Our seaside town is plagued by caravan holidaymakers who dump bottles of WEE in gardens – we can’t leave our own homes

LIVID residents have described how bottles of wee and human excrement were thrown in their gardens by illegal caravaners.

Frustrated Kent locals have claimed that their driveways are persistently blocked by the unlawful parking of caravans despite a public space protection order.

Several caravans parked on a residential street.

2

The existing PSPO is in place to help tackle anti-social behaviourCredit: Jon Rowley

They claim that convoys of caravans are causing mayhem and staying for multiple nights.

A crackdown on anti-social behaviour is already underway with the ban covering Metropole Road West from Folkstone and Hythe District Council (FHDC).

The council is preparing to curb the chaos by extending the existing PSPO after investigating the complaints.

Residents have detailed the “terrible problem” of holidaymakers “parking wherever they like”.

Peter Oughton, 71, accepted that it would always be busy in the summer due to the stunning landscape but claimed the clogged roads can be “fractious” and “frustrating.”

He also complained of smelly waste: “The problem is sometimes rubbish is thrown into our gardens.

“We’ve had human waste and bottles of urine, all just popped over the fence.”

Technically, campervans are banned in The Leas between midnight and seven in the morning, but mobile home owners have continued to arrive, undeterred. 

Without permits or a meter, there is little stopping motorists from parking up in the area.

Mr Oughton, who suggested the idea, added: “It may be a bit harsh for people trying to access The Leas, but other restrictions just seem to be moving the issue to our road.”

Dark reality of life in UK’s caravan ‘shanty town’… frost-bitten winters with broken heating & immigration raids at dawn

Outraged Odyeseas Louizou who has lived on Metropole Road West for four decades urged the council to take “decisive action” to combat the “terrible problem.”

The 90-year-old said: “Several times, the backs of cars have been blocking my driveway.

“We pay our council tax, our bills, but sometimes I can’t even get out of my own home.

“People just seem to park wherever they like. 

“They need to add double yellow lines, that’s the only way they’ll stop this.”

Last week, Cllr Polly Blakemore admitted that the situation was “long-standing” but claimed that the environmental team hadn’t found evidence of human waste or rubbish.

She told the Folkestone and Hythe District Council meeting: “So far we have not found evidence of human waste, rubbish deposited on private land and associated problems but we do continue to patrol the area.

“It was decided to include an overnight motor caravan ban after receiving several representations from residents about visitors with motorhomes occupying the limited parking spaces for several weeks or even months at a time.

“If we receive specific reports from the environmental team that they are unable to address issues such as long-term parking of motorhomes in Metropole Road West we will be able to consider the introduction of new restrictions.”

Plans to extend the PSPO could see the ban widened as far as the beachside roads near Hythe.

These were passed by the council last week and will be subject to a six week public consultation. 

However, Cllr Tim Prater clarified that a less punitive approach may be needed for those struggling with homelessness.

He said: “If their only other option is to sleep under a hedge, then sleep in the damn van and we should be dealing with that through the housing team and in a different way.”

Lib Dem Cllr Gary Fuller pointed out that residents just want an effective solution to deal with the problem.

He said: “The public want us to act fast to move people along, not get bogged down in lengthy processes or prosecutions. 

“If the PSPO works, it should stop this issue before it starts.”

Cllr Fuller added that the new version could be a useful “lever” to ensure residents feel safe and comfortable in their district. 

The Sun has approached Folkestone and Hythe District Council for comment.

Campervans parked on a residential street.

2

Caravans spotted in South Road, HytheCredit: SWNS

Source link

Related Posts

No Content Available