aires in uk

[maureenandtom]

By the way, I've found something I can strongly disagree with - "because we all like rules". But you only said that as a wind-up, didn't you? Happy travels.

Yeah, ok, you got me. Just a little bit of a wind-up. But true enough nevertheless.

We like rules; we are disturbed by a lack of order. We so love our rules that we become disturbed if others defy them never mind defying them ourselves.

Andy, just now, says “Of course they will need to be regulated.” He didn't really need to say it because that's the British way. We want to be regimented, organised. If we don't have rules then we will invent them and woe betide anybody who disobeys the rules even if they're our own unwritten. invented rules.

A guy parks his van within the rules. He stays a little too long for us and we are disturbed by it. We say, “You're staying too long.” He says, “Well, I'm within the rules, what's the problem?” So we invent a rule that he should have known about all along. Don't stay too long. But we don't tell him how long is too long. He should know these things. We tell him, “You have to obey the rules even if they aren't written down and nobody knows what they are because we've just made them up.”

You see a rule that's just made up by somebody in a local authority and you think it's just a made up rule so you defy it. Well, you shouldn't. We have to obey even made up rules. We love our rules.

I sometimes wonder why but not for too long because I've been told time and again that I'll spoil things for the rest of us if I think too long about such things.

 

[AndyC]

I have no objection to paying ? to be where i want to be it's usally about £6 a day to park up but to then leave there and go and park on someone's field for 8hrs in the dark and pay for the privelage no way.

My take on a 'aires system' is that I will use ones which ARE where I want to be, so there is no need to leave and go and park somewhere else for the night. If there aren't any where I want to be then it's no different from the current situation, we have to drive off and find somewhere else for the night, be it a wild camping spot or campsite.

Alternatively I would use ones which were on the way to where I was going, as we do when travelling south through France, heading to warmer climes.

AndyC

 

[John H]

Yeah, ok, you got me. Just a little bit of a wind-up. But true enough nevertheless.

We like rules; we are disturbed by a lack of order. We so love our rules that we become disturbed if others defy them never mind defying them ourselves.

Andy, just now, says “Of course they will need to be regulated.” He didn't really need to say it because that's the British way. We want to be regimented, organised. If we don't have rules then we will invent them and woe betide anybody who disobeys the rules even if they're our own unwritten. invented rules.

A guy parks his van within the rules. He stays a little too long for us and we are disturbed by it. We say, “You're staying too long.” He says, “Well, I'm within the rules, what's the problem?” So we invent a rule that he should have known about all along. Don't stay too long. But we don't tell him how long is too long. He should know these things. We tell him, “You have to obey the rules even if they aren't written down and nobody knows what they are because we've just made them up.”

You see a rule that's just made up by somebody in a local authority and you think it's just a made up rule so you defy it. Well, you shouldn't. We have to obey even made up rules. We love our rules.

I sometimes wonder why but not for too long because I've been told time and again that I'll spoil things for the rest of us if I think too long about such things.

Depressing, isnt it? Maybe that's why Jenny and I choose to spend so much of our time on the mainland of Europe where they have a much more relaxed view of life. If you can't change the British obsessions, then move away from them is what I say! Happy Travels.

 

[Deleted member 775]

I don't think that having officially sanctioned 'non-campsite' places for motorhomes to stop overnight will have any effect on responsible wild campers, particularly those like Old Arthur who arrive late and leave early.

They will however be a boon to people like us who want to be able to stay overnight legally close to the place we want to be. They will enable us to enjoy local ameneties without worrying whether we are going to be moved on in the middle of the night or going to get a fine for being in the wrong place.

Powys seem to have it right, which is why we go there as often as we do. It's great that we can park virtually in the middle of Brecon, Hay-on-Wye, Machynlleth, etc and walk into town for some shopping during the day, and a drink or two in the evening, without being concerned about having to get back to a campsite that may be miles away and which charges us for facilities that we don't need.

Having 'aires' in the UK won't stop us wild camping from time to time, nor will it stop us from using campsites or CL/CS sites when we need to. I see them as a sort of half-way house between regulated sites and unregulated wild camping, giving motorhome users a bit more choice about where we can stay.

AndyC

i agree powys are exelent and seem to understand some of the needs of motorhomers by allowing an overnight stay and i for one have thanked them . bridgend also even though they dont advertise the fact will not prevent a motorhome staying over on its car parks i think the main need is for the council areas that actively prevent us from overnighting ,these are the ones i am talking about . wild camping in quiet secluded areas will always be avalable and i dont think will be put under threat the thing about providing a area in every city for us to service our vans i.e tolet disposal is something else

 

[Deleted member 775]

No, it won't. But it has put into words a little niggle I've had in the back of my mind for quite a long time.

It won't stop us wild-camping but it might be a small deterrent in that it gives officialdom another reason to move us on - “Now look. You wanted Aires and we've provided one just a few miles over there. Now move along, please.”

That might lead to a booking system. The French Aire at Balaruc near Sete had a council run booking system two years ago. Not sure if it was in use this year. I was there in February and there were only a few vans using it. But in July and August? If the council ban parking elsewhere and it's full?

That might lead to people getting a parking place and then being reluctant to move in case they lose their spot, yes? That already happens all over the place. Somebody going shopping so they put a traffic cone in “their” place or put out their table and chairs to show “their” place is occupied.

The council will then want to regulate it. And because we like rules, we will want them to regualte it. Then they will want to charge administrative fees. Then they will want to make a decent profit from it. Then it will be a campsite.

Not everything about proposed English Aires is good.

i can see your point about uk aires having a downside one is the fear that once one aire no matter how small it is and lets face it it will be the minimum they can get away with at maximum price , it will give the council an excuse to clamp down on propper wilding .this i why i am in favor of getting recognition for our rights to wild untroubled after all there are plenty of cc.l sites i beleve they are called that for a small fee, you can servies your needs, probably the same as an aire would cost and may i say not vandalised needled up and unkempt as the councils one will unfortunatle get, as our ways of treating nice things we are given differ to the europeans mentality of looking after an asset

 

[Deleted member 775]

I'm not used to posting on threads where I agree with everybody - maybe I need to go and lie down for a bit!

Good luck to all wherever you choose to stop for the night.

goes to prove we all live and learn i rest my case milud