Pitlochry bans all overnight parking

[Fisherman]

Just read this and this sets a new low for us in my honest opinion.
For years we have been treated like scum by some local councils. They have used the gypsy argument, the anti social behaviour argument, the we empty our cassettes as a norm into streams and waterway argument, now they fear for our safety argument. Yes it would be preferable for us to be 6m apart, but in the REAL world that simply is not feasible. Take lochore in fife, how could such spacing ever be achieved whilst making Lochore viable, quite frankly it couldn’t. We were up in Ullapool a few weeks ago, the Highland council carpark has spaces marked out for motorhomes cheek by jowl, the same for HGVs.

Apparently we can stay the night, so long as you don’t sleep, cook, or set any fires. These clowns put the same signs up years ago in Calendar and they are rightly ignored. I know Pitlochry well, our favourite hill is just up the road in Moulin, I have done Ben V’rake more times than any other hill, I have spent a fortune on meals and drinks in the Moulin Inn, no more. If the owner of the Inn gets to read this, you know who to blame.

Just think, if every other council in the U.K. applied this as rigidly it would mean the end of such activity. Thousands would lose their jobs, and the treasury would lose out in billions of revenue.

The only good news here is some are up in arms at these measures, now that makes a change, maybe room for some optimism.

Councillor blames fire threat for 'unwelcoming' Pitlochry campervan signs​

Motorhomes parked in Pitlochry regularly breach Scottish Fire and Rescue guidance.

www.thecourier.co.uk

 

[caledonia]

Just read this and this sets a new low for us in my honest opinion.
For years we have been treated like scum by some local councils. They have used the gypsy argument, the anti social behaviour argument, the we empty our cassettes as a norm into streams and waterway argument, now they fear for our safety argument. Yes it would be preferable for us to be 6m apart, but in the REAL world that simply is not feasible. Take lochore in fife, how could such spacing ever be achieved whilst making Lochore viable, quite frankly it couldn’t.

Just think, if every other council in the U.K. applied this as rigidly it would mean the end of such activity. Thousands would lose their jobs, and the treasury would lose out in billions of revenue.

The only good news here is some are up in arms at these measures, now that makes a change, maybe room for some optimism.

Councillor blames fire threat for 'unwelcoming' Pitlochry campervan signs​

Motorhomes parked in Pitlochry regularly breach Scottish Fire and Rescue guidance.

www.thecourier.co.uk

Looking at the picture I understand their fears. No way would I park somewhere like that. It looks like a storage compound.

 

[Fisherman]

Looking at the picture I understand their fears. No way would I park somewhere like that. It looks like a storage compound.

I have seen similar parking in the most remote places Cal. We were in Stromeferry in a similar situation, the wilds of Ardenamurchan, I have seen similar parking in Torridon in the small carpark where the famous stag Calum frequents. Also that photo you refer to took place during covid, on Hogmanay. It was very much a one off. I have been alone in the ferry road carpark at night, why did no one bother to get up in the early hours and take a photo of us and plaster it all over the internet. There were other measures possible, but as usual out comes the lazy heavy handed approach. Also I know busy towns are not your cup of tea, but for many others it’s what they enjoy most.

 

[caledonia]

I have seen similar parking in the most remote places Cal. We were in Stromeferry in a similar situation, the wilds of Ardenamurchan, I have seen similar parking in Torridon in the small carpark where the famous stag Calum frequents. Also that photo you refer to took place during covid, on Hogmanay. It was very much a one off. I have been alone in the ferry road carpark at night, why did no one bother to get up in the early hours and take a photo of us and plaster it all over the internet. There were other measures possible, but as usual out comes the lazy heavy handed approach. Also I know busy towns are not your cup of tea, but for many others it’s what they enjoy most.

I have also stayed in that carpark many times but if I turned up and there a few vans already parked I would find another spot. I understand that some feel fine to park up like that but it does look like the tinkers have moved in. It’s motorhomes clogging up beauty spot car parks that gets the locals backs up. The Torridon car park at the Ling Hut is very popular with walkers and turning up to walk the hills only to find the carpark turned into an unofficial aire doesn’t go down well. I totally understand what you are saying Bill but responsible considerate motorhome owners seem to be the minority these days and unfortunately the majority seem to be spoiling things for us.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Councillor blames fire threat for 'unwelcoming' Pitlochry campervan signs

Motorhomes parked in Pitlochry regularly breach Scottish Fire and Rescue guidance.

www.thecourier.co.uk

 

[Wully]

We planned to stop there a few weeks back seen the signs very bold and noticeable with bright red text. As you say we left and took our money elsewhere. Stopped there many times just as an overnighter arrived late and left early. That photo looks terrible if I came across that I would just drive on.

 

[barryd]

I Also wouldnt stay there if it looked remotely like that picture. I suspect they used the worst example they could find but thats ridiculous. Not only does it look grim but if that car park is also used by locals and visitors in cars no wonder they are pissed off. A better solution would have been to provide maybe half a dozen designated spots for motorhomes only. First come first served and if you park anywhere else or cram in its a sixty quid fine.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

The news item says Ferry Lane car park, Google isn't aware of it, Ferry Rd yes.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.co.uk

 

[mark61]

I've stayed in worse places on Hogmanay.
Well, I've woken up in worse places I should say.

 

[Fisherman]

I have also stayed in that carpark many times but if I turned up and there a few vans already parked I would find another spot. I understand that some feel fine to park up like that but it does look like the tinkers have moved in. It’s motorhomes clogging up beauty spot car parks that gets the locals backs up. The Torridon car park at the Ling Hut is very popular with walkers and turning up to walk the hills only to find the carpark turned into an unofficial aire doesn’t go down well. I totally understand what you are saying Bill but responsible considerate motorhome owners seem to be the minority these days and unfortunately the majority seem to be spoiling things for us.

Cal we turned up at stromeferry and we were alone until about 7ish. Then they started to come in. I had to ask a French man to leave because he was preventing us from getting out. And to be fair to the man he politely apologised and left. Its not always the case that you turn up and its busy, sometimes it just gets busy after you turned up. you have had a glass or two and you are stuck. I know you have stayed at Stromeferry, it was you who pointed it out to me on here. I have stopped at the Ferry road carpark several times summer and winter and I have never seen more than four or five vans. That photo is completely misleading, and should never be used to condemn us in any way. Twice in winter we have spent the night there alone. But off course there are far to many vans there, no one is arguing against that point.
I know you don't have a van right now Cal (Time you did mate) but things have gotten a whole lot worse since covid. Even myself can see a difference from when I started in 2016 to how it is now. You may well find things a bit more difficult than you did before.
This yet again is a lazy council putting up idiotic signs saying you can spend the night but don't sleep

 

[Fisherman]

I've stayed in worse places on Hogmanay.
Well, I've woken up in worse places I should say.

Mark when you woke up, did someone give you an Easter egg

 

[barryd]

Cal we turned up at stromeferry and we were alone until about 7ish. Then they started to come in. I had to ask a French man to leave because he was preventing us from getting out. And to be fair to the man he politely apologised and left. Its not always the case that you turn up and its busy, sometimes it just gets busy after you turned up. you have had a glass or two and you are stuck. I know you have stayed at Stromeferry, it was you who pointed it out to me on here. I have stopped at the Ferry road carpark several times summer and winter and I have never seen more than four or five vans. That photo is completely misleading, and should never be used to condemn us in any way. Twice in winter we have spent the night there alone. But off course there are far to many vans there, no one is arguing against that point.
I know you don't have a van right now Cal (Time you did mate) but things have gotten a whole lot worse since covid. Even myself can see a difference from when I started in 2016 to how it is now. You may well find things a bit more difficult than you did before.
This yet again is a lazy council putting up idiotic signs saying you can spend the night but don't sleep

I think this only emphasises my point more that there needs to be designated parking bays in car parks like this. Some motorhomers are thoughtless and will just continue to cram in no matter what. Like you say a spot might be empty when you arrive so you think great! Crack open the wine. In they then come (probably having spotted you) until its full. The simple answer is to put aside a handful of spaces for Motorhomes. A little Aire if you like. Ultimately Aires probably are the answer as these people are not going to go away and I doubt all of them will suddenly heard themselves onto campsites.

 

[Wully]

I was at loch Katrine last weekend the pitch is £10 a night with huge marked out motorhome sections. A French van tried to squeeze in between me and the van in the plot next to me that was occupied this French guy clearly didn’t know you had to pre book witch I had done. After the office had closed the smaller what I’d call day vans started arriving and just parking anywhere they pleased. I packed up and left headed round to the drovers inn. I told the French guy to move on to my pitch. He clearly didn’t know the rules but the mob that came in after the office closed clearly did all the younger build a van out of pallets and fairy liquid bottles brigade.

 

[Fisherman]

I think this only emphasises my point more that there needs to be designated parking bays in car parks like this. Some motorhomers are thoughtless and will just continue to cram in no matter what. Like you say a spot might be empty when you arrive so you think great! Crack open the wine. In they then come (probably having spotted you) until its full. The simple answer is to put aside a handful of spaces for Motorhomes. A little Aire if you like. Ultimately Aires probably are the answer as these people are not going to go away and I doubt all of them will suddenly heard themselves onto campsites.

I agree Barry, but some will simply park up regardless. Look at fife they allow 7 Vans at Ely, I left one night after counting over 20, I was parked in a designated bay, but I wanted not to be part of this. We headed for Craigmead instead, and spent the night on our own. Sadly as wullie pointed out there are too many selfish bar stewards amongst us with their selfish attitudes spoiling it for the majority. Locals don’t remember folk like us Barry, they remember the idiots, then tarr us all with the same brush.

 

[runnach]

Easy solution, although a cost to setting up, and for example. The aire at Avignon is barrier controlled for entry and exit. 30 vehicles max, when full barrier won’t open until a space is available.

On entry a ticket is dispensed, on exit I punch in ticket code number, I then follow instructions to pay by card. A stay of 48hours max allowed, which cost 19€, 16 £. Oh Ehu and water included.
Simples.

 

[barryd]

Then the councils need to enforce the rules and ticket anyone breaking them. £60 fine might focus a few bad parkers. Reminds me of the pandemic. Townies thought they could come up to the upper Dales and block the one main road through upper Teesdale so they could wreck the countryside. They pretty much blocked the road with their cars so an Ambulance couldnt get through to an accident. Within days the whole stretch was double yellowed and fines issued. It stopped overnight.

 

[Wully]

But it’s that old thing again about describing wild camping or motorhome parking. Parking in a carpark or similar in any busy holiday town is a privilege and shouldn’t be abused and most people with motorhomes don’t but there’s a new breed that I’ve noticed over the last couple of years that only like to park somewhere if it’s free and slap bang in the middle of a town they are new to this and don’t have the knowledge yet to go off and find the wee nukes and crannies that take years of experience they just head out every weekend to a different town centre car park stay two nights then head home. It’s over run out there its actually scary how many motorhomes you see heading up the A82 or A9 on a daily basis.

 

[Fisherman]

But it’s that old thing again about describing wild camping or motorhome parking. Parking in a carpark or similar in any busy holiday town is a privilege and shouldn’t be abused and most people with motorhomes don’t but there’s a new breed that I’ve noticed over the last couple of years that only like to park somewhere if it’s free and slap bang in the middle of a town they are new to this and don’t have the knowledge yet to go off and find the wee nukes and crannies that take years of experience they just head out every weekend to a different town centre car park stay two nights then head home. It’s over run out there its actually scary how many motorhomes you see heading up the A82 or A9 on a daily basis.

Another issue even more worrying wullie is hired vans, I have never seen as many as I have this year. When I started this seven years ago they were quite rare, now I would say that roughly 20% of the vans I have spotted are hired.

 

[Obanboy666]

Just read this and this sets a new low for us in my honest opinion.
For years we have been treated like scum by some local councils. They have used the gypsy argument, the anti social behaviour argument, the we empty our cassettes as a norm into streams and waterway argument, now they fear for our safety argument. Yes it would be preferable for us to be 6m apart, but in the REAL world that simply is not feasible. Take lochore in fife, how could such spacing ever be achieved whilst making Lochore viable, quite frankly it couldn’t. We were up in Ullapool a few weeks ago, the Highland council carpark has spaces marked out for motorhomes cheek by jowl, the same for HGVs.

Apparently we can stay the night, so long as you don’t sleep, cook, or set any fires. These clowns put the same signs up years ago in Calendar and they are rightly ignored. I know Pitlochry well, our favourite hill is just up the road in Moulin, I have done Ben V’rake more times than any other hill, I have spent a fortune on meals and drinks in the Moulin Inn, no more. If the owner of the Inn gets to read this, you know who to blame.

Just think, if every other council in the U.K. applied this as rigidly it would mean the end of such activity. Thousands would lose their jobs, and the treasury would lose out in billions of revenue.

The only good news here is some are up in arms at these measures, now that makes a change, maybe room for some optimism.

Councillor blames fire threat for 'unwelcoming' Pitlochry campervan signs​

Motorhomes parked in Pitlochry regularly breach Scottish Fire and Rescue guidance.

www.thecourier.co.uk

Who in their right mind would park up there, not me for one. As mentioned earlier it looks like a storage compound.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

There is an easy solution to most problems as mentioned already on here, the problem is there needs to be the will to even consider implementing them by the councils and landowners.