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Hey!
A couple of years ago we had trouble with people camping outside our house for around 6 weeks. We do get the odd campervan overnight during the week, but it's been a steady stream recently.
We've discovered we've been put on a motorhome parking app / website.
I've contacted the owners, and left feedback - but does anyone know what recourse there is?
We have perfectly decent local free parking for campers, lots of it actually, so people don't need to park outside our home. We're a very quiet and unknown village, and there's a local camping spot about a mile away, and it gets trashed at the weekends - its been in the news its got that bad.
So I'm keen to get rid of us being advertised online.
Just to be clear - I'm not against everyone parking up, and welcome people to stop by and have lunch, and the odd tripper stop by, what I don't want is an influx and spillover of the mess and noise from close by.
Anyone know anything about online regs or advertising regs etc that would help?
Thanks!
Ricks
Just on the public highway, or on land outside? If the former, unless there are bylaws, not a lot I suppose.
We've looked in the laws about the land, and largely we can't do much - even if it is in clear conflict with the open access rules (too close to homes, too close to wildlife and nesting birds, too close to a water course etc.)
It's more the advertising of a place that's 10m from our house. It just feels wrong. I'm sure no one would want a green outside their house being put on a parking app, and it being sold as a great place for 5 or 6 campervans to stay!
Park 4 Night?
I suppose the question is who actually owns the bit of land that’s being advertised- and is ‘advertised’ the right word? Is the owner of the lane actively marketing it?
if I shared a route for cycling for instance on here I’m not ‘advertising’ it I’m just sharing the knowledge of its existence with like minded individuals.
is that’s what’s happening in this instance ? - someone has stayed there, liked it, shared that knowledge for the benefit of others?
If it's being used as a private campsite by the landowner they need a licence (although the rules were relaxed during covid I think they're in place again). If they're allowing camping then report to council as it's an illegal encampment site.
Unless a laW is being broken, I can't see there's much you can do.
If there is a law being broken, then you need to be "that person" who keeps reporting it until the authorities take action to discourage it.
Either way, I can see it being a right pain in the arse for you and other residents affected.
I suppose the question is who actually owns the bit of land that’s being advertised- and is ‘advertised’ the right word? Is the owner of the lane actively marketing it?
I assume it is peer-reviewed stuff – just someone will have posted up on the site saying it's a nice secluded spot with no hassle from the locals. I believe that's how those sites work.
'Is the owner of the lane actively marketing it?' No. I'm close to the owner, and she doesn't want overnight stays at all. We encourage people to stop by for a break on their walk or ride, paddle in the stream, park up for a walk etc. We have some benches in place for that reason too.
And yes - it's on a pretty large subscription site, I think it's more than 5 million users in the UK.
If the people who have been trashing the local 'beauty spot' discover it, it's going to be a nightmare. This is where Open Access is a PITA, as it is absolutely great for getting out in the wild, but it has very little protections for the cases where it causes issues for landowners - it's all guidance and recommendation.
can you join the site and put a bunch of disparaging reviews about your street? Chavs burned my caravan, stank of poo, etc? should keep the people away
Large KLF worthy sound system in your front garden and Goombay Dance Band seven tears on a continuous loop. Triggered by a motion sensor obviously. And some spotlights
Years ago on a campsite in Wales some chavs were making a racket and pissing everyone off. Old boy in our group swung his astra round so it pointed at them. Turned the headlights on and walked off for a pint
I'd have the owner leave an honest review and block access if possible. I'm assuming you're in Scotland when you talk about open access but that absolutely does not count for vehicles.
Worst case scenario, someone doesn't move then it's PA system out and gabba time.
Absolutely as above if in Scotland vehicles are not permitted
In Scotland with vehicles roadside camping is NOT included in the LRA but there is a long legal history of tolerance of roadside camping. the landowner can remove them tho IIRC
an you join the site and put a bunch of disparaging reviews about your street? Chavs burned my caravan, stank of poo, etc? should keep the people away
Beat me to it 🙂
I suppose the question is who actually owns the bit of land that’s being advertised
I'd concur with this.
If it's private land then it's the responsibility of the landowner to enforce.
If it's public land then I rather fear you'll have to suck it up. What's the actual issue, someone's parked up outside your house? If they're being a nuisance then that's potentially a police / council matter but you don't own the road outside your home, as frustrating as that may be.
Maybe stick up a notice advising people of better areas nearby?
Can you and the landowner put posts in the ground to stop parking or is it not that easy?
If it’s public land then I rather fear you’ll have to suck it up.
Except the law says you're not suposed to camp overnight on public roads, you;re supposed to use a licensed campsite. Mostly it gets overlooked where people aren;t taking the ****, but when they are it's a different matter. "Vanlife" has given a lot of people the wrong idea of what's acceptable...
(note this isbased on my knowledge of caravan sites and rallies rather than #VanLife - see https://www.ukmotorhomes.net/uk-stopovers/uk-stopover-setup#legislation)
As someone with a van, I agree, you and others can just leave some believable bad reviews and they'll hopefully stop coming. I'd definitely include something about damage to the vans and maybe something about air rifles...
It's poor show to park Infront of someone's gaff.
A mate of mine who is a van lifer managed to get a quiet spot of his that he a and a couple of other used for work removed by emailing as it was getting ruined but I am not sure if that's as a Facebook group or an app?
What is the web site/app?
Except the law says you’re not suposed to camp overnight on public roads, you;re supposed to use a licensed campsite.
Sounds a bit vague, 'not supposed to'? Really? That sounds ambiguous, is it against the law or not?
Edit: never mind, i googled it. It's not.
We can post bad reviews for you if you prefer?
As you say you know the owner, get them to put some big "no overnight camping" signs (or do it with their permission). It might discourage them. If not, block access (it the owner agrees).
Or how about you and the neighbours just park there so there's no space?
Search4Sites? Join its and give a review making it clear it’s not a site, you’re not the first.
What's to stop a few 'travellers' parking their multiple vehicles on the land in question?
Any or all of the following will happen - feral kids running around insulting residents; shitting on the grass; leaving unbagged rubbish scattered about; uncontrolled dogs barking incessantly; loud and aggressive swearing at each other and residents and everything else that results when they decide to inflict themselves on a community.
Good luck with getting the council and police to sort that; then there's the clearance and remediation costs.
Alarmist?
No; it's happening increasingly frequently.
Hope it doesn't happen to you.
If its being a nuisance to you how about you be a nuisance to them? Go all old testament on their arses. Noisy engines at 6 am. Loud music at night, smokey bonfire etc etc
Just start charging £10 to use the bathroom.
What’s to stop a few ‘travellers’ parking their multiple vehicles on the land in question?
Any or all of the following will happen – feral kids running around insulting residents; shitting on the grass; leaving unbagged rubbish scattered about; uncontrolled dogs barking incessantly; loud and aggressive swearing at each other and residents and everything else that results when they decide to inflict themselves on a community.
OP made no mention of the NC500 as far as I can see
I live in a van since October last year.
We're conscious of houses and property, but essentially, if the land does not belong to you/anyone and is public then you've not really got much of a leg to stand on.
I remember an old neighbour getting seriously wound up because people parked their cars outside his kitchen window. Police involves after he stabbed some tyres. He got in lots of trouble and paid lots of money in compensation to the owners of said vehicles.
Except the law says
That being the case then as I said
that’s potentially a police / council matter
If it's a public road then the OP is on a hiding to nothing unless they can either a) appeal to the parkers' better nature or b) got someone to enforce parking restrictions. Which, of course, would require parking restrictions.
In Scotland roadside camping is NOT allowed legally but has a long policy of being tolerated. Landowners ( and all land in Scotland belongs to someone) can and do enforce no roadside overnight parking / camping and the police will move folk on.