ACTION is being demanded by angry Minehead residents over motorhome owners who have been living for months at a time in a town centre street which does not have parking restrictions.

Seven of the motorhomes on one occasion were counted parked in Blenheim Road, next to the town’s award-winning six-acre park, with some of the owners said to also keep cars for day trips.

One resident told the Free Press emotions were running high among local people who were becoming increasingly frustrated by visitors taking advantage of what amounted to free holiday parking instead of using designated camper van parks.

The resident said: “Blenheim Road has become the ‘go-to’ place for owners of motorhomes who have made what I assume is a lifestyle choice to live on the road.

People have been living in motorhomes parked in Minehead's Blenheim Road.
People have been living in motorhomes parked in Minehead's Blenheim Road. ( )

“These large vehicles take up two or three car spaces and are often parked for months at a time.

“Some have a second car which they park alongside so they can travel around without losing their pitch.

“They are depriving residents, businesses, and genuine visitors to Minehead of a place to park and I am pretty sure it will have a detrimental effect on house values and the local economy.

“I know a lot of people in Minehead who are becoming increasingly frustrated by the number of motorhomes, converted Transit vans, camper vans, etc, taking advantage of the unrestricted parking in Minehead and in so doing blighting our streets.”

A similar issue arose four years ago when then-Minehead Mayor Paul Bolton campaigned over a lack of traffic regulations which saw hordes of camper vans and motorhomes staying on the town’s sea front.

More than 30 vehicles were seen parked on one occasion and at the time, Somerset Council promised a parking review across the town would look at what actions could be taken to tackle the issue.

Later, West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger spoke out after ‘mass invasions’ by motorhome owners of some Exmoor beauty spots which he said gave them the appearance of ‘traveller sites’.

Motorhome maintenance work being carried out in Blenheim Road, Minehead, where a number of people are said to be living in the vehicles.
Motorhome maintenance work being carried out in Blenheim Road, Minehead, where a number of people are said to be living in the vehicles. ( )

The Minehead resident, who did not want to be named, said residents had recently seen a large hike in their council tax bills to pay for public services and keeping the town looking nice.

But they said: “We now look out of our window on a new motorhome community who have found a loophole in the law to avoid paying this.

“Metered parking is available on the sea front and Esplanade, but of course these vehicles will choose Blenheim Road which is free, with a nice view of Blenheim Gardens.

“I do not know of any comparable seaside town where free, unrestricted parking without a time limit is allowed within a town centre.

“Somerset Council needs to plug the gap quickly to avoid an even greater influx of these vehicles over the summer by introducing parking restrictions and charges for these very large vehicles.”

The Free Press has approached both Somerset Council and Minehead Town Council to ask if any action was being planned to tackle the issue.