East Sussex 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 29th July 2009, the Council provided the following information regarding on street parking:
We can only provide information from the Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough.
There is no specific prescription for or proscription against the parking of motor homes in Lewes or Eastbourne within the proviso that the vehicle must be within the limits of any designated parking bay, parking across multiple bays is not allowed.
There are general restrictions concerning the size and weight of vehicles permitted to use the designated parking places, this restricts parking to vehicles ‘the gross weight of which does not exceed 5 tonnes, the height of which is not more than 2.25 metres and the overall length of which does not exceed 5.25 metres’.
Overnight parking is not allowed.
East Sussex County Council have parking details/links for the county on their web site.
Brighton & Hove
On 13th October 2006 Brighton & Hove City Council provided the following Information:
1. Height restrictions for all controlled parking zones are 2.25m.
2. All vehicles are required to park within the confines of the parking bay.
3. No specific provision regarding toilet and waste disposal facilities.
4. No spaces aimed at caravans.
5. No ban in place regarding overnight parking, but the parking areas restrict the size of vehicles by weight and size.
6. The city centre has several streets that restrict access caused by narrow roads/entrances.
On 28th August 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council provided the following information:
1. The parking of motor homes are not permitted in any of our off street car parks. this includes the parking in any bays.
2. We have height restrictions in all of our off street car parks the minimum height restriction is 2 meters
3. There are no designated areas which allow overnight parking which allow sleeping/eating in the vehicle.
Brighton & Hove City Council have further details on their web site Here.
On 13th March 2009, a request was sent to the Council asking if it was possible to park a motorhome at the P&R sites it provides. On 6th May 2009, the council replied:
Brighton & Hove City Council has one Park & Ride site. It is located at Withdean Stadium (Post Code BN1 5JD). It does not have a height barrier and is thus accessible to motorhomes. However the site is small, and the parking bays are not long enough to accommodate “extreme” motorhomes of the Winnebago type. Only vehicles up to 6 metres in length can be accommodated. The site is only available for Park & Ride customers, and is not available for overnight parking. There are further details on the council's web site Here.
There is a Caravan Club, which is privately owned, based in East Brighton Park, Sheepcote Valley (access is via Wilson Avenue). This is the only caravan park available for general use by motor homes in the Brighton and Hove area.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
For temporary daytime parking in Brighton and Hove, the A259 coast road residents' only restrictions end at Wish Road, Hove. There's only one campsite in Brighton, so if you just want to pause and park free here for a while, you can drive into Lidl at Whitehawk, the Co Op in Sackville Road, and Aldi in Portslade with no height barriers, of course it would be polite to shop there a bit! For visiting Brighton in a van, The Park and Ride at Withdean Stadium has no height barrier. (Thanks to RH for this information, received 13 July 2008).
Eastbourne
On 6th October 2006 Eastbourne Borough Council provided the following Information:
The parking areas at Beachy Head are accessible to motor homes. As there are no marked bays the price payable would be the same as for a car.
There is no overnight parking at all in any of the Council's car parks including Beachy Head.
The other Council off street car parks have height restriction barriers of 2m excluding:
a) The Hyde Gardens off street car park does not have a height barrier but is not accessible for motor homes as the bays are short and the motor home would then be parked over the adjacent highway.
b) The Wish Tower car park does not have a height barrier but again the bays are short and it is a small car park that would make manoeuvres difficult.
c) The Fisherman’s Green (West) car park does not have a height barrier. Motor homes could park and if they parked over two bays then they would need to purchase two tickets.
The only other parking area is the Coach & Lorry park which is closing on 31 January 2007.
On 10th July 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council provided the following information:
The Eastbourne Borough off Street Parking Orders 2001, do not allow for parking of motor homes within the car parks. Nearly all car parks have height restriction barriers except Hyde Gardens, Wish Tower, Fisherman’s Green West and the Downland car parks.
The only car parks that would be accessible would be Fisherman’s Green West and the Downland car parks (along Beachy Head) are accessible for motor homes (but not for overnight parking).
Eastbourne Borough Council have further details on their web site Here.
Hastings
On 4th October 2006 Hastings Borough Council provided the following Information in relation to the use of parking areas within the borough by motorhomes:
1. any height restrictions. All our off-road parking areas, with the exception of the Stade coach and lorry park and the Fishmarket car park, have barriers imposing a height restriction of 2.2 metres.
2. any 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). Large motorhomes will be unable to access the car parks due to height restrictions. The Stade coach and lorry park is purpose-built to accommodate larger vehicles, and the bays are appropriately sized.
3. any provisions of toilet and waste disposal facilities. No.
4. any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans. No.
5. any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. There is an overnight tariff for use of the Stade coach and lorry park. We are not aware of provisions for camping other than at designated camp sites in the borough.
6. any restrictions on access caused by narrow roads/entrances. We are not aware of any such restrictions. However drivers of large vehicles intending to use camp sites within the borough are advised to contact the owners of those sites to make appropriate enquiries.
On 7th July 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council provided the following information:
There are no off street parking places which accommodate motorhomes. All car parks with the exception of the Stade Coach & Lorry Park have height barriers of 2.2 metres. The Stade is designed for coaches and lorries only - sleeping or cooking is prohibited and is signed to say 'No Caravans or Campers' at the entrance. There are no on street facilities for motorhomes etc. We suggest that you check with the local caravan parks to see if they provide facilities for visiting motorhomes.
Hastings Borough Council have further details on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
1) We were in Hastings last week. It is an unfriendly town for parking. Only one on the front without a barrier is in the Old Town near the fishing huts and they want £1.20 an hour! This is now the going rate for all parking. (Thanks to AP for this information, received 9 April 2007).
2) Boy do I have problems in Hastings. The Stade lorry park is large enough but HBC say we cant use it. I would happily pay but have had trouble finding 8 pound coins at 0130 so slept with one eye open (we live in Burnley, Lancs). Not a good nights sleep. We have even stopped at the road side in a residential area. (Thanks to BA for this information, received 23 September 2007).
3) Found free 'van parking overlooking Hasting beach at western end of seafront. Bays for "cars & light Vans" was free (Easter Saturday) and long enough for my 7m 'van. Cycle path is adjacent. (Thanks to MRM for this information, received 22 March 2008).
4) I received this today from Hastings authority. "Dear sir, on arrival at the Stade, if you speak with the attendant on duty he will direct you to an area for camper vans". (Thanks to BD for this information, received 19 August 2009).
Lewes
On 2nd October 2006 Lewes District Council provided details of car park height barriers. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
The Council also provided the following information:
1. Height restrictions. See attached sheet listing car parks with restrictions, also our Multi-storey car park off Dacre Road Newhaven has restricted access.
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). Article 22 of The East Sussex (Lewes District) (Off-Street Parking Places) Order 2004 states "Where a parking place has been marked out with white lines to indicate parking bays a driver shall park his vehicle in the position so indicated by the said white lines and in the event of a parking place not being so marked with white lines to indicate parking bays a driver of a vehicle shall park the vehicle in an orderly manner and so as not to cause obstruction to other vehicles and the absence of such white lines shall not invalidate any of the provisions contained in this Order. Areas may be marked with yellow lines indicating that vehicles may not be parked there and in such cases a driver shall not cause his vehicle to park in the position so indicated.".
3. Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities. None.
4. Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans. None.
5. Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. Article 15 of The East Sussex (Lewes District) (Off-Street Parking Places) Order 2004 states "No person shall use any part of a parking place or any vehicle left in a parking place: (1) for sleeping, camping, cooking or eating purposes; (2) for the purposes of servicing, repairing or washing any vehicle or part thereof other than is reasonably necessary to enable that vehicle to depart from the parking place".
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances. The multi-storey car park Off Dacre Rd Newhaven.
On 3rd July 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council provided the following information:
All LDC carparks within our control are limited to use by "motor vehicles" as defined by section 136(2)(4) or (5) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. With the exception of The Buckle Seaford where a section is for heavy goods vehicles. Clarification of this point was sought as many motorhomes weigh less than the limits specified in s136. The answer received on 4 July was: "You can park in car parks in LDC control if you are parked; wholly within marked bays, appropriate ticket displayed in chargeable car parks for the period parked and observing all other conditions displayed, if the class of vehicle is below that weight specified in the regulation and does not exceed 2450 kilograms."
Notwithstanding the above many of our free rural and coastal car parks do have height restriction barriers to exclude large and high sided vehicles from improper use.
General point raised; all LDC controlled car parks, either free or pay to park are available for overnight parking, however article 15 (1) of The East Sussex County Council (Lewes District Council)(off street parking places) Order 2004 states that eating, sleeping, camping or cooking purposes in any space or vehicle in a space is not permitted.
Lewes District Council have further details on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Lewes
1) We live near Lewes and can tell you it's a totally unfriendly town to park in for any kind of motorist. The big Tesco carpark is okay for 3 hours free parking but always very busy. (Thanks to DE for providing this information on 28 December 2010).
2) My wife reminded me of a car park in Lewes that she occasionally uses, called Brook Street car park, which she thought would be fine for motorhomes as there's no height barrier and no marked spaces. We went to look at it and there didn't seem to be any reason why there would be a problem parking there, providing you buy a ticket of course. I checked with Lewes parking office, and they said it was fine, but no overnight sleeping is allowed. (see response below). There are some very nice campsites close to Lewes anyway, for example the Caravan Club's CL at the Laughing Fish (great little pub!) in Isfield. I hope this encourages motorhomers to visit Lewes which is a lovely, lively old town!
Lewes Parking Office Response: Yes, it would be ok to park there with a standard fee. There is no provision for touring caravans at any Lewes District Council car parks and overnight sleeping in any vehicle is prohibited in all LDC car parks. For more information please visit www.lewes.gov.uk.
(Thanks to DE for providing this information on 4 January 2011).
Seaford
1) There are some unmarked parking areas suitable for motorhomes on the seafront and no payment is required (Thanks to MT for providing this information on 7 July 2009).
2) On Seaford seafront campervans are welcome for up to 72 hours, no charge (at the moment) - see 8/8/10 update below. There are toilets (but not open 24 hours) with outside cold tap and a drain. Seaford is a nice little town with a good variety of shops (but sadly no Woolworths now of course). Miles of shingle beach, a couple of light refreshment kiosks and a lovely Museum housed in Martello Tower number 74 - open weekends and Weds p.m. in the season. Apparently the sea fishing is good too. (Thanks to FC for providing this information on 6 August 2010).
We checked on the seafront yesterday and I'm afraid I was lying about overnight stopping - my apologies - it's just that I'm sure people do, but the notices actually say max stay 12 hours and no caravans (doesn't mention motor homes, which is what we see there). The car park by the Buckle has a place for HGV's that can stay max 72 hours, but they're not supposed to sleep in them. Again here it also says no caravans. There is a caravan site at that end of the seafront, right beside the sailing club, but I don't know how much they charge. (Thanks to FC for providing this information on 8 August 2010).
3) Seven Sisters Country Park - There are three car parks associated with the Country Park, none of which have marked bays or height barriers but you will have pay. This gives access to the countryside nearby, the beach and the Seven Sisters Cliffs. (Thanks to MT for providing this information on 7 July 2009).
4) South Barn CP - Signage at South Barn CP (East of town) "Up to 72 hrs". (Thanks to JA for providing this information on 19 August 2011). N.B. See note above re sleeping etc.
Rother
On 5th October 2006 Rother District Council provided the following information:
1) Height restrictions to public car parks. The standard height for this Council's car parks is 2.0 M.
2) Need to park within a marked bay. It is a requirement of our car park regulations that all vehicles must be wholly parked within a marked bay, failure to do so would result in a standard charge fine of £80.00 being applied. If, however, a vehicle exceeded the bay length we are prepared to accept the purchase of an additional ticket for the second parking space.
3) Provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities. No public car parks within this Council's control allow the disposal of waste. Several car parks do however have toilet facilities, these are based at: Battle, Market Square; Battle, Mount Street; Rye, Lucknow Place; Rye, The Strand; Camber, Central (all year round); Camber, Western (Summer only).
4) Provision specially for motor homes and caravans. The Council does not provide spaces set aside for this purpose.
5) Overnight parking. The Council's car park regulations do not allow for overnight parking, any infringement is subject to a standard charge fine of £80.00.
6) Restricted access. All car parks have adequate vehicle access, these were however were not designed to accommodate large motor homes.
On 3rd July 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council stated that the above information was unchanged and that none of the council's car parks are suitable for motorhomes.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Rye
1) Use the Station Car Park which has some larger spaces. At the time of our visit it was £1.00 for the day. Leaflet dispensers near the entrance had free leaflets with a map of the town and marking the many places of interest – a very welcoming touch. (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) We have found that Rye, Sussex is VERY unfriendly toward motorhomes. The tourist office told us that there are NO barrier-free car parks and on-street parking is next to impossible. (Thanks to TG for this information, received 6 April 2007).
Wealden
On 9th October 2006, Wealden District Council provided a schedule of car parking information. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from here.
On 12th August 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the Council confirmed that the above information was still accurate.
Wealden District Council have further details on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Bateman's (National Trust property)
There are no height restrictions in the car park. If your vehicle required a coach sized parking space you would need to book in advance as there is only space for 3 coaches and to avoid parking mayhem NT prefer that these spaces are booked in advance to avoid disappointment. Received July 2006. (Anon)
Crow Link (National Trust property)
This small car park has no marked bays or height barrier, it will give access to the top of the Seven Sisters Cliffs. It is situated West of Eastbourne, and can be found by taking the lane that runs towards the sea by the pond at Friston. The lane is rather narrow. (Thanks to MT for providing this information on 7 July 2009).
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Last updated: 22 August 2011