An order to stop campervans parking on a section of Exmouth seafront could be in place by next month

Exmouth Journal: Campervans at Orcombe this week. Ref exe 21-16SH 6027. Picture: Simon Horn.Campervans at Orcombe this week. Ref exe 21-16SH 6027. Picture: Simon Horn. (Image: Archant)

A pilot scheme which would make part of Exmouth’s seafront a ‘no-go’ zone for campervans could be in place from next month.

The joint town, county and district council initiative would also mean coveted off-street car parking spaces near the beach would be sacrificed to create a refuge for campervan owners who wish to stay overnight.

Devon County Council has issued a traffic order to completely ban campervans from parking in a section of Queen’s Drive.

The order will also prohibit the vehicles from stopping overnight in Maer Road, Imperial Road and on the eastern end of Queen’s Drive – between the lifeboat station and Orcombe Point.

Once the traffic order is implemented, EDDC will create 70 new overnight campervan bays in three of its Exmouth car parks – Imperial Recreation Ground, Maer Road and the off-street car park in Queen’s Drive.

At a meeting of the town council, Councillor Bill Nash said the pilot scheme could be in place by next month and will be reviewed at the end of the summer season.

Cllr Nash, who chairs a town council task and finish committee set up to deal with the issue, added: “The whole question of why we are trying to do something to campervans is to allow the road of Queen’s Drive up to Orcombe Point to be freer to allow more cars to enjoy that facility.

“You can’t stop them [campervan owners] parking in every road. Fortunately, we live in a beautiful coastal town and people who use them bring a lot of income into the area.”

At the meeting, resident Ann Membury raised concerns about the loss of car parking spaces in the town.

She told councillors: “I do feel that motorhomes are very long and they will be taking up spaces of at least two cars in these car parks and, at the moment, parking spaces are getting harder to find.”

In response, Cllr Nash said: “The spaces will be more than adequate because people don’t usually park their cars overnight in those car parks if they are visiting the area.

“The car parks are generally empty at night of motor cars.”