Resident fumes over 'free' holidays for camper van owners

Lynn Berry said the vans initially came to her attention by chance, and claims that during the summer months. at times, there were upwards of fourteen of the large vans parked along De La Warr Parade.

Lyn said: "I was taking a walk along the beach when I noticed what looked like a convoy of Winnebago type vans nicely parked along the road - some with wheels on the grass verge - and I thought it was a one day convention.

"The penny only dropped when most of them left and others remained. Since then I've noticed that many of them return and regularly park there for days on end. The owners sleep in the vans, they have toilets and water on tap at the public conveniences nearby on De La Warr Parade, they have satellite dishes, & TV's, and the bin men have to take away their rubbish.

"They are self catering, spend nothing on the local economy and are basically having a free holiday at local council tax payers expense."

She added: "At peak times during this summer it was like picking my way through a camp-site and the owners just glared at me for walking by!

"Something needs to be done about it but at the moment there are no by-laws to prevent them from parking there overnight, yet people can't sleep in beach huts or in their vehicles! It's not a free camp-site, and Bexhill is the only holiday resort that allows it."

Lynn said she is concerned that the word will spread throughout the camper van fraternity and that next summer even more will descend into the area, parking not just along the seafront but in other unrestricted roads throughout Bexhill:

"Come next summer word would have got around and I'm not prepared to pay my council tax so people can have a free holiday."

However, one couple, who regularly travel to Bexhill in order to spend a weekend in their camper vans, disagree with Lynn's comments.

Phil & Louise Marshall are residents of Robertsbridge and, as tax payers of Rother District council, say they are fully within their rights to enjoy all that the local area has to offer, including the sea view.

Phil said: " We come to Bexhill every other weekend and stay overnight. All the camper vans are self-contained and we have our own toilets and water. We've heard that there's been some moaning from local residents who say we are spoiling their view, but no-one has approached us.

"What exactly is their argument? We live in a cul de sac with one street lamp and no amenities and pay Rother District Council the same rate of council tax. We're legally parked, we pay road tax, we shop at the local supermarkets, we eat at local restaurants, we put money into the town and we don't leave a mess.

"If we want to enjoy coming to Bexhill and enjoy these views for one night every other week then why shouldn't we?

"I think these residents are being selfish."

Phil believes the main problem is that the UK simply isn't set up to cope with what he describes as, "a fast growing industry", and says something needs to be done to provide facilities for the campers:

"We need more facilities in the UK. We spend six months of the year in France where all the towns and villages provide a place to get water and empty wc's."

He added: "We'd be more than happy to meet local residents and discuss any problems."

The issues Lynn raised were discussed at a recent full Rother District council meeting and in an email Councillor Richard Carroll said:

"Rother has no law in place to restrict the parking of these vehicles and unless they are contravening any traffic law or leaving refuse our hands are tied with regard to enforcement. We are very aware that a problem does exist and will be trying to find a solution."

An East Sussex County Council spokesman said: "We appreciate residents' concerns about people staying overnight at the seafront, however it is not illegal to do so. Yellow lines or bays to restrict parking cannot be put in place without paying for a legal process to create a local traffic rule that can take up to 18 months.

"To make sure we are using our resources as effectively as possible we prioritise those sites in East Sussex where the accident record shows we can work to make the road safer. For this reason, it is unlikely that parking restrictions on the seafront will take priority over other sites."