You said, we listened - caravans removed from highway

You said, we listened - caravans removed from highway

Good afternoon,

Lancashire Police and Lancaster City Council receive numerous complaints in relation to inconsiderate parking. This includes vehicles, caravans and trailers.

Recently, the police received complaints about two towed caravans, one left on Marine Road West and a second left on Grafton Place. A warning was issued to both caravans, giving a specified time limit to remove the caravan before it would be seized and/or owner issued with a fine. Within three days, both caravans had been removed from the public highway. We are grateful to the owners of the caravans for removing the caravans and abiding by the law, and happy to update the local community of this result.

It is important to be courteous to all road users and ensure that your vehicle/caravan is parked safely and correctly at all times.

You are reminded not to park your vehicle/caravan:

on the road where it would endanger, inconvenience or obstruct pedestrians or other road users

anywhere that would prevent access for emergency service vehicles

opposite or within 10 meters of a junction, or on a bend

where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchairs, mobility scooters, pushchairs and the visually impaired;

in front of an entrance or driveway to a property

on the kerb or pavement if someone can’t get past (e.g. with a visual or mobility impairment or with a buggy).

Specifically for caravans and trailers, the following laws are in place for road safety and fair use of the road:

Regulation 103 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986: causing or permitting a motor vehicle or trailer to cause any unnecessary obstruction of the road

Section 137 Highways Act 1980 and regulation 107 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986: Deliberately obstructing the highway without a lawful excuse and constituting an unreasonable use of the highway

Contrary to Regulation 89 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, and section 42 Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988: Causing a trailer to stand on a road when detached from the drawing vehicle

Section 22 Road Traffic Act 1988: Leaving a vehicle or trailer on a road in such a position or condition as to cause a danger to other road users

Section 24 (3) Road Vehicles Lighting regulations 1989: Allowing a trailer to remain parked, or cause or permit to be allowed to remain parked between sunset and sunrise without a pair of front position lamps that are kept lit and unobscured

Owners may be dealt with by the Police if they have parked illegally and/or caused an obstruction of the highway or your vehicle/caravan may be seized under S.99 Road Traffic Act 1988.

If you have any complaints in relation to inconsiderately or illegally parked vehicles then you can report this through Operation Park Safe. For more information on what we enforce or to make a complaint please visit our online community portal - PUBLIC PARKING SUBMISSION | Lancashire Investigate | Community Portal.

Please note, we don't process any complaints in relation to parking on single or double yellow lines as this falls under the remit of the local council.

Thank you!

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Message Sent By
Richard Hannaford
(Police, NHPC 5891, West End, Morecambe (Harbour and Heysham North wards))