Beautiful seaside town divided as beachfront overrun by motorhomes

A seaside town is being overrun by motorhomes that are “holidaying for free” on the resort’s main road, despite no toilet facilities being readily available. A proposal to ban overnight parking on Saltburn-by-the-Sea’s Marine Parade was axed last year after the council received letters of objection from as far afield as Nigeria, South Africa, and Papua New Guinea.

But locals say this year there has been an increase in the tourists who are jamming the seafront in their campervans for lengthy stays. And with an influx of visitors expected once the school holidays start next week, businesses are worried there will be nowhere available for them to park due to the mass of giant motorhomes snaking along the main thoroughfare. When the Daily Express visited the resort, we counted 58 motorhomes parked up at 9pm one evening, and by the following morning, they had been joined by around 15 more giant vehicles.

Local businesses are torn about the benefit, with some claiming the tourists spend money in shops and restaurants. But others say they are “an eyesore” who are putting off other visitors and claim few spend their money locally because they arrive with their large vehicles all ready stocked up with holiday supplies.

One visitor, Adrian, 53, from York told the Express: “We’ve been coming to Saltburn for years. “Everywhere else along this coastline bans overnight parking anywhere near the seafront, so it really is a gem. Overnight stays in campsites are usually around £50 so a week staying here saves us £350.

“Obviously we don’t have access to showers like you would find at a designated site, but the toilets on the front are pretty good. And then, of course, there’s the sea!”

Tom, 41, from Scotland said: “This is my first time here. I read about it on the internet so we thought we’d travel down and have a few free nights. Everyone is very friendly and it seems to be kept very clean, there’s no mess or anything. To be honest I can’t believe we’re allowed to stay here without charge, we’ll definitely come back whenever the weather is good.”

But visitor Brian Smythe, 68, from Leeds, was less pleased with their presence.

He said: “My wife has mobility problems, but there is nowhere for us to park because of all these giant motorhomes. We are here for a few days and have spent £500 on an AirBnB property so it’s a bit galling that they get to stay in this beautiful resort for free whilst the rest of us support the local tourist economy.”

Last year, the Labour council was slammed for cancelling plans to ban motorhomes from parking overnight in public areas of the town.

The proposal was included in traffic management schemes drawn up for Marine Parade, but the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's administration dropped it.

Independent councillors accused the authority of letting down the town's residents and failing to adequately address the "many historic road traffic problems along Marine Parade".

But Labour council leader Alec Brown said he had listened to the views of hundreds of residents on the issue, adding that residents were "two to one against" the parking ban.

Councillors Stuart Smith, Philip Thomson, and Craig Hannaway, a trio of independents, had been involved in drawing up plans to improve the busy sea-facing thoroughfare.

However, the Labour-led administration, which came to power in 2023, dropped most elements of the plans.

If progressed, they would have seen more than 100 additional parking bays created and motorhomes banned from parking between 8pm and 8am.

However, the plans were opposed by campaigners, who launched a petition attracting more than 1,800 signatories.

But the Express can reveal that most respondents were from outside of Saltburn, with more than two dozen countries represented on the petition.

Mr Brown said, "It is really heartwarming to know that people from Nigeria, South Africa, and Papua New Guinea like to come and visit Redcar and Cleveland in their motorhomes.

“Why discourage them from coming and spending money locally? It is more proof really that that ban probably isn’t the best for Saltburn."

Mr Hannaway said nobody who lived in the vicinity of Marine Parade voted to “spend summer months in a free campervan park with no facilities, late night noise, litter and chemical waste”.

But Count Carl Quartermain, Cabinet Member for highways and transport at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: “The council is listening to the views of Saltburn residents, which is why we will not be progressing with the proposal to prohibit motorhomes parking on Marine Parade and Glenside overnight.

“The consultation for this proposal received 81 objections and only 44 in support. In addition to this, the council received a petition of 1,820 people who were against the introduction of the ban.

“It is clear that this is a highly emotive and sensitive subject, and we have to balance the impact on local businesses and the risk of parking issues being created elsewhere.

“We will be introducing a 20mph speed limit on Marine Parade and adjoining streets to make the environment safer for pedestrians and cyclists. This will be implemented as soon as possible.”

In a statement, the council said: “Motorhomes may park on Marine Parade in Saltburn legally. “However, the council is aware of frustrations as visitors and residents struggle to find parking places, especially in the summer months. Comments and complaints regarding parking in this location are currently being recorded and will form part of future reviews and proposals.”