In reply to Dan Arkle:
> I thought this was a good question.
> Has any change in the law actually prohibited overnight stays? Probably not.
> Anyway, hopefully it has an effect on reducing numbers at this overused spot.
It is a good question. Depends on the sign really. If it is just a simple 'no parking' sign painted onto a bit of plywood or similar then it doesn't make a bit of difference. But if it's council led (which is seems so) and states that vehicles will be towed or fined then it is actually enforceable.
Where I work we've had 'no parking signs' up for ages, with people flagrantly ignoring them. Last year was ridiculous (scenes of cars opening farmers gates to park in fields), so the council has finally done something about it and put 'tow away zone - no parking on the verge' signs with some legal mumbo-jumbo in small print (for a 2 mile stretch) and hey-presto, not a single offender since.