staying the night on the road side, is it legal?? Forums

shubba

Hi people. I have been staying overnight in my motor camper on the road side within zone three in London. is there any by -laws that prevent this?

Would welcome your opinion.

Chers from shubba

andy

Hi Shubba

and welcome to Motorhomefacts Cool

I'm not sure myself esp. where London is concerned.

Try having a look in the Wild Camping forum..... you might find something there.

andy

Anonymous

Welcome to the site Shubba Very Happy

You probably are breaking some by-law or other and as a "wildcamper" you have no rights.
However, common sense dictates, if your not causing anyone a problem, blocking the road or getting in the way and you keep a low profile you are unlikely to be moved on by local plod unless someone complains.
By keeping a "low profile" I mean don't play loud music, dump grey water in the street etc etc

Keep us posted and happy wildcamping Very Happy

Jim

EOR

Hi and welcome,

Sorry but I won't be able to give you any specific advice as I'm an in the sticks wild camper and not a townie. However its best to keep a low profile, don't park where you may be considered a nuisance or eye sore, don't park if there is no parking and signs to indicate so, or no camping signs (yes people do, and then wonder why they were 'picked' on), do look out for clamping signs as they are quite ruthless.

The wildcamping site/forum won't be able to help either as it seems to have died several weeks ago.

Take care
____________________________________________________
[b:a1fd2 e6797]Steve
aka A very wild....wild camper[/b:a1fd2e6797]
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[URL=http://tinyurl.co.uk/lpak]Click here for my van website![/URL]
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[img:a1fd2e6797]http://www.motorhomefacts.com/alb ums/PostingPhotos-1/VanThumbnail01.gif[/img:a1fd2e6797]

[i:a1fd2e6797]I do like a bit of feed back to my posts please[/i:a1fd2e6797]
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TerryVan

Shubba,
I cannot comment on your activities, but I wildcamp in central London from time to time.

Jim is correct,
but if his advice is followed there is no reason for Plod to move you on.

However, as London is a high interest area for all sorts of reasons, you must ensure you are not in the path of a march, festival or cause any obstruction as Jim suggests.

My only problem has been the soup wagons for the less privalidged persons at 05:00 in the morning wakeing me up. (not to feed me though) and speeling is nout my bost pint after a can or tooo.

Teery

BarryandSue

One observation that I have about being unobtrusive when wild camping, particularly in an urban environment, is the use of front windscreen/door window curtains.

If it's at all possible to NOT use the front curtains, but maybe a blanket [u:12176b515d]behind[/u:12176b515d] the front seats for instance, then I don't think you'd stand out at all.

When curtains are pulled at the front it's a dead giveaway. Of course, not all of us are able to just screen off the back, but if you can, maybe that's the better option?

Just a thought.

Barry

shubba

Thank you guys for the excellent suggestions and advice regarding staying in london (wildcamping).

I have been operating this type of lifestyle now for over three years. Although I am from New Zealand, (currently on holiday there) I found myself living in a motor home by accident (unintentional) My problem was that I used to be an engineer where the majority of freelancing temping contracts were just outside the london public transport zone. Another problem I discovered was that by earning a low income, the cost of living in a flat was expensive and also usually out of range of public transport.

I accidently discovered the campervan concept and its the best accident I could have ever made. Now I can go any where in the U..K., stay on site service the contract, offer sercuity (somehow clients seemed to appericate this knowing that I was staying out side or near their premises). The cost of living for me in a campervan is this.
1) if servicing a contract - cost of living about 40 pounds a week.
2) travelling to a contract or on holiday 150 pounds a week. (depending)

From what I have heard from the suggestions, I have been doing most of them subconsiously. I have been living in industrial areas because of the lower risk of perceived complaints from residential areas. Moveover, The curtin I did put behind the drivers seat so it gave the impression that the campercan was empty.
I have been approached by police but they were asking me if I had seen someone run down this alley type situation. However, they did ask why I was in the campervan and I said that I was just visiting as I was living in another county at the time. (once on three years) They accepted me being there becuase I was not causing trouble and common sense pervailed.

In london in zone three can you park any where because of the double yellow lines inside zone three. (use the tude map guide to identify the zones) Also it was pointless to use the motorhome to travel into work while in London because of public transport. However, it proved the only solution if i serviced a contact way out in a farmer's padock where some engineering companies were based.

By the way, I am very impressed with the responses ans also I have noticed that some of you have web sites. It is excellent stuff and i am glad that there is this medium (channel) exsists.

In about three weeks time ( June 15th) I will write on story on this board as to how I started out in wild camping.
What I can tell you now and please don't laugh (just kidding) is that I started this type of lifestyle on a bedford rascal (without the motor home conversion) How I did it, I will never know but I am glad that I did bought a leyland sherpa some eight moths later.

Thanks for the comments and please keep writing. I value your opinions.

Cheers from Kiwi Shubba

highwaymanII

I have certainly parked in lay by or secluded spot on more than one occassion but I have found a copy of the Caravan Code by the Caravanning organisation which is quite clear in its opinion:

[quote:108adc658a]Wild Camping

Camping away from licensed sites and without the permission of a land owner is NOT allowed in the UK. When permission is granted for remote places the following rules should be observed:[/quote:108adc658a]

Full details at:

[url]http://www.birminghamuk.com\caravancode\The Motor Caravan Code.htm[/url]

Very Happy

Anonymous

Hi All,

I had a situation a few years ago where we were left with no option but to wild camp in London (Hampstead) We carefully selected a street outside the Youth Hostel, on the premise that their were lot's of other similar type vehicles. We were woken at 6.30am with a woman banging on our van. She was manic screeming that we were law breakers and that it was illegal to park and sllep outside "her" Youth Hostel. It turned out that she was the Manager of the Hostel. I remained calm, and aked what the problem was. She could give no specific answer but informed me she was calling the Police.
I waited 2 hours for the police to arrive...nothing. I went into the hostel and asked to speak to the manager. When she arrived she informed me that she had spoken with the Police and they had informed her, that provided my vehicle was properly taxed, insured, MOT'd etc and was not parked on a parking restrication their was nothing they could do. However, they did say that if I was using a naked flame on the Highway then that would be illegal under a local bye-law.
The manager was still very rude so I rang the Police to inform them that my Peace had been breached. They arrived and took some note and confirmed that I was within the law. They also informed the manager that she had commited an offence of which she could be charged. the matter was resolved by an apology and I went on my way

On an other occassion, I was driving from Scotland to Dover and stopped in a lay-by. A traffic police car arrived and informed me that I was not allowed to sleep in the lay-by. Their were no signs and it was a very quite road. I was not camping there but just wanting a couple of hours rest. the police were adament that i move on. I informed the officers that i felt tired and had stopped driving as recommended in the Highway Code. However, if they instructed me to continue my journey I would require their numbers and if I commited an offence or an accident I would hold them both responsible. They were very nice and said they commended me for my approach to road safety and said i could stay as long as I required to recover and feel safe to drive again.

Regards,

Stewart