Height Barriers

We've recently completed a road trip along the east coast, from Norfolk up to Northumberland, and excellent it was too in these strange times ... but with one exception, namely the increasing scourge of height barriers.  We found that new barriers had been installed at many coastal car parks.  We tend to check out parking locations beforehand, using Google satellite imagery and Street-view to check for barriers. Many locations that appeared online to be free of them turned out to have shiny new barriers when we arrived and local parking officials told us it was a direct response to the explosion in wild camping during the pandemic, with litter and unmentionables left behind in its wake. How sad, makes you feel so proud (not).

Does anyone use an App or other online resource that keeps reasonably up-to-date with parking location status for higher vehicles?  Something along the lines of the Filllpg tool used for finding LPG pumps would be ideal. If one doesn't exist then maybe I ought to start one. A new project for the next lockdown perhaps?!

Tim

By no means perfect but I tend to check this app as well as check local authority websites...

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Thanks Paul and Mike.  Will try out those resources on future trips.

Tim

Unfortunately,East Riding council,want to keep motorhomes and campers from parking in there car parks on the coast ,they prefer you to use there sites, leave your van there and use the coastal land train, or park up in there park and ride..
Filey County park (North Riding) seems to be the only coastal area without height barriers., otherwise you have to park well away from the coast.
Boaby

Don't even think of visiting Shrewsbury then, used to be a favorite place, after this week's experience, it'll never see me again!

For Shrewsbury I use park and ride. Wait at barrier and the next bus driver will open it for you.
Unless Ian will tell us otherwise.

Hi Paul

This was at 2 of the P&R's, barriers on both. No bus drivers in sight and, to be honest, it wouldn't have occurred to me to ask one to open them! (apart from anything else, could be fun trying to get out again!)

Gave up after 2 of the (?) 4.

Ian - just found this on another forum (posted in August)...

Had a great few hours in Shrewsbury today.Parked no problem in Abbey Foregate carpark.signs say high top vehicles inc campers to park in the coach bays £4 a day!!

Experience has taught us to be very wary of P&R with the van. Our default is to assume there will be height barriers unless we can establish beyond all doubt that there are none. Some local authorities are better than others at describing their car parks and stating whether there are barriers. 

Tim

What was galling was that I did some research long before leaving home, went to the Shrewsbury car parks part of their website, specifically to look for height barriers. No mention that I could find anywhere. Sent an email to the department, as completely expected, no reply.
Got to the location (s) to find height barriers, with no signs that either of us could see as to alternatives, just the barrier height.

Another and quite new one is a real pain, the nearest P&R to the Brittany Ferries terminal at Portsmouth. Only recently installed, we have used same car park several times in the past. Idea being (NOT NIGHTSTOP in car park) to arrive well early then use P&R to spend day in Portsmouth, then very short drive to ferry terminal avoiding all traffic risks. Now impossible due to barrier. So Portsmouth loses circa £50 every time we use the ferry to Spain, we just park in the ferry terminal now

Another place to avoid is Warwick

Tried three or four car parks all had height barriers

Eltel wrote:Another place to avoid is Warwick

Tried three or four car parks all had height barriers

The one next to the racecourse was always good (they used to allow overnights there so presumably no height barriers but I know they had travellers there so may have been changed now.


Just checked Warwick Council website and barriers are now in place but you can ring a number to get them opened but doesn't give times of day when you will an answer ...,

Motorhome parking

Facilities for overnight parking of motor homes are available at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] which is adjacent to Warwick Racecourse. Please be advised that a overnight charge of £1.00 applies from 6pm until 8am, if vehicle takes up more than one parking bay then Pay and Display tickets must be purchased for each bay. (Also applies within the day.) Please note there are height Restrictions in this car park. For access when height restrictors are closed please telephone St Peters Office on 01926 314009.

Motorhomes can also be parked during the day at:

• Bread and Meat Close, Vittle Drive car parks in Warwick during the day. Height Restrictors are in place, For access when height restrictors are closed please telephone St Peters Office on 01926 314009. Normal charges apply.
  
  

Another place to avoid in the motorhome is beautiful Southwold. We used to spend many happy days there when touring East Anglia, parking was quite easy.
Last time we visited almost every carpark had height barriers, and the parking areas that didn't had large signs saying motorhomes and camper vans were banned. After driving round for an hour looking for somewhere to park we decided they didn't deserve our custom so carried on to Lowestoft, which is a very van friendly town.
Al.

The main carpark by Southwold pier has dedicated motorhome spaces but only 5 of them. You need to get there very early to get one. We were there last year and actually managed to get an ordinary car space late morning but I think we took the last space leaving cars to go around and around waiting for someone to leave.

I admit I missed that, as the carpark by the pier was chock full when we arrived at 10am, so I drove past.
It's a lovely place, but next year we'll visit by motorbike as there's a bike club rally in the vicinity.
Al.

bikeralw wrote:I admit I missed that, as the carpark by the pier was chock full when we arrived at 10am, so I drove past.
It's a lovely place, but next year we'll visit by motorbike as there's a bike club rally in the vicinity.
Al.

We stayed on a THS about 2 miles out. Took the van in one day (hence parking by pier) and got bus from outside THS on another day, that was much easier.

Hi Paul 

Warwick - Yes in theory if any one answers the phone 

My concern is what happens if I get in to the cars park and then no reply when I call to leave the car park.

I still really annoyed some three weeks later.

Perhaps I should sell the motorhome and go back to a caravan 

Terry

Just back from a week staying in Ludlow.  Had a day trip to Shrewsbury and parked at the Harlescott P&R.  Couldn't get in to the actual car park but there are parking spaces alongside the access road to the Arriva bus garage.  When we arrived there was already another motorhome parked there so joined it.  Asked the P&R bus driver if this was OK and received a slightly positive response :-)  On return the original M/H we had parked beside had gone but another was now parked behind us.  No signage I could see to indicate that this was not allowed.

Tony Comber