A couple in their 60s were left feeling upset and unwelcome in a popular English seaside town due to an error on a number of car park signs. Christine, 66, and Michael, 64, Dawson often set off in their campervan to the idyllic spot as a way to kick back and relax.
The couple both have health problems, which makes going on trips difficult. Michael suffers from poor health with his knees and so struggles to walk and Christine has IBS as well as anxiety, meaning she needs to be close to a toilet and that she struggles to be in busy places, Grimsby Live reports.
As a result, the pair journey to Cleethorpes most weeks, parking at the Thrunscoe Land car park, near to the Boating Lake. However, last week the pair were left horrified when they found the rules had changed, meaning they were unable to park their motor home in their usual spot. The incident has left Christine and Michael wondering if they will ever return to the one place they enjoy visiting.
Christine explained: "We come to Cleethorpes around once a week, but can only use about three car parks because we both have a number of health conditions, I need to be near a toilet and Michael can't walk too far. I also have anxiety so can't go too far from home, but I feel safe when we're out in the van.
"I don't like going to the front too often either as I don't feel comfortable so where we park is brilliant." However, during their visit last Friday, 8 July, the couple were shocked to see the parking rules had apparently changed.
Christine said: "I had a look at what it said after going to the loo and realised that we weren't allowed to park there anymore. The sign said no camper vans or motor homes, when I told my husband he thought I was joking.
"We left the car park in search of somewhere we could go, but all the signs said the same thing wherever we looked. We didn't know what to do or where to go." Christine became very upset, worried that she wouldn't be able to come back to her favourite place again.
The pair said they were 'gutted' by the apparent change in the rules as their day out in Cleethorpes is the one outing they have together. Christine said: "Disabled people should be allowed a life too, just because we have a camper van as our main car doesn't mean we shouldn't be able to park.
"I felt panicked all day as we drove round desperately looking for somewhere we could go." Having no other family, Cleethorpes and Grimsby is where Christine's memories are, but now she feels devastated that she may have to leave it behind. She said: "This place is the one thing I could cling on to for my memories and after all these years it might just be gone, it's so upsetting.
"It took me years to get to a point where I felt I could leave the house with Michael and now I don't even feel welcome here, I never thought this would ever happen."
In response, a spokesperson for North East Lincolnshire Council, who run the car park in question, said: "I’d like to apologise to the couple who have highlighted this to us for the inconvenience this has caused them. This was a human error, and the word 'overnight' was missed off the current signage.
"We are working towards having a dedicated area for campers and caravans to use in the resort, but that project has been delayed somewhat over the last few years. This, however, has re-highlighted the need, along with the identification in the Masterplan consultation, to get it sorted for our visitors sooner rather than later.”
