A quaint village with "unfriendly locals" has hit back at tourists after parking wars has caused some locals to consider moving.
The sleepy fishing village of Staithes, North Yorkshire has been described as a "hidden gem" but some locals say that it is no longer "secret", hidden or quiet.
And villagers are said to be considering moving out because the area is too busy and isn't the quaint, quiet place it once was, YorkshireLive reported.
One of the main complaints from residents is the influx of visitors which had led to inconsiderate drivers parking outside people's properties.
Tourists have reported coming up against irate locals, some of whom are annoyed by visitors' manners, or lack of them.
One unimpressed visitor, Imogen, writing on Tripadvisor, described Staithes as a lovely place but she wasn't impressed by the welcome she received.
She said: "Nice place, awful locals.
"Lovely picturesque place with a nice beach and short journey to Whitby. Unfortunately, the locals are absolutely awful. It’s a bit Royston Vasey."
Royston Vasey is the fictional Northern town in the black comedy The League of Gentleman where people who aren't 'local' are viewed with suspicion.
Many of the TripAdvisor reviews are very positive about Staithes, calling it a "great little gem" and "very scenic", but the July 2022 review about "awful locals" does not come as a surprise to people who live and work in the village.
One business owner said Staithes had seen a rise in visitors which the village infrastructure could barely cope with.
They said: "Locals around here rub along with tourists as best they can, under enormous strain every day, and there will always be flashpoints."
One of the main "flashpoints" is parking and the fact that some drivers have been ignoring road signs.
"Occasionally, cars with caravans have ended up in the bottom of the village where they struggle to turn around," they added.
"Visitor numbers have gone up and when I walk down to the village you can see people trying to cross the road at the funny junction.
"You would be amazed how people leave their car parked in the middle of the street."
The business owner, who asked to be anonymous, said that Staithes no longer had a quiet time of year.
"It's busy in the winter and the summer. We don't ever have an off-season. The holiday cottages are busy," they said.
The problems have led some to consider moving away from the busiest parts of the village.
One local said: "The village is not like it used to be 20 years ago. A lot are leaving. There are too many visitors and it is no longer a secret place.
"People are moving house to the top of the village. They will come down when they want to."
He didn't want to be named but said the relationship between locals and visitors was "awkward".
Inconsiderate drivers are the chief complaint, he said.
"The visitors who bring cars down when they are not supposed to, and park outside locals' houses, it rubs up locals," he said.
"We had an incident the other day where someone was bringing a caravan down. And then you get kids climbing on people's walls. It has got too busy for me."
Details on property websites appear to confirm that some homeowners in Staithes are indeed hoping to move on, although it is not clear if this is a trend or just normal turnover.
There is a three-bed cottage for sale for £365,000 at Bank Bottom, High Street, which "would make a perfect holiday let investment or bolt hole by the sea," according to the sales details.
It adds: "This property also offers parking, which is a rarity in such a quaint place."
There are also properties for sale on Barras Square (a cottage open for holiday bookings), at Gunn Gutter, and a holiday let property is for sale at the top of Mount Pleasant, as well as several more dotted around the village.
Many visitors to Staithes haven't got a bad word to say about the place if online reviews are anything to go by.
One visitor wrote: "Been going to Staithes all my life and I am 46 now. Excellent place for everyone of every age including dogs!
'Very friendly everywhere. Excellent."
