Owner of a seaside parking lot prevents travelers from entering with concrete bollards and charges an exit fee

The owner of a parking lot on the beach has blocked a group of travelers and is demanding an exit fee from them.

Malcolm Thorpe took this action after travelers pulled their RVs into his scenic parking lot.

He said they had abused the area.

Mr Thorpe, the head of the port authority, blocked the exit with a one-metre high concrete bollard.

He told the group that because of their “mistreatment” of the area, they would have to pay an undisclosed fee before they could leave.

Now Mr Thorpe has given the travellers an ultimatum. He will move the bollards tomorrow free of charge, but the travellers must leave the same day.

The dispute broke out at Bembridge Point on the east coast of the Isle of Wight.

The owners of the van said they have been coming there for years and have always been respectful. They have not yet responded to Mr Thorpe's offer.

In April, Bembridge Point residents were initially asked to drive their vans to one half of the car park as the other is designated as a village green, and bollards were initially put up to separate the two sides.

The Bembridge Harbour Authority, which owns the car park run by Mr Thorpe, said just days later the blocks were “illegally” moved so travellers could park their vans back in their original location.

Pippa Amos, 24, one of the travellers, denied this, saying the group only returned when members of the public began parking there.

Mr Thorpe did not speak to the travellers personally, but simply sent Ms Amos a text message asking for information.

On July 22, they received letters stating that the entire parking lot would be closed and a “removal fee” would be charged for any remaining vehicles. Two days later, the bollards were installed.

Ms Amos argued that this was not sufficient and that they should have been served with a formal eviction notice with seven days' notice.

Because she has a job on the mainland, she is allowed to leave the country, but wishes she could stay.

Ms Amos said: “You can't just lock people up. We can go out, but these vans are our homes, our lives.”

“I wish I didn’t have to go. If I didn’t have this opportunity [on the mainland]I would stay.

“Ultimately, it’s their decision.”

Mr Thorpe said the van's occupants had been notified in advance and the eviction was due to the occupants misusing the city-operated toilets and leaving their waste in public.

Mr Thorpe said: “The occupiers continued as before, completely abusing the council toilets and the adjacent private property. They also continued to leave their rubbish and garbage in public places.”

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Constabulary said the matter was a civil matter.

The Isle of Wight Council stated that it had no jurisdiction as it was private land.

A council spokesman said: “The council offers advice and support to anyone who is homeless or at risk of homelessness within 56 days.

“Advice and support can be requested by contacting the Council on 01983 823040 or via the Council website at ‘Housing advice and support’ (iow.gov.uk).”

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