In order to tackle some of the more anti-social behaviours seen across the county last summer, Dorset Council has announced robust plans to help manage visitors this coming summer season.
Dorset attracts around 3.6 million overnight visits and 26.4 million day-visitors annually. In June last year travel restrictions had been relaxed but hotels, campsites and public toilets remained closed due to Covid-19.
Dorset’s most popular destinations became overcrowded and experienced problems with littering, illegal parking and outdoor toileting. Spring and summer 2021 are likely to be very busy again, with ‘stay-cationers’ looking for a coastal retreat but possibly unable to travel abroad until later in the season.
Hotspots last summer included West Bay, West Bexington, Weymouth, Lulworth and Swanage.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said:
“Tourism is a very important part of the Dorset economy and we are looking forward to welcoming visitors back after what’s been a very tough year for our business community. However, the impact of so many people on our beaches and at beauty spots, towns and villages was disappointing last year when littering, illegal campers, devastating forest fires, illegal parking and other anti-social behaviours became commonplace.
“We know how frustrating this was for some of our communities, and we share those feelings. That’s why we’re investing in an ambitious plan to help combat some of those behaviours.
“Using Government funding provided for this very purpose, we will employ more parking wardens, put in place more waste bins and collections, improved signage to warn of dangers of disposable BBQs and we’re considering a possible ban on beach camping at some sites, where there are currently no restrictions.”
Last year, the county also saw a significant increase in motorhome use and illegal camping, with people pitching up in laybys, on beaches and on private land, having campfires and leaving litter behind, often in highly protected areas of Dorset.
Dorset Council is part of a multi-agency group of partners including Dorset Police, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Dorset health partners and BCP Council, working together to tackle some of the more undesirable experiences from last year.
Cllr Bryan continued:
“Dorset is a very special place and we want to protect it. Our Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Coastline being just two internationally important designations.
“We have an opportunity this year to create a lasting legacy for Dorset to help strengthen our place in the UK as one of the most desirable places to visit.
“We can only do so much though, to influence individuals’ behaviour. We hope the measures we put in place will have a positive effect, but the responsibility is on the visitors themselves to behave with respect for the area they are visiting.”
Funding to put these additional measures in place has been given to all councils to help with these very issues, funding is not coming out of Dorset Council’s budget.
The council is also looking at innovative ideas like electric hot plate installations at key locations to deter the use of disposable BBQs known to cause devastating fires, and new tow-away areas in places where irresponsible parking is a problem. The council is also working closely with landowners to open up properly managed additional camping / parking areas.
I do hope you manage the wild camping that was endemic on West Bexington beach last summer with approximately 50-100 people in large extended family groups. The car park was full at 8 am each morning. A total disgrace
We are aware of the issues at West Bexington, particularly the illegal camping (we don’t use the term wild camping as it makes it sound exciting, like wild swimming!)
we are hoping to introduce a ban on beach camping here so police have more powers to enforce this year.
Maybe we need a few pop up style campsites this year to welcome visitors safely and meet the demands? Last year in Cornwall many fields were opened, with a couple of portaloos, and a set fee of £10 per unit per night and proved popular with campers of all varieties.
One thing I cannot understand is no public toilets. Everyone has to go and some will not care where.
All council run public toilets are open and will be open throughout the season. We are also working with some town and parish councils to allow additional facilities to be available on particularly busy days. Also businesses will be open this year which should be able to help with this issue.
I have noticed, especially in France “pop up toilets” are installed in areas where no permanent WC’s are in place, perhaps this would help
So loved the campsites when I was fortunate enough to take van trip in New Zealand; clean showers, loos, very quiet at night, well stocked shops, facilities for emptying chemical toilets, friendly! Even hoses to clean your vehicle before taking back to hire place. So why are British people so badly behaved? I would suggest low expectations and freely available alcohol. Why has there been such emphasis on re opening pubs and restaurants as if people can think of nothing better to do. Sorry “hospitality industry”.
I live near a pop up campsite and the campfire smoke is causing an unpleasant amount of air pollution. Absolutely no consideration is given to local residents who are not only expected to tolerate this for a few nights but for the 56 day duration.
As a fisherman who has been using west bexington for many years and to now have a time limit on vehicle stays has really annoyed me . I wrote complaining about all the foreigners down there using the hedge row as a toilet which I seen 1st hand and this is how you deal with it . Ruining normal peoples pleasure rather than kicking these people off the beach with their big tents , I am really annoyed about this because as always happens the innocent get crucified for horrible people. The Chinese people on the beach catch whatever they can and then ring whoever it is and a van comes down to collect their catch ( obviously selling) . And the other different nationalities on the beach are filthy , chucking rubbish in the sea and leaving on the beach . Another thing in Britain that needs addressing directly but no we will mess it up for all the normal folks . Disgraceful
In rural areas like Lulworth, Kimmeridge and Ringstead Bay the area is already saturated with visitors opening up more land for parking will only increase the numbers and solve nothing. Dorset is becoming a theme park for people from the cities with no thought to the people that live here.
The comments above regarding the over population by tourists of sites such as West Lulworth and Durdle Dor are quite correct. The more Car Parking the more visitors!! But how do the Authorities control this? They cannot stop cars from coming so they have to accommodate them whilst they are here. Perhaps the answer is to provide Park and Ride away from the main sites and close the roads to non local transport. Second home ownership adds to the problem
it’s about time there were more public toilets in dorset. absolutely lacking. France is so much more hygienic with wc,s at all parks beaches etc
we could do with some local residents parking only.Theres no-where to park in busy tourist times in Swanage.
Also a ban on jet skis in Swanage Bay would help everyone enjoy the summer without the noise pollution they give off.
Also, a ban on people bringing hourdes of windbreakers and making their huge plots on Swanage beach, so there’s no room for anyone else.
I’m a resident and owner of a camper van.
As people are encouraged to stay home and travel Britain, it is clear that camper and motor home ownership is hugely on the increase right now.
As a consequence, there comes the issue of where best to park them, both in winter and in summer. That is if you’re not lucky enough to have your own land, yard or suitable drive. So the only option it appears for many, is to clog up our streets or front gardens etc and stick them in places that were just never made to accommodate them. Creating eyesore and nuisance for many residents.
Could the council consider this issue? I’d like to see designated sites where these vehicles could be kept safely. This is a serious problem that will continue to grow as more and more of these vehicles are being sold!
Oh. And the answer is not park them on caravan camp sites. In season they are naturally booked up. Out of season it might be possible but the option is limited.
Hi, we have a project team looking into what additional facilities we may be able to provide for motorhomes and caravans this season.
Thanks, Kirstie
I sincerely hope that Dorset Council is looking at ways of welcoming motorhome users with Aire type facilities, which are very successful in other parts of Europe. Motorhoming is a very popular way of exploring our beautiful County and Country, with users wanting to explore local attractions and hospitality without the tie of booking into campsites. Our car parks are empty at night – Motorhome users would happily pay a fee to be able to sleep in their vans, which would generate easy income for the Council. An elsan point, water and bin facility would be an added bonus.
Transport and car dependence is a major issue that needs addressing.
In order to meet our emissions targets we need to find ways of providing access to places of interest without always using a private car – eco-tourism. Park & Ride options and shuttle bus services to places like Durdle Door could be an option in the same way as access is managed to busy City Centres, event arenas and airports.
Active travel options and more flexible bus services need to be developed to support people use cars less. How about looking at services that support people to walk or cycle in one direction with the option of getting a bus back or vice versa. Say Weymouth to Durdle Door.
I went fishing to Abbotsbury beach last summer and found to my surprise 8-10 large tents with families and the men frantically fishing. I asked a local man who told me they were Romanians and they sold the fish they caught .
I rang the number on the board in the car park that says no camping and explained to man that answered what I had found to which he replied he knew, when they had been asked to leave they got nasty and threatening so I suggested he rang the police. He had tried that but they did not want to know . So in future who do I inform ?
If you feel you have witnessed a breach of COVID rules, criminal activity or anti-social behaviour, you would need to report to the Police. There is a reporting form on their website or you can call 101.