New parking fees will be introduced at Keyhaven after longstanding complaints from residents, with a sea of campervans leaving a ‘lovely area ‘looking like a campsite’.

The restriction will ban motor homes and camper vans from staying overnight.

Hampshire County Council has approved the implementation of a traffic regulation order (TRO) for on-street chargeable parking, commonly referred to as pay-and-display parking, on New Lane and Saltgrass Lane, Keyhaven.

Proposed parking charges will be £1 per hour, with a maximum stay for the entire day. The charges will apply from Monday to Sunday, between 10am and 6pm.

It also includes two areas of free one-hour limited waiting parking.

Several residents have raised concerns via councillors and parking services regarding the overnight parking of motorhomes and campervans along the seafront and nearby area.

On-street parking in the area is unrestricted, meaning new parking controls would be required to restrict overnight parking.

Motorhomes may park on New Lane and Saltgrass Lane during the day, but they must find alternative parking locations after 8pm.

County councillor for Keyhaven and Milford on Sea, Fran Carpenter, explained that during the pandemic, the number of campervans visiting Keyhaven increased “hugely” and has remained high, causing concerns around parking and disrupting the site’s tranquillity.

Cllr Carpenter said: “I visited a few days ago. There was visible litter in the salt marsh. Campervans, some bigger than buses, were parked as far as the eye could see. A van selling souvenirs and an Uber Eats car blocked the road while dropping off pizzas.

Against the proposal, one person said that in the last year, he and his wife visited the site 23 times with their small campervan “for a small slice of peace” and “fresh air.” They saw “poor behaviour” only once.

They added that the measures will impact local businesses, and they will stop visiting the site once the charges are implemented.

Cabinet member for highways Lulu Bowerman said that having visited the site herself, she immediately saw the impact of those vehicles on the area.

“There are no public facilities overnight for parking, and campers use the local land, and many residents have asked for these controls to be introduced.

“I think the scheme would bring order to this particular beautiful part of Hampshire, and I think it’s very necessary to maintain full accessible travel at all times. The new proposal would manage the situation.”

The on-site implementation is expected to take place between August and September 2025.

Another traffic order at Marine Drive, Barton on Sea, will be brought forward in the coming months.