If proof was needed.

[Fisherman]

Hawick has free 48 hour parking to encourage visitors. It’s a bonny little town with some lovely (often neglected) architecture, plenty of decent eateries, pubs and shops, including good traditional butchers, bakers etc.

Sure it has its economic and societal woes like many places these days, and is ever-so-slightly run down, but it’s really nice to be made to feel welcome in your camper/motorhome. It certainly seems to be working as there were a dozen or more of us parked up in the large Victoria Road car park by the river (next to a lovely park too) where I stayed overnight, and I think some other members on their way back from the Orkney meet stopped off there too?

I also spent quite a lot of money in the town while I was there - a lot more than I spent the entire week in Orkney as it happens.

Hopefully a lot more councils will start to cotton on and provide facilities, but I’m still not going to hold my breath on any sudden explosion in facilities or changes in entrenched, colloquial attitudes.

I was involved in a small way in what happened in Hawick.
And believe me it was touch and go Marie.
Many within the council were against it.
But what got it through were the councillors who went against the advice of their advisors.
Hawick is a proud wee toon, a proud rugby toon, that has produced some of our best rugby players in the past.
It’s not anymore run down than most towns, and has managed to avoid much of the decline witnessed on the high street, which other towns have sadly succumbed to.
It still has a vibrant high street, and much commercial life.
I reckon with its large carpark, elsan point, and fresh water it has to be right up there as one of the best freebies around. Glad you enjoyed it.
But on a larger scale things are gradually improving up here, Scottish pragmatism is alive and kicking. In Yorkshire it’s nout for nout, up here it’s nouts nout, when you can make a bob or two from charging nout. Or possibly put simply you have to speculate to accumulate. Some short sighted councils throughout our land could follow suit, but that takes foresight, and lateral thinking, somewhat lacking in some places. But then I’m an optimist.

 

[marchie]

Blackpool must be bat to as they nicked your t out of about.

and replaced the l with a semi-colon; and auto corrected party with pert. Other than those, it was a perfect piece of syntax [or should that be sin tax?]

Steve

 

[trevskoda]

and replaced the l with a semi-colon; and auto corrected party with pert. Other than those, it was a perfect piece of syntax [or should that be sin tax?]

Steve

Who is it keeps changing the letters around on my key board.

 

[marchie]

Hawick has free 48 hour parking to encourage visitors. It’s a bonny little town with some lovely (often neglected) architecture, plenty of decent eateries, pubs and shops, including good traditional butchers, bakers etc.

Sure it has its economic and societal woes like many places these days, and is ever-so-slightly run down, but it’s really nice to be made to feel welcome in your camper/motorhome. It certainly seems to be working as there were a dozen or more of us parked up in the large Victoria Road car park by the river (next to a lovely park too) where I stayed overnight, and I think some other members on their way back from the Orkney meet stopped off there too?

I also spent quite a lot of money in the town while I was there - a lot more than I spent the entire week in Orkney as it happens.

Hopefully a lot more councils will start to cotton on and provide facilities, but I’m still not going to hold my breath on any sudden explosion in facilities or changes in entrenched, colloquial attitudes.

I posted previously about a post-Covid [still during restricted gatherings phase] 'Informal Gathering' of 30 M/Homes at Hawick whilst the Flood Defences were being rebuilt and the elsanfresh water acilities moved to the top end of the Car Park. The Tourism Manager greeted every MHome in person and she & the Gathering Organiser asked everyone to keep their receipts so that the M/Home spend could be reported. Well over £4,000 in 3 days [Tourism Manager battling against a cynical Councillor who thought the free stay and elsan et al were a waste of Council Funds]

Steve

 

[marchie]

Who is it keeps changing the letters around on my key board.

Mine is a separate keyboard that will work for both Windows & Mac, but to accommodate the extra keys, the keyboard is longer and some of the keys are slightly offset. The number of typos I make has increased, but it was a cheaper option than replacing my laptop after I damaged it ...

Steve

 

[Fisherman]

I posted previously about a post-Covid [still during restricted gatherings phase] 'Informal Gathering' of 30 M/Homes at Hawick whilst the Flood Defences were being rebuilt and the elsanfresh water acilities moved to the top end of the Car Park. The Tourism Manager greeted every MHome in person and she & the Gathering Organiser asked everyone to keep their receipts so that the M/Home spend could be reported. Well over £4,000 in 3 days [Tourism Manager battling against a cynical Councillor who thought the free stay and elsan et al were a waste of Council Funds]

Steve

There was cynicism from more than just one councillor.
But I think the doubters have all been persuaded otherwise.
Hawick and other parts of Scotland are benefiting from forward thinking, lacking in other parts of Scotland, and the U.K. Cullen, Fort Augustus, Ullapool, Fife region, Highland region, and other places are benefiting from their actions. There are issues still, but little in the way of regrets.

 

[bartman]

Who is it keeps changing the letters around on my key board.

Trev, your keyboard is one of the highlights of this forum, and long may it remain so

 

[r4dent]

For many years Blackpool Zoo have named one of their Lions "Wallace"

Mr & Mrs Ramsbottom thought the same abou their trip to Blackpool, but went home without Albert, their son ...

For those worried by the above post, Mr & Mrs Ramsbottom did get Albert back

You've eard ow young Albert Ramsbottom
At the zoo up at Blackpool one year
With a stick with an orse's ead andle
Gave a lion a poke in the ear?

The name of the lion was Wallace,
The poke in the ear made im wild
And before you could say ""Bob's yer uncle""
E'd upped and e'd swallowed the child.

E were sorry the moment e done it
With children e'd always been chums,
And besides, e'd no teeth in his muzzle,
And e couldn't chew Albert on't gums.

E could feel the lad movin' inside im
As e lay on is bed of dried ferns
And it might ave been little lad's birthday-
E wished im such appy returns.

But Albert kept kickin' and fightin'-
And Wallace got up, feelin' bad.
Decided 'twere time that e started
To stage a comeback for the lad.

Then puttin' ead down in one corner,
On is front paws e started to walk
And e coughed, and e sneezed, and e gargled
Till Albert shot out - like a cork!

Now Wallace felt better directly
And is figure once more became lean.
But the only difference with Albert
Was, is face and is ands were quite clean.

Meanwhile Mr. and Mrs. Ramsbottom
Ad gone back to their tea, feelin' blue.
Ma said, ""I feel down in the mouth, like.""
Pa said, ""Aye, I bet Albert does, too.""

Said Mother, ""It just goes to show yer
That the future is never revealed
If I'd thowt we was goin' to lose im,
I'd ave not ad is boots soled and eeled.""

""Let's look on the bright side, "" said Father,
""Wot can't be elped must be endured
Each cloud as a silvery lining,
And we did ave young Albert insured.""

A knock on the door came that moment
As Father these kind words did speak.
Twas the man from Prudential - e'd come for
Their tuppence per person per week.

When Father saw oo ad been knockin',
E laughed, and e kept laughin so -
The man said ""Ere, wot's there to laugh at?""
Pa said ""You'll laugh and all when you know!""

""Excuse im for laughing, "" said Mother,
""But really, things appen so strange -
Our Albert's been et by a lion
You've got to pay us for a change!""

Said the young man from the Prudential:
""Now, come, come, let's understand this-
You don't mean to say that you've lost im?""
Pa said ""Oh, no, we know where e is!""

When the young man ad eard all the details,
A purse from is pocket he drew
And e paid them with interest and bonus
The sum of nine pounds, four and two.

Pa ad scarce got is and on the money
When a face at the window they see-
And Mother cried ""Eee, look, it's Albert!""
And Father said ""Aye, it would be.""

Albert came in all excited,
And started is story to give
And Pa said ""I'll never trust lions
Again, not as long as I live.""

The young man from the Prudential
To pick up the money began
But Father said ""ere, wait a moment,
Don't be in a urry, young man.""

Then giving young Albert a shilling,
E said ""Ere, pop off back to the zoo
Get your stick with the orse's ead andle-
Go and see wot the tigers can do!""

 

[Rumour]

It makes it look less believable when they then point out it was a campaign group (Campra) who have said this. Of course there are those amongst us who spend £200 everywhere they stop, but the reality is very different. The problem is, too much emphasis is put on the financial "benefits" and not enough on just providing somewhere for a community like ours to park. I would guess that the "extra" money is so small as to make no difference to the area.

 

[r4dent]

Hawick has free 48 hour parking to encourage visitors. It’s a bonny little town with some lovely (often neglected) architecture, plenty of decent eateries, pubs and shops, including good traditional butchers, bakers etc.

Totally agree.

Last time we stayed over in Hawick we went into the town for a couple of drinks and meals.

The landlord and I got talking and when he found out we were overnighting he was delighted.
He said that he was one who believed that allowing camping bought money into the town.
When we decided to have a couple of Brandys after the meal he said they were on the house.

I Hawick.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

It makes it look less believable when they then point out it was a campaign group (Campra) who have said this. Of course there are those amongst us who spend £200 everywhere they stop, but the reality is very different. The problem is, too much emphasis is put on the financial "benefits" and not enough on just providing somewhere for a community like ours to park. I would guess that the "extra" money is so small as to make no difference to the area.

I agree, but the problem is persuading reluctant councils to actually provide somewhere for us to park in the first place, without 1. ripping us off just for driving a vehicle that isn’t a car and(or) 2. made to feel like pariahs just for driving a Moho/camper!

They have to be persuaded/convinced it’s worth their while to provide us with the parking and facilities in the first place, and you need to use every tool in the sales book in order to do that.

As for guessing that “extra” money spent is so small as to make no difference I beg to differ, and I’m “guessing” quite a lot of the retail and service outlets in the areas concerned would also disagree with that assumption?

Just sayin’

 

[colinm]

I would hope that any council spending money on projects have 'done the maths', and decided that if they spend £x the local area gets a positive financial return, if not they are going to get some stick from locals who see their council tax bills going up each year.
In the case of the area in OP, it seems positive and trade is going into the area, a good result.

 

[Rolyan57]

It makes it look less believable when they then point out it was a campaign group (Campra) who have said this. Of course there are those amongst us who spend £200 everywhere they stop, but the reality is very different. The problem is, too much emphasis is put on the financial "benefits" and not enough on just providing somewhere for a community like ours to park. I would guess that the "extra" money is so small as to make no difference to the area.

That’s always one of the problems.

The report talks about the “huge boost” made to local shops and businesses, but there’s no details about how (of even if) that’s been measured. I’m pretty sure reading that report that no assessment has been made.

Then CAMpRA go on to say that their own survey showed an average spend of £51 per day plus high parking charges. But again, there are obvious issues with that.

There’s enough that’s questionable about all of that to give those against it room to argue.

 

[TeamRienza]

With modern banking apps and virtual cards and widespread use of card payments it can be quite easy to track specific spend.
I use a Starling bank account with an integrated but separate euros account. I can look at categories of spend, specific merchants and dates to identify and quantify holiday spend.
Recently returned from about 7 weeks in France and Spain. I spent €3515 over 48 days so a spend of approximately €72 per day. It can be broken down as €1522 on groceries and wine, €318 on Aires and sites, and so on. The point being that it is easy to quantify and analyse spend.
In the early days of the Irish motorhomecraic forum, members were encouraged to casually mention when making purchases that they were staying in a motorhome to raise awareness with traders. We even had cards to hand to any trader who expressed interest.
When lobbying with a couple of councils here in N. Ireland, we also pushed the fact that motorhomes parked overnight in car parks also could perhaps help reduce antisocial behaviour and provide extra 'security' simply by allowing parking.
There are a couple of well known cases in Ireland were a bit of faith and small investment has rewarded councils with direct income and indirectly into the local economy. Cobh near Cork city being one that some members may have stayed at.
Sadly the majority of councils are apathetic or afraid to experiment. Too easy to put up height barriers and pretend we don't exist. I read recently that France does not permit public carparks to have barriers. Easy when you have a local police force available and willing to police the use of public facilities.
Back to France for another 5 or 6 weeks in September to give their economy another 3,000 or so euros. So about €6000 to €7000 given to businesses and local authorities who value it each year.

Davy

 

[Rolyan57]

With modern banking apps and virtual cards and widespread use of card payments it can be quite easy to track specific spend.
I use a Starling bank account with an integrated but separate euros account. I can look at categories of spend, specific merchants and dates to identify and quantify holiday spend.
Recently returned from about 7 weeks in France and Spain. I spent €3515 over 48 days so a spend of approximately €72 per day. It can be broken down as €1522 on groceries and wine, €318 on Aires and sites, and so on. The point being that it is easy to quantify and analyse spend.
In the early days of the Irish motorhomecraic forum, members were encouraged to casually mention when making purchases that they were staying in a motorhome to raise awareness with traders. We even had cards to hand to any trader who expressed interest.
When lobbying with a couple of councils here in N. Ireland, we also pushed the fact that motorhomes parked overnight in car parks also could perhaps help reduce antisocial behaviour and provide extra 'security' simply by allowing parking.
There are a couple of well known cases in Ireland were a bit of faith and small investment has rewarded councils with direct income and indirectly into the local economy. Cobh near Cork city being one that some members may have stayed at.
Sadly the majority of councils are apathetic or afraid to experiment. Too easy to put up height barriers and pretend we don't exist. I read recently that France does not permit public carparks to have barriers. Easy when you have a local police force available and willing to police the use of public facilities.
Back to France for another 5 or 6 weeks in September to give their economy another 3,000 or so euros. So about €6000 to €7000 given to businesses and local authorities who value it each year.

Davy

I think it’s really easy to quantify and analyse spend. Unfortunately we don’t do it, which gives the anti brigade the ammunition to question it.

For example, does anyone really think that the CAMpRA survey of motorhomers, asking them to show (with receipts) how much they spent locally, genuinely gave an accurate and fair reflection of the average spend.

The problem is, without accurate date, the ones being negative have the same voice as the ones being positive.

 

[Bear]

Intrustin read....

Are motorhomers really freeloaders?

Many remote communities in Scotland consider the motorhome community to be freeloaders. Are they right?

bylines.scot

 

[Fisherman]

I agree, but the problem is persuading reluctant councils to actually provide somewhere for us to park in the first place, without 1. ripping us off just for driving a vehicle that isn’t a car and(or) 2. made to feel like pariahs just for driving a Moho/camper!

They have to be persuaded/convinced it’s worth their while to provide us with the parking and facilities in the first place, and you need to use every tool in the sales book in order to do that.

As for guessing that “extra” money spent is so small as to make no difference I beg to differ, and I’m “guessing” quite a lot of the retail and service outlets in the areas concerned would also disagree with that assumption?

Just sayin’

It’s a fine balancing act particularly in these times of lack of finance.
But what astounds me is the amount of money councils do spend on trying to attract visitors, and yet whilst doing so spend money preventing us from doing likewise.
In Hawicks case the carpark was already there, and far too large for their requirements.
There additional costs were the elsan point, and its maintenance.
In the grand scheme of things not to much to spend, and it’s worked perfectly for them, and for us.

 

[TeamRienza]

An intelligent, reasoned article. Of course it will not change the minds of the anti brigade, but at least it brings a little balance.

Davy

 

[Fisherman]

An intelligent, reasoned article. Of course it will not change the minds of the anti brigade, but at least it brings a little balance.

Davy

I agree fine article, they make many salient points.
Sadly the morons who toot their little horns at us are exactly that, morons.
As for someone letting down my tyres if I caught them I would do whatever I could to have them prosecuted. Why people admitting to this online are not subject to prosecution eludes me. This could lead to a serious road accident.

But I refuse to have to justify my existence based on what I add to local economic activity, and in nine years I have never witnessed anyone dumping their toilet waste inappropriately, therefore this must happen very rarely.

 

[groyne]

We went to Fleetwood market years ago, the atmosphere was electric. Probably because Brentford Nylons had just closed down, and the stallholders were all selling the excess stock.
On a slightly different note, we where in Kirkwall the other week and a cruise ship with 5000 tourists was in port. The place was like Whitby on a bank holiday. Talking to a local shop owner, she said they didn't spend much as they were all inclusive. She said motorhomers spent more on provisions etc and didn't flood the town all at once.