We are unwelcome in Woodbridge!!

[jongood]

It is a shame that UK isnt better placed to take advantage of the boom in MH sales. IMO one of the biggest obstacles is the Caravan Club. Whenever an organisation (NT for example) is asked, they consult the Caravan Club who use fear to convince them that they re better off leaving it to them to accommodate on their overpriced, badly located and restrictive sites - not quite the freedom that the adverts portray.

 

[GJH]

It is a shame that UK isnt better placed to take advantage of the boom in MH sales. IMO one of the biggest obstacles is the Caravan Club. Whenever an organisation (NT for example) is asked, they consult the Caravan Club who use fear to convince them that they re better off leaving it to them to accommodate on their overpriced, badly located and restrictive sites - not quite the freedom that the adverts portray.

I've seen posts saying similar in the past but have never been shown one of the documents which the CAMC apparently uses to try to incite fear in others.
Do you have an example you can post please?

 

[Mike Rivers]

We’re just not geared up mentally for motorhoming, and in general, travel incentives to bring in extra business for the local area. France has a network of Aires as we all know and reasonably priced municipal sites. Germany gives you free bus and train travel if you choose the Black Forest, whilst Luxembourg gives you free bus travel, all paid for no doubt by the extra income that visitors generate.

Nope, we don’t see it that way at all. Rules is rules so sod off and take your business elsewhere. Well, after much deliberation I’ve decided I will!!!

 

[Puddleduck]

As with any contract, when we enter into it then it is up to us to decide that we understand the terms. Nobody forces anyone to use their car parks.

Of course at a hospital car park one really doesn't have a choice as alternative parking may be too far away and public transport not a viable option. (e.g. Phone call at 2 am "Your relative is dying, can you get here asap?")

An example - Parking Eye operates the car parks at North Tees Hospital and the Blue Badge holder has to register for a disabled space with the security office - which is too far to walk / wheel for a 92 year old when the ward visited is as far from the security office as it is possible to be. The payment machines at the entry which serves the elderly care wards are usually broken and when they are working don't take cards (even though they say they do, I was told out of date signs when I complained). Most people don't have 12 x £1 coins on them to pay for parking........... and even when I did the coins were rejected as the machine was full!!!!! Also try to find someone in the Security Office when it is closed and locked over night!

Sorry Graham GJH I know we are getting away from LA controlled parking but sometimes there is no choice but to accept terms set by others.

 

[iandsm]

Of course at a hospital car park one really doesn't have a choice as alternative parking may be too far away and public transport not a viable option. (e.g. Phone call at 2 am "Your relative is dying, can you get here asap?")

An example - Parking Eye operates the car parks at North Tees Hospital and the Blue Badge holder has to register for a disabled space with the security office - which is too far to walk / wheel for a 92 year old when the ward visited is as far from the security office as it is possible to be. The payment machines at the entry which serves the elderly care wards are usually broken and when they are working don't take cards (even though they say they do, I was told out of date signs when I complained). Most people don't have 12 x £1 coins on them to pay for parking........... and even when I did the coins were rejected as the machine was full!!!!! Also try to find someone in the Security Office when it is closed and locked over night!

Sorry Graham GJH I know we are getting away from LA controlled parking but sometimes there is no choice but to accept terms set by others.

That's very true I recently had that experience. My wife was taken as an emergency to our local hospital and of course I visited each day of the week she was there, sometime twice per day. Public transport was a non starter so the only option was to use the hospital car park, each visit costing between £3 and £7 pounds, it wasn't a cheap week but I had no choice but to accept their terms and conditions.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[steve69]

Phew we are only 5.4 mtrs

Be careful - it might have expanded in the hot weather when the council come to measure it.

 

[VXman]

.....whilst Luxembourg gives you free bus travel, all paid for no doubt by the extra income that visitors generate.

Luxembourg has free public transport for all. Nothing to do with visitors. It's designed to keep cars out of a very small and busy city. It's a very wealthy county due mostly to it's finance sector and encouraged by it's very favourable tax rates for business and the rich.

It is good though. We parked the motorhome just outside the city last November, free parking for 24 hours, free bus to the centre, free trams around the city. Great place to visit.

 

[Coolcats]

We’re just not geared up mentally for motorhoming, and in general, travel incentives to bring in extra business for the local area. France has a network of Aires as we all know and reasonably priced municipal sites. Germany gives you free bus and train travel if you choose the Black Forest, whilst Luxembourg gives you free bus travel, all paid for no doubt by the extra income that visitors generate.

Nope, we don’t see it that way at all. Rules is rules so sod off and take your business elsewhere. Well, after much deliberation I’ve decided I will!!!

In Germany there are many municipal companies in the U.K. there are very few. The question is what type of society do we want how should it be structured, and how to pay for it.

As many things in the U.K. have been privatised whose owners look at the short term and bottom line I think we can see how this affects us all.

There is no such thing as a free lunch but if companies here were far more municipal I think we would see a difference.

 

[InvictaMoto]

We are off to Suffolk tomorrow and staying in three different Caravan Club CL's. I had discounted Woodbridge anyway as have been before and the parking jobsworth at one car-park seemed to be looking for trouble checking cars were exactly in the rectangular spaces... Car not Moho.

Will find other places to go and spend money.

 

[GJH]

Of course at a hospital car park one really doesn't have a choice as alternative parking may be too far away and public transport not a viable option. (e.g. Phone call at 2 am "Your relative is dying, can you get here asap?")

An example - Parking Eye operates the car parks at North Tees Hospital and the Blue Badge holder has to register for a disabled space with the security office - which is too far to walk / wheel for a 92 year old when the ward visited is as far from the security office as it is possible to be. The payment machines at the entry which serves the elderly care wards are usually broken and when they are working don't take cards (even though they say they do, I was told out of date signs when I complained). Most people don't have 12 x £1 coins on them to pay for parking........... and even when I did the coins were rejected as the machine was full!!!!! Also try to find someone in the Security Office when it is closed and locked over night!

Sorry Graham GJH I know we are getting away from LA controlled parking but sometimes there is no choice but to accept terms set by others.

You don't say when the event occurred but I have experience of North Tees from when my Father-in-law was in there a few years ago (including when he died there). Also Tameside Hospital when my Father was taken in a few days before he died.
I agree that in such emergency circumstances one doesn't have much choice. However my point was in relation to general use of car parks in circumstances in which we do have a choice, which was the subject under discussion.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TDub49]

I've seen posts saying similar in the past but have never been shown one of the documents which the CAMC apparently uses to try to incite fear in others.
Do you have an example you can post please?

Normally, the acronym "IMO" is synonymous with "I don't have any evidence but I feel in my water . . ."

 

[Puddleduck]

You don't say when the event occurred but I have experience of North Tees from when my Father-in-law was in there a few years ago (including when he died there). Also Tameside Hospital when my Father was taken in a few days before he died.
I agree that in such emergency circumstances one doesn't have much choice. However my point was in relation to general use of car parks in circumstances in which we do have a choice, which was the subject under discussion.

Last year.

 

[Puddleduck]

I've had a reply from East Suffolk Council. Basically they say with a Blue Badge I have other options - they suggest on street parking as long as the vehicle fits within a marked space. There is no consideration as to danger by egress from the vehicle into traffic.

 

[GJH]

Last year.

FiL died 4 and a half years ago so maybe changed since then.

 

[GJH]

I've had a reply from East Suffolk Council. Basically they say with a Blue Badge I have other options - they suggest on street parking as long as the vehicle fits within a marked space. There is no consideration as to danger by egress from the vehicle into traffic.

I suppose egress danger would be reduced by parking to enable leaving the vehicle on the footpath.
Somewhat ironic, I suppose, given that the council policy was (in part at least) aimed at reducing danger within car parks.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[jongood]

Normally, the acronym "IMO" is synonymous with "I don't have any evidence but I feel in my water . . ."

In this case I have recounted many times my experiences with approaching National Trust and Visit Britain to try and get them involved in providing overnight parking for Mh's, sadly because it happened about 10 years and 2 house moves ago, I no longer have the responses, GJH knows this but chooses not to accept it as an answer.

 

[Puddleduck]

I suppose egress danger would be reduced by parking to enable leaving the vehicle on the footpath.
Somewhat ironic, I suppose, given that the council policy was (in part at least) aimed at reducing danger within car parks.

No way to egress onto a footpath unless there is a dropped kerb - which would then be blocked. Blocking a dropped kerb is at the very least anti-social and may be illegal ???

A standard kerb would foul/jam the ramp.

 

[GJH]

In this case I have recounted many times my experiences with approaching National Trust and Visit Britain to try and get them involved in providing overnight parking for Mh's, sadly because it happened about 10 years and 2 house moves ago, I no longer have the responses, GJH knows this but chooses not to accept it as an answer.

I have read thousands of posts of MotorhomeFun over the last 16 years.
I don't recall any specific proof of any documents which the CAMC apparently uses to try to incite fear in others.

 

[Nanniemate]

I have read thousands of posts of MotorhomeFun over the last 16 years.
I don't recall any specific proof of any documents which the CAMC apparently uses to try to incite fear in others.

Have you not read the instructions PARK BY THE POST the thought terrifies me

 

[TDub49]

In this case I have recounted many times my experiences with approaching National Trust and Visit Britain to try and get them involved in providing overnight parking for Mh's, sadly because it happened about 10 years and 2 house moves ago, I no longer have the responses, GJH knows this but chooses not to accept it as an answer.

Oh okay. So both the NT and Visit Britain told you in writing that the "Caravan Club says no" so they can't entertain the idea? Seems a bit weird that two organisations with quite a bit of clout behind them would cave to that kind of response but perhaps it was/is the easy way out for them to shift the blame to someone else and leave it to the general public to form their own conclusions as to why. It is not as if offering overnight stays is not without its problems and perhaps they just don't want the hassle?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Indy259]

Puddleduck You would have a problem finding a marked space on the road in Woodbridge. I love Woodbridge but I leave my MH at home or take the car.

 

[Coolcats]

Puddleduck You would have a problem finding a marked space on the road in Woodbridge. I love Woodbridge but I leave my MH at home or take the car.

How sensible, using a car and park in a car park many may not realise the carparks are much in demand and fairly tight, along with fairly narrow streets. One poster mentioned the carpark near the windmill, that can be an option and then walk in to town.

 

[Puddleduck]

How sensible, using a car and park in a car park many may not realise the carparks are much in demand and fairly tight, along with fairly narrow streets. One poster mentioned the carpark near the windmill, that can be an option and then walk in to town.

It would be lovely if I could walk!!!!

 

[Nanniemate]

Is NT not piloting overnight at some locations?

 

[jongood]

Oh okay. So both the NT and Visit Britain told you in writing that the "Caravan Club says no" so they can't entertain the idea? Seems a bit weird that two organisations with quite a bit of clout behind them would cave to that kind of response but perhaps it was/is the easy way out for them to shift the blame to someone else and leave it to the general public to form their own conclusions as to why. It is not as if offering overnight stays is not without its problems and perhaps they just don't want the hassle?

Both organisations consulted the Caravan Club who advised against it.

I suppose it depends what you think the Caravan clubs role should be, Is it:

1, to help bring increased choice and representation to benefit its members?
2, To protect the £100m income from its campsites?
3, Something else.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[GJH]

Both organisations consulted the Caravan Club who advised against it.

A rather different form of words from

they consult the Caravan Club who use fear to convince them that they re better off leaving it to them

That the CAMC has opposed developments in some areas is well known. That they ever "use fear" is not.

The statement attributed to the CAMC in this article "Where demand for overnight stays exceeds the current provision for organised camping, we would welcome local authorities providing designated areas available for this, rather than imposing a simple ban on overnight parking which will just move the ‘problem’ elsewhere." does not indicate the use of fear tactics.

 

[jongood]

A rather different form of words from


That the CAMC has opposed developments in some areas is well known. That they ever "use fear" is not.

The statement attributed to the CAMC in this article "Where demand for overnight stays exceeds the current provision for organised camping, we would welcome local authorities providing designated areas available for this, rather than imposing a simple ban on overnight parking which will just move the ‘problem’ elsewhere." does not indicate the use of fear tactics.

This pedantry is now getting tiresome.

 

[andykim]

Maybe the poor Swan is confused about where it fits in sexually so is just waiting to see where it fits in the spectrum?

 

[prenteye]

East Suffolk Council may be the most enlightened local authority on the planet but they could do better.

Yes, a moho takes up a lot of space but what makes a car any more important?

Good management would accept mohos and whoosh bangers are more commonplace and better to make available lawful parking than having us on the side of a road.

Every national trust property we have visited has been really good at providing a sensible place to park. Staff and volunteers go out of their way to guide you to a suitable spot. It’s good for them and for us.

Dorchester has Moho parking in town centre as does Winchester. Both are easy to check on their website before setting off.

ESC may not have space on their signs to say what is allowed but that’s probably because they have a whole essay of incomprehensible writing on the signs. Their website is equally ‘enlightened’

They seem to have spent more time getting excited about the parking app than informing clearly and simply what is and isn’t allowed and where.

Btw Sizewell Beach is closed to over 5.5m vans because the grass gets boggy and people get stuck. So it’s a priority for a car/suv to get stuck than a moho.

This car park never gets overloaded even on an august bank holiday weekend.

I could legally park on the road but that isn’t good for us, pedestrians, people who live in the houses and other road users - so we don’t do it.

ESC could and should provide a bit more moho parking and make it easy to find on their website - so if eg I put Woodbridge motorhome parking it should easily come up with the options.

Local authority parking can be well managed but the will seems lacking in East Suffolk

 

[Barti Ddu]

Local authority parking can be well managed but the will seems lacking in East Suffolk

Yes. It's not rocket science. This is how Powys CC do it.

Car Park Charges - Powys County Council

en.powys.gov.uk

Easy to see which carparks accommodate motorhomes. They also let you stay overnight for free in some!

Why can't every local authority do something similar?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}