Gateshead
On 4th September 2006 Gateshead Council provided the following information:
The council supplied a schedule of public car parks in the Borough of Gateshead and a copy of the "standard charge notice" on all signs at "pay & display" car parks. This can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat Reader (.pdf) form from here.
We will be renewing the signs at the "free" car parks to include similar restrictions except for not having "a valid ticket on display" over the next 1-2 years (finances permitting).
There are two car parks with a height restriction, which are the Multi-storey car park and Mill Road car park; both have a height restriction of 6*6" (1.98m).
As can be seen from the "standard charge notice" any vehicle that is not parked within a marked bay will be issued a penalty notice (currently a £60 charge). There is no provision for the purchase of multiple tickets for the use of multiple bays.
None of the car parks have toilet or waste disposal facilities.
None of the car parks have spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes/caravans.
Whilst overnight parking is not prohibited, as can be seen from the "standard charge notice" sleeping or camping is not permitted in any of the car parks.
There are two car parks where access is restricted due to the geometry/layout of the entrances. They are South Shore Road car park and Heworth South car park. The Coach Park is restricted to coaches only with a legal order. With the exception of the Coach Park, all the car parks have a weight restriction of 2 tonnes.
On 31 January 2008, in response to a follow-up request, Gateshead Council provided the following information:
The Council's off street parking places are governed by the Borough Council of Gateshead (Off Street Parking Places Gateshead) (Consolidation) Order 2007 ("the Order"). The Order prohibits vehicles over a weight of 2.5 ton from using the parking places and vehicles are required to park wholly within a marked bay. The provisions of the Order also prohibits the use of the parking places for cooking or sleeping purposes and in certain car parks there is also a height restriction in operation. None of the car parks have toilet or waste disposal facilities. There are two car parks with a height restriction which are the Multi-Storey car park and Mill Road car park, both have a height restriction of 6'6" (1.98m). There are two car parks where access is restricted due to the geometry/layout of the entrances. They are South Shore Road car park and Heworth South car park. The Coach Park is restricted to coaches only with a legal order. Whilst there is no provision within the parking places specifically for the parking of motor homes/caravans, in respect of any vehicle that due to size is unable to park wholly within one bay, it is Council practise is to allow vehicles to park over multiple bays if the driver pays and displays tickets for each of the bays used subject to the vehicle not obstructing the passage of vehicles within a parking place. As there has been very limited demand for the parking of motor homes within the Council's administrative area it is not the Council's current intention to review its policy in respect of its parking places.
Gateshead Council have further details on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Gateshead - Metro Centre
We parked there for the day - free. There were masses of spaces even though the place was busy. The transport system is excellent. Buses run from the Metro Centre to Gateshead and Newcastle (Millenium bridge, Sage Centre) every few minutes. The Metro Centre itself is worth a look. Finding it is easy - it's well sign posted off the A1 and minutes only from the junction. Received July 2006. (Anon)
Click here for a map of Metro Centre parking. The Blue Car Park is the most convenient to use for the Transport Interchange (both bus and rail).
Newcastle
On 31st August 2006 Newcastle City Council provided the following information:
There is a height restriction of 6 ft 6 inches on all multi-storey car parks. Our other off street car parks do not have height restrictions, with the exception of the stadium where there is a height restriction.
If the vehicle overhangs a second bay two tickets must be purchased. However, there is a length restriction of 20 ft and a weight restriction of 30 cwt unladen.
There are only toilets in the multi-storey car parks.
There are no designated spaces for motorhomes or caravans in city managed car parks.
Overnight parking. Times vary from car park to park but are shown on tariff boards.
Not aware of any access problems.
Before using any city car parks users should read the terms and conditions listed on the tariff board, as permit bays and reserved bays can change on a regular basis. These changes will be identified in the car parks.
On 2nd October 2006 the Council provided further information:
1. The height restrictions apply to MSCP's and are as follows: Fenkle Street MSCP 7' 0"; Eldon Square MSCP 6' 6"; Eldon Garden MSCP 6' 6"; Quayside MSCP 6' 6"; Grainger Town MSCP 6'10"; Dean Street MSCP 6' 7"; Manors MSCP 6' 7"; Oxford MSCP 1.8m; Stadium MSCP 2.1m. With regard to the surface off street car parks the only height restriction applies to the Civic Centre Underground Car Park.
2. Vehicles must be parked within the extents of a marked bay but where this is not possible we kindly request visitors pay for the number of bays taken by the vehicle (i.e. if a vehicle's width takes 2 bays then we would request that the owner purchases 2 tickets for the appropriate time period).
3. There are car park public toilet facilities at Dean Street MSCP, Grainger Town MSCP & Eldon Garden MSCP.
4. There are no car parks dedicated specifically to motorhomes or caravans. However, we do have a coach and HGV car park at Ord Street where such vehicles are permitted to park.
5. There is no ban in the car parks for overnight parking
6. Access to each car park is clearly dependant on the width, height and appropriate turning circle of the vehicle in question. I would be unable to appraise the highway infrastructure and access to each individual car park based upon the information provided.
Newcastle City Council have further details, including a downloadable map, on their web site Here.
Update 24 July 2007:
Some time after the initial reply from Newcastle City Council above it came to my notice that many other vehicles (e.g. large 4x4s) weigh in excess of 30 cwt (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 30 cwt weight has been included within the off street car parks legal Orders for a number of years. The original provision for the weight restriction was to address overnight and long stay parking problems associated with heavy goods vehicles and passenger service vehicles. In recent years the design and manufacturing of cars has seen a significant increase with regards to length, height and weight of vehicles with a number of vehicles (such as Range Rovers, Hummers, certain people carriers) exceeding the weight restriction specified above. Given the variety of vehicles on the market it is difficult for enforcement officers to make a clear judgement as to which vehicles are in contravention of the restrictions. In addition, many of these vehicles fit comfortably within the extents of the bay and therefore should, on face value, be considered in the same manner as those vehicles that do not exceed the weight restriction. Given the above, enforcement of the weight restriction is limited to those instances where there is firm evidence that the vehicle is in excess of the weight restriction such as a plated good vehicles. Similarly if a larger vehicle such as a motorhome or Hummer utilises that car park and straddles across two parking bays then it is expected that the motorist will purchase a valid ticket for each bay and as a result no enforcement is undertaken with regard to the weight restriction or parking outside the extents of a bay."
North Tyneside
On 14th September 2006 North Tyneside Council provided the following information:
1. Height restrictions. Currently, car parks with height restriction gantries are located at Eastbourne/Bournemouth Gardens car parks, Whitley Bay. North Tyneside Council (NTC) is also intending to replace 2 existing gantries located at Whitley Bay Metro Station and Low Lights North Shields car parks.
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 of the Council's pay and display car parks allow use by motorhomes and caravans as long as they: remain attached to the motor vehicle, do not park overnight, do not obstruct other bays or access/egress. NTC does not issue "double tickets".
3. Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities. There are toilets located at: Trinity Road Car Park, Park Road Library Car Park, Low Lights Car Park.
4. Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans. None.
5. Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. Overnight parking is not allowed at NTC car parks.
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances. Car parks with restricted access for this type of vehicle are as follows: St Mary's Island, Priors Haven, Spanish Battery, Oxford Street, Spa Access.
On 2nd April 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the Council provided a schedule of charges in car parks. This can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat Reader (.pdf) form from here. In addition, the council provided the following information:
Please note all of the council's off street car parks are controlled by orders which prohibit the use of them as an overnight parking place.
This order states parking can only be undertaken within the limits of a parking bay, however, it should be noted a number of car parks do provide bays of sufficient length and with to accommodate a longer vehicle. There are longer length bays within Brierdene and Beaconsfield Car Parks (to the rear of Blue Reef Aquarium), which are designed to accommodate coaches. Where no such bays exist a vehicle of a longer length should find an alternative parking location.
The order also prohibits a number of uses, including: Camping; Sleeping; Cooking; Sevicing/washing of vehicle; Erection of tent, booth or structure; Lighting fires; Selling; Offering of hire of skill or service; Running of engine; Sounding of horn. No person shall park wantonly or make a loud noise. No person shall use any threatening, abusive or insulting language, gesture or conduct.
The classification of vehicles permitted to use the car parks are prescribed as: Passenger vehicle; Goods vehicle; Public Service Vehicle. All of which are dependent on location.
There is no off-street parking within the control of this authority which may be used for overnight parking.
North Tyneside Council have further details on their web site Here.
South Tyneside
On 25th August 2006 South Tyneside Council provided the following information:
Our car parks in South Tyneside centre are not suitable for motorhome users. Few town centre car parks are designed for such vehicles (particularly turning circles, radius.....etc..). Our foreshore car parks do get motorhomes in them but the owner driver must pay for the number of bays they take up whilst not causing obstruction to other users. Unfortunately, due to joy riders and anti social behaviour by some users many of our foreshore car parks have no overnight parking in them. It should be assumed that the roads in South Tyneside are probably too narrow for any difficult manoeuvres.
On 11th December 2007 South Tyneside Council confirmed that the information above had not changed.
South Tyneside Council have further details on their web site Here.
Sunderland
On 28th September 2006 Sunderland City Council provided the following information:
All Council owned car parks in Sunderland would allow most reasonably sized motorhomes access to park. However we do have 4 multi storey car parks that has height restrictions: St Mary's; Sunniside; Central; Civic Centre. Each of the above multi storey car parks has an approximate 1.8m height restriction at the entrance points.
Sunderland City Council have further details on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Washington
The Galleries, Washington. Large free parking lot for the The Galleries shopping centre Washington. The Galleries is Washington's town centre with many shops and a leisure centre close by. All of my observations were made midweek, I wouldn't dream of going out anywhere on a weekend in this country, even in the car.
Latitude: 54.901289973552316; Longitude: -1.5299320220947265.
(Many thanks to RG for this information, received on 22 March 2007).
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Last updated: 2 April 2008