Bolton
On 25th September 2006 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council provided the following information:
Bolton Metro car parks have height restriction barriers in place, the restricted height for vehicles is 2.5 metres. The Traffic Regulation Order states that vehicles authorised for parking places are; Solo motor cycles, Motor vehicles constructed or adapted for the use of conveyance of heavy goods or burden the unladen weight of which does not exceed 1525kg. Invalid carriages, solo pedal cycles and motor cars. Unfortunately, any other kind of vehicles does not fit the above criteria, therefore, cannot use the car parking facilities.
We have no on or off street facilities for motor homes.
On 24th April 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the Council provided the following information:
Bolton Council does not have any parking facilities for the parking of motorhomes or for overnight parking which allow for eating and sleeping in the vehicle.
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council have further details on their web site Here.
Bury
On 28th September 2006 Bury Metropolitan Borough Council provided the following information:
The council provided a hard copy list of all the Authority's car parks and a tariff schedule for the Town Centre pay and display car parks but given the restrictions imposed by height barriers this has not been scanned for loading to this site.
1. Height Restrictions - all the Authority's car parks have height restriction barriers (HRB) set at 2.1 metres (6 feet 9 inches) to deter travellers and vehicles over 3.5 tonnes GVW from entering the car park.
2. Parking Within Bays - the Parking Places Orders (PPO's) state that vehicles should be parked wholly within the marked bays (2.4m wide x 4.8m long).
3. Toilet/Waste Disposal Facilities - there are no such facilities on any of the Authority's car parks.
4. Provision of Spaces Specifically for Motorhomes - there are no spaces on the Authority's car parks designated specifically for motorhome or caravans.
5. Provision of Overnight Parking - the maximum period for which vehicles may wait on the Authority's car parks is 24 hours.
6. Restricted Access - I am not aware of any restrictions by narrow roads/entrances but as most motorhomes/caravans would not be able to access the car parks because of the weight restriction barrier they may not be being reported.
Bury Metropolitan Borough Council have further details on their web site Here. However, what detail there is on the site covers only Bury town centre and not the other towns in the borough.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
1) We live in Bury and have a Motorhome which is 22ft long and 8ft 6ins wide and we use either ASDA car park (not on market days, Wed, Fri & Sat as it is very busy) or Tesco for our shopping. Asda have a charge of £1 refunded at checkout if you spend £5 or more for up too one and a half hours & the Tesco one is FREE for up to 2 hours. We always park well away from the masses and have had no problem parking at all. (Many thanks to J&D for this information, received on 20 April 2007).
2) Just to update a bit further re Bury. Spoke to the guy who goes round checking on ticketing at the ASDA car park and he stated to us that Motorhomes are welcolme at any time as long as they take a ticket and abide by the rules on the pay & display ticket machine, even on market days. (Many thanks to J&D for this information, received on 29 April 2007).
3) We were at Burrs country park in Bury last week. Whilst we were there a motorhome stayed in the car park, overnight. The car park is close to the Caravan Club camp site, directions for which are on the CC web site. Instead of going into CC site turn left into country park car park just before the Brown Cow. Not sure how you would go about getting permission to stay overnight, but it is quiet, close to the A58 & M66 and the pub also does food. (Many thanks to PM for this information, received on 7 June 2007).
Manchester
On 22nd August 2006 Manchester City Council provided the information that Manchester only has one car park that would be suitable for a motor home. Sheffield Street coach park has spaces large enough to fit a motor home. For details click the NCP link Here, type Sheffield Street then pick "Sheffield Street, Manchester M1" from the list returned. The council has further parking details on its web site Here.
On 18th January 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the Council confirmed the above - "There is a coach and lorry park at Sheffield Street, M1 2ND. This car park provides facilities including large bays for vehicles to park in, which extends to motorhomes.". The Council also provided a table of car parks provided for cars with bays marked accordingly (some of which have height restrictions) and pointed out that the parking of a large motor home (other than at Sheffield Street) would potentially contravene the 'Out of Bay' regulation.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
(Many thanks to WH for this information, received on 30 May 2007) I thought the content of this email correspondence with Manchester council might be of use:
Question: Please can you tell me about the rules of having a motorhome parked in a pay and display street bay. I currently have one that just fits in a bay but I am thinking of buying one that will not. This is usually at night but not always. Would I have to buy two tickets when required and are there any restrictions when fees are not applicable? Also, if the vehicle has a wheel over a single yellow line or double yellow line does the lines restriction over ride the parking bay?
Answer: Thank you for your e-mail. Unfortunately, if your vehicle doesn't fit within a bay, even if you buy 2 tickets for it, then it will be liable to receive a Penalty Charge Notice. Also, even when a pay and display ticket doesn't need to be purchased, i.e. after 6 pm, then a vehicle can still be issued with a parking ticket for being 'out of bay'. A double yellow line is applicable 24 hours a day and is not permitted to be parked on, whereas a single yellow line is only applicable at a certain time. The signs near to the line will give the hours of restriction.
Oldham
On 4th October 2006 Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council provided the following information:
1. Height Restrictrions. Height barriers exist on the following car parks: Croft Street Failsworth - height 6' 6"; Kershaw Street East Shaw - height 6' 6"; Rushcroft Road Shaw - height 6' 6"; Oak Colliery Oldham -height 6' 6"; Multi storey car parks: Hobson Street Oldham - height restriction 6' 6".
2. Requirements for parking within bay confines. All car parks are regulated by a Traffic Regulation Order that stipulates that vehicles must be parked wholly within the marked bays. The Order also stipulates that when a vehicle is accompanied by a trailer, the trailer must be parked in a parking bay and a charge must be paid for the trailer equivalent to the charge payable in respect of the vehicle.
3. Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities. There are no direct provision of these facilities within any of the car parks. However there is provision of public toilets adjacent to the Dovestone car park in Saddleworth and within walking distance of the car parks in Oldham Town Centre
4. Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes / caravans. There is no provision at the present time.
5. Any provision / ban on overnight parking. All car parks are regulated by a Traffic Regulation Order that contains thefollowing restrictions: "No person shall use any part of a parking place or any vehicle left in a parking place for: sleeping or camping purposes; or eating or cooking purposes; or the purpose of servicing, washing, cleaning, constructing, maintaining or repairing any vehicle or part thereof other than is reasonably necessary to enable that person to depart from the parking bay" and "the driver of a vehicle shall not leave the vehicle in a parking place in excess of the period specified in Column 5"; Column 5 states that the maximum period of waiting is 18 hours.
6. Restricated access caused by narrow roads / entrances. The only formal width restriction in the Borough is on Coal Pit Lane which is off the Ashton Road A627, where there is a 6' 6" restriction except for access. However the Council is proposing to introduce a Width Restriction Order on Medlock Road, Woodhouses between Green Lane and the entrance to Brookdale Golf Course, prohibiting all vehicles over 6' 6" in width, except for access to premises. The Order has been advertised and no objections were received and the scheme should be implemented this autumn.
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council have further details on their web site Here.
Rochdale
On 6th September 2006 Rochdale Borough Council provided the following information:
The only car park in Rochdale Borough that could legally accommodate a motorhome is located at Hollingworth Lake Country Park,Littleborough.The car park name is Hollingworth lake Country Park visitors centre.The car park is a mixture of marked bays, which cannot accommodate a motorhome and unlined parking areas which are surfaced with tarmac planings in an informal country setting. The access road is rather narrow but probably negotiable with a motor home although there could be a problem, dependent on the height, with overhanging trees.
All the other Council car parks are subject to either height restiction barriers of 2M or defined parking bays which cannot be legally used by a motor home.
On 30th January 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council confirmed that "The only pay and Display area in Rochdale that can provide motorhome parking is the Visititors Centre Car park, Hollingworth Lake Country park, Rakewood Road, Littleborough,Rochdale. Lancs. There is no overnight parking provision."
Rochdale Borough Council have further details on their web site Here.
Salford
On 25th August 2006 Urban Vision Partnership Ltd provided the following information on behalf of Salford City Council:
1. Height restrictions. We hold no records of the height restriction barriers at our car parks.
2. Requirements for parking within bay confines. Regarding those car parks that are subject to The City of Salford (Off-Street Parking Places and Car Parks with
Disabled Parking Spaces) Order 2002, the provisions of this Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) include:
Article 4(ii) "Where in the Schedules a parking place is described as available for vehicles of a specified Class or in a specified position, the driver of a vehicle shall not permit it to wait in that parking place unless it is of the Class and in the position so specified".
Article 6(ii) "If a vehicle is left in a parking place as specified in the Schedules to this Order without displaying the relevant ticker or permit, or is not parked wholly within a marked parking bay, a penalty charge as advertised on site shall be payable."
Schedules 1, 2, 3 and 4, for each and every parking place named, "Position in which vehicle may wait" "Wholly within a parking bay".
A vehicle may only use any of the car parks concerned if it can fit wholly within the markings of one bay. In those car parks subject to a pay & display regime, a motorist cannot exempt their vehicle from the requirement to wait wholly within a marked bay by leaving it over two bays whilst displaying two tickets.
3. Provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities. There are no toilet facilities situated at any of our car parks, other than Eccles Precinct which may soon be withdrawn. There are no specific waste disposal facilities, other than re-cycling banks provided by Environment Directorate at John William Street, Church Street Swinton and Monton car parks.
4. Provision of spaces specifically aimed at motor homes and/or caravans. There are no spaces specifically aimed at motor homes and/or caravans at any of our car parks. Indeed, regarding those car parks that are subject to The City of Salford (Off-Street Parking Places and Car Parks with Disabled Parking Spaces) Order 2002, the provisions of this TRO include:
Article 4(i) "Each area of land specified by name in the Schedules may be used, subject to the following provisions of this order, as a parking place for such Classes of the vehicles not exceeding gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes unless otherwise so described on site in such days and during such hours as are specified in relation to that area in the schedules."
Article 10(ii) "No person shall use any part of a parking place or any vehicle left in a parking place: (a) for sleeping or camping or cooking; or (b) for the purpose of servicing or washing any vehicle or part thereof, other than is reasonably necessary to enable that vehicle to depart from the parking place."
Any vehicle exceeding 3.5 tonnes gross weight is prohibited. Camping or sleeping, in any form, is prohibited.
5. Provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. Off-street, there is no specitic provision for, or ban on, overnight parking, Our pay & display car parks operate between 8.00am and 6.00pm, Monday to Saturday; outside these hours they are free of charge. On-street, any parking restrictions apply as indicated on site. Additionally, throughout the city, the parking of vehicles and trailers over 3.5 tonnes gross weight is restricted to certain authorised parking places between 7.00pm and 7.00arn, all day Sunday.
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances. No information held in this respect.
On 11th March 2008, in response to a follow-up request, Urban Vision Partnership Ltd provided the following information on behalf of Salford City Council:
All the council's public pay & display car parks are subject to a traffic regulation order that requires any vehicle to park wholly within a marked bay, imposes a gross vehicle weight limit of 3.5 tonnes and prohibits the use of any part of a parking place or any vehicle left in a parking place 'for sleeping or camping or cooking'. Certain car parks have height restriction barriers at their entrance which motorists need to observe. In Salford, overnight parking between 7.00pm and 7.00am of vehicles/trailers exceeding 3.5 tonnes gross weight is restricted to certain designated locations. This restriction also applies all day Sunday.
Overall, the conditions remain essentially the same as those prevailing in August 2006 when we responded to your previous information request.
Salford City Council has further details of car parks on its web site.
Stockport
On 27th September 2006 Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council provided the following information (confirmed as still current 3 April 2008):
1) The council provided a list of their car parks with height restriction barriers (updated 3 April 2008). This can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format from Here.
2) It is a requirement that vehicles are parked within the marked bays in all of our car parks. Other than by prior arrangement we do not offer the facility to pay for more than one bay.
3) We do not have motorhome/caravan waste facilities in any of our car parks. Other than public toilets that are located in the vicinity of car parks we have no specific toilet/washing facilities.
4) We have no bays/areas specifically set aside for parking by motorhomes/caravans.
5) Overnight parking by coaches and vehicles over 3.5t gvw is banned on-street within the M60 orbital motorway, which includes the northern section of Stockport.
6) We have no information recorded that relates to restricted access to car parks.
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council have further details on their web site Here.
Tameside
On 4th September 2006 Tameside Council provided the following information:
1. Camp Street car park in Ashton under Lyne has a height restriction of 2m. Hyde Multi storey also has a similar height restriction on the upper floors only. All other car parks do not have height restrictions.
2. The car parking regulation (off street Parking Places) Order 2005 states that "a vehicle must be parked wholly within a marked out bay". All bays are 4.8m x 4m with the exception of disabled bays. If two bays are taken by a larger vehicle, providing they are within the markings of the two bays two tickets can be purchased.
3. There is no provision for toilet and waste disposal facilities on any of our car parks.
4. There are no spaces specifically aimed at motor homes and/or caravans on our car parks.
5. Maximum waiting period apply to car parks which includes 3 hours on our short stay car parks and 24 hours on our long stay car parks. Evening charges apply on all car parks.
6. There are no car parks which have restricted access.
On 11th January 2008, in response to a follow-up request, Tameside Council provided the following information:
1. We do not have any off street parking available specifically for motorhomes. All vehicles must be parked in a marked out bay
2. All pay and display car parks have a max gross weight limit of 3.5t. There are no height restrictions with the exception of Camp Street car park, Ashton under Lyne which has a height restriction barrier upon entry,
3. The Tameside off street parking places order Part 11 (21) states that no parking place or bay or part thereof shall be used for the purpose of sleeping, camping or cooking.
Tameside Council have further details on their web site Here.
Trafford
On 29th August 2006 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council provided a spreadsheet which can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format from Here. The Motorhomes Information column was added specially in response to the request for information.
On 19th September 2006 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council provided a second spreadsheet which can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format from Here (but see also response from 19 Jan 2008 below). The second spreadsheet was accompanied by the following information:
1. Height restrictions are noted on the spreadsheet.
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). Trafford has no car parks which have facilities for motor homes to park within the confines of one bay or to purchase two parking tickets, however there are a number of free parking sites without height barriers which do not operate "out of bay" enforcement currently.
3. Provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities - noted on the spreadsheet, whilst toilet facilities have been marked as available, waste facilities are not available.
4. Trafford do not have any spaces specifically aimed at motor homes and/or caravans.
5. Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. There is only one car park which is designated for overnight parking (see the spreadsheet).
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances - all sites can be found on Multimap although do not appear to be restricted.
The Council pointed out that the details are subject to change and are therefore only correct at the time of producing this data.
On 25th January 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council provided an updated list of charges etc for the car parks within Trafford, pointing out that the barriers as per last information remains the same. The updated charges can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format from Here
Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council have further parking details on their web site.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Trafford Centre
The Trafford Centre has free parking all day. I always use the Orient car park as there are no height barriers. This is round what I would call the back, near the Travel Lodge, Brewers Fayre and The Orangery. The Orient food court is fantastic, you can get anything to eat and there are plenty of shops. There are various forms of transport from here to other parts of Manchester. Latitude: 53.46434315862569; Longitude: -2.3506879806518554.
(Many thanks to RG for this information, received on 22 March 2007).
Wigan
On 15th September 2006 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council provided the following information:
The Council provided a spreadsheet of car parking information. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
1. Height restrictions are noted on the spreadsheet mentioned above.
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). The off-street Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) state that all 'specified' vehicles must park wholly within a marked bay (therefore there is no specific reference about buying two tickets for oversized vehicles however a 'specified' vehicle is that of a motor car or motor cycle not exceeding 1525 Kg's or 30 cwts unladen weight and so precludes the use of caravans and / or motorhomes on the car parks covered in the TROs). Also the TROs state that "no person shall use any part of the parking place (the car park) or any vehicle in the parking place - (a) for sleeping or camping purposes; or (b) for eating or cooking purposes".
3. Provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities are noted on the spreadsheet mentioned above.
4. There is no provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans.
5. Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. There is no provision outside of the surface car parks operating times (possibly see point 2 answer relating to sleeping / camping / eating / cooking etc as this could be an issue).
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances - noted on the spreadsheet mentioned above.
Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council have further details on their web site Here.
Update 10 July 2007:
Some time after the initial reply from Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council above it came to my notice that many other vehicles (e.g. large 4x4s) weigh in excess of 1525 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 "I can confirm that we do not issue Parking Attendants (PA's) with information to judge whether or not a particular vehicle should be issued with a PCN for exceeding the weight limit. However, if a vehicle is too long for the bay, purchasing one pay and display ticket will be sufficient."
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Last updated: 24 April 2008