Barriers to ban motorhomes won’t be in place for summer

Barriers to ban motorhomes won’t be in place for summer

4 July 2018

COUNCIL officials have had to park plans to ban motorhomes from two of Newcastle’s most popular seafront car parks.

It had been hoped new height restriction barriers to prevent motorhome owners from accessing the Downs Road and Glen River parks would be in place over the busy summer season but it has emerged it could be at least September before they are erected.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council officials were recently given the green light to erect the barriers which would prevent motorhome owners from using car parks which command spectacular views of the Mournes and Dundrum Bay. 

The move is designed to address increasing concern about the number of motorhome owners eating up valuable spaces that could be used by residents and visitors. 

In a bid to soften the blow on motorhome owners, the local authority has agreed to provide a dedicated area for six of their vehicles at nearby Donard Park, with a 12-hour restriction on parking at this location.

The new barriers will be specially designed and feature a silhouette of the Mournes along the top and while they will be locked, keys will be issued to the emergency services, local Coastguard and local authority cleansing and maintenance crews.

Local politicians are keen to see good quality barriers erected to complement the seafront, following the multi-million pound investment to upgrade the resort’s promenade and streetscape, warning any substandard structure would not be in keeping with Newcastle’s image.

They are also keen that motorhome owners do not park their vehicles across three or four spaces, a move which has infuriated Newcastle residents and members of the town’s business community.

News that the barriers will not be erected in time for the traditionally busy summer season in the resort has been confirmed by Mournes councillor Laura Devlin.

She said concern about motorhome eating up spaces reserved for cars has been an ongoing issue for the past five years.

“Newry, Mourne and Down Council and Newcastle welcomes motorhome owners to the resort as they make a contribution to the local economy, but this needs to be balanced,” she remarked.

“Last weekend, one motorhome was parked across three spaces reserved for cars in Newcastle and such behaviour can detract from the good reputation some motorhome owners have.”

Cllr Devlin said the local authority took the decision to erect the barriers a number of months ago in order to prevent such a situation from arising.

“We initially looked at Donard Park and, more recently, Castle Park as a location for motorhome owners to park their vehicles,” she explained. 

“Given the beauty of our award-winning promenade, the council opted for barriers which are not the standard industrial type ones, but more in keeping with the beauty of Newcastle.”

Cllr Devlin said the contact to design, manufacture and erect the barriers must be subject to an open competition among potential contractors which will further delay the timetable for having them in place, suggesting their erection could be delayed by up to eight weeks.

“This is extremely disappointing as I believe these barriers are necessary to our local economy,” she said. “We want as many parking spaces as possible available to locals and tourists to come to Newcastle and spend their hard-earned money. 

“I am, however, mindful that processes have to be followed and be seen to be followed so unfortunately this delay in erecting the barriers is now unavoidable. I appreciate that it’s a delicate balance between being welcoming to all tourists and ensuring that the parks are managed appropriately.”

Cllr Devlin added: “I will be doing all I can to push this process forward in tandem with providing an adequate area for motorhome owners elsewhere in Newcastle.”