Clamp down on motorhomes in Spain?

wallacebob
wallacebob Forum Participant Posts: 89

just saw this:

http://murciatoday.com/murcia-government-supports-campaigns-against-illegal-camper-vans_28635-a.html

I did see less last Autumn parked in the streets around the beach areas. I had thought that the Spanish were very tolerant, but obviously they are having some problems.........

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Comments

  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #2

    But the sign doesn't have a motorhome on it!

    A bit of waste ground near Peurto Mazzaron, Murcia.

  • triky auto
    triky auto Forum Participant Posts: 8,690
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    edited January 2016 #3

    Surprised, The BOTTOM sign says it all  !! Undecided.

  • Oldgirl and Staffy
    Oldgirl and Staffy Forum Participant Posts: 414
    edited February 2016 #4

    But the sign doesn't have a motorhome on it!

    A bit of waste ground near Peurto Mazzaron, Murcia.

    ...We passed that last year and it was full of motorhomes.  I think they believe they are allowed to camp because the sign only refers to caravans and tents.....!

  • Oldgirl and Staffy
    Oldgirl and Staffy Forum Participant Posts: 414
    edited February 2016 #5

    In addition to the above at Mazzaron, illegal camping in motorhomes was a real problem just south of San Javier airport along the beach.  For example, we saw one van  parked over 3 disabled bays for the winter with their chairs, tables bikes, etc. alongside on the footway.   It was impossible to park near the beach in an ordinary car because of illegal camping cars parked up for the winter.    Plus, we were also horrified to see motorhomers disposing of their grey water (and worse on occasions) down stormwater drains. They also filled their fresh water tanks from communal taps where the water is paid for by the local taxpayers. Provided the authorities ensure the availability of offical sites then I think it will be a very good thing to see a clamp down.

  • Camdoon
    Camdoon Forum Participant Posts: 37
    edited February 2016 #6

    As one of the vans may well be German, they differentiate between camping which includes taking chairs and tables out their van and parking which in a motorhome includes sleeping. So from a German point of view it is not obviously apparent whether these
    vans are parked or camping. 

  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #7

    As one of the vans may well be German, they differentiate between camping which includes taking chairs and tables out their van and parking which in a motorhome includes sleeping. So from a German point of view it is not obviously apparent whether these vans are parked or camping. 

    We visit this area every year, and we're always amazed why anyone should 'camp' on this piece of ground. Yes they get their tables and chairs out, up on chocks, and satellite dishes deployed. They're all nationalities. There are more 'vans, including Brits, who camp on the rambla ( storm drain) at Azohia just down the road. We prefer to pay ACSI prices at Los Madriles and to enjoy, inter alia, the outdoor heated pool.

    That having been said, it's a pleasant spot at Azohia.

    ps Rambla is an arabic word for the flash flood storm channel: the Spanish word is Arroyo. Hopefully, not much chance of a heavy downpour!

  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
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    edited February 2016 #8

    Here's Bob's link made active

    wallacebob link

  • royandsharont
    royandsharont Forum Participant Posts: 735
    100 Comments
    edited February 2016 #9

    I spoke to a French camper last year and he was saying provided he did not put any steadies down on his motorhome in France he could camp & sleep on the highway right in the centre of the villages without breaking any laws. I think the rules about France's
    Aires also prevent anyone putting canopies or chairs outside etc, they are basically for overnight sleeping and perhaps that is why many have 24/48 hour restrictions?

    I know from speaking to the staff at the camperstop near San Javier airport last October those wild camping there are not allowed to put their canopy out and stay overnight. Regards, Roy

  • DJG
    DJG Forum Participant Posts: 277
    edited February 2016 #10

    Never could understand why you pay all that money for a camper and then won't pay a few pounds for a campsite?

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,392 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #11

    Never could understand why you pay all that money for a camper and then won't pay a few pounds for a campsite?

    It is more than likely because they have every home comfort they are likely to need in it, so why bother with paying fees for something you don't need. It is the same as many saying they prefer CLs or sites with basic facilities to sites with bars and entertainment.
    For some, its only a case of going one step further.

    peedee

  • Unknown
    edited February 2016 #12
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  • BigD
    BigD Forum Participant Posts: 56
    edited February 2016 #13

    Never could understand why you pay all that money for a camper and then won't pay a few pounds for a campsite?

    It is more than likely because they have every home comfort they are likely to need in it, so why bother with paying fees for something you don't need. It is the same as many saying they prefer CLs or sites with basic facilities to sites with bars and entertainment.
    For some, its only a case of going one step further.

    peedee

    Not quite the same, where do the free loaders obtain their water and dispose of their grey & black waste?

  • Unknown
    edited February 2016 #14
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  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #15

     

    My happiest aternoon last summer was sitting in a comfortable folding chair in the shade of a rustling tree on a campsite in the foothills of the Alps. Philadelphus (mock orange) shrubs around me were in full bloom and bees were buzzing. I had a bottle of chilled white wine  and little birds came to my feet to search for biscuit crumbs In the grass. After a while I wandered down to the swimming pool and chatted to some South American boys who told me they were cycling across Europe from Spain to Turkey. There was gym equipment there too but we didn't bother. Madame came out on to the little terrace with a menu and asked if I wanted to order supper for later - an unnecessary question. I said how about 7 pm.

    It was a tough day, but it beat parking on waste ground in a quarry. 

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2016 #16
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  • Unknown
    edited February 2016 #17
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  • Oldgirl and Staffy
    Oldgirl and Staffy Forum Participant Posts: 414
    edited February 2016 #18

    Never could understand why you pay all that money for a camper and then won't pay a few pounds for a campsite?

    It is more than likely because they have every home comfort they are likely to need in it, so why bother with paying fees for something you don't need. It is the same as many saying they prefer CLs or sites with basic facilities to sites with bars and entertainment.
    For some, its only a case of going one step further.

    peedee

    Not quite the same, where do the free loaders obtain their water and dispose of their grey & black waste?

    ...That is the key to this issue.  

  • Unknown
    edited February 2016 #19
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  • Camdoon
    Camdoon Forum Participant Posts: 37
    edited February 2016 #20

    The aim of the article is to attract people to the official campsites.

    If parking up for a week or two it would be fresh food which would be the biggest constraint for us along with wondering what the next beach looked like.

  • Unknown
    edited February 2016 #21
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  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,392 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #22

    Its not for everybody, I certainly would not consider parking up on some dirt patch of ground or tarmac car park for days on end let alone weeks, but as long as it is done responsibly and service points are used, I see no harm in it if that is what some want to do. Spain has been increasing the number of "aires" over the last few years and I can only see this continuing.

    In Scandanavia, service points are even provided by garages and I have seen them in laybys as well.

    peedee

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2016 #23
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  • Camdoon
    Camdoon Forum Participant Posts: 37
    edited February 2016 #24

    The aim of the article is to attract people to the official campsites.

    If parking up for a week or two it would be fresh food which would be the biggest constraint for us along with wondering what the next beach looked like.

    exactly....we all have to 'shop'....and i like my fresh fish/fruit/veg which we can collect on the next leg of the journey....

    We just go in the car then do something else for the rest of the day like going to the beachInnocent

    The aim of the article is to attract people to the official campsites.

    If parking up for a week or two it would be fresh food which would be the biggest constraint for us along with wondering what the next beach looked like.

    exactly....we all have to 'shop'....and i like my fresh fish/fruit/veg which we can collect on the next leg of the journey....

    We just go in the car then do something else for the rest of the day like going to the beachInnocent

    The aim of the article is to attract people to the official campsites.

    If parking up for a week or two it would be fresh food which would be the biggest constraint for us along with wondering what the next beach looked like.

    exactly....we all have to 'shop'....and i like my fresh fish/fruit/veg which we can collect on the next leg of the journey....

    We just go in the car then do something else for the rest of the day like going to the beachInnocent

    That's the whole point - do what you want within the law. Why bother what others are up to or how they want to spend their time.

  • Geejay
    Geejay Forum Participant Posts: 232
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    edited February 2016 #25

    "do what you want within the law".  That is the point, because clearly some pay no regard to the law, emptying their waste illegally, using water paid for by someone else, leaving a mess, contributing nothing to the local economy.  Stay local, buy
    local, eat local, because sooner or later it'll all be Mercadona or Carrefour.

  • Unknown
    edited February 2016 #26
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  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2016 #27
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  • JollyKernow
    JollyKernow Forum Participant Posts: 2,629
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    edited February 2016 #28

    The town I'm staying ihere in Spain at present has a large car park, the back of which there is waste ground where motorhomes can park overnight. I have in the past stayed there myself for a couple of days. The wild campers are tolerated by the local police
    as long as you don't "spread out". On a Friday morning the market arrives and that waste ground doubles up as an extension car park. Talking to some locals, the police now do late evening patrols here as many of the campers have been seen disposing of grey
    and black waste in an unsavoury manor (the bushes). As always it's that minority that will spoil it for all.

    Further down the coast at LaMarina there was a fantastic spot by the beach to spend a couple of days, now unfortunately gone for the same reasons, Campsites all along this coastline are full to bursting this winter, hence folk parking in the streets to enjoy
    the area. The question is, how does jose public or the authorities discriminate between the majority and that non caring minority.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited February 2016 #29

    Last time I was in Gran Alacant, just to the north of Santa Pola, during March, there were a number of MH's in the beach carpark at Carabassi, some of which were there for quite a few days. There are no water or disposal facilities nearby. They didn't all
    look like they had big on-boad tanks.

  • Unknown
    edited February 2016 #30
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  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Forum Participant Posts: 1,280
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #31

    The aim of the article is to attract people to the official campsites.

    If parking up for a week or two it would be fresh food which would be the biggest constraint for us along with wondering what the next beach looked like.

    exactly....we all have to 'shop'....and i like my fresh fish/fruit/veg which we can collect on the next leg of the journey....

    We just go in the car then do something else for the rest of the day like going to the beachInnocent

    ....some just park on the beach.....saves timeWink

    Dont we know  itLaughing

    .....but you know, i dontHappy

    seen too many vans (and cars) stuck on Brean/Berrow/Weston beaches to go anywhere near sand......

    Write your comments here...I love Somerset BB.....but don't you mean mud at Weston!.  Sealed