SHDC has "adapted" motorhome plans after 700+ responses to consultation

South Hams District Council says it has "adapted" its proposed plans after "listening to [more than] 700 responses" received in the Motorhome consultation. 

The consultation, which closed on Thursday, 20 May, was asking for feedback on a 12-month pilot scheme to allow self-contained motorhomes and campervans, with their own toilet facilities, to stay at some South Hams car parks, and SHDC said it has been "largely met with support".

After listening to public concerns about four of the proposed locations it has been decided that North Sands in Salcombe, Memorial in Slapton and Torcross Tank in Torcross and Quay Car Park in Kingsbridge will no longer be considered for the pilot scheme. The suggested £15 tariff has now been removed along with these sites.

The results of the public consultation and a report recommending a single overnight tariff of £10, and the revised recommended sites, will now be discussed at the district council’s executive committee on Thursday, 27 May.

The pilot has been designed to help improve local tourism. There are ever-increasing numbers of motorhomes and campervan users opting to use car parks and other locations for overnight stays in the South Hams, and this is anticipated to increase as a result of restrictions on overseas travel due to the pandemic.

The council recommend stays would be at the named car parks for self-contained motorhomes and campervans only for an overnight fee of £10 per night, overnight from 6pm until 9am The proposed pilot will allow overnight sleeping for a maximum two-night consecutive stay with no return within 48 hours.

The following five car parks in these towns across the District are proposed to be included in the pilot scheme:

· Ivybridge, Leonards Car Park

· Kingsbridge, Cattlemarket Car Park

· Modbury, Poundwell Meadow Overflow Car Park

· Totnes, Longmarsh Car Park

· Dartmouth, Park & Ride Car Park

Cllr Keith Baldry, South Hams District Council’s Executive Member for Environment, said: “We want to do everything we can to support our businesses to get back on their feet by encouraging tourism to the South Hams. By making it easier for motorhome owners to visit our District and to bring their money to spend in our shops, restaurants, pubs and leisure attractions, it is a step in the right direction in helping us build up our local economy and supporting our local families and communities.

“Therefore, we are delighted that so many residents have taken the time and effort to share their thoughts on this pilot scheme. We have read their comments and have listened carefully to what they have to say and in light of their thoughts; we removed four of our nine proposed sites from our considerations, leaving us with five locations to take to our Executive meeting on Thursday.

“This pilot scheme is aimed at self-contained motorhomes which have their own on board toilet facilities for short two-night stays in our car parks. To further address respondents’ concerns, if this proposal is agreed, we propose to have regular patrols by our Localities and Car Park teams who would visit sites, during peak times, to make sure sites remain clean and tidy so that locals and visitors can all appreciate the facilities.”

You can read more from the report to the executive committee here: www.southhams.gov.uk/Executive

If you are interested in finding out more about this decision, you can watch the meeting live on SHDC’s YouTube Channel here: www.youtube.com/user/SouthHamsCouncil

The meeting starts at 9:30am on Thursday, 27 May.