Motorhome Aires for the Highlands - Temp. Locked
Comments
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Not seen "just anywhere" in the UK, but it was quite a common occurance in Spain, a friend who had a MH said some of the wild camping spots in Spain stank of sewage.
They do indeed, I have experienced it first hand. The solution is to provide parking and dump facilities and clamp down on "wilding." From what I have read both Portugal and Spain have started to do that but both are still overwhelmed with visitors in the winter months. I have certainly noticed the increase in facilities for motorhomes in the years I have been going to Spain.
peedee
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Every night after the spar shop was closed camper vans would come, dump waste water empty toilet tank and fill up with water then away on their journey. Not bad for free.
There will always be skinflints, it is reportedly and occurance on the Continent as well. Barrier controlled entry and exit should stop this happening. It just depends whether local authorities regard it as being worth the expense and effort to exert controls.
peedee
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It does not matter how many "stop overs" are installed it will only be those who have respect for others as RTB will "Advise?" that will use them ,unless they are free?to use , even though it would be at ongoing costs to any local community
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Often in these discussions there far too greater emphasis placed on the tiny minority of people that break the rules rather than the vast majority that don't. What should not be overlooked is that if there were proper facilities at regular points there would be no excuse for breaking rules. We are constantly informed that it is the local community that pay for these things but don't forget it is the local community that also benefit. That benefit might not be so obvious as the headline spend but it might mean that over time it keeps the local pub or shop open it also contributes to keeping people in jobs and may also create new ones. So a wider view of the cost/benefits needs to be considered.
David
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Rufs wrote"In the UK in our local area I have seen people emptying the toilet cartridge in the public loo on more than one occasion, not very nice when you are confronted with Aqua blue all over the toilet and floor..."
That is just incompetence. It should not be beyond the wit of people to empty a cassette without it splashing everywhere and neither should it "bung up the bog". The only issue might be if it was a remote location feeding into a septic tank that would soon become full.
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The only issue might be if it was a remote location feeding into a septic tank that would soon become full.
This should not be a problem. In some of the more remoter areas I have been they use de-composting type facilities. Even the Club has one site which uses such methods.
peedee
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Of course they did, PD. 🙄
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There must be very many "incompetent" persons who cannot seem to be able to empty their toilet cassette when noting the amount of residue that is found at most emptying points on sites ,how do they manage to get soil right up to the top of the brickwork?
there was as mentioned by Ruffs ,just that sort inconsiderate use of one of the gents toilets at the Whitby P&R a couple of years ago
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Not quite the same issue, but I saw a newspaper article the other day about the lorry stack parks in Kent. Can only hope that someone has budgeted for loos for them. Lay-bys on lorry routes are frequently gross. I don’t blame lorry drivers absolutely either, nor MHs.
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If the reports of where motor caravans spoil the enviroment where they "wild camp?"it seems it is not such a "tiny minority" although it may? be others
And as some areas are on a knife edge when it comes to keeping going then it is up to any tourists to not expect to enjoy what is on offer without paying towards its up keep and the more L/Vs that use them but will not pay the prices ("thats expensive compared to where we normally buy our groceries from") when they have a full fridge and other foods
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I hesitate to contradict , but here in Cornwall visitors in motorhomes and caravans contribute far less to the local economy than visitors in other accommodations. Motorhomers and caravanners are not regarded here as big spenders in restaurants, pubs and bars - they tend to cook their own meals using ingredients brought with them or bought in certain supermarkets which are based outside the county, or based overseas. The local butcher in town and the farm shop over the hill say they rarely see them.
Motorhomers and caravanners here do contribute to the local economy by using campsites across the county, and Cornwall council has done its best to support those campsites by setting its face against overnight stays in its car parks. Campsites provide local employment but automated unstaffed Aires would not.
I can well get understand that motorhomers would love to have a network of cheap unstaffed Aires (provided at someone else's expense) across Scotland as well as across Cornwall - but I fail to see they would provide much benefit for the local economy - neither for us or for the Scottish highlands. Motorhomers and caravanners are frugal spenders.
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We have had two as i think you know by now , motor caravans and it was not , it seems ,the problems that have come with the growth in M/C hire, lease and ownership of recent years,
We were staying at Folkstone Racecourse site 1998? (now all gone) which was a very busy overnight site 52 arrs none booked one morning in july ,one of the carparks was known as the "mushroom field" as it would fill up overnight from the ferries and tunnel and even then the site warden and racecourse staff had q a problem with toilet waste and grey water being dumped by the course railings, instead of using the dump point , as it was about 100yds from the "mushroom field"
when we were there the cc site warden, who had a very friendly border collie said it was amazing how many queued at office when it opened at 0800 and paid after he had taken the reg numbers of those who came overnight ,the site was very "different" in that before the euro they had to work out how to covert all sorts of european currencies
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JVB quoted - There must be very many "incompetent" persons who cannot seem to be able to empty their toilet cassette when noting the amount of residue that is found at most emptying points on sites ,how do they manage to get soil right up to the top of the brickwork?
The answer is obvious, the CAMC design of CCEP point with its large "up turned pyramid" with the outlet some 18" away from the wall is probably the worst designed emptying point I've ever used. Does the Club not realise the correct way of using should be to discharge the effluent straight into the outlet pipe and not to let the solids slide down the plastic. If the whole set up was 1/3 the size it would be far better. I would much prefer a wc or a ground level inspection chamber.
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They have been in use for many years and it seems to be with "newer?" members as more noticeable in recent years
Or they have very short arms
there is also a hose pipe to rinse down after use? although not helped in some areas with local water company regs and the anti syphon valves req
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Very succinctly put, Euro.
It's been my contention for a long time that those who camp free of charge on cliff tops and lay-bys do nothing for the local economy (and ecology).
Those who pay money to stay, whether in B&Bs, campsites or whatever are helping to maintain and protect the very things that attract them to an area. They are the responsible ones, the others are takers.
I suppose those who might pay a few quid to use an aire type park can be seen as helping in a small way, or as neutral, rather than detracting and even if the profit from their shopping goes to Mr Tesco, at least it may help to keep a few jobs but, as you say, not very much benefit to the local economy.
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For a person with the name eurotraveller your grasp of how the Aires, Stellplatz, etc. systems work and benefit the local economies seems rather off key, likewise your grasp of economics.
Regarding Scotland I would have thought that the Camping-Car Park model would work extremely well there.
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