"Wild" Motorhoming gets the locals wild
I think some Murcianos are getting a bit fed up of "wild" camping according to this article. They do pick the un-loveliest of places to pitch up tho'. Does anyone want to spend their winter in a gravel car park? The comment about French Aire is maybe valid, then at least someone pays for the waste disposal and cleanliness, ie the council. Using local taxpayers facilities for free is a bit cheap. I saw 12 MH in one small car park, just because it had a chemical loo nearby!
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Well, I guess they can't win.....they go to somewhere with a proper disposal point, act responsibly and that is criticised...surely far better than the alternative?
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Wild camping is not something we have ever done and most probably never will, certainly not in some of the places we have seen folk park.
To us wild camping is going to some place out of the way in beautiful countryside, not sitting in a lay by or gravel waste ground.
When in Spain at the end of last year we saw about 20 MH's in waste land by a busy road not far from a decent campsite which had plenty of vacant pitches.
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A dirt patch is not for me either, yuk. With long term rates on sites being cheap, it is hard to understand why not use a site with facilities and space to spread out if all you want is a place in the sun. Even if touring,
many of these parking spots do not look at all appealing.
peedee
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There is also a complaint in the local paper about parking arranging taken up by motor homes on the sea fronts. I've attached a couple of photos of some wild campers, about 30, on a rather scruffy area of beach. The restaurant there seemed to be busy as a result.
peedee
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Although it doesn't appeal to many of you it does seems to appeal to quite a few Motorhome owners of all Nationalities who stay there.
As you keep saying on these forums 'We're all different' and that is true in whatever we do or wherever we go.
A possible solution to the La Azohia problem would be for the Town Hall of Cartagena to develop the land by putting in proper sewage disposal points, fresh water access, waste water disposal and mark out bays for more user friendly parking.
The local residents association ADELA should be petitioning their Town Hall – not just moaning to the Papers.
A pay barrier system to restrict access or a fixed charge collection could be implemented to make a steady income.
Also the amount of money the Motorhome people spend in the area on restaurants, bars and local shops must be considerable throughout the year and any initial expense would soon be recouped by the local commerce.
A total ban of Motorhomes would benefit no-one just because of some complaints about the behaviour of a few, how many times have you tut-tutted about your fellow campers when they do something you don't approve of, and I would think most people who stay there abide by rules and try to avoid upsetting the Locals.
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The "problem", if there is one, is the herding instinct by some (lots) of "wildcampers".
I took this photo in Keswick at the weekend. Those who know the area will recognise it as the long laybye between Portinscale & Keswick. Although the view is blocked by the silver camper van manouvering in the distance, there are at least 20 M/H's parked, nose to tail literally, further on. Most with their cab screens deployed & legs down where fitted. It was of course much tidier than a traveller invasion, but looked much the same from a distance. I heard people talking about it in the pub one evening.
How long before the local council intervene, rightly or wrongly....??
I will very ocasionally "wild" but prefer to be on my own somewhere remote rather than herding in with a posse of others and attracting unwanted attention....
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Living on the cheap, can't see these 'travellers' as much of a benefit to the local community as a whole, just maybe the local pub or supermarket. If they can't be arsed to pay a site fee then they sure won't spread their money around locally.
Not much different to our 'Park and Ride' when it was taken over except the one in the OP was by the sea. The mayor should run'em out of town.
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I saw a similar picture on the Bailey Motorhome Owners Facebook page. Whilst a layby might be a nice place to stop for lunch or a cup of tea I just don't see the attraction as an overnight stop. I just hope that none of them over indulge in alcohol whilst on what is a public highway!
David
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The problem of wild motor caravan camping is even affecting the Isle of Skye now that the bridge gives unrestricted access. The biggest contention seems to be the lack of spend with local businesses.
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This sort of thing does nothing to endear motor-homes to locals in the long term. I did notice whilst in The Republic of Ireland last year, many car parks and even the odd lay-by had height barriers. This then prevents any high vehicle parking for the afternoon to visit and spend at the local establishments. We found it very frustrating indeed that someones freebie in the past has eventually led to our inconvenience in the here and now. Furthermore, I suspect this will get worse.
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...but would there be as much 'disgust' if this was a row of cars or lorries, or evencaravans?...
the MHs are (presumably) taxed and have as much right to park in accordance with any restrictions as any other taxed vehicle.
as long as all litter and waste is disposed of properly, why the angst?
BTW, isn't that DK's van on the back of the queue....perhaps the site has turned them away for arriving early?
i don't wild park much, the odd supermarket, an out of the way carpark (where overnighting is allowed) etc...but of I and others are complying with all parking regulations, what's the issue?
why is a row of vans so much more likely to cause this sort of post than a row of cars.....even those parking in MH/caravan spaces....
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Rightly or wrongly, councils will eventually react if there are lots of motor-homes parked in an area. Perhaps it's the perception that they are freeloaders, bring everything with them and give little to the local economy. Perhaps its that large vehicles are considered an eyesore compared to cars. I really don't know.
However, I do know that we went to North Berwick from the Yellowcraig site and lots of lamp posts have signs on which state..
" No Parking for any vehicle over 1.5m" or similar.
I know that Blackpool have huge restrictions on the parking of motorhomes .. https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/Residents/Parking-roads-and-transport/Parking/Motor-home-parking.aspx
Similar restrictions apply in Scarborough on the Marine Drive overnight.
Yes they may all be taxed and road legal, but large groups of motor-homes may well result in sanctions and restrictions being imposed by the local councils in due course as most local councillors have businesses in that town and they will do what they think is best..... In my opinion, obviously.
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BB, I wasn't "disgusted", I don't say that in my post.....
And I did say it was tidy, there was no rubbish. There were some dribbles of "grey" water but that doesn't bother me, I don't personally believe that the water I've washed the breadcrumbs off my lunch plate with is going to harm the environment, but I know that some people, including wardens, have an issue with it. I have no idea what anybody was doing with "black" waste.
I posted the photo as the OP was about "herds" of wild campers and it appears to me to be "on topic" albeit not in Spain....
I've been walking that route around Derwentwater for 40 years, and there was always the odd van in that Layby, but I've never seen it full of approx 25 vans before. It does draw your attention, I am obviously sympathetic to it as a fellow M/Her, but you can bet your boots the miserable b%$*tewards in the Lake District Special Planning Board that imposed the speed limit on Windermere will see more people enjoying themselves and want to stop it, that is what they seem to exist for....
And given the Council Tax rise my local council have just announced, I think I will very soon be living in my van in a layby as well....
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A Sign at North Berwick . No vehicles over 7ft 6in it says. We did find a small piece of rough ground at the far end of the prom. the rest of the town is not tall vehicle friendly.. But their town, they can introduce rules as they wish.
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The Town Hall of Cartagena could, at little cost, ban Motorhomes from road parking and effectively 'herd' them on to the places the Town Hall decree as being for Motorhome use.
Many MH owners don't want, or need, campsite facilities but just somewhere to fill up with water and dispose of waste responsibly.
A Borne (Terminal ?) provided, with a charge for water, would probably suffice and put paid to the residents complaints about using the sewers.
Those who have never used the Spanish or French Aires system are usually the first to air an opinion but hundreds of thousands of people of all Nationalities use them each year and if it's good enough for them, and they are happy to park there, then perhaps a little less condemnation of those that do might be helpful.
Most Aires are perfectly acceptable for an overnight stop, many not only free but with facilities as well, and long may they flourish.
Two of the Campsites (Camping Los Madriles and Camping Los Delfines) in the locality are themselves little more than dusty car parks with minimal space between vehicles and one campsite charges €5 for your pet in High season and the other doesn't allow dogs at all (that may be a blessing to some but a no-no to others)
I can fully understand why they are not appealing to those who just wish to stop for a night or two in the area.
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Given the increasingly self-sufficient nature of MH's, one can see why some are reluctant to pay for facilities that they do not require, any more than some caravaners do not wish to pay the high fees for a site offering indoor pools/restaurants/ playgrounds/shops etc.
There is clearly a desire for the provision of a basic safe place to park overnight. Local councils would do well to encourage such provision if they wish to see the footfall in their town/village increase.
I presume that the 'local paper' extract by Peedee was the Costa Blanca News.
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The user and all related content has been Deleted User0
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A rare occasion, but we agree with Deleted User User that Los Madriles is a very pleasant site and one of our favourites in Spain! However, it's difficult to get a pitch except between seasons, eg March/April.
On the road from Isla Plana to Azohia there are some unattractive waste grounds/ car parks. Can't see what the attraction is in roughing it, but some do! There's also a size problem for some motorhomes on campsites.
At Azohia itself, there's some wildcamping on the 'rambla' (storm drain) - a nice spot until it rains!
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A possible solution to the La Azohia problem would be for the Town Hall of Cartagena to develop the land by putting in proper sewage disposal points, fresh water access, waste water disposal and mark out bays for more user friendly parking.
Increasing over the years that appears to be what is happening but such spots at least on the coast are very cramped and certainly, in those I have checked, not as cheap as site long term rates.
peedee
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I guess the residents of the area don`t look upon Motorhomes so called "Wild Camping" as much better than having travellers set up home in their neighbourhead. You can bet your life the wild campers on returning home to find motorhomes wild camping in their locality would be the first to complain.
Personally I would have thought campsites which produce employment, tax revenue and can improve the look of an area are a far better bet than allowing freeloaders to park up.
So yes the locals have my sympathy.
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TT. apologies, I quoted your post for the photo only....and then it didn't appear...sorry it appeared that way...
my reference to 'disgust' was from the overall reaction in this thread to a bunch of MHs parking together (even perfectly legally) but not on a campsite....again, none of this mentioned in your post...
i just don't get the 'I couldn't possibly park on a place like 'that' comments....no one is asking anyone to park anywhere they don't want to...
but some (again, legal) wilding spots are truly lovely...here and abroad, and I can certainly see why many find it far more 'invigorating' than a campsite pitch with a peg.
if one likes sites, that's fine, enjoy them.....I certwinly do, when in the right place, but I certainly don't knock folk who like something a bit different and more akin to what a motorhome is all about.....IMHO, of course
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I was not referring to parking for a few hours or for the day for that matter B&B, The instances I have highlighted were most certainly not doing that. What I would not do is drive hundreds of miles to get to the sun and spend my time on some dirt patch or street corner with no facilities.
peedee
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Leaving aside the desire to "get away from it all", it appears to be an absence of provision of basic requirements that is exacerbating the issue. How would people feel if all that was on offer was a full 'a la carte' menu when all they wanted was a quick sandwich?
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