English Aires

[maureenandtom]

It occurred to me that it might also be useful for anybody approaching local authorities to look at how authorities go through their decision making process. www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/public/documents/report/069786.doc
or at how local residents might react when proposals to set up an Aire are made public.
Say No to Rest Bay Campervan Site: Residents and Visitors of Rest Bay voice concerns and objections to BCBC campervan site proposals

I thought at one time that we needed to sell ourselves to local authorities and I see that pressure groups opposing us have used the same viewpoint, ie by producing something visual and glossy.

 

[Deleted member 967]

Many wildcampers pick up a little rubbish and leave the site cleaner than when they arrived....

That is more than the council themselves do. We were in the Coach Park at Warkworth and the council wagon came ii to empty the waste bin. They emptied the part full container but not anything that was not actually in the bin. They didn't bother to pick up the other rubbish dropped around the bin or in other parts of the parking area by the coach uses.

 

[Tbear]

It occurred to me that it might also be useful for anybody approaching local authorities to look at how authorities go through their decision making process. www.bridgend.gov.uk/web/groups/public/documents/report/069786.doc
or at how local residents might react when proposals to set up an Aire are made public.
Say No to Rest Bay Campervan Site: Residents and Visitors of Rest Bay voice concerns and objections to BCBC campervan site proposals
I thought at one time that we needed to sell ourselves to local authorities and I see that pressure groups opposing us have used the same viewpoint, ie by producing something visual and glossy.

Maureenandtom

Shame somebody did not use the last photos to show what happens if you only have illegal sites and how an aire would gave them chance to get rid of waste in a responsible manner.

Richard

 

[Tbear]

That is more than the council themselves do. We were in the Coach Park at Warkworth and the council wagon came ii to empty the waste bin. They emptied the part full container but not anything that was not actually in the bin. They didn't bother to pick up the other rubbish dropped around the bin or in other parts of the parking area by the coach uses.

John
Difficult, who is wrong? The person who did not put it in the bin or the bin man who did not pick it up. If you approached them I suspect the first would ignore you and the second would say"health and safety, might be a needle in it". Then again perhaps I'm just old,bitter and twisted

 

[maureenandtom]

Richard,

Wonderful. I mean it. If you can anticipate problems and provide a solution then it doesn't become a problem, ,yes? In this case you could emphasise, perhaps, that your proposed Aire would be beneficial in that it would concentrate campervans in one place rather than having them spread around all over the place. Councils love to be in control.

I have lots of stuff from the time I too tried this approach. I'll chip in with bits from time to time, yes? If you look back to my thread on the subject you'll see why I lost heart and began to look for other methods.

My approach was at first successful. I was chuffed with myself. I was even invited to a tourist officials' meeting but it all went wrong when it came up against the "cooking, sleeping, camping" rule and I hadn't done enough research. Look at the legal objections part of the Say No website. As I see it, from memory, councils are exempt from licencing requirements for motorcaravan camping but it's arguable if they are exempt from Fire Regulations. Parking spaces might have to be so manuy metres apart. Health and Safety you know.

I'll help with research where I can but, like I said, I already have lots of stuff.

Tom

 

[Tbear]

In France, gypsies are not welcome on 'aires'. They have special spots for 'gens de voyage'. Some aires have a sign: 'interdit aux gens de voyages', 'seulement pour camping-cars' or ' s'adresser à la mairie'. Nobody did complain about 'racism'.

Fleming

They have "special" spots for 'gens de voyage', which makes them special. I'm not going to get involved with the "R" word.

 

[Tbear]

Not sure what the etiquette is but as I am not a payed up member of the "other" sites? Will somebody please let them know about this thread as their help may be invaluable. I am sure Phil will forgive me just this once.

 

[Twosheds]

Try this site Economic Benefits - CMCA (Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia)

There is a remarkable document which was produced by The Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia”. It's called “The Sustainable Development of the Motorhome and Self Contained Vehicle
(MSV) Niche Market” dated 25th July 2005. I can't find it on the internet this afternoon but you may find it by googling. However, I have a PDF copy of the document (size 446 Kb) and if you can devise a way of me getting it to you then you are welcome to it.

 

[Tbear]

Try this site Economic Benefits - CMCA (Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia)

There is a remarkable document which was produced by The Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia”. It's called “The Sustainable Development of the Motorhome and Self Contained Vehicle
(MSV) Niche Market” dated 25th July 2005. I can't find it on the internet this afternoon but you may find it by googling. However, I have a PDF copy of the document (size 446 Kb) and if you can devise a way of me getting it to you then you are welcome to it.

Thanks Twosheds I have seen it and the number of people that go to Australia to go around in a van makes them a fortune every year. Shame when they come here we try and rip them off for up to £30 a night. If they could park and sort there tanks for £3 a night then a Hol in this country sounds a whole lot better. Over £500 cheaper on a three week hol. Makes France a lot cheaper than here.
Richard

 

[15francine]

I have been thinking that The National Trust should be approached to include some of their carparks as Aires type parking. I thought it would fit in with their new policy of opening up !

 

[Tbear]

I have been thinking that The National Trust should be approached to include some of their carparks as Aires type parking. I thought it would fit in with their new policy of opening up !

Good one 15Francine! I am not taking on the Nation Trust yet just the local council but I will add it to the possible sites list.

Richard

 

[GARY ENGLISH]

Council

Hope that if any one contacts there council,they get a result .Have tried and no others that have had no luck.

 

[Tbear]

Hope that if any one contacts there council,they get a result .Have tried and no others that have had no luck.

Gary
Come on, Give us some details. Which councils and why or how did they fail?
Richard

 

[Fleming]

Not sure what the etiquette is but as I am not a payed up member of the "other" sites? Will somebody please let them know about this thread as their help may be invaluable. I am sure Phil will forgive me just this once.

Is the 'other' site regarded as an 'enemy' site ? Or couldn't we stand united for once in this case ?

 

[Tbear]

Is the 'other' site regarded as an 'enemy' site ? Or couldn't we stand united for once in this case ?

Perhaps we should think of it a bit like a Christmas football match

 

[John H]

In France, gypsies are not welcome on 'aires'. They have special spots for 'gens de voyage'. Some aires have a sign: 'interdit aux gens de voyages', 'seulement pour camping-cars' or ' s'adresser à la mairie'. Nobody did complain about 'racism'.

In France, EVERYBODY who obeys the rules is welcome on aires. I get really pissed off with people who brand all members of a group with the same characteristics. We have camped among "gypsies" and had a wonderful time accepting their hospitality; we have come across some "gypsies" who trash the place - but then we have also met several people who most would regard as respectable, middle class and wealthy but who are also not averse to dumping the toilet waste from their expensive motorhomes all over the grass. The big problem with getting local authorities to create Frech-style aires in the UK is not gypsies but motorhomers like that well-publicised idiot who got us all banned from the seafront opposite St Michael's Mount.

 

[John H]

John, it's always the few bad apples that spoil it for the majority.
We also have camped with Gipsey's and everything was ok.
Are you sure that the car park opposite St Michaels is now out of bounds as I have not heard it was?
I did hear the story though.

The last I heard, a banning order was going to be presented before the local Council - I must admit that I haven't heard the result but I assumed from the report that it would get passed. Maybe I was a little premature but I was angry as I wrote my previous reply - as you may have gathered!

 

[David & Ann]

I live just a few miles away from St Michaels Mount. I don't think it is the car park but a stretch of parking bays along the main stretch of Road. This is where a certain Gentleman parks up for a couple of weeks every year. There are 3 proper parking areas in the vicinity. The main one which is on meters. The other 2 are further up the road where a guy collects cash and gives you are parking ticket.

 

[Tbear]

In France, EVERYBODY who obeys the rules is welcome on aires. I get really pissed off with people who brand all members of a group with the same characteristics. We have camped among "gypsies" and had a wonderful time accepting their hospitality; we have come across some "gypsies" who trash the place - but then we have also met several people who most would regard as respectable, middle class and wealthy but who are also not averse to dumping the toilet waste from their expensive motorhomes all over the grass. The big problem with getting local authorities to create Frech-style aires in the UK is not gypsies but motorhomers like that well-publicised idiot who got us all banned from the seafront opposite St Michael's Mount.

John

I could not agree more. Very well said!

Richard

 

[Tbear]

Update

Hi All

I had a chat with the man from the council today. He has agreed to look at one of the car parks very close to the city centre. ? what the parking regs for it are He has also agreed to make sure all the relevant departments of the council get a copy of my email and that we will speak again within two weeks. Nothing definite by any means but a positive start I felt from the tone of the conversation.

Richard