Agenda item

Considered a presentation by Helen Watson, Improvement Manager Area 3 Highways, on the long standing problem of motor caravans parking overnight on certain streets in coastal locations, and the proposal to introduce overnight motorhome parking restrictions at Sandsend, Royal Albert Drive and Cayton Bay through an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) to help address this issue.  ETROs were a useful tool as they enabled the council to trial a restriction in a ‘live’ situation for up to 18 months, with the consultation period running alongside the trial for the first 6 months.  An ETRO was flexible as it allowed for immediate feedback and minor changes within the first 6 months, and if changes were made, the 6-month consultation period would start again. A decision on making the scheme permanent or removing it would need to be taken within 18 months of the ETRO first coming into force.  Updating her presentation, Ms Watson explained that further pre-consultation work meant that the ETRO was now expected to commence in November.  The Area Committee would be consulted on the results of the ETRO and the proposed next steps in summer next year.  Meanwhile, the Highways service continued to gather parking data and evidence of ongoing complaints for other streets in order to build a strong legal position and so withstand challenges from objectors, if further restrictions were proposed in other locations.

In reply to the public question about the risk to pedestrians on Whitby Promenade, Richard Marr, Highways Area Manager advised that Whitby Promenade was not part of the publicly maintained highway, and before local government reorganisation, was an asset of Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) which was responsible for the enforcement of the byelaw for that area.  Since the creation of North Yorkshire Council, the Highways service had started to look at this and similar areas with vehicular access to explore how traffic could be better managed through Traffic Regulation Orders.  The byelaw for promenades including Whitby Promenade enacted by SBC had only recently come to his attention.  Mr Marr was working with Legal Services and Parking Services to establish if the byelaw could be enforced as an interim measure before the planned implementation of the more robust permanent Traffic Regulation Order.

Asked by Ms Naylor about timescales, Mr Marr replied that he hoped the existing byelaw could start to be enforced fairly quickly; however, the TRO could take much longer because there were conflicting factors which needed to be addressed first, for example, access for blue badge holders with chalets on the Promenade and the current closure of the cliff lift.

Members then discussed the presentation and public question and made the following comments:

• Welcomed the proposed approach to Whitby Promenade given the ongoing risk to pedestrians but expressed concern that Highways were not previously aware of the byelaw
• The original Whitby Urban District Council byelaw for the Promenade was revised by SBC in 2005 and was enforced historically by the beachmaster
• Welcomed the proposed ETRO: (i) to prevent motorhomes monopolising limited parking spaces (ii) because of fire safety concerns around concentration of gas bottles (iii) because a minority of motorhome owners irresponsibly disposed of waste and litter
• Voiced concern at the possible displacement effect of the ETRO on residential streets nearby (this would be monitored through the ETRO)
• More and better facilities were also needed for caravans and motorhomes

In reply to questions, members were advised that:

• The proposed prohibition of the overnight parking of motorhomes warranted a consultation period longer than the usual 21 days because of the complexity of the matter and the ability at the same time to test the impact of the ETRO
• Highways would work closely with Parking Services to ensure the ETRO was  enforced and to monitor seasonal variations
• The ETRO would not lapse after the first six months but would continue for a further 12 months whilst/until a decision was taken on whether or not to make the scheme permanent
• Continuous parking bays rather than individually marked bays allowed for more vehicles to park in that space
• The ETRO was an attempt to strike a balance between the interests of motorhomes and other highway users
• The question of whether improved facilities for caravans and motorhomes could/should be provided by the council for example, by the creation of an aire in a car park, would be considered as part of the officer response to all the issues raised during the public consultation

Resolved that the committee:

(i)             note the update

(ii)            welcome the review of the byelaw and enforcement arrangements in respect of prohibiting motor vehicles on Whitby Promenade

(iii)           request that an update on the enforcement of this byelaw be submitted to the committee at the next meeting on 29 November.