Plea for more parking in Bamburgh to cope with increase in motorhomes and staycation visitors

The appeal by Bamburgh Parish Council comes at the end of a season in which an increase in the number of staycation visitors has been particularly noticeable.

“It’s a huge problem,” said Cllr Barbara Brook, parish council chairman. “Something has got to be done as we just can’t go on like this.”

She said the main Links Road car park has been ‘chokka’ on many occasions over the summer, leading to congestion in the centre of the village.

The creation of a new 100-space car park at Bamburgh Castle had helped, as had use of the Glebe Field as a temporary car park, but a longer-term solution is still wanted.

"We need another two car parks,” said Cllr Andrew Bardgett. “The centre of the village wouldn’t be so bad if there were decent car parks and we could encourage people to park outside the village.”

Parking on the edge of the village has helped in Craster and Low Newton.

The potential use of Glebe Field on a more permanent basis has been explored but there are archaeology issues, while a greenfield site on Lucker Road and a site beyond Mill Burn on The Wynding have previously been suggested.

The increasing number of motorhomes – and the shortage of suitables places for them to park – was also pointed out.

Cllr Brook said: “There are a lot more motorhomes and it is a problem. If you got a new car park you could install better drainage to make it suitable for them.”

The parish council has listed additional parking as its top priority in its submission to Northumberland County Council for possible inclusion in the 2021/22 Local Transport Plan (LTP).

Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, Bamburgh ward county councillor, said there were many obstacles to overcome, not least the cost.

But he added: “It might help to release funding for feasibility studies if there was collaboration between the county and Bamburgh Castle Estates.”

The parish council also plans to survey residents to get a consensus of opinion on what, if anything, should be done.

The creation of paths to Glororum and Waren Mill were also put forward for consideration in the LTP.

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