Motorhome "tax" for Scotland
From the BBC today....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-41333126
Comments
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After our trip to West Scotland this summer can't say I'm surprised the shear number of foreign registered MH wild camping was a bit of a shock and can't really see what benefits they were bringing to the local economy. When we went on to Skye I would guess that 30% of all vehicles we saw were MH.
For the 6 nights we spent around Oban I tried to book a trip to Mull and couldn't get a confirmed ferry spot.
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An interesting read, I can remember when you could just turn up for the Mull ferry! We didn't see too many motor homes in the areas we visited recently, mostly towards the south and north east. But we saw a lot of foreign motorbikes groups, taking over cafes etc. Times are changing.
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It looks as though they've overdone the advertising without any forward planning. I suspect there have been big ads in places like Germany (this happened in Cornwall previously.) It's a bit like saying to Europe bring your van to the Isle of Wight then the place gets swamped and possibly spoilt due to more infrastructure going in. Daft planning.
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Interesting, thanks TT. Last time I visited Scotland the fares were much too expensive. Most used to leave their motorhomes on the mainland and go on a tour. By the way you need a licence to camp in the Trossachs Nation Park, so there is nothing new in introducing a tax.
peedee
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Perhaps there should be a modest tourist tax introduced and the money used to provide the facilities which are clearly lacking?
David
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Taxes are never used to provide services, just lost in the big government black hole. As a visitor of over 40 years we have seen a drastic increase in M/H particularly continental. We were overwhelmed by 40+ in one German convoy 2 years ago on the Kyle of Tongue. They then went in convoy along the single track road to Durness and beyond. How any approaching ( local) traffic was able to pass I don't know, unless they were blocked in at a passing place. As for us we have now decided to stay well away and leave the area to those less inclined to respect the locals. Plenty of excellent alternatives in GB
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There are tourist taxes in many parts of Western Europe, charged as part of the bill at hotels, guest houses and campsites, yet motorhomers who pursue the " wild camping" lifestyle avoid paying anything that way.
We have that same situation here in Cornwall. Those of us who live here pay for water, refuse collection, beach cleaning, and so on, but the "wild camping" motorhomers who come here want all those things for nothing. Live free, spend as little as possible.
It sounds as though some people in Scotland might be looking for a solution. We should too. But a normal tourist tax on accommodation won't catch them.
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Italy this year in a Hotel just outside Venice-€10.5 for the week in Tourist taxes, I class that as quite acceptable
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One potential way round a Tourist Tax on Skye and other islands is to tax ferry fares and, in Skye's case, the bridge crossing.
One of the issues here is the government's Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) which subsidises ferry fares to the cost of travelling the equivalent distance by road. That helps the cost of travel for islanders but is also available to everyone else. So, perhaps only residents should benefit from RET?
Or, it could be that the RET could be available to all residents of Scotland as the subsidies needed for its implementation are paid for by all taxpayers resident in Scotland.
So, instead of a Tourist Tax, the RET could be removed for all non-residents of islands and/or Scotland. I wonder what the convoy of 40 German MHs would think of that?
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As we've said before, EuroT, in an area of low wages and high housing costs we also have sky high water rates and Council Tax plus we pay a premium price for electricity and gas, if you're lucky enough to have any.
The lifeguards on our beaches are paid for by us residents from our Council Tax and holidaymakers come here and complain about parking charges while the wild campers/freeloaders think they're entitled to stay for nothing and putting a quid of two in Tesco's tills means they're helping the local economy. Selfish? I should say so!
How a tax to encompass all visitors could be administered is the big question.
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As you know Tinwheeler the Shetland Island villagers run community based sites I wonder if this would prove popular in the Western Isles (there are a few already) or would the wild campers still continue to by pass these in their search for non paying holidays. How do you get the determined non payers to support the communities they're visiting?
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Not sure which island it is but one of the W. Isles has imposed a ban on booking a ferry unless you have a campsite booked. Seems a good idea to stop the wild campers. The irresponsible ones are ruining it for everyone. I've mentioned it before but you only have to read some of the posts on the wildcampers forums to see just how bad its getting in Scotland.
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Good points there, Brue. I don't recall seeing any wild campers in Shetland but have heard they exist. The excellent and very reasonably priced community sites were fairly busy and I think those sites are a superb idea and a great way for the communities to raise a few quid while helping to reduce wildcamping
There were wild campers in MHs in Orkney where there are only a few CLs, council run and commercial sites but no community sites.
Your last question is the real biggy!
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A passport type of system would work for the islands. Given out on the outboard sailing, stamped by the site reps/owners with number of nights stayed on each, small tax for those nights and a much higher tax for the number of nights not spent on a site. Passport stamped for journeys between islands. Fees collected prior to return sailing to the mainland. Monies shared between the island communities.
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I recall a few protests about the Skye Bridge tolls but I think you've overstated the case there, JV.
As I said earlier, and as stated by Wex, it was a Scottish Govt initiative involving all toll bridges.
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The bridge was built by a private company and the tolls went to them. After protests the Scottish government bought the bridge and removed the tolls. Someone somewhere is paying for this through lack of funding for something else.
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The Loch Lomand model certainly seems the way to go. At £3 a night it can hardly be termed excessive. However, it does rely on there being an organisation to administer and more importantly police it. In the LL area it is the National Park Authority. So although the scheme could be perhaps used in parts of the Cairngorms, for the North West coastal area, another body would be required.
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When I go to scotland I pay for my coffee,shopping,fishing, sites. etc etc.Likewise my taxes have paid for the UK infrastructure, roads etc. and the businesses in Scotland have paid their business rates, taxes, Nat Ins etc. If I chose to stay in a lay by its my choice, not even freeloading as someone suggested. Likewise if I get permission from the landowner to stay( Very often after fishing) its no one else 's business. As for making a "Tourist Tax" get real we already pay through the nose.
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I quite agree with your thoughts on wild camping TG. We are recently back from 3 weeks in Ireland where we encountered some No Motor-Home Parking signs, several 7ft height barriers on Car Parks, and even some height barriers on Lay-bys... It would appear that whilst some freeloaders may have enjoyed a cheap stay in the past, the councils are determined to make it difficult for motor-homes in the future. This means it can be difficult if not impossible to use your van for a day trip to some places.....
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