by Rebecca Hannant
Residents and business owners are divided over the growing number of motorhomes parked along Withernsea’s North Promenade.
In recent months, motorhomes have become a common sight, sparking debate about their impact on the town. Some promenade residents say they are fed up with parking problems and antisocial behaviour, while others welcome the visitors for the boost they bring to local tourism.
Several residents have raised concerns about motorhomes parked for weeks at a time, reporting issues such as clothes being hung outside, tents pitched, furniture set out, and waste being disposed of improperly. However, they stress that not all motorhome visitors are responsible for such problems.
One resident said: “There are several caravans outside my house, and some have been there all summer. On several occasions, they’ve had clothes hanging all along the promenade. On another occasion, one put their awning out, got beer barrels, tables and chairs – they’d basically made a mini-pub, which was left out for days. They’ve even tied their bikes to the railings.
“I’ve seen people affected by items being placed on the paths. One motorhome had a gas canister out for cooking, along with a table and chairs. A woman on a mobility scooter tried to get past and could only just manage it. She expressed her annoyance, and they swore at her. It’s really affecting parking. There have been times when up to 25 motorhomes have stayed for days. The other day, I went out and within an hour all the spaces were taken. It’s crazy. This is what we have to deal with every single day in the summer.”
Sky Bendelow, owner of Curiosity in Seaside Road and a promenade resident, said: “We often look out of our windows and see people setting up picnic tables and barbecues, little tents, and even emptying their toilets and wastewater. They sometimes have generators running at night.”
The debate has also played out on social media, where some argue the motorhomes bring much-needed tourism and support local businesses.
Local business owner Kim Smith said she had even created a space for motorhomes: “I understand this is a sensitive subject for some residents – particularly those affected by visitors setting up tables, chairs, tents, etc. (I haven’t seen this myself but have read comments about it). As a resident and manager of local Airbnbs, I’m a huge supporter of Withernsea. I welcome tourism to our beautiful seaside town and understand how vital it is for our local businesses and community.
“I personally wanted to help the motorhome community and ease parking pressures by opening a small motorhome park. The aim was to offer a safe, affordable space for visitors while promoting economic growth in the community. We’ve had lots of positive feedback from both locals and our guests.
“Camper and motorhome owners have a strong community. Many belong to social media groups where they share holiday recommendations, giving the town free publicity. Overall, they are a respectful group who appreciate nature and the town’s beauty. These are the kinds of tourists we should be encouraging.”
Motorhome user Lea Hebblewhite, who visits Withernsea regularly, said: “It’s a pretty beach area – quiet, not too busy. The people are friendly, and it’s easy to park. We live in London and are considering moving to the East Riding, so we’ve been travelling the coast and visiting areas we’re interested in.
“We usually just visit the pubs and cafes since we only stay for one or two nights. We never stay long because we’re aware of the impact on residents when motorhomes descend on a place. We always try to leave an area better than we found it, spending money locally and picking up litter on the beach. We know motorhome owners can get a bad reputation, so we try not to contribute to that.”
Other residents argue that not all visitors are using local facilities or spending money in the town. Some say they welcome short-term stays but want tighter rules to prevent long-term parking.
One resident said: “We need something in place for residents. An odd night or hour at the side of the road is fine, but some of them stay here for weeks on both sides of the road. Some motorhomes come and go all day, and some are quite large. It’s a two-way street, but the motorhomes make it narrower, and cars can’t get around each other.”
Sky added: “We need a parking permit. The prom should be made one-way because it’s dangerous. One year, I had to reverse all the way from Captain Williams to the end of the prom because there were several vehicles waiting to pass.”
South East Holderness ward councillor Jon Dimberline said: “On the beautiful northern promenade of Withernsea, we have a fabulous stretch of walkway. People are on the beach enjoying the town. There are cars parked, which shows visitors are here, but unfortunately, we have what we consider a scourge of visiting motorhomes.
“I was first approached by four or five residents living opposite the promenade. Their complaints are mostly that the motorhomes restrict traffic because they’re wider than regular cars. No one has a problem with legally parked motorhomes that are taxed, insured and MOT’d – I think they’re great.
“But the issue is people getting free overnight camping. Some motorhomes are parked for two, three, even five weeks. We’re seeing barbecues, clothes hung out, tables and chairs set up – all on the promenade.
“There’s also talk of grey water from washing up and showers being poured down road drains, which isn’t ideal. Residents also say other waste is being carried to the central promenade toilets and dumped there.
“Some motorhome owners will go to Tesco for groceries, but they aren’t using the arcades or other local amenities. It’s no longer a holiday novelty for them, it’s like a second home. The road is narrow, and the larger vehicles make two-way traffic difficult. Even with just cars parked, there are problems – add in motorhomes, and it’s worse.”
East Riding Council said it was aware of concerns and “currently exploring potential solutions”.
Meanwhile, ward councillors Lyn Healing and Sean McMaster said the issue had been raised for years.
Cllr McMaster said: “We understand that a number of concerns have been raised by residents regarding the number of motorhomes parked on the promenade. We will continue to work with the local authority to address these concerns.”
Cllr Healing added: “We understand residents’ frustration regarding motorhomes parking along the promenade. Unfortunately, there is no legislation to stop them. I have been talking to senior officers at East Riding Council to see if we can come up with an alternative solution, which now is proving difficult.
“Obviously we also want to make Withernsea a tourist-friendly place as at the end of the day tourists keep our local businesses open for all to enjoy. Hopefully a resolution can be found.”