Don’t hamper our sea view with your camper
Cornish holiday home owners win car park ban on vans
A CORNISH town has banned camper vans from its clifftop car parks because second home owners complained they were spoiling the view, locals have claimed.
Wealthy residents in Polzeath got sick of the vehicles blocking their vistas – resulting in Cornwall Council changing the rules, according to a local chef.
Now large vehicles, campers or vans can no longer park in the clifftop parking spaces in the north Cornwall town.
The rules are in force between midnight and 9am, preventing surfers from parking up for early morning surfs or watching the sunrise.
The decision has upset a number of locals, including Allen Muriel, head chef at the nearby Surfside Restaurant.
He said the changes have affected his business, and came about only after second home owners complained.
Mr Muriel said: ‘Polzeath, as much of the rest of Cornwall, is a prime destination for campers from all walks of life.
‘ New Polzeath itself has always been considered a hidden gem among a huge community of surfers, walkers, fishermen, campers and the many other types of people who love, respect and enjoy the wonderful area that we are so lucky to call home.
‘But now, the council are dishing out tickets to any unsuspecting, innocent person who may venture down to the beach to enjoy its beauty before the tourists fill every last square inch of it with their rubbish and screaming children.’
Mr Muriel said the decision had caused him ‘numerous problems’, his staff now have nowhere to park and he can’t commute to work in his own camper van any more.
He went on to say that he has noticed a decline in the number of camper van users visiting since the ban came into effect.
He added: ‘The council has succumbed to the second home owners’ cries without considering the impact this would have on the surrounding area and community.
‘The solution could be so simple but has been overlooked by Cornwall Council.’
Cornwall Council said it made the changes to ‘address traffic flow problems’ after residents and businesses were consulted on proposals earlier this year. It said responses were ‘largely in favour’ of introducing parking restrictions.