Dorset parking bans Californias

[CaliforniaCylus]

Been discussed before in that we can't use our California's as a day van in Dorset because it falls foul of two car parking rules.

- A van must be less than 4.8m long
- Motorhomes not allowed in car spaces

There's a survey running about parking in Dorset

Dorset Council Parking Survey - Introduction - Dorset Council - Citizen Space

Find and participate in activities run by Dorset Council

consultation.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Let rip....

(This is the same council that's just had to do a u turn about booking trips to the tip having wasted a ton of money)

 

[Sad]

Must admit, we very rarely use the council car parks locally with the van. We more likely end up in the National Trust car parks. So, I wasn't aware of this 4.8m restriction!
I've completed the survey now, thanks for letting me know, note though that the only real freetext space to talk about camper parking is at the very beginning. The rest of it is really about permits and resident parking.

 

[Snoopy23]

I live in christchurch (bpc council) never had problem parking in bpc site or seen this restriction?

 

[CaliforniaCylus]

I live in christchurch (bpc council) never had problem parking in bpc site or seen this restriction?

Well, that's because you aren't in Dorset!!!

It seems to be creeping. I think similar bans for California's which are registered as Motor Caravans have been introduced in some authorities in East Anglia.

East Devon is also trying to make things difficult.

 

[KevH]

We camped in Dorset in the spring and planned to visit Lulworth but the parking restrictions, even then, were onerous. We didn’t go, the council lost out on a potential fee, the cafe lost a sale. Nobody came out better off.
We went to Swanage instead and parked on a private CP for a couple of quid. Had a great day.
I have done the survey, told them what I thought. Won’t make a jot of difference of course but you can’t expect change to happen unless you protest.

 

[Snoopy23]

Well, that's because you aren't in Dorset!!!

It seems to be creeping. I think similar bans for California's which are registered as Motor Caravans have been introduced in some authorities in East Anglia.

East Devon is also trying to make things difficult.

Well, Last time i looked christchurch was in dorset!

 

[CaliforniaCylus]

Well, Last time i looked christchurch was in dorset!

All depends on context. Not administratively I believe...

 

[KevH]

I live in christchurch (bpc council) never had problem parking in bpc site or seen this restriction?

Out of interest, is bpc the same as Dorset Council or are they administratively separate?

 

[Sad]

Out of interest, is bpc the same as Dorset Council or are they administratively separate?

Two separate local authorities

 

[KevH]

Two separate local authorities

Yep, exactly, so why this daft argument about where people live? It’s a distraction from a very relevant and important issue imo.

 

[S33ssg]

I live in Dorchester, drive all over the county, park everywhere (in our T6.1 Ocean), never had a problem and neither have our two neighbours, one with a Beach, one with a Coast.

 

[sticky1]

Is it worth putting in some FOI (freedom of information) requests?
Most government officials hate these requests as there is a formal process to release the information (often reviewed by the senior management team).
I suspect if some of the questions about cars that are longer than 4.8m or vehicles with bike racks and how many tickets are being issued to such vehicles, with some example photos may cause some disruption.
I wonder if you can also ask for the details of the decision to ban multi use vehicles from every council car park - they probably have some responsibility to provide parking provision for all users.

 

[MisterTea]

Been discussed before in that we can't use our California's as a day van in Dorset because it falls foul of two car parking rules.

- A van must be less than 4.8m long
- Motorhomes not allowed in car spaces

There's a survey running about parking in Dorset

Dorset Council Parking Survey - Introduction - Dorset Council - Citizen Space

Find and participate in activities run by Dorset Council

consultation.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Let rip....

(This is the same council that's just had to do a u turn about booking trips to the tip having wasted a ton of money)

I’ve reviewed the Dorset council parking permit info and cannot find anything that indicates the restrictions you listed. Please can you provide a link to where you found these restrictions? (I’m in Weymouth and never had an issue so far, but keen to understand.) thanks.

 

[Craig Gilbert]

I live in christchurch (bpc council) never had problem parking in bpc site or seen this restriction?

Same here

 

[MisterTea]

Whilst the size restriction is concerning (but not see any signs that indicate if this restriction) , the Motorhome restriction is commonplace and for us should be of no concern.
Because a VW California is NOT a ‘Motorhome’
A Motorhome is a defined class of camping vehicle by DVLA.

Class A is a Motorhome - is an enormous camping vehicle built from a separate cab and chassis based on a bus or lorry platform typically between 6 and 12 meters in length with extensive facilities built in. (not a like a VW California)
Class C is a Motorhome - is a large and tall camping vehicle built from a large commercial van platform usually with a fixed high roof, length typically over 6 metres in length with built in toilet and shower facilities . (not a like a VW California)
Class B is a Campervan (not a Motorhome) is based on a small commercial van platform with bench seat that converts the small living space to a bed, and no space for a shower.

 

[andyinluton]

Whilst the size restriction is concerning (but not see any signs that indicate if this restriction) , the Motorhome restriction is commonplace and for us should be of no concern.
Because a VW California is NOT a ‘Motorhome’
A Motorhome is a defined class of camping vehicle by DVLA.

Class A is a Motorhome - is an enormous camping vehicle built from a separate cab and chassis based on a bus or lorry platform typically between 6 and 12 meters in length with extensive facilities built in. (not a like a VW California)
Class C is a Motorhome - is a large and tall camping vehicle built from a large commercial van platform usually with a fixed high roof, length typically over 6 metres in length with built in toilet and shower facilities . (not a like a VW California)
Class B is a Campervan (not a Motorhome) is based on a small commercial van platform with bench seat that converts the small living space to a bed, and no space for a shower.

Thats your classification of motorhomes,

DVLA don't distinguish between camper vans & motorhomes, basically if it has cooking equipment and a bed + meets a few other criteria it's legally a motorhome.

All VW Californias with the exception of the Beach Tour which had no cooking equipment (and an anomaly in about 2019 when some vans were registered as MPVs) are registered motor homes / motor caravans.

 

[derek_j_buchanan]

Been discussed before in that we can't use our California's as a day van in Dorset because it falls foul of two car parking rules.

- A van must be less than 4.8m long
- Motorhomes not allowed in car spaces

There's a survey running about parking in Dorset

Dorset Council Parking Survey - Introduction - Dorset Council - Citizen Space

Find and participate in activities run by Dorset Council

consultation.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Let rip....

(This is the same council that's just had to do a u turn about booking trips to the tip having wasted a ton of money)

The survey asks nothing about parking if calis /equivalent

 

[CaliforniaCylus]

The survey asks nothing about parking if calis /equivalent

No I used the comment field at the beginning to state it was unfair to ban Calis on the account that a) They are Motorhomes and b) Longer than 4.8m.

Meanwhile it's ok for a car (eg our old Kia Sorento) bigger than our cali to park...

 

[Mel's Mystery Machine]

Been discussed before in that we can't use our California's as a day van in Dorset because it falls foul of two car parking rules.

- A van must be less than 4.8m long
- Motorhomes not allowed in car spaces

There's a survey running about parking in Dorset

Dorset Council Parking Survey - Introduction - Dorset Council - Citizen Space

Find and participate in activities run by Dorset Council

consultation.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Let rip....

(This is the same council that's just had to do a u turn about booking trips to the tip having wasted a ton of money)

I don’t live in Dorset but I’m happy to support/copy your views if you tell me how you replied to the survey.

 

[WelshGas]

Whilst the size restriction is concerning (but not see any signs that indicate if this restriction) , the Motorhome restriction is commonplace and for us should be of no concern.
Because a VW California is NOT a ‘Motorhome’
A Motorhome is a defined class of camping vehicle by DVLA.

Class A is a Motorhome - is an enormous camping vehicle built from a separate cab and chassis based on a bus or lorry platform typically between 6 and 12 meters in length with extensive facilities built in. (not a like a VW California)
Class C is a Motorhome - is a large and tall camping vehicle built from a large commercial van platform usually with a fixed high roof, length typically over 6 metres in length with built in toilet and shower facilities . (not a like a VW California)
Class B is a Campervan (not a Motorhome) is based on a small commercial van platform with bench seat that converts the small living space to a bed, and no space for a shower.

That is probably the DVLA classification for taxation purposes.
Councils etc: use their own definition. Any vehicle designed or equipped for sleeping and/or cooking .
Also the DVLA tends to use the catchall Body Type - Motor Caravan on the V5c.

 

[PhillM]

I live in christchurch (bpc council) never had problem parking in bpc site or seen this restriction?

Me neither - I live in Poole (also BCP). But we do often park along the Dorset and West Dorset coast for the day . But agree with others - a California is not a motorhome - and it doesn't take up any more space than a large car.

 

[Goldi]

Been discussed before in that we can't use our California's as a day van in Dorset because it falls foul of two car parking rules.

- A van must be less than 4.8m long
- Motorhomes not allowed in car spaces

There's a survey running about parking in Dorset

Dorset Council Parking Survey - Introduction - Dorset Council - Citizen Space

Find and participate in activities run by Dorset Council

consultation.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Let rip....

(This is the same council that's just had to do a u turn about booking trips to the tip having wasted a ton of money)

I live just outside Swanage in South Dorset. I have a Cali Ocean T6 which is my only vehicle. I have never had a problem parking in any car parks in Dorset. Many Tradesmen use this sized van & naturally park in all car parks. I have looked at & filled in the survey & there is no mention of van lengths. Naturally, Motorhomes are not allowed in car spaces.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Been discussed before in that we can't use our California's as a day van in Dorset because it falls foul of two car parking rules.

- A van must be less than 4.8m long
- Motorhomes not allowed in car spaces

There's a survey running about parking in Dorset

Dorset Council Parking Survey - Introduction - Dorset Council - Citizen Space

Find and participate in activities run by Dorset Council

consultation.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Let rip....

(This is the same council that's just had to do a u turn about booking trips to the tip having wasted a ton of money)

I have just done the survey, not responding on most of the questions as a non-resident, so really only making one point: that I am now disinclined to make daytime visits to Dorset because I have a 4.9m length VW California. It did no take long. If enough others also respond perhaps the message will get through.

 

[WelshGas]

Response from Dorset CC in 2015

Post in thread 'VW California parking in Swanage Dorset! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr' https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/thread...wanage-dorset-grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.9452/post-87629

 

[Devaprem]

Planning to go to Dorset soon so this all very interesting to read - thanks for posts! My T6 Ocean is classed as a Diesel Car on the V5. If the rules state that a van must be no longer than 4.8m, what about Cali "Diesel Car"? I'd be surprised if mine is the only one regsitered as such.