Potential height barriers in Newcastle Co.Down

[img]Just had someone tell me about the front page of the Mourne Observer - council debating whether to put up height barriers on 4 car parks. I parked in the dedicated motorhome parking place in Donard park at the Airshow & avoided the car parks - especially as there were signs asking Motorhomes to park there rather than in the car parks. Much easier parking & plenty of space but it would be difficult to visit Newcastle on a normal weekend if barriers go up.


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If they are considering erecting barriers I would like to know under what legislation they deem it necessary without causing discrimination against certain sections of the community, after all under Eu law (which ultimately trumps all UK law) motorhomes are classified the same as cars.

From what I have been able to read of the front page, part of the complaints stemmed from the parking at the airshow, when motorhomes took over the river side car park, which was designated blue badge parking, when challenged they all produced blue badges, what was the problem! Sour grapes from car drivers who couldn't get in. They also complained about motorhomes parking across the parking bays, while I dont condone this, it may have been the persons only option, but there again, use the mantra no space, move on. But have the complainers ever looked at the various muppets in cars who park across 2 bays so they dont get their doors dented!, create extra rows where there should not be any etc, again its down to the council not policing the parking rules correctly. We all were told some time ago that if parking in Newcastle park within the bays and there is not a problem, go outside them and be prepared for a ticket, well issue tickets to all vehicles which break the rules!

The provisions for motohomes for the airshow, while welcomed they in my opinion were inadequate, I too parked in Donard in the designated zone and come Sunday when I went to leave the rain had made the ground very soft and I got stuck, no one from the council could be found to aid me in getting out, it came down to fellow motorhomers to do so.

I'll point the council towards this thread.

We parked at the Glen river car park last year for the air show were told as we had a blue badge no problem as to how people parked there are no bays marked out there or the rock pool car park so how can they complain

Sounds good John but that would be discriminating against the motorist I cannot work out how these councils seem to think that the £20 note in the car drivers pocket seems to be worth more than the same value note in the Motorhomers pocket.

I'll get back to you this evening Davy with contacts and information.

Of course our 20 million hits, our 6 years of campaigning and 5000 members can be used to promote our cause.

That sounds better. I searched far & wide to get a copy of the Mourne Observer to read the rest of the story to see if there were any proposals to provide an Aire or overnight parking. I would prefer that to a car park that I may not feel welcome in & could be blocked in by cars during the day if I needed to move on.

Council have decided to put up height barriers on downs road and Glen river car parks they say they still want to welcome motor homes and are looking at donard park and islands park as potential sites today's down recorder

There is a research letter from down council on wildcamping .co.uk at this moment which i am a member off, asking what services would be required on aires for vans and or other parking/services regarding vans coming from mainland and further afield which is well underway.
So councils must be getting there heads round this at last.

One thing I would say for Newcastle is that at least they have dedicated motorhome parking for the Airshow (mainly to try to encourage them not to park in the seafront car parks probably) and many event organisers would not think to provide specific parking for Motorhomes. I know they are taxed the same as cars etc but I don’t mind walking a little further if I can be sure I can get parked, not block anybody’s way & no cars can block me in!