A furious motorhome owner has hit out at overnight parking charges for "restricting freedom" at a Wirral beauty spot.
Andy Simpson, 58, is among the motorhome owners who are opposed to the overnight parking charges on Coastal Drive in New Brighton which he described as "sinister." Wirral Council implemented the charges on July 8, meaning drivers must now pay £20 per night to park overlooking the seafront.
Andy has now joined forces with a group of 16 motorhome owners to appeal against the council's decision as part of the newly-formed Wirral Campervan Club. The club want the council to scrap the parking charges and replace them with a dedicated site for campervans and motorhomes with facilities for £10 per night.
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Wirral Council said the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) is in place for a period of 18 months, will be kept under regular review and can be amended if necessary. The ECHO understands that the intention of the new charges is to better control where larger vehicles and motorhomes can park in order to remove obstruction on the public road, which is a statutory duty for local authorities.
Andy told the ECHO: "£20 a night is, to me, it's sinister. The fact they put charges in there it's targeted at motorhomes. It's discriminative against people in campervans and motorhomes.
"We needed some kind of a voice and in order to get a voice and safety in numbers, that's why we decided we're going to form a campervan club.
"The place is empty, there's no one around. Local business are feeling the pinch because motorhomes aren't going there anymore. Restaurants, bars - all these are taking a financial hit in times when they need an increase in business.
"You can increase business all year around by planning in an area with facilities. Not only would the council be getting in revenue from that £10 a night per vehicle, you'll have a constant guarantee of custom coming in and out of the area.
"It would be a designated area, it's what the council have suggested. It's what other councils up and down the country are doing and there's not been one negative story since then."
Andy said he has tried to contact local councillors in the area to arrange a meeting to discuss the benefits an area would bring but his requests have been ignored.
Wirral Council said plans to develop a "dedicated, serviced site for leisure vehicles in an appropriate off-road location is also still being considered as part of the regeneration masterplan for New Brighton.”
Andy realised his dream of owning a motorhome after suffering from a heart attack outside his home in Wallasey back in 2020. He now enjoys travelling around the country in his motorhome, but no longer parks overnight at the Dips due to the parking charges.
Andy said "It's a fantastic hobby because you've got that feeling of freedom" but "that freedom is now being restricted on my own doorstep and I think that's really unreasonable from your local council."
"This is why we want to have an Aire so we can alleviate the issue and keep everyone happy."
A Wirral Council spokesperson said: “This Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) has been in place for less than six months so is still subject to public consultation. Feedback from residents, elected members and other interested parties will be considered as part of a review of the impact on the ETRO in the coming weeks.
"A proposal to develop a dedicated, serviced site for leisure vehicles in an appropriate off-road location is also still being considered as part of the regeneration masterplan for New Brighton."
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