Five Motorhome Aires planned by Flyde Council

[Deleted member 967]

Fylde Borough Council • Motorhome parks plan to boost tourism

Five new seafront motorhome parks could soon be driving Fylde’s development as a forward-looking tourist area.

Proposals for new beach huts in St Annes were unveiled last week.

Now, councillors are consulting residents on proposals to introduce new motorhome parks to accommodate the growing numbers of motorhome enthusiasts.

Councillor Albert Pounder, Fylde Council cabinet member for customer and operational services, said: “There has been an explosion in motorhome ownership in the last 10 years – but their owners have few places to stay overnight.

“In resorts all over the country they are parking on residential roads and having to frequently drive around the block to avoid parking tickets.

“Establishing places where they can stay overnight will make Fylde an even more attraction destination for these prosperous visitors.”

The new proposal involves developing existing car parks at:

• North Beach;

• North Promenade;

• St Annes swimming pool;

• Fairhaven Road;

• St Paul’s Avenue;

• Stanner Bank.

Each car park will remain open to motorists.

Tourism authorities, often council-run, in France and Germany already provide popular Aire for Service and Stellplatz sites which feature toilet and wash facilities and electricity hook-ups.

Fylde’s proposed sites will charge £5 per night, allow stays of up to three nights, forbid outdoor cooking and the dumping of waste or rubbish.

Once established, if the parks are a success, a network of car parks could also be established in Blackpool and Wyre – giving coastal Lancashire a nationwide reputation for welcoming motorhomers.

Councillor Pounder added: “Motorhomers can be a nuisance to residents when they park on residential roads. We can relieve that problem and develop tourism further with this plan.

“We already have the car parks, so the cost would be minimal.

“Without a doubt, motorhomers are the sort of prosperous and well-behaved visitors that we want in Fylde. This is a new and growing market in which we can be ahead of our competitor resorts.”

As well as nearby residents, consultees will include neighbouring businesses and hotels.

John

 

[Tco]

A good move, let's see more of them.

 

[Bernard Jones]

Motorhomes used to overnight on them before (if they could put up with the boy racers) and it was free between 6pm and 9am. What has changed, apart from now they are going to start charging?

 

[Jo001]

I suppose what's changed is that the local authority is now openly condoning overnight stays. Personally I think it's a great move and one that more local authorities should adopt. I'm happy to pay a fair fee, knowing that I'm not going to fall foul of any bylaws that prohibit overnight stays.

 

[AndyC]

Motorhomes used to overnight on them before (if they could put up with the boy racers) and it was free between 6pm and 9am. What has changed, apart from now they are going to start charging?

What's changing (hopefully) is that motorhomes will be able to stay without contravening the parking regulations and risking a PCN.

AndyC

 

[barnybg]

Govt. and the laws.

Has anyone actually looked into the 'law' and parking restriction towards citezens of the British isles ? Are councils breaking the law themselves charging for the right of tax-payers to park 'taxed' vehicles in areas where 'tax-payers' have paid to have built ???
There's a retired Policeman in Wales,taking Powys council and i think The Queen and Govt. to court over council tax,i think he's one the first round at Brecon ,now its Landovery or llandridnod i think,then to the big courts,i want to see what turns up,from our old law rules and rights made from the Magna Carta etc,i think he has a point and a cause,check it out and back him.Basicly he says,that the Queen by swearing her oath,and several Govt'sof the day,have broken sworn laws made for Britain,even in as far as joining the EU ! cant wait for this to hit the major papers.
As for councils recognising motorhomes,great,if theres no catch to it....

 

[Randonneur]

Whatever the ins and outs of charging for overnight stays at least it shows an enlightened approach by Fylde council towards encouraging tourism in their area. It also shows that they recognise that if we are allowed to stay overnight in their car parks we bring income into the area so, in the long run, it could encourage employment in the tourist industry.

I have never been to this area but knowing we would be welcome would certainly encourage me to visit.

 

[Tbear]

Is this
a/ £5.00 to park in an empty car park overnight or
b/ is this £5.00 to park, fill and/or empty tanks, use toilets, electric hookup and be free from hassle.

 

[Spliffy]

Don't know but if anyones running a book I'll have £10.00 on a).

 

[AndyC]

Is this
a/ £5.00 to park in an empty car park overnight or
b/ is this £5.00 to park, fill and/or empty tanks, use toilets, electric hookup and be free from hassle.

I reckon it will be (a) initially. At least it will mean that you will be able to park up without fear of getting a PCN...

Who knows, if it's a success maybe it will develop in to (b)

AndyC

 

[Campervanman]

Who knows, if it's a success maybe it will develop in to (b)

Yes, Then the price will develop into £10 per night...

 

[donkey too]

I reckon it will be (a) initially. At least it will mean that you will be able to park up without fear of getting a PCN...

Who knows, if it's a success maybe it will develop in to (b)

AndyC

Also if you are paying for the service as per 'a' then you have a rightful say in asking for 'b'

 

[John H]

Has anyone actually looked into the 'law' and parking restriction towards citezens of the British isles ? Are councils breaking the law themselves charging for the right of tax-payers to park 'taxed' vehicles in areas where 'tax-payers' have paid to have built ???
There's a retired Policeman in Wales,taking Powys council and i think The Queen and Govt. to court over council tax,i think he's one the first round at Brecon ,now its Landovery or llandridnod i think,then to the big courts,i want to see what turns up,from our old law rules and rights made from the Magna Carta etc,i think he has a point and a cause,check it out and back him.Basicly he says,that the Queen by swearing her oath,and several Govt'sof the day,have broken sworn laws made for Britain,even in as far as joining the EU ! cant wait for this to hit the major papers.
As for councils recognising motorhomes,great,if theres no catch to it....

Local councils have a legal right to charge for council-run car parks under a whole swathe of statutes - and that right is going to be enhanced under new proposals from the current government.

As for the guy who took the council to court over council tax, he didn't "win" the first round; the case was simply referred on - and he lost. Councils have a legal duty to set a council tax and referring to Magna Carta doesn't help. Not only was it an agreement between "toffs" with no relevance to the ordinary man-in-the-field but all except 3 clauses have been subsequently repealed (and of those 3, only the right of due process has any meaning for most of us today).

 

[Don]

While I welcome the acceptance of Motorhome in a popular resort, why are they called or likened to "Aires". I travelled the leangth and breadth of France and very rarely if ever been charged, with the exception of electrical hook up, or water. The Idea is that the community fund then to draw in the trade for local buisiness.

Don

 

[Neckender]

We stop on Cleveleys sea front quite often, and we spend quite a bit of money localy, eating out and Clevelys mens club.
John.

 

[Sooty 10]

Well done to Fylde council for this long awaited move. As for the French aires, we have paid on quite a few and not always had electic in the price. Granted we always have had water and a toilet dump but who knows this may come in time. Some people will complain about anything even if it was free to park.

Sooty

 

[John H]

Well done to Fylde council for this long awaited move. As for the French aires, we have paid on quite a few and not always had electic in the price. Granted we always have had water and a toilet dump but who knows this may come in time. Some people will complain about anything even if it was free to park.

Sooty

I agree with Don - even on the French aires that charge (usually in the popular coastal resorts) you get much more than just a parking space. Yet in Cornwall last autumn a car park that allowed us to stay overnight was generously offering this facility for the same price as a pitch on the local campsite: the car park didn't even have loos; the campsite included showers, toilets and electric hook-up! The English just haven't grasped the idea why so many French villages offer these free or very cheap facilities - as Don said, it is to encourage business. And, incidentally, Sooty - I'm pretty sure no-one would complain if it was free to park!