MARTIN DE RUYTER/FAIRFAX NZ

UPSET: Claire Fleming, of River Kitchen Cafe at Millers Acre, is concerned at the impact of freedom campers in the adjoining car park.

Freedom camping in central Nelson car parks is making the city look "cheap and shabby", says MP Nick Smith.

Business owners are also concerned at the impact of tourists using city car parks as makeshift campsites.

Smith is urging the Nelson City Council to tighten up its freedom camping bylaws which he says are "too liberal" and have led to camping getting "out of control" this summer.

Since September last year, the council has allowed freedom camping for certified self contained campers (with toilet and washing facilities) on council land, except in residential areas and on public parks and reserves.

Camper vehicles without toilet facilities can camp close to public toilets. That has seen an upsurge in freedom campers in the Buxton and Montgomery squares car park, and at Millers Acre.

Smith, who is also Conservation Minister, said freedom camping at sites like Millers Acre had "gotten completely out of control this summer."

"This is a prime central city site for which ratepayers and taxpayers have spent millions on a world-class DOC and information centre. We should not allow it to descend into a free-for-all campground for hundreds of travellers who refuse to pay the basic cost of staying in our purpose-built campgrounds," Dr Smith said.

"This liberal approach to freedom camping is not doing anything for Nelson's visitor industry and our reputation. I'm getting complaints from visitors who love our city but say this is making us look cheap and shabby."

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Freedom campers make city 'shabby'