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Query for you vanners that live in Scotland only, because as we all know the laws in Scotland can be totally different to the english ones.

My neighbour has just bought a second hand caravan. He lives out on the very busy main road so normally parks his car round in our cul-de-sac, which of course he`s perfectly entitiled to. However he`s now put his caravan there too, and it`s been there since Friday.

Now, I`ve got no particular objection to it being there for a night now and again while he loads/unloads to go on holiday. However it`s quite a big van and it`s taking up two normal parking spaces on our somewhat congested street and I was wondering about the legal position of it being parked there permenantly? If it`s still there after a couple more days, I`ll feel compelled to go round and have a polite chat as to how long he intends to keep it there. I`d like to be armed with a few hard facts before I have the word, obviously.

It currently isn`t causing a problem to other traffic, though it is parked on a slope with the steadies down but no chocks. No, he`s not got lights, and it`s parked with the drawbar facing towards the traffic so you can`t see the reflectors. Two things about the position he`s in worry me...first what happens if one of the neighbourhood neds releases the brake on the drawbar? Will the steadies hold it? And also, because of the curve of the road, the drawbar is protruding slightly outwards into the road, and as it`s a narrow road it`s not inconcievable that you could scrape it if you drove too close in the dark....

I`m a pretty tolerant neighbour generally and not given to moaning about small things, but this is bugging me a bit. All advice welcome! But Scottish legal info only, SVP.

Hi -As I understand the situation a caravan must display a light front & rear during lighting up hours, it is not a vehicle that qualifies to be parked under street lights only.  It is almost certainly causing an obstruction to other road users.   It may well be causing a nuisance to your enjoyment of your property. No experience of this situation but recall reading a similar case.  Feel sure the local bobby could put him right if requested.

Hi.

I park my van on the street although not in the same conditions you describe. Before doing so i spoke to my local council who although thought that it was ok to keep it there advised me to speak to the traffic dept of the police force. I did this and was advised that in scotland it is legal to park a caravan on the street. Basically a caravan is classed under the same laws as a trailer. It requires no Lighting Back or Front and no insurance. Also no road tax is payable.all he said was that common sense should be used.

 Find it strange that the council & the police give advice contrary to the Highway Code.  Section 224   "Other vehicles and trailers...... MUST NOT (in red capitals) be left on a road at night without lights".

Law RVLR reg 24 (in red)

Can assure you that I did check this as mentioned in my previous post. Luckily I park my caravan on a no-through road. Regarding law 224 it states without lights, a caravan has lights or should I now consider painting it with luminous paint in case anyone misses it.