Petition Against NC 500 Campers

[Fisherman]

Well, I have had a T4 for the last 19 years , have spent over 1300 nights in it, mostly on Aires or wildcamping and have to say it is remarkable what can be done with a small bowl of warm water and a flannel!

I would also add how saddened I am to read this and many other threads on the problems that exist in Scotland and particularly the west coast. Having spent many holidays there with my parents in their caravan in the late 50's and 60's in the days of the Highlands and Islands mobile film units and when just getting from Fort William to McDonalds campsite at Back of Keppoch near Arisaig was a nerve racking days drive for my father I will not return and spoil my memories. No doubt the scenery remains the same but it seems everything else has.

Veloman, get yourself back up here ASAP. Scotland will always retain its natural beauty no matter what we do to try and destroy it. Once you are parked up in a beautiful spot with your journey behind you it will still retain its scenery, it’s wildlife, and it’s friendly people. I have met only a few idiots up there, the vast majority are folk just like yourself who appreciate, absorb, and value their natural surrounds. So please come up here, use your experience and your common sense to have a great experience, as we do.

 

[peter palance]

Oh no not another moaner jumping on the recent bandwagon having a dig at responsible motorhomers.I agree with another reply on here .Its the heavy good vehicles breaking up the Roads (not having a go a you Mr Laird) Especially the logging wagons who I have had constant experience battling with when touring Scotland..They dont give way,they dont stop and come straight at you down the single track fragile roads.This MP should be aware of this if he lives in Scotland Highlands and grew up there.And again I feel its not the Motorhomes leaving faeces and rubbish etc on the side of these roads.Its tent campers but the worst one responsible will be the Day Trippers in cars WITH NO facilities i/e an onboard Toilet.Who is banning Daytrippers nobody.The NC500 has brought great much needed income to the area and its not just Motorhomers and Campervans it has attracted.This MP Is a complete idiot in my book.

but what about the shops and cafe-s all need money .oh keeping there trap shut, no they dont need us, ha ha ha, it starts,give me money that's what i want,ok.pj.

 

[mickymost]

Our son has done this, he bought a 62 plate T5 LWB conversion that he uses as the family vehicle for day to day use and his 'holiday home'. With the van having no shower or loo and they have two young daughters and a 7month old son they are pretty much restricted to campsites but that really suits them so it a great compromise.

Does your sons 62 plate LWB camper have an Elevating Roof?

 

[mickymost]

Nail on the head

Yes definately Fisherman has got it spot on

 

[mickymost]

but what about the shops and cafe-s all need money .oh keeping there trap shut, no they dont need us, ha ha ha, it starts,give me money that's what i want,ok.pj.

pj.
Some Motorhomers/Campervan owners spend in the local shops (we do) some dont. Some Car owners spend in the shops and some dont.It is what it is.

 

[Debroos]

Veloman, get yourself back up here ASAP. Scotland will always retain its natural beauty no matter what we do to try and destroy it. Once you are parked up in a beautiful spot with your journey behind you it will still retain its scenery, it’s wildlife, and it’s friendly people. I have met only a few idiots up there, the vast majority are folk just like yourself who appreciate, absorb, and value their natural surrounds. So please come up here, use your experience and your common sense to have a great experience, as we do.

Could you please find a way to shorten the journey from Cornwall. Perhaps by joining the two together and leaving the in between bit out...oh, but keeping our weather, I would be happy to share that with you in return.
Yes, I am going stir crazy down here and more than a little mad!

 

[mickymost]

It does indeed although he needs to but the relevant boards to be able to sleep up there.

He needs two boards to sleep up there. Is that what you mean?

 

[Fisherman]

Could you please find a way to shorten the journey from Cornwall. Perhaps by joining the two together and leaving the in between bit out...oh, but keeping our weather, I would be happy to share that with you in return.
Yes, I am going stir crazy down here and more than a little mad!

Yes no probs, just move up here

 

[Deleted member 47550]

It does indeed although he needs to but the relevant boards to be able to sleep up there.

HA ha - we do that when only the 2 of us we remove the bed (about 30 small screws along the hinge - ours is side lift) as gives a little more headroom.

We would never go in the summer months - always early May and mid-late September - hoping to go up on 14th Sept if the van is back from Ireland!!!!! and in one piece! Always been fully respectful of the environment and locals.

 

[Tookey]

Could you please find a way to shorten the journey from Cornwall. Perhaps by joining the two together and leaving the in between bit out...oh, but keeping our weather, I would be happy to share that with you in return.
Yes, I am going stir crazy down here and more than a little mad!

Bristol 2 Glasgow is very cheap with easyjet, maybe a van swap with one of our Scottish members would benefit both parties.

 

[mickymost]

Thats what he's been told by the chap he bought it from, not cheap tho!

Any way maybe to make and fit some collapsible hammocks like they used in the original Bay Window VWS roofs or is this a too old fashioned idea maybe?

 

[barge1914]

Until your village was bought up by the English for holiday homes, our village had three pubs, a post office and two shops. Now we just have one community shop, no pub, no post office.
Bloody English!

Funny, same pattern of events in our village in the Peak District, it happens with changing economies, I’m not looking for scapegoats. Without tourists our local population can’t quite sustain the remaining pub bought out by the villagers, so much as they are a pain at times it’s good to see them back.

 

[groyne]

Until your village was bought up by the English for holiday homes, our village had three pubs, a post office and two shops. Now we just have one community shop, no pub, no post office.
Bloody English!

Don't blame the buyer, who sold out to the "Bloody English" in the first place?

 

[Debroos]

Don't blame the buyer, who sold out to the "Bloody English" in the first place?

Mostly they sold out years ago when house prices were really low and they had to leave to find work.
Same thing happened in Cornwall. The area was so impoverished that it qualified for 2 lots of category 1 eu funding...
So don't blame the local either!

 

[Harryw]

Anyone here, filmed this morning driving into Sheildiag merrily throwing litter out of a window.
Captured on a locals dashcam.

 

[barge1914]

Seems a good idea in principle but in this country; speaking as a professional in architecture, we have such a woolly system it would take ages to get one approved. Land ownership being a big issue, then the local authority planning committee (it would have to go before them) not understanding what Aires are and how they implement them service wise to ensure - dare I say it, they don't become simply traveller sites! I know there are the odd one or two popping up here and there but these still have toilets - I don't know of one in UK which is simply a service point and driver break stop. It's entrance would also need to be designed to ensure it didn't end up as a lorry park!

As an Architect, which I believe qualifies as a professional in architecture, I am working with Campra who in cooperation with the motorhome professional organisation Campa are having discussion with Scottish tourist organisations, authorities and funding bodies to try and set up a network of motorhome service points, Aires and authorised parking places to try to address these problems and leave our Wildcamping spots less cluttered and fouled. As you rightly say it all takes time, but that’s no reason to be defeatist, slowly progress is being made in a positive direction. Parallel efforts are being made with an exemption certificate holder to facilitate self contained motorhome specific certified sites on private land. Local authorities already have the powers to establish such facilities, but they need encouragement and funding...another slow process. We now have over 8000 members. Anyone with commitment, perseverance and initiative is welcome to join us....I’m just putting my umbrella up...since saying this usually invokes a shower of s**t.

 

[in h]

Don't blame the buyer, who sold out to the "Bloody English" in the first place?

In our village, the people who sold were all English.
Tends to happen quite a lot in England.

 

[garydavidson83]

Gary, you joined a year ago as a free member and this is your first post, do you own a camper or MH?

I do indeed own one.

I guess it is just me that find it ironic that so many are angry about the generalised remarks and reply with their own sweeping xenophobic remarks?

I only quoted to of the numerous ridiculous replies in which people let slip their own prejudices.

 

[bigbarry]

Unless the link to the petition restricts what this MP originally posted I cannot see anything detrimental to Motorhomers. It's just asking for consultation with local communities.

 

[kim]

Bill well you cant beat a wee letter which is straight to the point.For some reason I feel this MP Jamie is not long out of nappies i/e a very young fellow who needs leading by the nose.If many others on here pen him a similar email maybe the penny will drop.
atb.

Doubtful, no man can put in what the Lord left out.