Calls made to get tougher with motor home parking on Hayling seafront

From left, Andy Gibbs, Councillor Andy Lenaghan and Nick Kingston at West Beach car park on Hayling Island.

Community leaders are growing increasingly concerned about people living in motor homes and other converted vehicles at Beachlands.

They say it is ruining the beauty of the beach, causing safety concerns and putting some people off going to the area altogether.

Motor home parking is restricted to 72 hours and people have to pay an overnight charge, but some say this is not being enforced.

One man, for instance, has been living in a converted lorry – not a registered motor home – and therefore only has to pay a season ticket of between £70 and £100 to stay all year round.

Andy Gibbs, 53, a windsurfer from Hayling, said there were a ‘growing number of people establishing residence’ on the beach.

He said: ‘In the last two weeks after a number of us complained, the council has applied some pressures and with the charging season coming in we are currently back to just the one persistent one, who I think was served notice by the council two weeks ago, but continues to try and find ways around it.

‘To me the real thing here is about ensuring that we maintain a safe and family friendly environment allowing the best access to the beach for everyone.

‘The effect of putting motor home camping – the council say parking – into a small and already busy car park in a completely unregulated way is creating a number of risks and a lot of tension.’

Nick Kingston, 49, a resident and paddle boarder, said his disabled daughter was nearly hit as a campervan zoomed across the disabled spaces area as it was the only way in and out of the congested car park at West Beach.

He said: ‘I’m not against campervans but they should be restricted.

‘It’s become a free-for-all.’

Hayling councillor Andy Lenaghan said: ‘It’s detracting from the attractiveness of Beachlands.

‘It’s a fantastic watersports centre. We want to attract people not drive them away.’

A statement from Havant Borough Council said the restrictions are enforced and penalty charge notices are issued.

It added: ‘If this does not resolve the issue, the council will seek legal advice for the motor home to be removed from the car park. There is currently a review ongoing regarding the parking of motor homes and large vehicles within Beachlands.’