THE row over whether the owners of motor homes dump their rubbish and toilet effluence on Burnham seafront shows no sign of ending.

Letters and emails have continued to come into the Weekly News almost exclusively from irate owners of the vehicles. They are of the opinion that fellow lovers of mobile homes never leave rubbish but most admit a small minority do.

Cllr Parkin has defended her remarks both to the newspaper and online on social media where she has received some support from residents. She has said on social media forums that residents have made complaints to her about the motorhome owners leaving rubbish and waste on the seafront and felt her remarks were taken out of context by the Weekly News. She pointed out that she also asked at the same meeting whether there was a possibility of increasing Tuckers Garage site for extra parking.

One reoccurring theme in the argument with those who have defended Cllr Parkin is that mobile homes cost thousands of pounds and yet many owners are reluctant to pay the modest charge to stay at one of the town’s many camp sites. There they can enjoy all the facilities such as waste disposal and still wander into town to use the shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants.

Interestingly virtually all the mobile home owners who have contacted this newspaper say they have never visited the town implying an ignorance of the problems cited at the public meeting of the town council when the complaint was made.

On websites dedicated to people who use mobile homes for extended holidays or weekend breaks the advice is all about only staying for one night when parking in places like the Esplanade. They also suggest the owner should be ready to leave quickly. On the website it states: “Where on-street parking bays are provided it is the norm for parking over multiple bays not to be allowed and for there to be a strict requirement to park within the width of the bay/lane. Other local regulations may also affect on-street parking but otherwise national legislation applies.”

Sedgemoor District Council’s parking regulations under the their Off-Street Parking regulations 2013 includes in section 35 this rule: “No person shall use any part of a parking place or any vehicle left in a parking place for the purposes of to sleep, camp or cooking.”

The council says their officers or uniformed police officers have the right to remove the vehicle from the parking place contravening the rule.

What’s your take on the motor home affair? Email your views to harry.mottram@nqsw.co.uk