Island MP slams campervans

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Guernsey Donkey

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Quote from the Sunday Mail)

An Island politican says an invasion of camper vans is causing environmental health problems.
Wester Isles MP AngusMcNeil blames the influx on ferry operators CalMac slashing ticket prices by 40 per cent.
The cuts were introduced thanks to the Scottish Goverments Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) matching ferry prices to the cost of road travel.
Mr McNeil said: Many Constituents have raised with me the growth of camper van numbers, not just on ferries but as an issue on the Islands.
"In some cases, its an environmental health issue, as some places have no facilities to deal with these numbers.
"I am writing to the managing director of CalMac, asking them for the number of camper vans that have travelled on the ferries this year in comparison to last year.
"At the moment, these vehiicles enjoy a reduction, with those between five to eight metres enjoying the same price as a car.
"While camper vans are welcome on the Western Isles, this is a management issue."
A spokesman for CalMac said that there had been a 100 per cent increase in motorhomes on RET routes. (End of quote).

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03/09/09 This afternoon I had a meeting with Wester Isles MP AngusMcNeil and I can assure you that Angus MacNeil is not against Camper Vans/Motor Homes, most of what you read in the press is them making a mountain out of a molehill. There are always the odd few people that will moan about anything so now it is the turn of the M/Homers on the Islands, all in all the trades people have welcomed the extra business that you the motorhomers have bought in to the Islands.
Ferry fares are now roughly half the price of last year mainly due to RET on Cal Mac ferries thanks to the Scottish Goverment.
 
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Motor Caravanners to Slam Island MP

I understand this MP belongs to the SNP, which area does he represent just the Western Islands or Skye as well ?,
the number of motorcaravans visiting the Western Islands can be nowhere near the numbers visiting Skye and there seems to be no grumble from them.

Alf
 
Alf 1 said:
I understand this MP belongs to the SNP, which area does he represent just the Western Islands or Skye as well ?,
the number of motorcaravans visiting the Western Islands can be nowhere near the numbers visiting Skye and there seems to be no grumble from them.

Alf
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Hi Alf

He represent just the Western Islands (Lewis, Harris, Uist North and South and Barra) you can always bombard him with emails direct, email address on the web.
 
SNP MP seen blowing off the Western Islands

There is Good News I am informed by an Islander that the Western Islands Council are to provide a number of CDP points around Lewis.

It would seem thats this is at odds with the views ofWestern Isles MP Angus McNeil SNP
just who is out of touch we will have to wait and see


I wonder where you can check SNP expenses ??
Alf
 
SNP MP seen blowing with Expenses

I think I see where the problem starts

A few years ago most visitor were fly fishermen and birdwatchers they stayed in hotels, boarding houses & B or rented accommodation lots of people made Whoopee now lots of motor caravans few people make Whoopee
The ferry cost goes to Calmac so no Whoopee

Just check our SNP friend at

MPs' expenses: cash-for-peerages MP claimed for Toblerone - Telegraph


Alf
 
SNP MP seen blowing off the Western Isles

[
Randonnerr
Perhaps you did not see post No 10 in this thread.

QUOTE=Alf 1;63795]There is Good News I am informed by an Islander that the Western Islands Council are to provide a number of CDP points around Lewis.

It would seem thats this is at odds with the views of the Western Isles MP Angus McNeil SNP
just who is out of touch we will have to wait and see


I wonder where you can check SNP expenses ??
Alf[/QUOTE]
 
Hi Alf,

Yes, I did read that, what about the Uists and other islands?. What I am saying is that if they want to encourage tourism they need to get an infrastructure that can cope with the number of people who want to visit the islands, not just motorhomers but campers, caravanners etc. Yes I know that the roads on some islands are not friendly to caravanners, but when we were on the Uists in June we saw a number of cyclists but no apparent facilities like public toilets etc. We only went on the Uists this time, maybe Harris and Lewis are better in this respect, and we intend to visit them when we can.
 
Randonneur said:
Hi Alf,

Yes, I did read that, what about the Uists and other islands?. What I am saying is that if they want to encourage tourism they need to get an infrastructure that can cope with the number of people who want to visit the islands, not just motorhomers but campers, caravanners etc. Yes I know that the roads on some islands are not friendly to caravanners, but when we were on the Uists in June we saw a number of cyclists but no apparent facilities like public toilets etc. We only went on the Uists this time, maybe Harris and Lewis are better in this respect, and we intend to visit them when we can.
Click to expand...

Randonneur

Public Toilets They disappeared when I were a lad

If you look at the increase in cycle tracks there does not seen to provision for toilets anywhere and there are far more cyclists in England. Whilst we are at do we have to provide toilets for walkers and climbers? At what about sailors should we provide Floataloos?

Garages do not seem to provide them now if you want a toilet you need a supermarket

The MP is quoting Motor Caravans Not caravans if we are not careful we will have to pay double and a car and caravan at half price, at one time foot passengers and cyclist were free I don’t know about now.

If we keep getting posts with fantastic pictures and stories and write ups in magazines etc people will flock there, take Applecross with Monty, site and pub say business up 400%

When the book Scotland by Wainwright came out the following year crowds of tourists flocked to Scotland each stop they had the book out and ticked the picture of and roared off to the next.
When we first toured the Highlands in the early 70s you could drive hours not seeing another vehicle and all mainly single track road there is not much of this left now, regular visitors to the Highlands all know there favourite sopping places and there are quite a lot if you know where to look.

With the CDPs
what happens in Harris or Lewis will follow on all the other islands
Alf
 
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Another point about facilities is, as Tresrikay has pointed out, that young people are leaving the islands due to lack of work. They go to the mainland and settle and raise their families there, ( I probably would too if I was in their shoes ), but it means that there is no labour available to man ( or woman? ) any tourist facilities if they were implemented. Maybe there's room for a job creation scheme there.

I'm redundant and looking, I'd love to live and work out there!, any offers?? :)
 
Randonneur said:
. Maybe there's room for a job creation scheme there.

I'm redundant and looking, I'd love to live and work out there!, any offers?? :)
Click to expand...

be an entrepreneur bandinmire :cool:
.. take a pota poty up there and charge a penny a pee and 2p a jobie :)

you know what they say about "where's their's muck"...etc :rolleyes:

regards;)
aj
 
ajs said:
be an entrepreneur bandinmire :cool:
.. take a pota poty up there and charge a penny a pee and 2p a jobie :)

you know what they say about "where's their's muck"...etc :rolleyes:

regards;)
aj
Click to expand...


Need to scale it up a bit. Two builders Portaloo's towed behind M/H on a trailer:D see my earlier post here mobile M/H service

john
 
Islands

I have spent much time in Scotland and particularly like the Islands. I have never met a local person who did not welcome us. I feel that local businesses are glad of the boost and are pleased to meet us, especially pubs, hotels and restaurants. I suspect that the Honourable Member has misjudged the mood of the local people.

Is tourism bad for the economy, or is it just this type of tourism, where people, mostly retired and with considerable disposable income come to visit and appreciate the natural beauty of the area. Of course tourist numbers could be increased by building attractions and resorts, that might bring a younger crowd and surely would scar the landscape. If tourism is not wanted then restrict access to the ferries, although I do not think the people he is objecting to make descisions based on the cost of ferry travel, Alan.
 
Randonneur said:
Hi Alf,

Yes, I did read that, what about the Uists and other islands?.
Click to expand...

The other islands are already quite well served for CDP's and the like - it's Harris & Lewis that are behind.

On Barra there is a CDP at the public toilets a mile or so from the airport and a fresh water pipe at the airport itself. Vatersay also has facilities. The ferry terminal on Eriskay (attached to South Uist) has a shower, CDP and water pipe. The one on Berneray (ferry from North Uist to Harris) has a CDP and water pipe. Some of the tourist informations have showers as well. The other ferry terminals south of Harris might have facilities too - didn't check when we were there a weak or two back.

The council even puts out a leaflet telling wild campers where the facilities are on the southern islands.

We didn't see any signs of littering, significant overcrowding or dodgy dumping of waste when we were there. The busiest wild camping spot I saw was Vatersay, but that was mostly tents - there were only about 3 motorhomes at the time. The airport at Barra saw a fair few passing through but the wild camping area is so big it never was a problem.

We also didn't get hassled or made to feel unwelcome by anyone while we were there.
 
Alf 1 said:
Randonneur

Public Toilets They disappeared when I were a lad

Alf
Click to expand...

In County Durham the local authority has closed and demolished public toilets at its picnic areas. They have also removed litter bins. This includes those on the cycleways.

We now get the complaints of litter and fouling of these areas so they close them to the public altogether. i.e. Colliers Wood near Tow Law closed facilities demolished and blocked off. Woolsingham picnic area closed and sold off. Tow Law (High Stoop) picnic area closed and blocked off. Derwent Reserviour and Derwent Walk all bins removed. Toilets closed and or demolished.

Cow Green reservour had a Toilet building now demolished and replaced by one Nixon Hire portaloo that stinks. What price progress? I know it costs £60 a week to hire one of these for a rally so what is it costing in such a remote location as they are serviced by the hire company.
 
I believe there are also land ownership issues involved with setting up a campsite in the western isles. I recently saw a tv programme about 2 people who set up a campsite on Harris, grand designs or something similar. The bank would not lend them any money until the land had been de-crofted and they owned the freehold. It is this croft land status that, in part, gives us the right to wildcamp on the islands. Eventually they did get the freehold and therefore their bank loan but it took about 2 years and no end of hassle. :eek:
 
jogguk said:
Need to scale it up a bit. Two builders Portaloo's towed behind M/H on a trailer:D see my earlier post here mobile M/H service

john
Click to expand...


Now that would be a godsend for the people who stay at the youth hostel on berneray. Everything I've read about the place says the toilets are permanently blocked.

And Ardmaree ferry terminal is a long way to go with your legs crossed!!!
 
spending pennies

ajs said:
be an entrepreneur bandinmire :cool:
.. take a pota poty up there and charge a penny a pee and 2p a jobie :)
Click to expand...

Having costed out in Thetford chemicals just what the cost is you'ld not be in business long at those rates!

M
 
Tou could paint a porta potty silver, call it a super loo and charge 20p a go:D
 
Best bet would be a toilet seat on a platform over the sea, no chemicals and all bio-degradeable. Not sure what what the islanders would make of the pink and blue seaweed with skid marks on though!!! :eek::eek:
 
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