Swindon
Swindon Borough Council provided the following information on 2nd November 2006:
The parking of motorhomes is permitted in all Swindon car parks provided they are parked wholly within a marked bay and the unladen weight does not exceed 2 tonnes, generally speaking bays are 5m by 2.4m.
Multi story car parks have a height restriction of 2m in most cases.
The consolidation order appertaining to fee paying off-street parking places prohibits the use of vehicles as dwellings or for any domestic or sanitary purpose.
Swindon Borough Council have parking details on their web site Here.
Update 25 June 2007:
Some time after the initial reply from Swindon Borough 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. In response the council stated "I am aware that in recent times vehicles have become more and more developed, in particular the 4x4 types. We do get a very small percentage of vehicles in the car parks which have been issued with PCN's and which were clearly the wrong type or obviously overweight. With modern domestic type vehicles it is nearly impossible for parking attendants to judge if a vehicle exceeds the current 2 tonnes limit by a small margin. In Swindon all the car park tariff boards contain a section showing the conditions of use, one of which states that vehicles must be parked wholly within a marked bay and this is the rule that parking attendants apply."
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 16th March 2009, the council replied:
Both of the Park and Ride sites allow motorhomes to park there between the hours of 6.45am to 7.15pm (Monday to Saturday, Closed Sunday). There are no height restrictions in place or special arrangements required to enable parking to take place at these sites. Details of the Park and Ride sites are as follows:
Groundwell Park & Ride (Swindon North), Cricklade Road, Swindon. Please note that this site is being "mothballed" as of 1st May 2009 and will therefore not be available after then and until further notice.
Wroughton Park & Ride (Swindon South), Croft Road, Swindon.
Further P&R details can be found on the council web site Here.
Motorhomes that require overnight parking should use Swindon Truck Stop, A420, Oxford Road, Swindon. As far as I aware there are no restrictions on eating/sleeping in the vehicle, but as this location is not operated by Swindon Borough Council I would advise you to contact them separately to confirm what arrangements are in place there. I have included a link to their website Here which should enable you to find out the information you require.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
(1) Outlet village North Car Park; Thought to be OK but needs checking. (Thanks to SL for providing this information on 19 July 2006).
(2) Apart from the multi-storey car parks there is only one car park with a height restriction, which is Coate Water Country Park. The Outlet Village and both P@Rs do not have any height restriction. (Many thanks to FJMike for this information, received 1st February 2007).
(3a) I am resident in Swindon and would like to see more motorhomes there. Designer Outlet Village - both North and West car parks will take vans but they are barrier controlled/ticket parking. The north one has an office on site but the "junior-ish" member of staff may have to uplink for decision. There are two P&R's - Copse off A419/A4311 to the north of Swindon and Wroughton to the south off the A4361 between Swindon and Wroughton. Warning the access to both is from north and south respectively. Try it the other way and you could get a road sign or traffic light embedded in your van. In town centre there are surface pay display car parks in both King St and Queen Street. To north side of the Brunel Centre. You can also park at the football stadium and Prospect Place in Old Town opposite BBC Swindon. (Many thanks to MS for this information, received 17th March 2007).
(3b) Swindon Borough Council: Checked on King St, Queen St, Football Stadium, etc car parks and found 30cwt or 1.5tonnes restriction signs everywhere. Met two of Swindon's finest car park attendents who couldn't even guess how heavy my van was. They did give me the name of the Controller of Car Parking for Swindon (Tel: Swindon (01793) 463770). I spoke to him at enjoyable length and was told that as long as a van was within the white lines of a parking bay, either with it's overhang over a verge or nose in and the o/h over the access road but NOT greatly obstructing the access everything is OK by him. Drivers should be aware that if they have to use more than one full bay they need extra tickets for each additional bay. This is everywhere in the borough, which stretches from Lechlade's Riverside Park to Wroughton.
Designer Outlet Village: North & West C/Ps and car park for "Steam" GWR Museum(on Outlet Village site east) - no limits on weight or length. Spoke to 'senior' member of staff in portakabin (7 years experience) who said all m/homes are welcome but no overnighting.
(Many thanks to MS for this update to his previously supplied information, received 19th March 2007).
(4) Swindon Park and ride. E-mail received from Swindon Borough Council today "I have just spoken to parking and they say there is no height restrictions and there should be some longer spaces towards the back of the car park. They said that it is fine to stay overnight but your motorhome will be locked in, so you would have to get it the next morning." This would indicate that overnight parking is OK but not overnight occupation. (Many thanks to PS for this information, received 29th December 2011).
Wiltshire
Wiltshire Council is a unitary authority which came into being on 1st April 2009 when it became responsible for all the county services previously provided by Wiltshire County Council and all district services previously provided by Kennet, North Wiltshire, Salisbury and West Wiltshire District Councils.
Wiltshire Council have parking details on their web site Here.
Kennet
Kennet District Council provided the following information on 11th September 2006:
1. Height restrictions. Where there are height restrictions there at height warning bars these are only in Polly Gardens, Marlborough and Sheep St, Devizes.
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 vehicle must park wholly within marked bays. For smaller campers this may be achieved with the back of the vehicle over a grassed area. If the vehicle take up two bays two tickets must be purchased.
3. Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities. NIL
4. Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhome and/or caravans. NIL
5. Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. Over night parking in Station Road car park Devizes and George Lane car park Marlborough both only between 6PM and 8 AM.
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances. N/A
On 17th March 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council provided the following additional information:
George Lane car park in Marlborough and Station Road car park in Devizes are the two most suitable for Motor homes. All our other car parks have a
5.5 m length limit.
Coach bays in George Lane should not be used by motor homes.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Avebury
1) In order to comply with a Kennet Council order, the National Trust has had to install a height barrier at its main car park at Avebury. See Here for details. (Thanks to GT for highlighting this on 31 July 2007).
2) When I saw on your site last year about motorhome parking not being available at Avebury, I contacted the National Trust and the local council to complain. On visiting the Avebury website today (see link above), I note that there is a section saying that parking is available for camper vans and mobile homes in the main car park is available now (dated 27/2/08) so I assume the barriers are removed. It does stress no overnight parking though, but at least we may be able to park there now. We are off to Wiltshire this weekend so we will see! (Thanks to PG for this information, received on 27 February 2008).
Devizes
1) The small print at the car park near to the canal mentions a length limit of 5.6m (my van is 5.96m). (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) Most car parks have a 4.5m length limit but when we asked a traffic warden about the Wharf car park (clearly signed north off the A361) we were assured that we would be allowed if we could fit the space whilst overhanging the verge at the rear. He also recommended another suitable car park - as you enter from the west of town on the A361 you continue straight on into Northgate Street when the main road swings sharp left at a roundabout. The car park is signed to the right from the Market Place in about 100 yards. (Thanks to TW for providing this information on 23 December 2007).
North Wiltshire
North Wiltshire District Council provided the following information on 22nd August 2006 and confirmed on 5 February 2008 that, apart from charges, it remained the same:
We have 1 car park with a height restriction. Emery Gate car Park is restricted to vehicles under 6 foot 6 inches.
Any vehicle which is utilising more than 1 bay is expected to purchase a Pay and Display ticket for each bay utilised, or may have a Penalty Charge Notice affixed to their vehicle.
There are Public conveniences in the following car parks: Bath Road, Chippenham (although these are closed for refurbishment until mid September 2006) and Borough Fields, Wootten Bassett,
We have no specific parking for caravans or motorhomes.
Unfortunately, there is no overnight stopping permitted on any of the car parks we operate. Within the parking orders it states:
1. Save as for provided by this Article no person shall use any part of a Parking Place or any vehicle left in a Parking Place:- (i) for sleeping or camping purposes (ii) for eating or cooking purposes except those persons duly authorised in writing by the Council or (iii) for the purposes of servicing or washing any Vehicle or part thereof other than as is reasonably necessary to enable that vehicle to depart from the Parking Place.
2. In a Parking Place no person shall:- (i) erect or cause or permit to be erected any tent, booth, stand, building or other structure without the written consent of the
Council or (ii) light or cause or permit to be lit any fire.
There are no car parks with restricted access.
The council provided details in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format which can be download from here (updated for new charges 5 February 2008).
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Calne
There is ample free parking in the riverside carpark past Sainsburys, not sure about overnight but no prohibitive signs up.; Received 21 September 2006. (Misstyke)
Calne/Cherhill
On the A4 going out of Calne towards Cherhill there is a large layby screened from the main road by trees this is great for overnight stopping and there are usually one or more motorhomes and the odd lorry there most summer evenings; Received 21 September 2006. (Misstyke)
Chippenham
1) The carpark at Emery Gate in Chippenham is an underground carpark but there is above ground carpark but very tight parking even for large cars; Received 21 September 2006. (Misstyke)
2) This is to let you know of an additional site in Chippenham, North Wiltshire. It is at the 'Hathaway retail park' (Homebase & Halfords etc). The first entrance has a height restriction but there is another entrance beyond this one with no height limit & always has plenty of space. Because the second entrance is round a bend in the road it is easily not found. (Thanks to TF for providing this information on 31 August 2008).
Salisbury
Salisbury District Council provided the following information on 28th September 2006:
The car parks in Salisbury fall into two categories, city centre and park & ride sites.
There is a map of the city centre car parks on the Salisbury District Council website (see link below). There is only one car park that is suitable for oversize vehicles in the city centre, that is the Central Long Stay car park. The bays alongside the river and also on the approach road from the ring road are of undetermined length and can accommodate oversize vehicles. This is a pay & display car park with a maximum charge of £5 for all day parking. There is a public toilet in the car park but no other waste disposal facilities. Overnight parking is permitted, the site is covered by CCTV. However the Parking Places Orders prohibit camping in the car parks so this would not be actively encouraged. The site is easily accessed from the ring road or from Castle Street, in which there is an overbridge which accommodates double decker buses.
The park and ride sites, because of their remote locations, have height barriers and therefore will not be available to high vehicles. They also close at 8 p.m. and overnight parking is not encouraged. However, the site at Britford (on the A338) has a coach parking area separate from the main body of the car park which can be accessed by larger vehicles. The primary purpose of this area is to provide overspill parking for tourist coaches but may also be used by motorhomes at the discretion of the attendant on site. The current cost of this is £2 which includes the bus journey into the city centre for the driver and up to five passengers. There are toilet facilities on site but no waste disposal.
On 27th May 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council confirmed that the information above remains current apart from the prices. The all day charge in the Central car park is now £5.50 and the park & ride site now costs £2.50 a day. They also pointed out that the site referred to below as being on the 'Ringwood Road' is the Britford site as described above.
For caravanners or motorhome users wishing to visit Salisbury and live in their vehicles there is a camping site at Hudson's Field. Full information used to be available on the Salisbury Council website but has not been copied onto the new Wiltshire Council web site (as at 3 April 2009) .
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Motorhomes park in the Park & Ride on the Ringwood Road south of the city, signed Britford Lane. Cost £2 + free bus into city for up to 6 bodies. (Thanks to DP for providing this information on 28 October 2007).
West Wiltshire
West Wiltshire District Council provided the following information (updated on 31 March 2008 after initially being provided on 27th September 2006):
The carparks we enforce are:
Bradford on Avon - Barton Farm, Bridge Street, Station, St Margerets Hill.
Melksham - Bath Road, Church St, King St, Lowbourne, Union St.
Trowbridge - Bradford Road, Broad St, Church St, Court St, Lovemead.
Warminster - Central carpark, Chinns Court, Emwell St, Western, Weymouth St.
Westbury - High St, Warminster Road, Westfield House.
1. The above carparks have no height restrictions.
2. There are no special bays for longer vehicles in any of these carparks. All the marked bays within the above carparks are not a standard size. Anyone wanting to park in a bay must ensure their 4 wheels are within the lining of the bay. Daily tickets are available. We do make allowances for longer domestic vehicles within our car parks, if the vehicle takes up two spaces, it is common practice to obtain two pay and display tickets.
3. Toilets are available in: Church St and Bath Road, Melksham; The Station, and St Margerets Street, Bradford on Avon; Central Carpark - Warminster; High Street-Westbury. There are small litter bins in most of the above car parks. The larger recycling bins for bottles are in Station, BOA, Western-Warminster, Central-Warminster, Warminster Road-Westbury, High Street-Westbury, Broad Street-Trowbridge and Church St-Melksham.
4. There are no spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes or caravans
5. We do not allow people to sleep overnight in motorhomes within our car parks. If ticket obtained we would allow eating within the vehicle during the day.
6. There is restricted access (narrow roads) to Barton Farm and Union Street- Melksham, St Margerets Hill - BOA and Emwell Street - Warminster.
Return to Motorhome Friendly and Unfriendly Parking home page.
Last updated: 29 December 2011