Height barrier installations at Cressewll

The request was successful.

Dear Northumberland County Council,

Height barriers have recently been installed at car parks in the Cresswell area. In response to a question from a resident, Mr Neil Dawson the Countryside and Green Spaces Manager, stated:
"The barriers have been installed with local support in response to significant problems and complaints relating to overnight camping/parking (which brought with it the dumping of sanitary waste) and fly tipping."

With regard to the above statement, please provide the following information:

Details of the local support received, indicating both the source and nature of the support.
Details of the complaints received within the last 2 years, indicating both the source and nature of the complaints.
Details of all recorded instances of sanitary waste dumping which can be attributed to overnight stays by campervans or motorhomes, within the last 2 years

Yours faithfully,

Andy Clarke

FOI Mailbox,

Thank you for your email. 

We aim to respond to general enquires within two working days. 

If you have submitted a Freedom of Information request, this will be
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number shortly. 

Thanks 

 
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Northumberland County Council

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Our Ref: 11160  

Dear Mr Clarke,

INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your request for information which will be dealt with under
the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, we
will let you know the likely charges before proceeding.

If you have any queries about this matter please contact us. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Kind regards,
 
Julia

Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF

Tel: 0345 600 6400
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]
Web: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk

Dear Northumberland County Council,

You have not replied to my FOI request Height barrier installations at Cressewll promptly, as normally required by law.

Please will you reply to my request without delay.

Yours faithfully,

Andy Clarke

Northumberland County Council

Dear Mr Clarke,
Please accept our apologies for the delay in providing the response to
you.
We will contact the area dealing with your request and ask them to let you
know when you can expect the response.
kind regards
Julia

Information Governance Office

(t)  0345 600 6400

(e) [email address]

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Andy Clarke <[FOI #881550 email]>
Sent: 24 August 2022 11:41
To: FOI Mailbox <[Northumberland County Council request email]>
Subject: Re: FOI/EIR Acknowledgement
 
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organisation. Do not
click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and know
the content is safe.

Dear Northumberland County Council,

You have not replied to my FOI request Height barrier installations at
Cressewll promptly, as normally required by law.

Please will you reply to my request without delay.

Yours faithfully,

Andy Clarke

show quoted sections

Northumberland County Council

2 Attachments

Our Ref: 11160   

Dear Enquirer,
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST

I refer to your Freedom of Information request in relation to
the northbound car park at Alnmouth Station.
Right of Access

Section 1(1) of the Act provides any person making a request for
information to a public authority is entitled.

(a) to be informed in writing by the public authority whether it holds
information of the description specified in the request (which Section
1(6) of the Act designates as the "duty to confirm or deny"), and

(b) if that is the case, to have that information communicated to him.

The right is to obtain access to the information itself and not to the
document or record which contains it.

The Act creates a general right of access to information held by public
authorities subject to various exemptions.

Northumberland County Council confirms that it holds the information you
have requested, please see the following information in response.
Q.1 Please could you provide the gritting records for the northbound car
park at Alnmouth station for the period October 2019 – March 2020
inclusive.
Please see the attached 
Q.2 Please could you send me data on any accidents such as slips/trips in
the Northbound car park at Alnmouth station for the period October 2019 –
March 2020 inclusive.
There were two reports of slips on the footpaths in the Northbound car
park both on the morning of 16/12/2019. These reports were passed onto our
Neighbourhood Services team requesting them to grit the footpaths. This
would normally be actioned within 2 hours due to the forecast at the time
dependent upon resources available.
Complaints

If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been
handled, you can request an internal review by writing within 2 months
from the date of this response to the Information Governance Office:

Information Governance Office, Northumberland County Council, County Hall,
Morpeth, NE61 2EF
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]

Information Commissioner

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have a
right by Section 50 of the Act to apply to the Information Commissioner
for a decision as to whether your request has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act at:

The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Tel: 0303 123 1113, Email: [email address]

There is no charge for making an appeal.

Yours faithfully,

FOI Coordinator - Local Services
Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF

Tel: 0345 600 6400
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]
Web: [1]http://www.northumberland.gov.uk

References

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1. https://track.vuelio.uk.com/z.z?l=aHR0cD...

Dear Northumberland County Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Northumberland County Council's handling of my FOI request 'Height barrier installations at Cressewll'.

The information supplied in response to my FOI request relates to a different request not made by me.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h...

Yours faithfully,

Andy Clarke

Northumberland County Council

Dear Mr Clarke,
Please accept our apologies, the wrong response has been sent to you.
We deal with over 1,500 requests per year and unfortunately, sometimes
mistakes are made.
We will contact the area which dealt with your request and ask them to
forward the correct response to you.
kind regards
Julia

Information Governance Office

(t)  0345 600 6400

(e) [email address]

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Andy Clarke <[FOI #881550 email]
Sent: 26 August 2022 17:40
To: FOI Mailbox <[Northumberland County Council request email]>
Subject: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Height
barrier installations at Cressewll
 
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organisation. Do not
click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and know
the content is safe.

Dear Northumberland County Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information
reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Northumberland County
Council's handling of my FOI request 'Height barrier installations at
Cressewll'.

The information supplied in response to my FOI request relates to a
different request not made by me.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on
the Internet at this address:
[1]https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Yours faithfully,

Andy Clarke

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #881550 email]

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show quoted sections

Northumberland County Council

1 Attachment

Our Ref: 11160   

Dear Enquirer,
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST

I refer to your Freedom of Information request in relation to the height
barriers that have been recently been installed at car parks in the
Cresswell area. 
Right of Access

Section 1(1) of the Act provides any person making a request for
information to a public authority is entitled.

(a) to be informed in writing by the public authority whether it holds
information of the description specified in the request (which Section
1(6) of the Act designates as the "duty to confirm or deny"), and

(b) if that is the case, to have that information communicated to him.

The right is to obtain access to the information itself and not to the
document or record which contains it.

The Act creates a general right of access to information held by public
authorities subject to various exemptions.

Northumberland County Council confirms that it holds the information you
have requested, please see the following information in response. Please
accept my apologies that an incorrect response was first issued to you. 
The issue of flycamping/overnight stays along the southern end of Druridge
Bay has been a longstanding problem that results in a variety of issues
including littering/waste, damage to habitats, visual impacts and
increased risk of wild fires. The frequency of such activity has increased
significantly during and following the pandemic, and the County Council
has sought to strike a balance between the requirements of those visiting
the county and the impacts that increased visitor numbers and particular
behaviours can have on local communities and the environment. As part of
our approach to visitor management, we have for a number of years had
parking restrictions in place that prevent overnight sleeping within our
car parks which are enforced through the issuance of Penalty Charge
Notices by our Civil Enforcement Officers. Where these restrictions are
being routinely ignored and the usage is resulting in problems such as
littering/waste etc (as outlined above) and/or we are receiving complaints
from the local community, we will consider the use of physical measures to
manage access on a site by site basis.  It should however be noted that we
do recognise that not all motorhome users cause such issues and that there
are also potential economic benefits from allowing motorhome users to stay
overnight and make use of local shops/restaurants etc.  So, whilst we have
sought to direct motorhome users to use formal camping/caravan sites, we
have also undertaken a trial scheme to allow motorhome users to stay
overnight at three of our coastal long stay car parks where we considered
such activity would not impact on the local community and offer benefits
to both visitors and the local economy. The results of this trial will be
reported to the Council later this year and will inform our approach to
motorhome use of our car parks going forward.
Q.1 Details of the local support received, indicating both the source and
nature of the support.
Cresswell Parish Council, the Police, the operator of Golden Sands Holiday
Park and the County Council's Gypsy Roma Traveller Liaison Officer have
indicated their support for the Northumberland County Council's proposals
to control access to car parks in order to prevent overnight campers,
unlawful encampments and the problems of waste that arise from these.
Q.2 Details of the complaints received within the last 2 years, indicating
both the source and nature of the complaints.
Complaints received from Golden Sands Holiday Park in July 2021, December
2021 and March 2022 citing overnight use of car parks and use of dunes as
toilet. Other verbal reports (not recorded).
Q.3 Details of all recorded instances of sanitary waste dumping which can
be attributed to overnight stays by campervans or motorhomes, within the
last 2 years
Reports received from Golden Sands Holiday Park in July 2021, December
2021 and March 2022 citing overnight use of car parks and use of dunes as
toilet.  Northumberland County Council staff observed human waste on site
in March 2022.  Other verbal reports of human waste (not recorded).
Complaints

If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been
handled, you can request an internal review by writing within 2 months
from the date of this response to the Information Governance Office:

Information Governance Office, Northumberland County Council, County Hall,
Morpeth, NE61 2EF
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]

Information Commissioner

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have a
right by Section 50 of the Act to apply to the Information Commissioner
for a decision as to whether your request has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act at:

The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Tel: 0303 123 1113, Email: [email address]

There is no charge for making an appeal.

Yours faithfully,

FOI Coordinator - Local Services
Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF

Tel: 0345 600 6400
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]
Web: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk

Dear Northumberland County Council,
Thank you for your response to my FOI request.
Can I ask you to fully answer Q1 and Q3
Q.1 Details of the local support received, indicating both the source and nature of the support.
You have indicated that support was received, but not the nature of the support. For example was any contribution of any sort (e.g. material or financial) offered or received?
Q.3 Details of all recorded instances of sanitary waste dumping which can be attributed to overnight stays by campervans or motorhomes, within the last 2 years
Can you confirm that the instances were directly witnessed by those reporting them as being the responsibility of campervan or motorhome users?

Yours faithfully,

Andy Clarke

Northumberland County Council

Dear Mr Clarke,
We acknowledge receipt of your email below.  
We have forwarded your queries onto the area which dealt with your
request, they will contact you directly with an update.
kind regards
Julia

Information Governance Office

(t)  0345 600 6400

(e) [email address]

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

From: Andy Clarke <[FOI #881550 email]>
Sent: 12 September 2022 15:33
To: FOI Mailbox <[Northumberland County Council request email]>
Subject: Re: FOI Standard Response
 
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organisation. Do not
click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and know
the content is safe.

Dear Northumberland County Council,

Thank you for your response to my FOI request.

Can I ask you to fully answer Q1 and Q3

 Q.1 Details of the local support received, indicating both the source and
nature of the support.

You have indicated that support was received, but not the nature of the
support. For example was any contribution of any sort (e.g. material or
financial) offered or received?

Q.3 Details of all recorded instances of sanitary waste dumping which can
be attributed to overnight stays by campervans or motorhomes, within the
last 2 years

Can you confirm that  the instances were directly witnessed by those
reporting them as being the responsibility of campervan or motorhome
users?

Yours faithfully,

Andy Clarke

show quoted sections

Northumberland County Council

1 Attachment

Our Ref: 11160   

Dear Enquirer,
INFORMATION REQUEST

I refer to your request for Information in relation to the height barriers
that have recently been installed at car parks in the Cresswell area.
Northumberland County Council received written and verbal support for the
proposals to install height restriction barriers.  In the case of the
barriers outside the caravan park, the operator of the park provided the
funding for these works.
There are no direct witness accounts of disposal/dumping of waste;
however, officers have observed that litter and unsanitary waste did, on
occasions, follow overnight stops; and the authors of complaints have
concluded that the waste was deposited there by overnight visitors.
Yours faithfully

FOI/EIR Coordinator - Local Services
Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF

Tel: 0345 600 6400
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]
Web: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk