No parking signs to be installed on Barton clifftop by Hampshire County Council in effort to tackle motor home owners

‘NO overnight parking’ signs will be installed on a clifftop beauty spot popular with motor homes which have been plaguing nearby villagers.

Residents in Barton’s Marine Drive East have been complaining about overnight antisocial behaviour by motor home owners for years, but Hampshire County Council has maintained its enforcement powers are limited because there are no parking restrictions in place.

But the authority has now said it is preparing to launch a public consultation over the proposed introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order, which would enable the installation of signs to tackle the issue.

In a letter to a resident seen by the A&T, the parking services team manager said: “You will shortly see signs along the seafront, at the west end of Marine Drive that will say ‘no overnight parking’.

“These are an interim solution that will hopefully see an immediate effect. These signs will not have a Traffic Regulation Order so are not enforceable, but will hopefully deter some of this parking.

“The long-term plan is to have a scheme in place before the summer of 2024.”

The letter was sent in response to complaints by the resident over motor home occupants “smoking cannabis, urinating in buckets and then throwing their urine on the cliff top the next morning, and emptying their waste water onto the road”.

“This weekend, there must have been at least 20 vans parked overnight along Marine Drive East,” he said.

“As residents we shouldn’t have to put up with this antisocial behaviour. Promises that the police and NFDC will be doing regular patrols are a complete and utter farce.

“Last night I saw a police car, the first for a very long time, drive along the clifftop around 6pm. That’s no good – someone needs to be here late at night turfing the campers out when it’s obvious who is doing what.

“The bottom line is that I am sure you, along with all your colleagues at HCC, NFDC and Hampshire police, would hate it if this happened right outside your house and would expect this behaviour to be sorted out once and for all.

“We pay a lot for our council tax and we expect a resolution.”

The manager said HCC is “committed to introduce parking controls in the future”, and as a first step in the process had “undertaken surveys of the existing situation”.

“This will enable us to identify options and engage with the local town council and county councillor to select a suitable proposal to take forward for wider consultation,” he continued.

“Any signs and markings that restrict parking need to be backed up with a Traffic Regulation Order, and this process includes a period of formal consultation.

“It is important that the correct processes are followed to ensure that any new parking controls are appropriate, legally enforceable and do not merely transfer problems to nearby areas.

“If you feel intimidated by people parked outside your property, then the police can visit and talk to the van owners.”

New Milton Town Council said it had not yet been consulted on the county council’s proposals, and as such was “unable to discuss or consider the matter presently”.

Hampshire County Council has been approached for comment.