Restrictions that result in lack of facilities for motorhomes

[Scotch mist]

Lost count of the amount of Dutch, German & French I have spoken to on my travels who won't come to the UK because of the lack of Aires and it's Motorhome unfriendly attitude. Which I fully understand as I can't be bothered with the UK myself, too much like hard work.

I vote with my wallet , France & most of Europe welcomes me & wants my tourist dollar so they get it ,

and I know there is many many people who think like that

 

[Lenny HB]

I vote with my wallet , France & most of Europe welcomes me & wants my tourist dollar so they get it ,

and I know there is many many people who think like that

Me too also helps I'm only 20 miles from a channel port.

 

[maison]

I am not sure that camp sites are expensive to run in winter as to the reason (although they are). But more as to what their local council has put into their annual contract. i.e. 8 month only opening.

Costs to run are calculated on occupancy rates.

Some years ago, when Caravans were the most popular units they didn’t tend to travel in the winter. Occupancy rates were low.

The move to Motorhomes means that there is now more demand for winter facilities.

Caravan sites, and those responsible for licensing them, have not yet caught on to the increasing demand.

 

[Scotch mist]

Me too also helps I'm only 20 miles from a channel port.

Unfortunately I’m 400 miles from the tunnel but Europe still gets my cash

If the UK doesn’t want me France certainly does , vive la France

 

[monzer]

Well I sent my email to the relevant MSP at Hollyrood. I didn't make it a long winded argument, I just highlighted how surprising the majority of us find it that the UK seems years behind our European neighbours in this department.

I am not expecting groundbreaking new regulations being rolled out and named after me but as long as I don't get the usual fobbed off stuff that sadly we expect too much these days from politicians I'll be happy.

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[romany]

Well I sent my email to the relevant MSP at Hollyrood. I didn't make it a long winded argument, I just highlighted how surprising the majority of us find it that the UK seems years behind our European neighbours in this department.

I am not expecting groundbreaking new regulations being rolled out and named after me but as long as I don't get the usual fobbed off stuff that sadly we expect too much these days from politicians I'll be happy.

Speaking from experience as a past district Councillor who was always foobed off you will get fobbed off, I sincerely hope you don't though.

 

[CWH]

I have been advised to write to my local MSP to highlight the lack of facilities for us in this country

monzer when you refer to "this country" do you mean Scotland, or the whole of the UK? Most responses to your thread seen firmly grounded in England. I think there are very different issues, particularly once you get north of the Central Belt.
*** while I was typing you posted again and it seems you're talking about the UK. Please read the rest of my post as written BEFORE I was clear about it!
If you are referring to Scotland then I'd say the main requirement is for simple facility-stops to service the motorhome. There are funding streams available for businesses and for communities to provide these, but it's a very time-consuming process that requires a degree of expertise in project planning, management, and funding applications.
Meanwhile LAs are closing remote public facilities or, where possible, passing them to community groups to manage - which usually works very well.

 

[CWH]

its pretty unnecessary to need to stop off in the UK as it ain't that big!

This confuses me no end. Surely motorhomes are for touring and therefore stop-overs are the norm?

 

[Simon Select]

This confuses me no end. Surely motorhomes are for touring and therefore stop-overs are the norm?

I said whilst travelling.......
Also depends on what you use the motorhome for. Personally I drive to campsite, I don't wild camp. If I did want to stop off then I would look at a Britstop.
With regards to the aires, its slightly different as you could potentially drive 1000 miles that was my reference to the uk.

 

[CWH]

I'm not trying to have an argument with you Simon! I asked the question to try to understand where you're coming from; now I know, thank you

depends on what you use the motorhome for

This is exactly what I mean - there may be no "need" for an overnight stop off but quite often there's a "want"!

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[gwyntaxi]

If there was sufficient demand in winter to make it economically viable more sites would stay open (provided that they have enough hard standing pitches rather than grass, plus a frost-proof water network).
In my experience very many commercial sites in France (even well down South) have a shorter opening season than do those in the U.K.

In the U.K. we just don't have the (unused) land available for Aires as they do, say, in France. Any scrap of land with permitted development is too valuable as housing, warehousing etc. to make it available for m/home parking.
It also seems to me that far more public car parks in the U.K. have height barriers than do those 'abroad'.

We are not necessarily asking for specific land to be made available for an aire/overnight parking facility, well I’m not, I think a lot of Motorhomers would be happy with the existing car par parks available with a nightly charge of say £5, if it has a toilet block it wouldn’t cost a fortune to install a chem. disposal point outside the block against the wall the comprises as many do of simply a toilet pan surrounded by bricks with a steel lid and adjacent tap on the wall, not exactly rocket science, and I don’t go along with the claim that it will attract the travelling community, they will always park anywhere they like, Our greatest opposition is the two major clubs and councillors who have interests in campsites, and dare I suggest caravanners who wouldn’t be allowed to use them and who don’t like the thought of us Motorhomes being able to park up for the night for a small fee whilst they have to pay £25–30+ per night, and with the relatively small numbers of councils that do allow Motorhomes to overnight park how many of those car parks are plagued by travellers?,very few if any, just saying.......better get prepared for the backlash to follow.

 

[monzer]

monzer when you refer to "this country" do you mean Scotland, or the whole of the UK? Most responses to your thread seen firmly grounded in England. I think there are very different issues, particularly once you get north of the Central Belt.
*** while I was typing you posted again and it seems you're talking about the UK. Please read the rest of my post as written BEFORE I was clear about it!
If you are referring to Scotland then I'd say the main requirement is for simple facility-stops to service the motorhome. There are funding streams available for businesses and for communities to provide these, but it's a very time-consuming process that requires a degree of expertise in project planning, management, and funding applications.
Meanwhile LAs are closing remote public facilities or, where possible, passing them to community groups to manage - which usually works very well.

I suppose I am talking about Scotland. The powers that cover this issue fall under regulations that have already been devolved to the Scottish Parliament so it is them that I need to address. Also the NC500 and other Scottish tourism routes are kind of central to the argument.

 

[Lenny HB]

With regards to the aires, its slightly different as you could potentially drive 1000 miles

Strange concept, we often drive less than 10 miles to the next Aire.

 

[gwyntaxi]

Weymouth Council tried very hard a few years ago to install an Aire but all the local campsites complained and they put it on hold indefinitely.

I wonder why.

 

[Mr porky]

We travel extensively in Europe but last year we had to be in the uk for a few months. This is fine in the summer but in the winter it becomes much more difficult but not insurmountable. We support councils like Chester and Helmsley who provide a no service overnight option. Plus we are members of the 2 big clubs although I do find the camc easier to use. Cls and cs can be a boon but are usually in the middle of nowhere. Brit stops have helped but the quality of the meals can be poor. The upshot is the uk is doable but it’s so much easier to motorhome on the continent. Unfortunately now we are now in the position of a 3 month on 3 month off for Europe because of brexit.

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[gwyntaxi]

Absolutely spot on. Unfortunately.

What has cars doing donuts, handbrake turns general vandalism and fly tipping, burnt out cars!,got to do with Motorhomers, I’ve yet to see a Motorhome doing virtually any of the above.

 

[CWH]

What has cars doing donuts, handbrake turns general vandalism and fly tipping, burnt out cars!,got to do with Motorhomers, I’ve yet to see a Motorhome doing virtually any of the above.

 

[Simon Select]

Strange concept, we often drive less than 10 miles to the next Aire.

I meant on your trip to your destination. If I meet my brother in Newhaven and go over to Dieppe for instance, we would get to Catalan Village the same day but it is heavy going. However that trip you could easily argue that its too far to travel in a day and for that an aire is perfect. However only being allowed a limited amount of time off, I would rather kill myself getting there and snooze on a beach with a beer!

 

[romany]

We travel extensively in Europe but last year we had to be in the uk for a few months. This is fine in the summer but in the winter it becomes much more difficult but not insurmountable. We support councils like Chester and Helmsley who provide a no service overnight option. Plus we are members of the 2 big clubs although I do find the camc easier to use. Cls and cs can be a boon but are usually in the middle of nowhere. Brit stops have helped but the quality of the meals can be poor. The upshot is the uk is doable but it’s so much easier to motorhome on the continent. Unfortunately now we are now in the position of a 3 month on 3 month off for Europe because of brexit.

why because of Brexit there is no difference at the moment

 

[Mr porky]

why because of Brexit there is no difference at the moment

Just looking towards the future

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[romany]

I meant on your trip to your destination. If I meet my brother in Newhaven and go over to Dieppe for instance, we would get to Catalan Village the same day but it is heavy going. However that trip you could easily argue that its too far to travel in a day and for that an aire is perfect. However only being allowed a limited amount of time off, I would rather kill myself getting there and snooze on a beach with a beer!

A classic post by two members that shows how different people like to do thing s differently I tend to be in between mileage wise on what Lenny and Simon do also depends on whether I am just pottering around or like Simon trying to get somewhere in a short time I also do not have the benefit of a physical second driver, verbal yes
Vive La Difference

 

[romany]

Just looking towards the future

I'm an optimist I don't think anything will change any way until it does I won't worry too short

 

[Simon Select]

A classic post by two members that shows how different people like to do thing s differently I tend to be in between mileage wise on what Lenny and Simon do also depends on whether I am just pottering around or like Simon trying to get somewhere in a short time I also do not have the benefit of a physical second driver, verbal yes
Vive La Difference

I can't wait to be retired, I would to make the journey part of the trip if that makes sense. I would love to be able to say to Rachel, look at this place, lets stay here tonight or I think there is some big Norman castle near hear thats not too far, lets stop at an aire and have a BBQ or go for some food!
In my role there is nothing worse than a customer telling me they are buying the van as they are going to get off the ferry and spend 6 months exploring, I am literally sat there thinking I hate you with pure jealousy dripping down my face!

 

[romany]

I can't wait to be retired, I would to make the journey part of the trip if that makes sense. I would love to be able to say to Rachel, look at this place, lets stay here tonight or I think there is some big Norman castle near hear thats not too far, lets stop at an aire and have a BBQ or go for some food!
In my role there is nothing worse than a customer telling me they are buying the van as they are going to get off the ferry and spend 6 months exploring, I am literally sat there thinking I hate you with pure jealousy dripping down my face!

It will Happen

 

[Northernraider]

This confuses me no end. Surely motorhomes are for touring and therefore stop-overs are the norm?

Not by the way they get built in Britain, no payload, can only travel with 10 litres of water etc.

Now if he sold hymers and cathargos instead of failey and someliving ...view might be different ?

But I doubt it

As said before anyone with connections to campsites, b&b's etc dont want free or low cost stopovers.....its all about the dosh not the lifestyle.

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[Simon Select]

Not by the way they get built in Britain, no payload, can only travel with 10 litres of water etc.

Now if he sold hymers and cathargos instead of failey and someliving ...view might be different ?

But I doubt it

As said before anyone with connections to campsites, b&b's etc dont want free or low cost stopovers.....its all about the dosh not the lifestyle.

Great post, actually LOL'd. Failey and Someliving - brilliant!

 

[Northernraider]

Personally I'm not fussed about Aires , car parks and wild spots do me just fine,

What I would like is emptying points for cassettes and water taps that's it
If they incorporated these at public toilets in some car parks perhaps with a barrier and ticket system where you pay a few quid to use the dump and fill and/or park that suits me fine

I've no desire to use campsites , cl's or any other place


I prefer to find my own , theres always ways to dispose of waste and to get water but proper places would be better

 

[Lenny HB]

I wonder why.

No reason for them to object most Motorhomes that use Aires aren't interested in using camp sites. I'm certainly not give me aire or wild spot any day.

 

[Oldgustaf]

I've only skimmed through this thread, so apologies if this has already been said:
Area of France = 549,970 sq. Km
Area of UK =241,930 sq. Km

Number of aires in France = 3,944 (source: Vicarious Media)
Number of CS's and CL's in UK = 3,600
That's just counting Camping & Caravanning Club and Caravan and Motorhome Club sites. There are several other exempted camping organisations that have CS's, eg. The Greener Camping Club.

Maths isn't a strong point but I think this equates to:
France 0.7 aires per 100 sq. Km
UK 1.4 CS's and CL's per 100 sq. Km

So UK has double the density of MH-friendly sites compared to France.

 

[Sid52]

But look at where they are.cls and css are rarely in walking or cycling distance from any attraction or amenity. Most French aires are just where you need them, in small villages, cities, coastal or near canals etc. Their location is a result of where the demand is and as a support for the local community.

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