"Council opens first ‘Arosfan’ overnight car park site for motorhomes"

[scotjimland]

Also remember.. in a car park that allows overnight sleeping, because of the close proximity to other vans or cars , you are generally not allowed to cook or have a gas appliance running .. this would also apply to private car parks eg. pubs .. MSAs (Motorway Service Areas) also have that regulation.

On this particular car park, if it is complying with the1960 Caravan Act with six meter spacing, cooking should be allowed .

 

[rolosroller]

Good idea . But

 

[HKF]

Also remember.. in a car park that allows overnight sleeping, because of the close proximity to other vans or cars ,
you are generally not allowed to cook or have a gas appliance running
.. this would also apply to private car parks eg. pubs .. MSAs (Motorway Service Areas) also have that regulation.

On this particular car park, if it is complying with the1960 Caravan Act with six meter spacing, cooking should be allowed .

Does this mean that you can't cook in a microwave/Remoska/Slow Cooker etc?

 

[Lenny HB]

Does this mean that you can't cook in a microwave/Remoska/Slow Cooker etc?

With most council bylaws you are not even allowed to use your own loo, so no chance.

 

[HKF]

With most council bylaws you are not even allowed to use your own loo, so no chance.

Wow, I didn't realise that!

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[Fragle]

Also remember.. in a car park that allows overnight sleeping, because of the close proximity to other vans or cars , you are generally not allowed to cook or have a gas appliance running .. this would also apply to private car parks eg. pubs .. MSAs (Motorway Service Areas) also have that regulation.

On this particular car park, if it is complying with the1960 Caravan Act with six meter spacing, cooking should be allowed .

Canterbury

 

[scotjimland]

Canterbury

Canterbury is not an "aire" It is a Park and Ride that allows motorhomes to park overnight ..ie a council car park

And, I did say "generally" there is no hard and fast rule , each council will determine the rules for it's car parks..

Council car parks are covered by TROs (Traffic Regulation Orders) which vary across the UK. and my forbid , overnight parking, sleeping, camping, and cooking.. some also ban smoking and vaping


This is for MSAs
Gas may not be used in your caravan or motorhome in accordance with fire regulations due to the risk from fire and/or explosion

 

[nicholsong]

With most council bylaws you are not even allowed to use your own loo, so no chance.

How could that be enforced without invasion of privacy?

 

[scotjimland]

How could that be enforced without invasion of privacy?

smell detector patrol man

 

[nicholsong]

Has anyone checked whether the council has obtained a Caravan Site licence, from the relevant authority, i.e. themselves?

If not there cannot be any restrictions and charges, from my reading of the 1960 Act [as amended]

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[Lenny HB]

How could that be enforced without invasion of privacy?

Could be interesting.

 

[Teedubyaa]

I agree the costs are too much - £10pn and £1 for water would seem reasonable to me as in fairness it will have cost them a bit to set up (and I don’t think any council has spare cash!) - and they didn’t have to do it. At least it gives us a choice - you may deem it too expensive but I’m quite happy paying £16:50 especially in high season (some CL sites now charge £30 or more! - and no, not for me) - these new aires may be basic but walking distance to nice towns rather than really extortionate costs for a holiday park (with facilities I don’t need but still pay for and still likely won’t be able to walk anywhere from the site). For us, I think a mix of visiting these new aires and a site to top up the water etc. will be ideal. I don’t think there’s a charge to dump grey and black waste so there’s somewhere for those passing by wanting waste facilities that weren’t available before ….

Also, reading the information it appears it is advising you of height barriers at some of their car parks but not the ones involved in this scheme. Oh, and FAQs says you can cook inside, not outside, no chairs, BBQs etc. Otherwise - find a proper site.

I’m all for it, applaud them for trying it and hope more councils follow suit - choice - use them or don’t bother, at least it’s a choice

 

[busbuddy]

Llanberis is an area much frequented by the stealth camper water sports fraternity, not so much motorhome free parking.
Anyone who has been there will testify to 'insert popular van brand' being parked everywhere at night with various comings and goings, daytime wetsuit drying
There is a decent big layby on the a4244 for motorhomers who want to stop outside the area, obviously not the people who want to walk to a pub in llanberis
I have never found wales to be anti motorhome but then I dont want to park up on llandudno pier

 

[Lenny HB]

Also, reading the information it appears it is advising you of height barriers at some of their car parks but not the ones involved in this scheme. Oh, and FAQs says you can cook inside, not outside, no chairs, BBQs etc. Otherwise - find a proper site.

Seems silly to have all that space between the vans if you can't use it.

 

[dunnah01]

Lots of moaners that won't use the airette but at least it's step in the right direction towards pacifying angry residents and local councillors Not for me at that price though

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[Wh05apk]

It's almost as if they are trying to prove a point that they are not viable......

 

[Northernraider]

Looks like absolute hell to me and that was before I read the ridiculous price and the expectation to spend further money in the town.

They obviously don't understand the majority of motorhomers.

Stick that photo on the front of any motorhoming magazine and you'll see a rapid decline in motorhome sales.


If that is what the majority of motorhomers really want then I'm glad to be in the minority.

They'd have to pay me £16.50 a night to stay there

 

[Lenny HB]

Looks like absolute hell to me and that was before I read the ridiculous price and the expectation to spend further money in the town.

If the charges are high I'm not bothered about spending in the town. If the Aire is free or a reasonable price I will make an effort to spend some money in the town.

 

[nicholsong]

I’m all for it, applaud them for trying it and hope more councils follow suit - choice - use them or don’t bother, at least it’s a choice

I would prefer it if they followed suit with Canterbury P+R - £8 for 48 hours and free facilities: black and grey waste, water, rubbish and the buses into the City.

As for the charges' the Licensing authority, in this case Gwynedd council, are required under the Caravans Sites Act (1960) to ensure that the Licensee's charges, also Gwynedd council, are 'reasonable'. I cannot see that if the charges for one site is £16.50 with facilities that the same charge for the others without facilities can both be reasonable.

 

[Bobbejaan]

Lenny HB :- With most council bylaws you are not even allowed to use your own loo, so no chance.

Nicholsong :- How could that be enforced without invasion of privacy?

smell detector patrol man

Bob says ... Oh dear ! ... In my case, that would be like a Jaws Film ..... Mr. Council Man would need a Bigger Gas Mask !!

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[jongood]

Or possibly the interpretation of the regs Jon, my reading of the below text says minimum 3 metres as cars and other objects can be placed in the 6 metre gap being quoted, again my understanding is that the 6 metre gap at rallies allows people to put up awnings and have tables and chairs outside as long as the 3 metre minimum safety spacing is maintained.

https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/media/1239/Model-standard-for-touring-sites-in-England/pdf/Caravans-model-standard-for-touring-sites-housig.pdf?m=637110658380470000

CAMpRA say 3 metres.

https://campra.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/business_hub/02_Designing_an_Aire.pdf

Regardless, we ve all been parking a lot closer than that for many years now with very few incidents, Canterbury is space to open the door only.

I'm not criticising Campra here because I think they re doing a good job but the councillors are understandably wary of going against anything that smells like a regulation. And that and the belief that there has to be facilities at every location is going to limit the expansion.

Tbh the people with no facilities should accept the fact that their choices with stopovers are going to be a bit more limited in the same way that those of us who have chosen larger MH's accept that there are places we wouldnt be wise to choose.

 

[jongood]

With most council bylaws you are not even allowed to use your own loo, so no chance.

I didnt know that, but good luck finding public toilets or litter bins in some areas.

 

[Gaston aires]

CLs are just as cheap or cheaper than this. I’d have to be desperate to pay £16.

 

[Tombola]

Sometimes you have to wonder if it's a double bluff so they can say we trialled it and it didnt work....or are there people willing to pay ???

Then again do they have grief from local camp owners who were maybe consulter, about taking business from them if prices are too low.

 

[olley]

Regardless, we ve all been parking a lot closer than that for many years now with very few incidents, Canterbury is space to open the door only.

Loads of room in the overflow part, we always park there.

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[Abgs]

Regardless, we ve all been parking a lot closer than that for many years now with very few incidents, Canterbury is space to open the door only.

I was in Canterbury PnR last weekend, the two Motorhome areas were maybe only 20% full. Acres of space available ..... so I parked over in the back corner. Around about midnight a van pulled up and parked maybe about 3 metres away from me....

 

[funflair]

Loads of room in the overflow part, we always park there.

I think the point Jon is making is that there are no markings to space vans 6 metres apart, the markings allow not much more than a door opening space, yes there is loads of room

 

[daveclare]

Great ideas, but not for us. We rather avoid 20mph limits, rediculous charges and drive 300 miles to Folkestone and get abroad. No matter what time of year. Stopping at some nice places in England on the way.

 

[arthur49]

As an active CAMpRA member, I had no role in persuading this Council to permit overnight parking.
But what does jar is individuals whining from the sidelines when there is success.
If you don't like the offer/price, move on.
Why don't you write to the Council politely expressing your opinion?
I'm not sure how many active members there are here on Fun, but if every one tried to persuade their local Council to embrace the use of car parks for overnight parking there might be success.
Quote Canterbury Park and Ride and Common Haugh, Hawick as successes, bringing income to the communities?

 

[nicholsong]

As an active CAMpRA member, I had no role in persuading this Council to permit overnight parking.
But what does jar is individuals whining from the sidelines when there is success.
If you don't like the offer/price, move on.
Why don't you write to the Council politely expressing your opinion?
I'm not sure how many active members there are here on Fun, but if every one tried to persuade their local Council to embrace the use of car parks for overnight parking there might be success.
Quote Canterbury Park and Ride and Common Haugh, Hawick as successes, bringing income to the communities?

The problem there is that local people have little incentive to approach their council because when they are in the MH the last place they are likely to stop is near to home.

Furthermore approaching distant councils has the disadvantage of not being one of their tax payers.

It is Catch 22.

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