Written by Lincoln Council Bans Overnight Stays in Campervans and Motorhomes at City Car Parks
Campervan and motorhome owners will no longer be permitted to sleep in their vehicles overnight while using council-owned car parks in Lincoln.
The City of Lincoln Council has reported a sharp rise in overnight stays over the past year, particularly at The Lawn car park on Union Road, where 914 incidents have been recorded since May.
Joshua Wells, the council’s portfolio holder for inclusive economic growth, explained that the practice posed safety concerns. “The campervans are not maintaining a safe distance as they would on a proper campsite, where the recommendation is a 6m gap for overnight stays. This creates a fire risk as the vehicles are parked too closely together,” he said.
The council believes campervan owners are drawn to the low parking fees—just £5 per night or £9.80 for up to 24 hours—compared with the average £21.50 charged for an overnight stay at the council-run Hartsholme Country Park campsite.
In addition to safety concerns, council staff have received complaints from nearby residents about misuse of waste bins and damage to planting areas.
While campervan and motorhome owners will still be allowed to park their vehicles overnight in council car parks if they are left unoccupied, anyone caught sleeping in their vehicle overnight from November 25 will face a £50 fine.
The council operates 21 car parks across Lincoln and has implemented the new rule to address both safety and community concerns.