Agenda item

Change to use of car park to area of land to allow individuals to sleep in self sufficient Motorhomes

Car Park, Benthall, Beadnell, Chathill, Northumberland, NE67 5BQ

Change of use of car park to area of land to allow individuals to sleep in self-sufficient Motorhomes

Car Park, Benthall, Beadnell, Chathill, Northumberland, NE67 5BQ

J Sharp, Senior Planning Officer advised that his introduction would encompass all three applications at this Committee with separate discussions and decisions being taken on each.   A power point presentation was provided related to all three applications and updates provided as follows:-

·       Following publication of the agenda a response had been received from Natural England in connection with applications 21/03856/CCD and 21/03858/CCD advising that they had no objections subject to suitable mitigation.

·       An additional 2 objections had been received in respect of the Benthall application, planning reference 21/03855/CCD, detailing concerns that the proposal was out of character and it would become a camp site of which they were plenty already; the potential for anti-social behaviour and it would be better to stay where there were appropriate facilities; and questioned how any enforcement would work.

R Murfin, Interim Executive Director of Planning and Local Services advised that the applications for the three 12 month temporary planning permission would act like pilot schemes which had come forward in response to significant changes in tourism during lockdown and would allow for demand/take up of overnight sleeping in self-contained motorhomes to be assessed and would also inform what management and investment would be required to make any future schemes suitable.

Councillor G Martindale addressed the Committee, speaking as the Chair of Beadnell Parish Council.  His comments included the following:

·       Beadnell Parish Council supported the trial as a potential part-solution to address issues arising from the proliferation of motorhomes.  However they were concerned that requests for modifications to the proposal were not included as conditions in the report.

·       At present motorhomes were prohibited from parking overnight in Beadnell car park with signs advising of this prohibition however these were often ignored especially in the summer months which had resulted in many complaints and adverse comments being received from both residents and visitors.  The major reason for complaint was that the motorhome owners were seen to be abusing the car park amenity and getting something for nothing whilst not contributing to the local economy.

·       The Parish Council was strongly opposed to any groundworks of a permanent nature and requested that a condition be attached whereby the ground would be repaired and reinstated should the scheme not be made permanent. There had never been any significant damage to the existing ground whilst being used as the overflow car park and they did not believe that any groundworks were required, with the ANOB Officer having the same reservations.

·       The Parish Council also requested that the applicant be required to provide additional waste bins in the overflow area as the current four bins were already insufficient during peak months.

·       The Parish Council would also like to better understand the criteria by which the success of the trial would be judged and sought assurance that they would be fully consulted on any future proposals following the trial.

E Yarrow addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application.  His comments included the following:

·       He supported the trials as he was a motorhome owner and the UK in general was sadly lacking in motorhome parking/tourism compared to Europe and it was time that the Country caught up.

·       Parking along the coast had presented challenges for local people which had been highlighted by staycation.  These parking proposals would help control parking along the coast including in Beadnell, which had seen an increase in visitor numbers over the last few years, including motorhome tourists who wanted to park overnight to enjoy the local scenery, facilities and spend money in the local economy.

·       A friend from Derbyshire had planned to stay in Northumberland for 3 weeks travelling around the County but had only managed 3 days because there were so few places for short term overnight parking for motorhomes and had then had to move on to Scotland.

·       It was a great shame and financial loss to Northumberland that very many motorhome tourists, including those from Europe, drove straight through Northumberland to Scotland where there were assured of a warm welcome and plenty of places to stay.

·       He advised of proven benefits of having an Aire (a place for overnight motorhome parking) in any community.  From a recent survey of nearly 9,000 motorhome owners, it had been discovered that each motorhome unit spent around £47 per day in a local area on basics such as food, drink and local attractions.  This did not include retail spending for presents, souvenirs, parking charges or fuel.  Using this formula for 5 spaces over 7 nights per week, 35 weeks in a year, this could generate £57,575 and that was without adding parking charges.  In addition motorhomes travelled all year round so this could provide even more income than previously quoted.

·       When motorhomes parked this provided better security for nearby properties, big reductions in vandalism, litter and fly-tipping saving much more expense in clean-ups and security as had been quoted by Northumbrian Water who allowed overnight parking.

·       It was common practice for motor homers to clean up an area when they first arrived and then leave without a trace. 

·       Northumberland was a beautiful county, attracting more and more visitors and the potential for growth must be managed and used to reinvigorate the local economy to help it recover from the pandemic and sustain it into the future.   A good way to do this was by establishing Aires for motorhome tourism such as this one proposed in Beadnell. 

·       By establishing Aires in Northumberland, motorhome users could have a more carbon friendly option to stay in the UK thus cutting their carbon footprint by travelling less miles than going to Europe. 

In response to questions from Members of the Committee, the following information was provided:-

·       The groundworks to be undertaken were to the existing access to the overflow car park which was in need of some repair and maintenance work.

·       A condition could be added to ensure that details of any signage were requested to be provided and agreed by the Local Planning Authority.

·       A condition could also be added to request a bin capacity analysis with details to be submitted of potential bin space to be provided to the Local Planning Authority.

·       As the application was only for a pilot scheme for a period of 12 months it was not appropriate to levy the full charge for coastal mitigation for the scheme and only a percentage of this was being requested. If the scheme were to be made permanent then the appropriate charge would be levied.

·       There was an existing toilet block in Beadnell, temporary toilet facilities in Bamburgh and no toilet facilities at the Amble site.  The application was only for self-contained motorhomes who would not need any public toilet facilities.  Bookings would be taken via the website and users would need to sign up to certain conditions.  Only self-contained motorhomes would be allowed and once spaces were fully booked any additional motorhomes trying to use the spaces could be moved on.  There would be a charge for the use of the places but the information on this was not known.

·       The exact details of timings for arrival/departure were not known, however it was thought that currently overnight parking was allowed on the overflow car park at Beadnell and the car parks at Amble and Bamburgh with the stipulation that people could not sleep in their vehicles and therefore the only change was that people could sleep in their vehicles.  The intention was not to remove business from caravan/camping sites and was only for those who parked adhoc and did not use proper sites.

·       Any application for wild camping would be looked at on a case by case basis.

·       It was intended that only stays of one or two nights maximum could be booked.

·       It was not intended to provide any type of waste or water facilities as part of the pilot schemes, however it was possible these could be required to be provided if the scheme was taken forward.

·       The purpose of the pilot schemes was to judge the effectiveness, understand any demand and understand any requirements for infrastructure which might be required.

·       Current parking restrictions and charges varied across the car parks. Additional regimes in terms of enforcement and management of the sites would need to be set up.

·       The Local Authority had no experience of running these type of facilities and any idea of possible levels of usage which was why the three pilot schemes had been proposed.  It was hoped that this provision would allow visitors to stay within Northumberland and to break their journey using local facilities rather than travelling straight through.  The different variations of schemes used throughout the Country had been looked at. 

·       Reactive responses would be provided throughout the pilot to ensure that the true effect of what was required and what had been utilised gave a true picture at the end of the trial period.

Councillor Renner-Thompson proposed acceptance of the recommendation to approve the application as outlined in the report with the addition of conditions in relation to bin capacity assessment, signage and restoration of land should the permission not continue with the exact wording of the additional conditions to be delegated to the Director of Planning in consultation with the Chair of the Planning Committee , which was seconded by Councillor Hutchinson.

The majority of Members expressed support for the pilot scheme which they considered would be of benefit to the area and would allow for more regulation for the car parks and areas being used in this manner. It was questioned how and what information would be collected during the trial period and how this would be used to inform the decision on whether to take the proposals forward.  Concern was expressed regarding the lack of facilities to be provided, enforcement and the effect on current users of the car parks, however the need for a trial to ascertain exactly what would be required was understood. 

A vote was taken on the proposal as outlined above as follows:  FOR 14; AGAINST 0; ABSTENTIONS 1.

RESOLVED that the application be GRANTED permission for a period of 12 months subject to the conditions outlined in the report with 3 additional conditions in respect of a bin capacity assessment, signage and restoration of land should the permission not continue, with the exact wording of these 3 additional conditions to be delegated to the Director of Planning in consultation with the Chair of the Planning Committee and subject to a financial contribution to the Council’s Coastal mitigation Service.