Highland Council is to carry out a review of the impact of last year’s removal of "no overnight parking" signs from its lay-bys, and says that this could lead to the return of restrictions at some sites.
The Council removed the signs last year, following a campaign by adventure traveller Andy Strangeway, from East Yorkshire, who is a frequent visitor to the area.
The signs are believed to have been put up during the 90s to discourage overnight parking of caravans and motor caravans in rural lay-bys where there are no waste disposal facilities, and also to support the local economy by encouraging tourists to make use of the commercially operated caravan sites in the region.
Highland Council stated last year that the signs were "advisory" and it had never made any efforts to enforce the message they carried.
Graham Phillips, chairman of Highland Council's transport, environmental and community services committee, said a fresh ban on the parking was not being planned.
He said: "The Highlands thrive and depend upon tourism and we welcome hundreds of motor caravans and caravans every year, recognising the valuable contribution they make to our economy.
"I have spoken with representatives of the motor home, camping and caravan organisations to reassure them of our welcome."
Mr Phillips added: "Any restrictions we propose will be limited to those few instances where the impact of overnight parking has a significant impact on the local community.
"This will be confined to village and town centres, and potentially certain 'destination lay-bys' in the open countryside which serve as car parks for all types of visitors."
What do you think? Was it right to remove the signs? Where should they be put back?
