehicles.
3. We have toilet facilities in Devonshire Walk and Town Dyke Car Parks only and we have no provision for the disposal of waste in any of the city car parks.
4. Devonshire Walk car park caters for caravans and motorhomes but there is no provision for overnight parking in the city car parks.
5. Yes there is a ban on overnight parking.
6. Access to Devonshire Walk car park is able to accommodate larger vehicles, coaches, caravans, campers. The entrances to some of the other city car parks could be narrow or restrictive.
On 10th April 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the Council provided the following information:
1) The only off street car park that allows the class of vehicle motorhome and caravan is Devonshire Walk. The use of multiple bays is allowed if multiple tickets are bought but only Devonshire Walk allows that particular class of vehicle.
2) All the other car parks, Civic Centre, Upper Viaduct, Lower Viaduct, Town Dyke Orchard, Marks & Spencer, Sands, Swifts Bank, William Street, Cecil Street, Paddy's Market, Bitts Park and Shaddongate, do not cater for this class of vehicle, mainly because of their size.
3) There are no areas within the City Council control that allow overnight parking and the use of any off street car park prohibits the activities of sleeping, eating, camping and cooking.
Carlisle City Council have further details of council car parks on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Update today. Visited Cumbria, Carlisle city. Devonshire walk car park allows caravans in the Coach parking area, £4.50 per day, we have interpreted that to include motorhomes. Easy access and well sign posted as you enter Carlisle. (Many thanks to MH for this information, received on 27 June 2010).
Copeland
On 30th November 2006, Copeland Borough Council provided the following information:
1 - None of our car parks have height restrictions.
2 - None of our car parks allow for caravans and trailers exceeding 3m in length or 1500kg unladen weight only vehicles (cars, light goods vehicles, minibuses, tractors and Land Rovers) South shore in Whitehaven has bus bays that allow for vehicles with trailers more than 3m.
3 - St Bees Foreshore Car Park, Seascale Car Park and Chapel Street Egremont have toilet facilities and recycling facilities along with general rubbish bins however none have the ability to dispose of chemical toilet waste.
4 - No car parks have areas specifically aimed at Caravan's/Motor Homes please refer to No2 above.
5 - All of our car parks have provisions for over night parking with the exception of Catherine Street Office Car park in Whitehaven - current charges can be found on our website.
6 - Most of our car parks are unsuitable for caravans (and therefore not are allowed).
Copeland Borough Council have further details of car parks on their web site Here.
Update September 2007:
Some time after the initial reply from Copeland Borough Council, a further request for information was sent to the council asking for clarification: "The purpose of my request today is to seek clarification about interpretation of the statement at point 2 which reads "None of our car parks allow for caravans and trailers exceeding 3m in length or 1500kg unladen weight only vehicles (cars, light goods vehicles, minibuses, tractors and Land Rovers) South shore in Whitehaven has bus bays that allow for vehicles with trailers more than 3m". Could you please confirm that I read the statement correctly that it is only caravans and trailers which are the subject of the 1500kg limit and not motorised vehicles (including motorhomes).". In response the council stated "It is all vehicles that are subject to a 1500kg unladen weight restriction. None of Copeland Borough Councils car parks allow for vehicles (including those with caravans or trailers) that exceed 3m in length."
As it had come to my notice that many other vehicles (e.g. large 4x4s) weigh in excess of 1500kg (some of the largest 4x4s even being heavier than many motorhomes). A further request for clarification was sent to the council: "Could you please supply me with a copy of the information distributed to your car parking attendants to enable them to judge whether or not a particular vehicle should be issued with a PCN/ECN for exceeding the weight and/or length limits." The council responded "There is no written document distributed to car parking attendants regarding size/weight."
The Council was subsequently asked "Given that your authority supplies its car parking attendants with no guidance in judging whether a vehicle exceeds the weight limit, coupled with the fact that no PCNs were issued for excessive weight in the last financial year, may I take it that the authority has a policy of not enforcing the weight limit? I ask because, in the absence of impartial guidance, there could be a significant risk that some drivers would be issued with a PCN whilst others were not even though their vehicle might be heavier and that such a situation could lay the authority open to complaints of maladministration."
On 22 August 2007 the Council replied "Having given the matter some thought I have concluded that the matters raised in your e-mail of 11 July lie outside the scope of the Freedom of Information Act. What the policy implications may or may not be of information already supplied to you is speculation which we cannot indulge in when dealing with requests under the Act and you will need to draw your own conclusions from the information we have provided. I am unable to confirm that the Council has a policy of the kind referred to in the second paragraph of your e-mail."
It was pointed out to the council that either it has a policy (which would be disclosable under FoI) or it has no policy (so there would be nothing to disclose under FoI). No response has been received from the council.
On 30th June 2009, in response to a follow-up request, the Council provided the following information:
The following is an extract from The Copeland Borough Council Off Street Car Parking Order 2003 and applies to all CBC off street car parks
18 Conduct of Persons in Parking Places
(i) No person shall in a parking place wantonly shout or otherwise make any loud noise in the disturbance or annoyance of users of the parking place or residents of premises in the neighbourhood
(ii) No person shall in a parking place use any threatening abusive or insulting language gesture or conduct with intent to put any person in fear or so as to occasion a breach of the peace whereby a breach of the peace is likely to be occasioned
(iii) No person shall use any part of a parking place or any vehicle left in a parking place: (a) for sleeping or camping purposes; (b) for eating or cooking purposes for any domestic or sanitary purposes; (c) for the purpose of repairing maintaining servicing or washing any vehicle or part thereof other than is reasonably necessary to enable that vehicle to depart from the parking place
(iv) No person shall in a parking place: A cause erect or permit to be erected any tent booth stand building or other structure without the written consent of the Council; B light or cause or permit to be lit any fire; C deposit or abandon any litter or together object except with prior permission from the Council
Classes of vehicle allowed in CBC car parking bays: All vehicles except
(a) Goods vehicles exceeding 1500kg unladen weight
(b) Passenger vehicles adapted to carry more than 12 passengers exclusive of driver
(c) Caravans
(d) Trailers exceeding 3m in length or 1500kg
As far as I am aware, motorhomes would need to book on an official touring caravan/camping site for overnight parking unless the vehicle is NOT being used for sleeping/camping purposes and is within the limits of the classes of vehicle allowed.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Ravenglass
Avoid the station car park in larger vehicles as there are restrictions. Pass under the railway bridge and park in the village car park on the left. (Thanks to TW for providing this information on 23 December 2007).
Eden District
On 14th September 2006, Eden District Council provided the following information:
The District Council operates five ‘pay and display’ car parks in Penrith and one ‘pay and display’ car park in Appleby.
The car parks in Kirkby Stephen and Alston are free of charge and not subject at the present time to enforcement.
PENRITH
Please note that the parking arrangements will be subject to change in the near future due to the establishment of the new Southend Road development in Penrith town centre. At the present time, there are no designated parking bays for motorhomes or caravans in the car parks. Drivers of motorhomes are advised to park in the general parking bays in Southend Road Inner car park. If the motorhome overhangs the bay to the rear, it is advisable to purchase two parking tickets, as two bays are effectively being occupied. There are no height restrictions. There are public toilet facilities within the car park. Although vehicles can be left for a maximum of 24 hours, the Parking Order states that the vehicle may not be left in the parking place for the purposes of ‘sleeping, camping, or cooking.’ There is no restricted access to the car park.
APPLEBY
Parking is available in the Broad Close car park and the same conditions apply. Access and manoeuvrability for larger vehicles may be limited.
KIRKBY STEPHEN
Free parking is available in the Christian Head car park. Vehicles cannot be left for the purposes of ‘sleeping, cooking, or camping.’ Public toilet facilities are available in the town centre.
ALSTON
Free parking is available in the Railway Station car park. The same conditions apply.
EDEN DISTRICT
There are a number of car parks in the District which are managed by the County Council or by the Lake District National Park Authority, and others. Drivers of motorhomes are advised to take note of the parking signs and highways lines when parking.
Eden District Council have further parking details on their web site Here. This includes links to details of Disc Zones and the complete Off Street Parking Order. The council's web site now contains details Here of where motorhomes (referred to as camper vans) can park.
South Lakeland
On 12th October 2006, South Lakeland District Council the following information:
1. Height restrictions exist only on Westmorland Shopping Centre CP and South Lakeland House car parks in Kendal, and Booths Supermarket in Kendal. None of these are recommended for motorhomes.
2. Where bays are marked on the surface all SLDC car parks require motorhomes to park within a bay or pay for any bays occupied by overhang. See spreadsheet for car parks with reasonable space to park or manoeuvre a motorhome.
3. See spreadsheet for car parks with toilet facilities. There are NO chemical waste disposal points on any of our car parks.
4. SLDC car parks do not provide any bays specifically set aside for motorhome or caravan users.
5. There is a total ban on overnight parking on all of our car parks.
6. The spreadsheet recommends only those car parks where we consider that a small to medium sized motorhome could manoeuvre or park. Those shown in blue are only suitable for small motorhomes. Small and medium sizes refer to those vehicles which are acceptable on British roads and should not be interpreted to include vehicles that may well suit continental Europe or America, but whose drivers would find difficulty in manoeuvring in the British Isles.
On 21st August 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the Council provided the following information:
Below are the changes to the information supplied in October 2006:
AMBLESIDE - Rothay Holme - now is HGV & PSV only
BOWNESS - Braithwaite Fold - is open 1 April (or Easter if earlier) to 31 October (8am to 8pm)
SEDBERGH - Joss Lane and Loftus Hill are now run by Sedbergh Parish Council (Loftus Hill is no longer free)
All the rest of the information above is still correct.
The Council also provided an updated version of a spreadsheet of car parking information, originally provided in October 2006. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
South Lakeland District Council have further details of council car parks on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Ambleside
An extra parking facility at Ambleside in Cumbria - Miller Field car park. I have used this location on a few occasions. It has ample parking. Lat 54.42896 Long -2.96591. The car park has had a lot of money spent on it (parking fee to match £1.30 an hour). The parking slots number around 200 (at a guess), good for motorhomes. (Thanks to EG for providing this information on 17 May 2009).
Coniston
The central car park will take up to a mid-sized coachbuilt if you overhang the verge - but don't use the coach spaces as they are well used and you will not be popular. (Thanks to TW for providing this information on 23 December 2007).
Grange-over-Sands
Suitable car park on the left as you leave the town to the west - only a short walk into the town. (Thanks to TW for providing this information on 23 December 2007).
Hawkshead
A very large central car park with some areas suitable for coachbuilts if you can overhang the verge. (Thanks to TW for providing this information on 23 December 2007).
Windermere
We have just returned from the lake district and for shopping for up to 2 hours motorhomes can use Booth's car park in Windermere next to the station or go into the Lakeland car park next door. Both car parks do NOT have barriers and you can walk from either store to the other to do shopping. (Thanks to J&DEG for providing this information on 6 July 2009).
Return to Motorhome Friendly and Unfriendly Parking home page.
Last updated: 27 June 2010