Dorset parking bans Californias

[Viktorgeorge]

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.

I think the gist of all this is that any DVLA classification it no ‘get out of jail card’. If: (i) it is a van; (ii) you can sleep/cook in it; or (iii) it is over 4.8m long; then you are at risk.

 

[Autumn]

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.

Apart from the parking issue, it would be good if campsites made this distinction too.

 

[Devaprem]

I think the gist of all this is that any DVLA classification it no ‘get out of jail card’. If: (i) it is a van; (ii) you can sleep/cook in it; or (iii) it is over 4.8m long, you are at risk.

Thanks - even if ther emight be chance of using the DVLA classification to try avoid a fine there is also the hassle of challenging any penalty

 

[Alegna65]

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.

Christchurch IS in Dorset....

 

[WelshGas]

Christchurch is a town and civil parish on the south coast of Dorset, England. The parish had a population of 31,372 in 2021. It adjoins Bournemouthto the west, with the New Forest to the east. Part of the historic countyof Hampshire, Christchurch was a borough within the administrative county of Dorset from 1974 until 2019, when it became part of the new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority.

 

[Rubi204]

Arteon estate is 4.866m, ID7 estate is 4.961m, Bentley Continental 4.895, one could go on. The length restriction on "vans" seems arbitrary and illogical when considered against other even larger "cars" .
Anyway, a vehicle designated as M1 (which is what is on the v5 for my Ocean) is a passenger car/dual purpose vehicle - not a van (N1) or a "motor caravan. That's going to give Dorset Council some training and enforcement headaches!

 

[D&AB]

I too live in Dorset and use my Cali as a second car. The issue is that Dorset Council are (probaly intentionally) being ambiguous regarding the definition of Motorhome. I asked AI (CoPilot in this case) for it's views...

 

[CaliforniaCylus]

Ultimately it will depend on how the vehicles are assessed. We should assume that even it isn't happening today, it will soon all be ANPR.

Most Oceans and certainly T6.1s are on the DVLA as Motor Caravan so that's a straight failure because it's motorhome.

If it's still being assessed by a person, they *may* use the DVLA classification or may determine it's a van > 4.8m or a Motorhome based on kitchen / bed.

It's ill-thought out and probably not intended to catch out campervans but it does...

 

[KevH]

Maybe we should be trying to understand the reasoning behind what is in effect a ban on parking MHs and campervans on these car parks.
My money is that there is a view that these car parks may be used as unofficial campsites.
I am going to upset a few folk on this forum now by suggesting that those who wild camp, wherever done, have inadvertently brought about this situation.
There, I have said it.
Shoot me down if you wish, but arguing about who lives where and whether a Cali is a van and/or a campervan is largely missing the point.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

I think the gist of all this is that any DVLA classification it no ‘get out of jail card’. If: (i) it is a van; (ii) you can sleep/cook in it; or (iii) it is over 4.8m long; then you are at risk.

I have a fine which I paid to attest to this.

Lyme Regis. 4.8m max length for vans adapted to cook or sleep in.

 

[CaliforniaCylus]

Maybe we should be trying to understand the reasoning behind what is in effect a ban on parking MHs and campervans on these car parks.
My money is that there is a view that these car parks may be used as unofficial campsites.
I am going to upset a few folk on this forum now by suggesting that those who wild camp, wherever done, have inadvertently brought about this situation.
There, I have said it.
Shoot me down if you wish, but arguing about who lives where and whether a Cali is a van and/or a campervan is largely missing the point.

I think it's easy to stop overnight motorhome or campervan parking. Lots of areas do it - some don't because it's good for the economy - but banning them during the day is a new level. I get that an 8m motorhome isn't appropriate for many car parks but a campervan the same size as a car.... Why not?

 

[KevH]

I think it's easy to stop overnight motorhome or campervan parking. Lots of areas do it - some don't because it's good for the economy - but banning them during the day is a new level. I get that an 8m motorhome isn't appropriate for many car parks but a campervan the same size as a car.... Why not?

I totally agree that the councils response is lazy, I am simply suggesting that they are responding to what they see as an unacceptable practice. It’s a blunt response that helps nobody.
Yes, they could respond differently, and I said so when I responded to their survey, but I do understand why they have acted as they have.
They are not alone of course.
And on the continent a very different approach is taken.

 

[sticky1]

I’m very grateful to everyone for highlighting the fact that I’ll need to actually read the signage.
We live in north wales each summer and some of the beach roads are back to back vans now. You can literally no longer see the sea from the road.
I can imagine some local residents complaining about their view being spoiled from the footpath on the other side of the road.
From reading the associated threads it appears that the council are providing nearby parking that is suitable for campervans.

 

[WelshGas]

Arteon estate is 4.866m, ID7 estate is 4.961m, Bentley Continental 4.895, one could go on. The length restriction on "vans" seems arbitrary and illogical when considered against other even larger "cars" .
Anyway, a vehicle designated as M1 (which is what is on the v5 for my Ocean) is a passenger car/dual purpose vehicle - not a van (N1) or a "motor caravan. That's going to give Dorset Council some training and enforcement headaches!

You’ll lose I’m afraid.

 

[TimBanjo]

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.

Me too.

 

[procrastinator]

Sorry to be blunt on this, allot of people, are missing the point, your V5 is immaterial to the council, if you have a bed or built in cooking facilities you are a motorhome, you will get away with the length of a car but if you put a bed or kitchen in your Bentley Continental, the traffic wardens will peer in the windows and declare you a motor home. people are saying test it in court, I would rather pay the fine it would be cheaper, I don't think you could win, the council own or run the car park so, their ball their rules.
I also know that KevH is right, living in the new forest the council is reacting to the van life group that if they find a nice place where you can park for free with no overnight restrictions, they move in and tell all their mates online, then it becomes an unofficial campsite.

 

[Celia Vanchez]

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.

Thats the issue I think; they don’t know how much business they may lose as a consequence of these decisions

 

[trev0rk]

Find a car park - Dorset Council

www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Not a very useful site (as I have already mentioned this to Dorset Council).

We wanted to go into Bridport for shopping. The website says East Street is suitable for motorhomes, but signage says not. When asked, the pen pusher said that the sign would be altered to “motorhomes under 4.8m”, and there were far too many variations in parking restrictions to be able to list them on the website!

We parked in Morrisons for free and spent our money there.

 

[Pineweasel]

I park my Cali in Bridport fairly regularly and have never had a problem. I usually use the Rope Walks car park, but it has the same sign.

 

[soldana]

I happen to be in Dorset this week, and parked in the Fairfield council car park in Dorchester.

I had previously read this thread, so was prepared for some signage! To be fair to the council, it was pretty clear that I couldn't park in a regular space, so I paid a few pence more to park in one of six motorhome bays. I still have no idea what their motivation is for introducing such a distinction.

There were plenty of other vans, including some huge Mercedes Sprinters, which were parked across multiple spaces!

 

[KevH]

I paid a few pence more to park in one of six motorhome bays. I still have no idea what their motivation is for introducing such a distinction.

Money?
But credit to the council for providing at least some parking for us. I am sure most would pay a tad more for a bigger space.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Money?
But credit to the council for providing at least some parking for us. I am sure most would pay a tad more for a bigger space.

They are few and far between. You’ll be surprised how dwarfed your Cali looks parked up in one.

It’s daft as well to have to use one for a van which fits in a car parking space and deprive an actual motorhome of one of the precious few spaces they can park in.

Would seem more sensible to me to simply charge a higher tariff for campervans if that was the aim.

I can only speculate that the 4.8m length is deliberate to capture Cslis/Transporter conversions alone is more aimed to stop the post Covid invasion of cabs and their associated issues,

But what do I know!

 

[Kayleigh]

I thought the 4.8m was based on the standard car parking size. But yes, it seems they have used it to target campervans and not cars of an equivalent length.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

I thought the 4.8m was based on the standard car parking size. But yes, it seems they have used it to target campervans and not cars of an equivalent length.

4.8m only applies to vans adapted to sleeping and/or cooking.

It doesn’t apply to other vehicles.