Are councils finally getting it?

[mistericeman]

To be honest I'm growing weary of reading all the doom and gloom both on Facebook and on forums (including on here)
It's getting very repetitive with the same posts about the same negativity....
I try desperately not to read it or at the very least absorb it....

BUT I'm getting to the point of stopping using Facebook and forums and just going back heading off and keeping my head down....
Yes there are idiots in all walks of life (though to be fair I've met very few in real life... Though I do studiously avoid folks as much as possible)

Time to head off back to the real world for me I reckon.

 

[trevskoda]

Just me folk everywhere, once a while back at Antrim hospital a chap in a big 4/4 came into carpark and stopped at bottom on a one way ring blocking me and about 3 cars behind, let the wife out but started to have a fag and feck everyone else trying to get on round and either park or exit, horns started to hoot and of course I got the one finger salute, I shouted out to him on the problem but no movement, next I spied the parking enforcement man heading over, some f ing and fist waving before he shot off to find a proper space, I parked two or 3 spaces away only to get the normal crap of il have you done scumbag, this is what normal folk are up against.

 

[caledonia]

To be honest I'm growing weary of reading all the doom and gloom both on Facebook and on forums (including on here)
It's getting very repetitive with the same posts about the same negativity....
I try desperately not to read it or at the very least absorb it....

BUT I'm getting to the point of stopping using Facebook and forums and just going back heading off and keeping my head down....
Yes there are idiots in all walks of life (though to be fair I've met very few in real life... Though I do studiously avoid folks as much as possible)

Time to head off back to the real world for me I reckon.

I think that’s the right attitude. Don’t give a monkeys about what other people are doing and just get out and enjoy what your doing. Still plenty places out there if you know where to look.

 

[trevskoda]

Problem is there ar too many m homes sold in the last few years, two have landed in driveways at the top of my street, and nearly every street has at least one these days.

 

[Wully]

That’ll be all the stolen ones from over here they ended up at the top of Trevs street

 

[trevskoda]

That’ll be all the stolen ones from over here they ended up at the top of Trevs street

Beats working.

 

[barge1914]

Good post Geoff but £10 to empty your toilet is sheer robbery.
The CCC offer three hours on some of their sites to members where you can also shower for around £7.

I used the dump point at Dornoch in October, it was actually £7.

 

[Fisherman]

I used the dump point at Dornoch in October, it was actually £7.

Check out post 86, and subsequent posts. I have never been to Dornoch.
But for what it’s worth, I reckon that’s £2 to much. They should be encouraging people to use this facility not ripping them off.

 

[Norfolk NewBoy]

I visited Dornoch a few years ago: lovely views, peaceful, quiet but several folk coming and going. I got talking to an "oldish" woman who was touring Scotland (as she does every year) in an estate car with a mattress in the back and had spent the night in the carpark. Obviously, no facilities. However, presumably she would be welcome .

Gordon

 

[Norfolk NewBoy]

Are you certain of your facts?

If you read the replies by posters on here then we do spend money while away in our vans.

I certainly spend money whilst away in my van BUT I rarely (if ever) go to restaurants. BUT I don't do that at home neither.

I buy fuel and food, despite carrying some with me: I guess that I bring back as many tins as I take and often buy dry goods as we go along. I replenish my alcohol supplies and I purchase far more "coffee & cakes" than I would if not travelling. I visit museums and other tourist attractions whereas at home I have season tickets for places which I frequent. I cannot imagine that very many folk have sufficient supplies to last an entire week, let alone a month: perhaps those who go for weekends can be self-sufficient.

When abroad we almost invariably buy things from itinerant suppliers who bring bread & pastries, fruit & vegetables, wines & beers. I don't recall meeting such entrepreneurs in UK.

So I would say yes: the vast majority of motorhomers will contribute to the economy of the places they visit. Hopefully, like me, they also donate to honesty box schemes to pay for overnight parking.

Gordon

 

[alcam]

Are you certain of your facts?

If you read the replies by posters on here then we do spend money while away in our vans. It is worth remembering that the regular posters on this forum are just a tiny minority of the membership. The vast majority do not post and so we have no idea of their habits. There are even non members who lurk on here and glean useful information free of charge.

Then there are the van owners who never go near forums, have no worries about where they park up and behave badly. That is why nearly all coastal areas have restrictions and/or height barriers. We have all read the horror stories about lines of motorhomes on Promenades and the owners behaving badly.

I have seen enough bad and thoughtless behaviour to believe that it is not a tiny minority, it is bigger than that. Strangely enough the 'spend nowt' brigade often do have the newest and biggest motorhomes. I have spoken to enough of both types to see that they seem to think they are doing nothing wrong. It seems to be the way of the world these days where nobody considers their actions or the results of such actions. It used to make me angry but I now accept that it is not intentional bad manners, it is done unconciously, a common trend in all walks of life these days.

Sadly I think you are correct regarding general behaviour
As far as spending goes it appears to me , I think logically , people on campsites spend less in the community than those who are 'parked up'.
Think it applies to hotels v. self catering too

 

[trevskoda]

I visited Dornoch a few years ago: lovely views, peaceful, quiet but several folk coming and going. I got talking to an "oldish" woman who was touring Scotland (as she does every year) in an estate car with a mattress in the back and had spent the night in the carpark. Obviously, no facilities. However, presumably she would be welcome .

Gordon

What happens if she got caught short in the night.

 

[GeoffL]

I used the dump point at Dornoch in October, it was actually £7.

I got that £11 fee from their 2022 tariff page: http://dornochcaravans.co.uk/index.php?id=tariff

 

[Fisherman]

I got that £11 fee from their 2022 tariff page: http://dornochcaravans.co.uk/index.php?id=tariff

Thanks Geoff, these folk are rip of merchants. £11 to empty a cassette, and refill water is scandalous. When we go to Arran it’s free, but we always put a fiver in their donation (not honesty) box. I suppose if you are desperate you may well just have to pay it. But some won’t, and we all know what this may lead to.

 

[Fisherman]

I certainly spend money whilst away in my van BUT I rarely (if ever) go to restaurants. BUT I don't do that at home neither.

I buy fuel and food, despite carrying some with me: I guess that I bring back as many tins as I take and often buy dry goods as we go along. I replenish my alcohol supplies and I purchase far more "coffee & cakes" than I would if not travelling. I visit museums and other tourist attractions whereas at home I have season tickets for places which I frequent. I cannot imagine that very many folk have sufficient supplies to last an entire week, let alone a month: perhaps those who go for weekends can be self-sufficient.

When abroad we almost invariably buy things from itinerant suppliers who bring bread & pastries, fruit & vegetables, wines & beers. I don't recall meeting such entrepreneurs in UK.

So I would say yes: the vast majority of motorhomers will contribute to the economy of the places they visit. Hopefully, like me, they also donate to honesty box schemes to pay for overnight parking.

Gordon

Fife council carried out an extensive survey on Motorhome use and the benefits of motorhomes to local communities. The report stated that motorhomes added and helped local economies. But in a way I kind of resent having to justify my existence as a Motorhome owner based on wether or not I spend enough wherever I travel. No other group has this burden placed upon them.

 

[Val54]

Fife council carried out an extensive survey on Motorhome use and the benefits of motorhomes to local communities. The report stated that motorhomes added and helped local economies. But in a way I kind of resent having to justify my existence as a Motorhome owner based on wether or not I spend enough wherever I travel. No other group has this burden placed upon them.

You could equally ask how much those travelling with all inclusive coach tours (Shearings etc) actually spend on top of the discounted hotel rate, not a lot I suspect, apart from coffees and ice creams .

 

[Jo001]

You could equally ask how much those travelling with all inclusive coach tours (Shearings etc) actually spend on top of the discounted hotel rate, not a lot I suspect, apart from coffees and ice creams .

Out of curiosity, a lot of these coaches have on board toilet facilities, so where do they empty them?

 

[Fisherman]

You could equally ask how much those travelling with all inclusive coach tours (Shearings etc) actually spend on top of the discounted hotel rate, not a lot I suspect, apart from coffees and ice creams .

Your not playing fair here Val. You know the rules. If you see a Motorhome expect them to litter, empty their cassette in the local duck pond and spend nothing. Give yourself a good talking to.

 

[alcam]

Fife council carried out an extensive survey on Motorhome use and the benefits of motorhomes to local communities. The report stated that motorhomes added and helped local economies. But in a way I kind of resent having to justify my existence as a Motorhome owner based on wether or not I spend enough wherever I travel. No other group has this burden placed upon them.

If it helps the argument , as it does , I'm sure we can live with it . Interesting , as a comparison , to see analysis of other modes of tourism

 

[Norfolk NewBoy]

What happens if she got caught short in the night.

What happens if she gets caught short during the day?

She was coming back from the beach when I spoke to her. She told me that she digs a hole and buries her waste.

Interestingly, I had called in at the Tourist Centre/carpark just south of Inverness on my way up to the north coast. I asked if I could empty my cassette in the toilets there. Initially I was told no, as the septic tank wouldn't cope with the chemicals. I explained that I didn't use chemicals so I was told no I couldn't because the toilets "belonged" to a different organisation and so they couldn't give permission. I asked what they would do if I just emptied in there and the answer was "please don't do it". They then offered me a leaflet on disposing of human waste by digging holes in the ground, specifying a minimum depth and advising on the replacement of soil: I would be allowed to do that in the adjacent woods (I didn't).

When touring I carry two cassettes and I would have to be pretty desperate to pay £11 to empty them. I do eke out their potential by using sealable plastic milk-bottles for urine, emptying those discreetly onto waste land when it is appropriate (and usually dark).

Gordon