RESIDENTS in a beautiful seaside town say it is being ruined by an invasion of campervans who have turned their beach into a “squatter camp”.
Locals on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, say the problem at Shingle Bank is worse than ever with owners setting up for long periods.
Overnight parking fees could now be brought in by the local council after calls for restrictions to be introduced have been made for nearly six months.
Fears have been growing that the tourist hotspot, between Sheerness and Minster, is becoming a “squatter camp”.
Swale Council, which runs the Environment Agency-owned beach, believes bringing in fees would allow people to “enjoy the beach during the day whilst dissuading overnight use”.
Details are expected to be worked out by the community and leisure committee in January next year with the proposal then going to a public consultation.
Under the current rules, there are no charges for people to park at the site but vehicles are not permitted to stay overnight.
However, locals say the number of local caravans staying for long periods has risen in recent months.
Tracie Jackson, who lives in Marine Parade, said the caravans that had previously parked at the free Ship to Shore car park had now moved to the Shingle Bank, less than 500 metres away, after fees were introduced in March.
The fees were brought in after a revamp and designed to stop illegal vehicle dumping and people living on the site.
Tracie told KentOnline that the caravan owners “should have to pay”.
Pauline, 51, another Marine Parade resident, told the news outlet: “There are more than there has ever been up there and a lot of them appear to be there for long periods.”
The presence of the campervans has put off some visitors.
Phil Drew, a former islander who now lives in Sittingbourne, has been going to the spot for 17 years but says the beach has now been “abused”.
He said: “I go with friends in our small campers occasionally for a swim, chat and a coffee just for the day and trundle off around sunset.
“We always take any rubbish home and often pick up other people’s beer bottles and rubbish if we see any, and most other camper users do the same from what I have seen even though the campervan folk get the blame.
“Unfortunately due to popularity over the last few years, the location is getting abused and is also a meeting point for boy racers so I tend to limit my visits, especially in the warmer weather.”
The consultation has been welcomed by Cllr Dolley Wooster, who chairs Sheerness Town Council and is a member of Minster Parish Council.
She said: “The situation at the Shingle Bank is a problem and we need to review people’s views before taking any action.
“We need to make sure that the people living in what has become an encampment, especially those who have hit hard times, receive the support they need during what is still a cost-of-living crisis.
“My overwhelming concern is that a report needs to be done to assess the number of people living there and then ask the public for their thoughts on how we can help solve the issue.”
However, not everyone is put off by the campervans.
Coming from Reading, Alex and Catherine Freeman parked up on the beach to go kitesurfing.
The couple, had been staying with friends in Essex but had gone to the island to take advantage of the north wind.
Optician Catherine said: “We thought it was a bit strange to see so many caravans and campervans up here as it isn’t exactly prime time for an English summer holiday.
“But we parked up here and did not have any problems.”
Jim Smart, 67, who has lived on the island for 36 years and regularly goes to the beach, says there have “never been so many” campervans parked up on the bank for so long – but added most looked after the area.
While Jim lives now lives in Sheerness he drives to the car park to play his keyboard by the sea to get “away from everything”.
There is no actual law preventing you from sleeping in your vehicle, according to The Campervan Bible.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1991, when a vehicle is, for example, parked in a car park outside of controlled hours, it is said to be parked “in contravention of the regulations”.
So no offence has been committed, merely a contravention, meaning the issue is a civil matter not a criminal one.
Car parks are generally covered by off-street parking place TRO’s (Traffic Regulation Orders).
These set out specific rules for the use of that space only and these orders may have clauses prohibiting sleeping, cooking, eating and may have height or weight restrictions.
These signs are legally binding and must be adhered to.
He said: “Of course, you do get some bad apples who live up here but there are also plenty of people who treat the beach with respect by picking up not only their rubbish but other people’s as well.
“Because it is free you get all sorts of people using it and it is a community asset for people looking for a cheap day out and this is something we do need to keep.
“There are kitesurfers, people just visiting for the view, fishermen and campervan drivers like myself. That’s part of the beauty of the area.”
A Swale Council spokesman said: “We want locals and visitors to be able to use the location to access, and enjoy, our beautiful seafront, but we know the larger vehicles who park for long periods can make this difficult.
“The council have trialled several methods to reduce the number of people misusing the space.
“A width restriction was introduced, which allows cars and medium-sized vehicles to enter but stops larger vehicles from gaining access to the site, which has seen a reduction in their numbers.
“Another option that is being investigated is introducing overnight charges, allowing people to enjoy the beach during the day, whilst dissuading overnight use.”
The Sun Online has contacted the council for further comment.
