Abuse of site facilities

[Northernraider]

I wish I could agree with you but sadly I think you are wrong. It only takes a few to get us all a bad name, hence all the new height barriers and overnight parking restrictions. The big difference is that most people drive so we all know that not all drivers are bad. However most people are not motorhome owners, so a few prominent offenders get us all a bad name. They don’t notice the litter and poo we didn’t leave behind but they do notice the few that take liberties.

Many people in my village think that all bikers are noisy speedsters. This is because some bikers blast up Bury Hill with non standard silencers causing a nuisance. Some think all cyclists wearing lycra are a problem but again it is only a minority that catch our eye.

The height barriers etc are not down to getting a bad name


It's down to greed and council laziness pure and simple.

 

[Lenny HB]

Truth is they arent


When car drivers do wrong they don't give every car driver a bad name. Most reasonable and sensible people know there are the bad elements of everything. Anyone who thinks it applies to everyone is the person at fault and no one else.

Problem is a lot of people delight in blaming Motorhomes for everthing particully all the rubbish car drivers leave behind.
Also a lot of it is jealousy, I've told this before.
Chatting to an ex neighbour he said alright for you you've got rubbing his fingers together in the loads of money stance & pointing at my Motorhome what's that worth 40k. Knowing he earnt more than me I replied nope 60k and an 80 k one on order.

 

[Dunslow]

The height barriers etc are not down to getting a bad name


It's down to greed and council laziness pure and simple.

Now, that then appears to contradict yourself because the height barriers ARE there due to "bad elements" even if the result of non-motorhomers, that then get either photographed or moaned about publicly, that then whips up a public frenzy.
This then gets lobbied to the councillors who through the 'greed and laziness' look at the costs of cleaning up after the "bad elements", (which includes their own elected position), and find the cheapest solution to re-election by the MASSES, not the minority FLT community.
Three bits of 3x3 box concreted into the ground far cheaper than any alternative.
Reducing outgoings, increase the council tax = bigger councillor wages/ pensions.
And they can close the public WC's everywhere as facilities no longer needed or viable.

 

[Northernraider]

Now, that then appears to contradict yourself because the height barriers ARE there due to "bad elements" even if the result of non-motorhomers, that then get either photographed or moaned about publicly, that then whips up a public frenzy.
This then gets lobbied to the councillors who through the 'greed and laziness' look at the costs of cleaning up after the "bad elements", (which includes their own elected position), and find the cheapest solution to re-election by the MASSES, not the minority FLT community.
Three bits of 3x3 box concreted into the ground far cheaper than any alternative.
Reducing outgoings, increase the council tax = bigger councillor wages/ pensions.
And they can close the public WC's everywhere as facilities no longer needed or viable.

I don't believe they are ..I think that's the excuse they might give but mostly not the real reason . The real reason is often they want campers and motorhomes on paid sites. Not free parking or camping.

If it was because of mess or anti social behaviour etc they would have to ban everyone

 

[hja]

I don't believe they are ..I think that's the excuse they might give but mostly not the real reason . The real reason is often they want campers and motorhomes on paid sites. Not free parking or camping.

If it was because of mess or anti social behaviour etc they would have to ban everyone

I don’t think the reasons are that straightforward. For example many coastal Lincs car parks now have height barriers, apparently mess, overnight parking where not allowed. We wouldn’t wild camp, but we would stay on a site and ,using our van of course, travel to car park and park for the day. Well we can no longer do that. Very few CLs or similar, exist right on the coast. So the coastal areas now loose our tourist pound, both at sites and shops.

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[Shortybird]

I'd want to know more before deciding on dobing them in.

I'd have a chat with them if it really bothered me. Maybe they are destitute and maybe the site owner has taken pity on them and said they can use the facilities? Maybe the are just tossers. A brief convo would find that out.

Agree

 

[joe and sue]

I wish I could agree with you but sadly I think you are wrong. It only takes a few to get us all a bad name, hence all the new height barriers and overnight parking restrictions. The big difference is that most people drive so we all know that not all drivers are bad. However most people are not motorhome owners, so a few prominent offenders get us all a bad name. They don’t notice the litter and poo we didn’t leave behind but they do notice the few that take liberties.

Many people in my village think that all bikers are noisy speedsters. This is because some bikers blast up Bury Hill with non standard silencers causing a nuisance. Some think all cyclists wearing lycra are a problem but again it is only the few that catch our eye.

90 / 10 rule always applies !!

 

[paulhelenwilko]

We were on Unst early August, and I think I know the place you describe.
When we arrived late evening (without a booking) there was a low profile parked opposite the shower block but not on the campsite.
Our initial reaction was that that was very cheeky. However when I walked round, all the pitches were taken. So as suggested he could have paid and been told to park there, I don’t know.
We didn’t feel comfortable parking in the rest of the harbour car park as it would have been close to houses. So we just drove round the bay a bit and parked in the Village Hall car park.
In the morning when leaving we drove back round to the campsite for fresh water and to dump our waste.
There was a phone number to contact but no honesty box. Could not get an answer from the mobile. I asked somebody on the site and he said he had tried several times to contact by phone and email but had no joy.
It is a shame because we so want to support these facilities especially as most of them are community run.
We found several boat clubs only took payment online which on the whole was convenient.

 

[Pinkpantherpair]

We’re not anti wilding but to do it within view distance of a campsite - and to use all the site facilities - is definitely taking the pee. We loved our stay on Shetland where most, if not all, campsites are community run so any profits are ploughed back into the community. The Shetlanders we met and spoke to were incredibly friendly and trusting and many asked us why we chose to visit Shetland. We were reliably informed the islanders have a good network of jungle drums and know who is on the islands/who has caught internal ferries etc. We loved the ‘roadside roulette’ food stalls - all with honesty boxes - and would return to Shetland in a heartbeat but suspect that, because of the behaviour of others, we may see a change/motorhomers may no longer be welcomed with the same open arms that we were.

 

[poppycamper]

Anyone who can afford the ferry to Shetland can afford to stay on a campsite

That is a strange statement to make...
To get to Shetland you HAVE to pay ferry fees... you have no option regardless of your financial situation.
However once there you can pay to stay or freeload.. again regardless of your financial status.
I sometimes feel that some of those with money only have it because they are very loath to spend it and if they can get something for nought..... they will.!

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[Pausim]

I don’t mind a person not using a campsite. However if the locals have gone to the trouble of providing alternative facilities for those not on the campsite, then to avoid paying the very reasonable charge turns the FL into a FLT. They have stolen a service without paying the charge and then we are surprised when we are banned from sea front parking and community services are withdrawn. Of course it matters and it does affect the rest of us.

If someone from the mainland is visiting the UK’s northernmost settlement they are clearly not destitute. The destitute couldn’t afford the foot passenger fare let alone the vehicle charges.

 

[Marauder]

Dog muck around public places REALLY winds me up.

 

[PaulAndMaz]

Come on, live and let live, they may well be down to their last brass tacks and I for one, think they’re smart cookies.

In fact you should look to get power over to em too

You could give them your last bottle of whisky too!

 

[Marshall Blair]

Am I being a miserable git?

We are currently on a 5 pitch site on Unst, which has hard standings EHU, Fresh Water, black waste and oddly enough a toilet and shower block split in 2 each has a toilet and shower one if which is designated for campers use and is free and the other has toilet and Shower which is metered £1.00 for 5 minute For members of the public and users of the harbour.

The issue is there is a PVC with a mature couple wildcamping on ground opposite the shower block. Both occupants are using the campsite facilities including the ’Free shower’ and black waste, getting their water from the sink in the toilet but no Electric, we are paying £20 per night , they are paying nothing and although there has been a space available on the site they choose to still wildcamp.

Are they wrong to be using the free facilities and not paying should something be said ? Do you think this is fair ?
There are no staff on site only a phone number.

NO YOU ARE NOT A MISERABLE GET THEY AINT PUTTING INTO THE SYSTEM. FLT

 

[minesapint]

Am I being a miserable git?

We are currently on a 5 pitch site on Unst, which has hard standings EHU, Fresh Water, black waste and oddly enough a toilet and shower block split in 2 each has a toilet and shower one if which is designated for campers use and is free and the other has toilet and Shower which is metered £1.00 for 5 minute For members of the public and users of the harbour.

The issue is there is a PVC with a mature couple wildcamping on ground opposite the shower block. Both occupants are using the campsite facilities including the ’Free shower’ and black waste, getting their water from the sink in the toilet but no Electric, we are paying £20 per night , they are paying nothing and although there has been a space available on the site they choose to still wildcamp.

Are they wrong to be using the free facilities and not paying should something be said ? Do you think this is fair ?
There are no staff on site only a phone number.

As there are no staff on site, use the phone number and report the the FLT's, they are just putting up the price to decent folk who pay for the site.

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[TheAleMan]

Will

Will do, had to laugh because she stood in own dogs poo and spent 20 mins cleaning up her shoes and van rug.

Bit of karma there..love it.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Otter Spotter just a thought but could they have paid and decided to stay outside the aire

Yes you could be right