Interesting petition
Comments
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Across the continent many of the facilities as described in the OP and petition, if not the vast majority, are municipal, village or community owned and run. This brings tourism and its associated income into these areas. That may just be the model which is needed over here.
For a start over here I'm sure more could be done at Park and Ride facilities to accomadate us motorhomers.
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I know that the overnight parking on the little Roodee in Chester is well used at weekends. No idea other than Sundays as that is when I have walked past. I did look at the rates a couple of years ago out of interest and found them to be too cheap.
There certainly should be more such facilities. Have seen caravans there too.
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To me that looks more like evading the question rather than an answer.
However, as you’re now breaking forum guidelines by descending into name calling, which using a group name is, it’s as well you’re quitting.
Thanks for keeping us entertained.
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I think you have raised a few points by putting the OP on here, social media access means we all have opinions, good or bad. It's a case of the messenger being shot by some but not fatally I hope.
Perhaps Mark Bevan would care to step forward, I presume he is a club member if he is raising a petition intended for the club?
Thanks for your input Graham.
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I think that the consensus is that the petition is near worthless as it addresses the wrong target audience in the CC. The target should be local authorities. They might see a benefit in increased trade to their location. There is no likely interest from the CC in providing such a facility at the expense of their members for use by many who may not be members.
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Some interesting somewhat related comments here.
https://www.yorkshirecoastradio.com/news/local-news/2633914/motorhome-parking-row-in-whitby/
We must remember mind that how constructive a comment is viewed may depend on our own stand point. Negative comments can be constructive ones, constructive is not necesserily the same as agreeing.
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Posted on 04/08/2018 17:00 by EasyT
Quoting Eurotraveller - Campsites in mainland Europe have got in on the act by offering closely spaced reduced price pitches just for motorhomes - but this Club is so tied to the 6 metre rule that there is no likelihood of that one happening, is there.
My reply: Hopefully not. I have been on sites like that many years ago but soon moved on
I don't automatically object ET. If somebody wishes to provide a facility where leisure vehicles do not have a 6m separation then that is fine by me ...... as long as it is not CC providing it.
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Interestingly on one of the Exmouth seafront motorhome parking areas where I observed who was parking up for the night (or week in some cases) there was a big mixture of vans and people. Ranging from singles to families, large new vans and small van conversions. Some were just relaxing, others had kayaks etc so the concept of not being on the confines of a site does appeal to some. However it is a minority occupation, possibly more appealing in good weather and at weekends. One drawback I could see was the possibility that car parking spaces could be lost if it became more popular as there were no designated bays in that particular car park area. All things are possible, would I personally want this facility , no, but some do and it probably does provide income for those providing this service. But I hope, as far as the club is concerned that it concentrates on it's core market rather than niche demands.
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why should motor home owners have special deals on campsite just because they may make less use of the facilities provided, lots of people who have more modern caravans and some with old caravans choose to use onboard facilities rather than the facilities provided, are we saying we should introduce a 2 tier priceing structure 1 for those that use facilities provided and 1 for those that do not. People who opted for a MH knew what they were buying into, you only need to take a look at what is happening in France just now, regular sites half empty and having to reduce rates by as much as 20 pct in peak season, whilst the airies down the road is full of MH's on freebies. And if you take a look at what goes on in Spain, MH's wild camping but sneaking into sites and using the facilities or just ditching whatever is collected in holding tanks into hedgerows or down storm drains, resulting in raw sewage being dumped into the sea. I have seen MH in the UK leave the site stop open the tap & drive off spewing all their grey water over the road. I know caravaners are not whiter than white but MH's although relatively knew in comparison to caravans are quickly getting a bad reputation, also i think some local authorities in the UK are taking exception to MH rather than welcoming them, our local authority has recently erected height barriers to stop MH's parking overnight, I counted 8 in a car park in Lee on Solent only last week, this park will have a barrier quite soon, and quite right, what gives MH owners the right to buy up, in some cases 3 car parking bays, sat outside in their deck chairs and objecting if someone wants to use the parking bay. Not anti MH owners, but not in favour of giving them any special PERKS.
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I have noted that pictures of the devastation caused by LV fires on sites that have the recommended spacing,and the thought of what would have been if as some seem to want carpark spacings to enable "cheap/free"stopover,and how some authorities ignore or are ignorant to what can happen,
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Rufs, that’s the reason MH-ers acquire the reputation of being freeloaders. It helps no one that they behave in such a way and there will be a clamp down.
However, if councils see fit to set up parking/overnighting area for MHs, that’s one thing, but to expect the club to do it is quite another. As was said earlier, that would be a more divisive move than anything could possibly be.
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This is not the first time such a petition has been raised although this one is specifically addressed to the Club. I would be very surprised if Graham doesn't agree with you EasyT, it has certainly been his mantra in the past. I don't have a crystal ball as to what the future holds but at the very least the Club should be concerned that if they do not take up such ideas promoted by the petition others will, albeit slowly and then motor home owners will be less likely to use those offered by the Club.
peedee
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Yes, it seems to work on the continent. Municipal Aires and alike are viewed as positive contributions in the community as are the users. Why are some so down on motorhomers back in the UK. Yes a very few have given us a bad name, the Lincolnshire wild camping ones certainly did, but at properly run overnight stops similar to many Brit Stop venues, where incidentally I see an increasing number of continental motorhomers at, run quite happily. I really think local authorities could do more and gain from.
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There is a good P&R on the Pickering road just out side Whitby,that would be ideal for motor caravan parking,if the council so wanted to set up a fee for overnight "camping"and as stated in numerous posts motor caravans do not need waste or water point as they have on board tanks, and as for the comments about how the few "free overnighters" spend that would also be the case for most others who visit Whitby by all means of getting there
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IMO ,this petition would be better targeting local councils and the Road Haulage Association ,a much bigger organisation. They have been screaming out for more parking facilities for years. Get them on board and maybe just maybe someone will at least listen to you.
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Well that's a very odd, though not unexpected response, for a number of reasons, K.
Let me explain - firstly, having reread the whole of this thread it strikes me that the overwhelming response is that the petition is ill founded, nothing to do with your mythical "usual 5" which you so often trot out to suggest some sort of conspiracy theory.
Secondly the majority of responses have not "shouted down" the idea but suggested that it is aimed in the wrong direction - note the comments about continental Aires being municipal/community run.
And thirdly, since you decided to leave the club and convert from a caravan to a motorhome you have spent a great deal of time criticising the club for not being even handed in dealing with the two groups. Yet here you are supporting a plan which is hugely in favour of one of them - coincidentally the group you now find yourself in.
So let's by all means have a constructive discussion on the subject but recognise that there are pros and cons and each side has the right to express themselves without being subjected to slurs.
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EasyT seems to be on a mission to keep the 6m rule, AGREED, not only for safety reasons, it also helps stops them sunblockers from blocking out your daily entitlement to sunshine, ever been on a site in Spain parked next to a Concord, not pleasant. Am i becoming anti MH's, not intentional
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It has always been my opinion that Towns and Cities in the UK should follow the lead of France in providing Aires de Camping cars. I support any move to introduce such a service for Motorhomers here in the UK.
If that doesn't suit those who have never experienced touring on the continent and have not seen how popular those Aires are, perhaps they should ask people who actually use such excellent facilities. UK Camping organisations in conjunction with local Authorities are the ideal organisations to get the ball moving and I see no reason why representation should not be made to such organisations via whatever method is deemed fit. It will happen and when it does those camping organisations who reject the idea will miss out on much of the Motorhome business, but that is their loss.
I don't believe in the need for a "Personal Insult" slanging match on any forum , therefore for the sake of forum harmony, I will completely ignore Moulsey's post.
K
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Ha Ha - but your last paragraph shows that you didn't ignore it. But please, go ahead and explain - where was the "personal insult"? And if you're so keen on "forum harmony" why use that rather derogatory expression about "the usual five negative posters?"
Let's have a proper reasoned discussion without this petty point scoring please.
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I think you’ve missed the main point, K, in that nobody is suggesting that setting up such areas is the work of the devil. What we are saying is that it’s a highly unsuitable exercise for the club to undertake. Maybe as a non-member you can’t see the wood for the trees.
As for your last paragraph - well done on giving us a laugh. 🤪
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Who are these five? What is their agenda? Am I inadvertently a member without knowingly being so? Is it just a fictitious group name given to all others who have a differing opinion? Doesn't sound very harmonious labelling in my opinion.
I do wish LAs would rethink the Park and Ride concept to help and encourage MHs visit cities and towns in our country.
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I do hope The Caravan Club does not devote anything but minimal resources to considering the subject of this petition.
Any tow vehicle, and awning, used with a trailer caravan is generally located in the six meter minimum safety space between habitation units, so no increase in number of units per length of roadway over current standards is possible. In fact, number of units per area of ground would need to be less, taking account of the occasional threads about pitches being too short for motor caravans.
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