New signs put up in Wales regarding motorhomes seen in Barmouth car park and spotted in a layby

[MrSoapsud]

Thanks to @Fisherman for actually providing an answer to the serious question. £15 a night for a space in a car park with some facilities makes the pub in the Cotswolds who wanted to charge me £20 for hard standing, hookup etc on their campsite seem reasonable, except that I just wanted a space in their car park and a few beers.

Now would anyone else like to comment on the question I asked:
"Does "the team" have a feel for the proportion of "responsible" motorhome/campervan owners who like to pay to stay on sites with all the facilities against those who avoid sites? Would a reasonable proportion of the latter pay a small amount to use something akin to an Aire?"
Thanks
Martin

 

[Fisherman]

I had 2 football experiences in Scotland Bill.

One was when I was in the work van during a world cup and I had the St George's flag in the rear window and some idiot tried to run me off the M74.

The second was at Fort Augustus when England were actually playing Scotland in a friendly. I got drinking in the pub by the flight of locks with a Scotsman called Dougal. He suggested we went to another pub to watch the match with his mates. I wore an England shirt and we had a great night. Lots of light hearted banter, even after the end of the game which England won. Sure I got some stick, but as I say all light hearted.

I always support England unless they are playing any other home nation or Ireland (my dad was Irish). But that’s because I normally support the underdog. But when playing anyone else I support the auld enemy.
I remember well 1970 when England threw away a two goal lead against Germany and went out losing 3-2, I was 15 at the time and I was upset by that result. I always thought that was England’s best ever team.
But what puts many Scots of supporting England is your media.
Even in cricket they can be a pain.
Only yesterday they were making fun of India’s tale enders, telling us how useless they were, and just look what happened, they went on to put on over 80 runs before Koli declared and the rest is history.

 

[mark61]

I don't follow football, but I used to enjoy going to my local to support England, but mainly to upset the “locals”

Even up too, say five years ago, the manager would remove any England stuff the brewery had sent out, beer mats etc. Bar staff would put them out, a punter would complain, and they'd be removed. I'd then complain, and told to shut up, only not so politely.

 

[trevskoda]

I dont follow f ball, if I had my way it would be banned as the town looks like a ww2 battlefield after a match, pubs should be closed on that day to, and carryouts taken of yobs, harch but a fact.

 

[Shrimpy]

View attachment 100700

I have seen a lot of these signs and slept peacefully by a few of them now. I have yet to read a post from anyone who has been challenged. The new camping bill specifically states that in order for an offence to be committed you will have to have caused or be likely to cause significant harm or distress before the police could ask you to move or have the power to seize your vehicle. That would never happen with 99.9% of us. Its aimed squarely at a certain community that at times cause havoc. I agree that these signs are a bluff aimed at exploiting peoples understanding of the law. Note that there is no mention of a penalty.

 

[Tookey]

Thanks to @Fisherman for actually providing an answer to the serious question. £15 a night for a space in a car park with some facilities makes the pub in the Cotswolds who wanted to charge me £20 for hard standing, hookup etc on their campsite seem reasonable, except that I just wanted a space in their car park and a few beers.

Now would anyone else like to comment on the question I asked:
"Does "the team" have a feel for the proportion of "responsible" motorhome/campervan owners who like to pay to stay on sites with all the facilities against those who avoid sites? Would a reasonable proportion of the latter pay a small amount to use something akin to an Aire?"
Thanks
Martin

I suspect the answer to your query is 'dont know'. Only a tiny percentage of motorhomers use this forum and many of them rarely post, I have a 'feel' for what regular posters do (wilding/site mix) but that would still lack accuracy. 'Responsible' motorhomes by very definition have to discard their waste responsibly but what does that tell you with regards to proportions, maybe it means 100 % would use Aires

The popularity of campra probably answers your aire query with the most accuracy.

 

[trevskoda]

I have seen a lot of these signs and slept peacefully by a few of them now. I have yet to read a post from anyone who has been challenged. The new camping bill specifically states that in order for an offence to be committed you will have to have caused or be likely to cause significant harm or distress before the police could ask you to move or have the power to seize your vehicle. That would never happen with 99.9% of us. Its aimed squarely at a certain community that at times cause havoc. I agree that these signs are a bluff aimed at exploiting peoples understanding of the law. Note that there is no mention of a penalty.

I cant play football anyway.

 

[yorkslass]

Thanks to @Fisherman for actually providing an answer to the serious question. £15 a night for a space in a car park with some facilities makes the pub in the Cotswolds who wanted to charge me £20 for hard standing, hookup etc on their campsite seem reasonable, except that I just wanted a space in their car park and a few beers.

Now would anyone else like to comment on the question I asked:
"Does "the team" have a feel for the proportion of "responsible" motorhome/campervan owners who like to pay to stay on sites with all the facilities against those who avoid sites? Would a reasonable proportion of the latter pay a small amount to use something akin to an Aire?"
Thanks
Martin

I think a fair price to pay, for an overnight stop in a car park withought facilities, would be the same charge made for parking overnight for a car. If facilities are provided....water and emptying then an additional £5 seems reasonable.

 

[Canalsman]

I am at present travelling around Gwynedd and these signs are very widely distributed.

Tonight I'm parked at a favourite coastal spot with signs everywhere. The approach road half a mile away has a shiny new post with a shiny new no overnight camping sign, and the posts and signs have sprouted like wild mushrooms around the parking area. Presumably the council tax payers are footing the bill for all the signage and the manpower, or perhaps personpower, to install them all.

I'm ignoring them all. The upside is that these unenforceable signs have discouraged everybody else from overnighting here. I would have expected maybe four or five 'vans.

 

[mistericeman]

I am at present travelling around Gwynedd and these signs are very widely distributed.

Tonight I'm parked at a favourite coastal spot with signs everywhere. The approach road half a mile away has a shiny new post with a shiny new no overnight camping sign, and the posts and signs have sprouted like wild mushrooms around the parking area. Presumably the council tax payers are footing the bill for all the signage and the manpower, or perhaps personpower, to install them all.

I'm ignoring them all. The upside is that these unenforceable signs have discouraged everybody else from overnighting here. I would have expected maybe four or five 'vans.

So not long till there are height barriers installed then

 

[Canalsman]

I am NOT camping. I am parking!

 

[zigzaggy]

I would also like to add that a few of the car parks I've visited have had brand new signs put up saying overnight camping bans I'm wondering whether this is all about getting set up ready to enforce new laws regarding parking without the landowners permission?

That's what I've been thinking too.

 

[Fisherman]

I am NOT camping. I am parking!

What in a car park, what’s the world coming to. Next we will have folk thinking it’s ok to drink beer in a bar, or eat your fish n chips on a park bench. Tut tut you need a severe talking to you scoundrel. No wonder we’re not the flavour of the month with such outlandish behaviour like that. Car parks are not for parking in, they're only there for dogs to crap on, boy racers to practice their handbrake turns, and for some folk to enjoy a barbie on one of our expensive barbecues.

 

[Robmac]

I've politely asked the question to Gwynedd Council for clarification regarding these signs. I will see if they respond.

I don't particularly want to wind them up otherwise non legal signs (without TRO's) may all of a sudden be made legal (with TRO's). But my stance would be to avoid the car parks, ignore the signs and park discretely elsewhere.

If that didn't work, I like Snowdonia, but if I am not wanted there I will not be bothering them any more.

I got an acknowledgement for receipt of my email to them with a promise that they would respond within 5 working days.

Given that this was 3 weeks ago and still no response, I guess they're not going to bother.

 

[Canalsman]

Obviously been consigned to either the "too difficult" tray or the "how do we answer this without giving the game away" tray ...

 

[trevskoda]

Do they not have to reply by law within the time scale, take a case against them.

 

[Robmac]

Do they not have to reply by law within the time scale, take a case against them.

I would Trev but I can't be arsed.

 

[Norfolk NewBoy]

I would Trev but I can't be arsed.

Send a second email acknowledging that Covid has resulted in difficulties and delays but asking if their response has been formulated yet. That doesn't require a high level answer and usually gets a quick "yes" or "no" (with appropriate flowery apologies) followed by what you actually are looking for: it's a gentle reminder for them!

Gordon

 

[Walkingmox]

I am curious reading this thread that Barryd says he spends a week in an Aire in Provence surely this is not permitted as it is only allowed to stay for a max of 3 days to allow other people to use the Aires? Or am I dense

 

[iandsm]

I don't think your dense. Some aires have24 hours or a max stay of three nights but over the last ten years I have been in France for four months of the year almost exclusively using aires. I have never seen to enforced Some aires usually very rural ones don't have any restriction, especially free ones. Some are not very busy and some are rammed but when arriving at an air which is full you cannot tell how long those who arrived before you have been there. Just move on to the next one. I think if one is on a very busy wire it is good practice to stay for two or three nights only but on an air that has lots of space I don't think it matters id you stay longer.