Overnight campers' action

I’m sorry MHs are becoming a problem in your eyes, Rufs, but please don’t tar us all with the same brush. I think you mean SOME motorhomers are causing problems. 

The situation in Exmouth could act as a template here. The parking of MHs overnight on the seafront has been banned but the council has provided dome dedicated long term spaces in a few car parks.

I know local councils are a bit cash strapped but providing an aire type facility for parking overnight then charging say £10 a night would bring in say £100 per night for 10 spaces.  Over a year assuming they are full every night that equates to over £30,000 so it would seem the payback would be within a year then it is profit all the way.  Add this to the money people would spend in the local economy even it is only another £10 per person equates to another £60,000 a year so it makes you wonder what these councils are thinking when they firstly stop MH overnight parking then do not add any provision for the loss.  Even providing MH bays for parking close to town or attractions would be a start, instead all we see are height barriers!!

Like PD & many others we are finding even for a short break of a  week we can get a cheap ferry crossing to the continent and recoup the cost being welcomed to the local community where we can park without fear or retribution from them many places for free.

"Being a caravaner I have never used an Aires, do the facilities that are provided officially within Europe get abused in the same way?" 

Rufs, I don't really know what your question above means....

aires are used by MHers for many reasons within the constraints (if there are any) of that provision...

sometimes they may just be allowed to park in the daytime, usually it will include overnighting. sometimes there is a time limit (24/48/72 hrs) but often, in small villages, not.

they dump their grey and toilet waste in the facilities provided...almost always but some Aires are parking with no services.

they put their dry waste into bins...sometimes these are full, as at home..

they fill with fresh water, if required....sometimes there is a small charge (€2 jeton) or free.

so, Aires can vary in their allowed usage, but I've never seen one 'abused' and can't imagine how they can be as they provide the services those using them require.

whilst I don't expect UK car parking to provide me with water and waste facilities, I'd expect decent bins (and to be emptied) and are happy to pay a sensible fee to park....in appropriate spaces.

however, I drive a taxed vehicle, which has as much right to be on a road as anyone else's and if parking is available and legal, why can't I use it with as much right as a 'local' or a car driver or, heaven forbid, a local car driver?

I can understand Steve Dugan getting a bit twitchy if the residents of Cliff Road are giving him grief about MH's parked outside their houses but fail to see why a few MH's parked for the night along to the west of the Haven should be seen as problematic. Whilst I'm not going to be spending the night down there, it does make a pleasant spot to watch the world go by. As has been mentioned up thread, are MHomers now to be regarded as second class citizens when it comes to parking?  A similar situation pertains now with Havant BC with regard to overnight parking at West Hayling.

A not untypical response of local councillors who love to ban things, charge the earth for parking and then wonder why their High Streets are empty and the budget has a big hole in it.

I agree with elements of both the last two posts. The problem in this country tends to revolve as always around money. Who will pay for any services required, (regardless of how little is actually required) and also, how much can we get away with charging? Couple that with some inconsiderate parking outside local residences, the tiny minority who do cause issues, and it becomes a negative response. Parking fees are big business, all across the country.

Locals are getting more and  more vocal about motor caravans parking on sea fronts and blocking the outlook from water front hotels and guesthouse also private property's, which did not occur so much in the past when it was just cars on the seafront at less than half the height, my brother on the IOW says it is also being looked at by the council

Ok silly question coming up 

Does it matter what you're using in a toilet cassette? We use bio pods but occasional use organic fluid. Surely it all ends up at the treatment works?

I grew up with cess pit drainage, but that was many moons ago! We watched the amount of water used, to save emptying too often, but no other restrictions.

Those naysayers walk amongst us, particularly annoying are those that have no connection or understanding of our pastime whatsoever but still voice their opinion.

This sort of person often find themselves on council decision making bodies. It seems frequently to be a prerequisite mindset for becoming a counsellor in my opinion.

True, guilty as suggested but nevertheless they do annoy me if they really have no understanding whatsoever of the issues and show no interest in finding out more before throwing their two pennyworth in. 

My local Councillor told me that the cost of providing overnight parking would be £120,000. That is the cost of minor road improvements such as marking out the area, the modest cost of policing given that some motorhomers have a habit of absconding without paying for an overnight stay, but the biggest cost is the provision and maintenance of parking meters and signage. I know one Derbyshire Council who couldn't afford to increase car parking fees this year because the new signage would cost £45,000 [it is lumbered with numerous small car parks]. 

We have active Nimbies who don't want their view blocked by motorhomes and unfounded allegations of inappropriate motorhome behaviour which puts at risk our blue flags.

It's the upfront cost that puts off Councils from providing overnight parking for motorhomes. Some Council's will use their Tourism budget and some will get help from the Government. The majority would just have to stump up the full cost. Our Council is looking to get a private firm to develop and run an overnight parking scheme but so far there has been no interest. The lack of interest from the private sector to a supportive Council suggests that there is no easy profit to be made.

much as we like to think so, I'm not sure (in law?) any of us has a right to a view....buildings are erected blocking the previously lovely view from a property further back....if permission is given for development, hard cheese...

similarly, with seafront hotels...they (and we) are subject to those rules and permissions...if daytime parking is allowed, surely to ban MHs is discriminatory?

if a council wants to move the MH parking away from a particular area then can't those MH use the spaces that the cars which formerly couldn't get onto the seafront used?....ie spaces in regular carparks.

im happy to park on the street but am similarly fine with paying for a car (MH) parking space, provided it isn't a rip off. no other special facilities required for day parking.

so, i pay, my van isn't on the seafront, residents happier?....

however, just the outright banning of MHs seems to be today's knee jerk reaction...

my big beef is with the (general) non allowance of MHs in city P&R, if ever there was a good way of providing parking for larger vehicles without the potential impact on town/city centres its P&R.

we have a great one on our route into Bath, lovely for a stop off heading north.....ah, two huge parking areas but height barriers on both.

now I know that there are other similar facilities around Bath but not on our route, which makes it a longer diversion.....so why some and not all out of town facs run by (presumably) same authority?

there is always one reason given and that is the potential misuse by 'travellers' and the worry of clean up costs.....

so, let's get the law changed to make deliberate trespass a criminal offence where offenders can be removed instantly without the lengthy and costly exercise we have currently...

isnt this better than withdrawing a provision to the majority just to deal with a few who have no respect for others and their property?

as with all these debates, the many who park sensibly and treat places with respect are hounded as they are seen (by association?) to be of that ilk?

But in this senario you would be speaking from experience,  having an opinion would be absolutely justified but hopefully you would not tarnish all MHers with that same toilet brush. Trouble is many do and then have opinions way beyond their understanding and experience. Sometimes even making decisions which directly effect others.