Northumberland County Council have parking details/links for the county on their web site.
On 1st September 2006 Northumberland County Council provided the following information:
The County Council provides car parks at 4 Country Parks in south east Northumberland. These are at Plessey Woods (GR NZ 238 803 ), Bolam Lake (GR NZ 082 818), Druridge Bay (GR NZ 271 998) and Tyne Riverside, Low Prudhoe (GR NZ 086 635) and Tyne Riverside, Wylam (GR NZ 116 646). Parking charges apply at all the car parks. The cost for cars is £1.20 for up to 2 hours, and £2.40 for over 2 hours. The cost for minibuses and trailers is a flat rate of £4.80 per day and for coaches is £6 per day. No specific rate currently exists for mobile homes.
1. Height restrictions - none.
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) - marked out bays exist at Plessey Woods, no bays at the other car parks.
3. Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities - toilets are available during day light hours, no waste disposal facilities.
4. Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans - no.
5. Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking - no overnight parking is allowed, the car parks are closed at dusk each evening.
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances - no significant width restrictions.
There are further details of the country park visitor centres on the web site Here.
Alnwick
On 29th September 2006 Alnwick District Council provided the following information:
In April 2005 Alnwick District Council introduced four larger size parking bays which are dedicated for seasonal use by motorhomes between April and October. This motorhome provision is located in the car park off Greenwell Road Immediately to the rear of the Playhouse Theatre. However if these bays are in use when motorists arrive we advise them to use the upper deck of the Old Brewery car park which is located directly opposite Morrisons supermarket (due to this car park having a generally open layout which can accommodate vehicles overhanging the marked bays).
My response to the list of particular items of relevant information is as follows (in the same order) :-
1. The car parks generally do not have any height restrictions to control access however motorists with larger vehicles need to be aware that the most direct main access into Alnwick Town Centre is through an arch ie Bondgate Tower which does have a height restriction (9 feet 3 inches according to a sign shown in a photograph Here).
2.The vehicles must park within a bay in relation to width however as mentioned above vehicle overhang lengthways (to the rear/open end of the bay) is acceptable in some of our car parks as long as it does not cause an obstruction. The vehicle only needs to purchase a single ticket as it is only allowed to take up one bay.
3. Public conveniences are located within easy reach of most of the town centre car parks. General litter bin provision is either nearby or within the car parks. There are currently no alternative waste disposal facilities provided.
4. Dedicated motor home spaces - Answered within the opening paragraph.
5. Generally the District Council does not allow overnight camping or caravanning within any of the car parks. However the Greenwell Road car park identified above is the designated as the overnight coach and lorry parking area. Please note that this has not been extended to include motorhomes.
6. I am not aware of any narrow roads /entrances that would cause an obstruction that would restrict access to the car parks.
Alnwick District Council have further details on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
There are 4 dedicated motorhome bays (with a notice prohibiting use by any other vehicle) in the Long stay car park on Greenwell Road. Parking is £1.50 for 4 hours or £2 all day. This car park is a short walk from the Alnwick Gardens, Castle and is pretty well in the town centre. From the A1 exit to Alnwick follow the signs to Coach Drop Off Point. Just before the Bailiffgate (possible to go through with a MH but not advised - you can't miss it anyway - large stone arch) turn right into Greenwell Road and then immediately right into the car park. Easy to find. Received July 2006. (Anon)
Berwick Upon Tweed
On 5th September 2006 Berwick Upon Tweed Council provided the following information:
The pertinent points from our Parking Order are noted below:
The Order is created under the 1984 Act and we do not have Decriminalised Parking Enforcement in this area, therefore the answers relate purely to the off-street parking operated by this Council.
The is a weight limit of 3.5 tonnes in all car parks. Specifically, we do not allow coaches*, lorries or caravans in any car park. (* except Holy Island, Bamburgh and Seahouses which have specific coach parking).
The Order is worded so that parking is for daily periods between 00.00 and 23.59 ie. no overnight parking through midnight (except Berwick rail station). Again specifically, there is no occupancy of vehicles allowed.
There are marked bays in tarmaced areas where the bays are standard size. Other areas are on grass or hard standing, some of which have parking areas defined by logs.
The Council requires all vehicles to be parked wholly within a marked bay. Smaller mobile homes would probably manage. This precludes the opportunity for using and paying for two bays.
There are no height restrictions.
There has been an increasing number of mobile homes noted in the last two years and there is no specific provision for them. We accommodate them in Castlegate long stay overflow, Berwick; Chare Ends, Holy Island; Bamburgh and Seahouses overflow where there is sufficient space for larger vehicles and they are currently charged as per the car rate.
However, we also observe an increasing number who intend to use car parks as overnight stopping places as they do not incur the cost of a pitch on a legitimate site. This has caused friction with residents and with organisations such as AONB and English Nature where camping, etc is not permitted in reserves etc. There are no toilet emptying facilities at any car parks.
The size of some vehicles is also causing concern and we are seriously looking at revising the order to restrict some car parks in areas unsuitable for larger van derived vehicles but under 3.5 tonnes. The Councils current policy does not encourage caravans or mobile homes to be brought into town centres in historic/rural locations. We would encourage such users to book vans into recognised sites and travel by alternative means to enjoy the area.
The council provided a copy of their 2006 leaflet. This can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
Berwick Upon Tweed Council have further details accessible via their web site Here.
On 4th January 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council provided a copy of a leaflet providing specific information for Mobile Homes and larger vans. This can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Holy Island
We discovered a nice little overnighting spot whilst away over the Bank Holiday, it's another one for Northumberland, on the way to Holy Island. Leave the A1 at West Mains (signposted Beal/Holy Island) and follow the road down to the start of the causeway to the island. Immediately before the causeway is a car park on the left hand side. Very quiet, no signs saying "No Motorhomes" or "Overnight Parking". Obviously being a car park there are no facilities, but it is free and fairly level. OS Ref: 408005,642730. Received August 2006. (Keith)
Since receiving this information I have been informed by Berwick Upon Tweed Council that the car park referred to was created to take waiting traffic off the main road leading on to the tidal causeway - due to poor sight lines and a high accident risk prior to the causeway. While there are no relevant parking signs, this area does form part of an English Nature reserve covering the coastal strip and Holy Island. It is suggested that a check be made with English Nature regarding any restrictions on camping, etc within the reserve.
East Ord Picnic Area
There is a small car park, with toilets, at the junction of the A1 and the A698. There is a 3 metre height restriction but we found it ideal for a lunch break on the way to Edinburgh (June 2006).
Berwick-on-Tweed
Spittal Promenade; Longitude 01 59 35 W; Latitude 55 45 42 N; Approach from Billendean Rd; Open, good turning.
(Thanks to AL for providing this information on 11 September 2007).
Blyth Valley
On 11th October 2006 Blyth Valley Borough Council provided the following information:
Unfortunately, we do not have any specific information on each individual car park within the Borough. Generally however, I would make the following comments:
1. There is currently only one car park with a height restriction barrier across the entrance (7'2" or 2.2m). This is located at Seaton Sluice (grid reference 433253 577033).
2. We do not currently charge for car parking anywhere in the Borough and there is no formal parking enforcement within the Council owned car parks.
3. The three coastal car parks between Blyth and Seaton Sluice all have toilet facilities and refuse bins; there are no chemical waste disposal facilities associated with any car parks within the Borough. There are also toilet facilities within the main town centre car park adjacent to the Keel Row shopping centre in Blyth.
4. There are no dedicated facilities within the car parks for caravans or motorhomes.
5. There are currently moves afoot to ban overnight parking in the three coastal car parks between Blyth and Seaton Sluice.
6. As far as I am aware, none of our car parks have restricted access.
More information with regard to locations of car parks within the Borough can be found on the Carparks4u.com web site.
Blyth Valley Borough Council have further details on their web site Here.
Castle Morpeth
On 15th September 2006 Castle Morpeth Council provided the following information:
1 The only height restriction is at the car parks at Cresswell where the restriction is 2.1 meters. There is an official weight restriction of 3.5 tonnes on all the car parks in Morpeth Town Centre except the Terrace car park (though some large vehicles may park by special agreement).
2 There is no requirement to purchase 2 tickets for overhanging a second bay. Provided the vehicle is not causing an obstruction to the flow of traffic we currently allow the use 2 bays, if this cannot be avoided. There is currently only pay and display in Morpeth itself.
3 There is a public convenience in the Terrace car park and a Leisure centre with shower facilities in Newmarket.
4 There are currently no council owned spaces that are specifically aimed at Motor homes/caravans.
5 There is a ban on overnight parking at Low Stanners car park only. An overnight park for HGVs is provided at the Terrace car park which can also be used for large motor homes. The surface is thicker and there are toilets available.
6 Access to Greys Yard and Dacre Street is restricted by width of entrance/exit.
Castle Morpeth Council have further details on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Morpeth
July 2006. Lumsdens Lane car park next to the coach park (6 on the map on the web site) has no height restrictions. It was reasonably easy to park an 18 foot motorhome there.
Tynedale
On 4th September 2006 Tynedale Council provided the information which below. On 4th January 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council confirmed that there had been no changes in the intervening period.
Tynedale Council is responsible for Off Street Parking in Hexham.
We have 6 pay and display Car Parks, however the Off Street parking Order states: Caravans and motor homes are only allowed to park between the hours of 7am to midnight daily.
It is forbidden to sleep, camp, cook or to use a vehicle for these purposes, in this car park.
Tynedale Council have further details on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
June 2006. Wentworth car park just off the A695 where the Tourist Information Centre is located - no height restrictions.
Wansbeck
On 1st November 2006 Wansbeck District Council provided the following information:
1. Height restrictions. None.
2. Requirements for parking within bay confines, including any requirement for purchasing two tickets. Vehicles are not permitted to park in a position other than that specified. There is no charge for parking in Wansbeck and as such tickets are not issued.
3. Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities None.
4. Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at caravans and motor homes. None.
5. Any provision for or ban on overnight parking. Not specifically, although the byelaws prohibit using a vehicle in a parking place for sleeping and camping or eating and cooking.
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances. None
The council's Parking Places Order states that all car parks have a limit on vehicles up to 2 tons unladen weight with the exception of Lintonville Road, Ashington and Millne Park, Bedlington
Update 30 July 2007:
Some time after the initial reply from Wansbeck District Council above it came to my notice that many other vehicles (e.g. large 4x4s) weigh in excess of 2 tonnes (some of the largest 4x4s even being heavier than many motorhomes). A further request for information was sent to the council asking for clarification: "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 for exceeding the weight limit.". In response the council stated "Wansbeck District Council does not hold the information you require. No such documents exist.".
The Council was subsequently asked "I understand that no documents exist but I assume that the council's car parking attendants are given training in order to do their job (presumably verbal in the absence of documentation). Given that the Wansbeck parking order states that the classes of vehicle allowed to park are "Vehicles up to 2 tons unladen weight" then it is reasonable to assume that the training includes instruction as to how to judge whether or not a vehicle is over 2 tons unladen weight. Such instruction might vary from being told to ignore the vehicle weight to something more detailed but, if the regulations are to be applied equitably and impartially then there has to be some instruction. Can you please furnish me with details of the instructions given to parking attendants as to how to judge whether or not a vehicle is over 2 tons unladen weight." The Council replied "In relation to your query regarding vehicle weight there is no documentation, record or other information held by Wansbeck District Council. Section 84 of the Freedom of Information Act defines information as information recorded in any form. There is no such record."
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Last updated: 4 January 2008