Pitlochry bans all overnight parking

[Fisherman]

Who in their right mind would park up there, not me for one. As mentioned earlier it looks like a storage compound.

I and others on here have many times, and it was never like that.
I expect uniformed members of the public to fall for this kind of thing not experienced Motorhome owners. The photographer obviously had a point to prove.
That photo was taken during covid at Hogmanay, I have spent nights there on my own, and had intended using it again this year. Never seen more than four vans parked up when I was there.

 

[Fisherman]

There is an easy solution to most problems as mentioned already on here, the problem is there needs to be the will to even consider implementing them by the councils and landowners.

Pudsey one thing that heartens me from this report is it’s one of the most balanced articles I have ever read on this topic. Normally it’s we are the route of all that’s wrong, and need To be dealt with. But when you read the report it states that the council acknowledges it’s behind the curve in providing parking spaces, that they are trying to provide places elsewhere, and also highlights damage to the local economy this ban may cause. The photograph is totally unrepresentative of a normal night in this carpark. It did a grand job of convincing some that this carpark is normally overrun with motorhomes, which it’s not. I heard that this was due to a Facebook group who arranged this Hogmanay meet.
But bottom line they have not actually banned us from staying overnight, just from sleeping.

 

[Robmac]

But bottom line they have not actually banned us from staying overnight, just from sleeping.

Hand some of these out Bill;

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[caledonia]

I and others on here have many times, and it was never like that.
I expect uniformed members of the public to fall for this kind of thing not experienced Motorhome owners. The photographer obviously had a point to prove.
That photo was taken during covid at Hogmanay, I have spent nights there on my own, and had intended using it again this year. Never seen more than four vans parked up when I was there.

During Covid, Hogmanay, bank holiday weekend does it really matter when this picture was taken? It shows motorhome owners are happy to behave like this. As I said in a previous post our wee group of considerate campers are very much the minority. Let these sheep gather in the honey pots and it leaves the Lochs, Glens and sneaky spots for us

 

[Fisherman]

During Covid, Hogmanay, bank holiday weekend does it really matter when this picture was taken? It shows motorhome owners are happy to behave like this. As I said in a previous post our wee group of considerate campers are very much the minority. Let these sheep gather in the honey pots and it leaves the Lochs, Glens and sneaky spots for us

Of course it matters if this one off meeting apparently organised on FB is not the norm but is being made out to be so. You and I have both been there and we never witnessed such numbers. To take one event which happened happened over two years ago and use that as a basis for these measures is unreasonable.
Sadly the number of vans is growing whilst the number of available pois is dwindling. This is a recipe for disaster. The article I posted highlights this issue.

We left Ely due to such behaviour when they introduced their new system, we moved from a designated place to Craigmead, angered by the selfishness of some. But Fife did not ban us, they started to charge in order to try and keep these freeloaders out. Robbie Blythe explained to me why this was done, but Robbie has assured me stopping overnight parking is not an option. But he also assured me that these charges and their parking restrictions will be enforced by regular visits of wardens. I would never park up in such circumstances in that photo Cal, never. We now only go to Ely in winter, to avoid the stupidity.

All I am saying is they had other options, but took the lazy way out. Their signage is legally unenforceable, and quite frankly preposterous. Who will monitor our sleeping habits, how idiotic. They put the same signs up in Calendar years ago, and they are the subject of humour, and disregarded by many. I won’t park there anymore, but I am sure others will.

If every council acted likewise with regards to fire regulations then our pastime would be finished.


Yes glens and sneaky spots up here will always be available Cal, but some on here like to visit towns also. Me well I love my country, and it’s many glens, and hills, but I am really looking forward to visiting Salisbury in August, I always wanted to see the town, and it’s cathedral, but WC is not an option down there for us.

 

[caledonia]

I understand this was a one off Bill but like Elie in Fife it proves the majority are happy to turn a carpark into an unofficial campsite and you the minority would go elsewhere.
As for fire regulations it’s a disaster waiting to happen. We all have seen videos of motorhomes on fire. Home fitted electrical systems, poorly installed cheap diesel heaters, and not to mention the amount of gas on board all of these vehicles pictured at Pitlochry.
One of the few sites I use is Sands at Gairloch. They have very few rules and very laid back site but one rule the do insist on is the space between vans.

 

[groyne]

Looking at the picture I understand their fears. No way would I park somewhere like that. It looks like a storage compound.

It's a photo from a newspaper, so it was probably taken with a long lense to forshorten the view and make it look more crowded.

 

[Fisherman]

I understand this was a one off Bill but like Elie in Fife it proves the majority are happy to turn a carpark into an unofficial campsite and you the minority would go elsewhere.
As for fire regulations it’s a disaster waiting to happen. We all have seen videos of motorhomes on fire. Home fitted electrical systems, poorly installed cheap diesel heaters, and not to mention the amount of gas on board all of these vehicles pictured at Pitlochry.
One of the few sites I use is Sands at Gairloch. They have very few rules and very laid back site but one rule the do insist on is the space between vans.

We spent two nights in Sands last month, one of our favourite sites. Has to be one of the largest sites out there, with a great shop, and we eat in their restaurant. The staff are great, there was a young boy from our village working there this year small world. They are in the middle of building a new toilet block it should be finished this year.

Being a retired firefighter I am well aware of the risks Cal, but I reckon some will simply use this as an excuse. There are many contraventions of fire regulations never enforced. One of the most common combustible wooden huts erected within 15m of homes, I see this all the time. I regularly see fire contraventions in shops and commercial buildings, I could quote others.
If they wanted to cover themselves a warning about keeping a safe distance as others have done would have sufficed. Elie is not a one off Cal it was a regular event. Robbie had no choice but to apply charges. Some were staying there for weeks at a time Things have gotten much worse since covid, and the number of rented vans has exploded. I reckon when you do get your new camper you will see a difference.

 

[Fisherman]

It's a photo from a newspaper, so it was probably taken with a long lense to forshorten the view and make it look more crowded.

Groyne, nice try but as we say up here it was stappit full to the gun wells.
This type of selfish moronic behaviour leads to us all suffering.
Due to these selfish bar stewards, I have lost my overnight in Pitlochry.
Some people need to realise they are killing this for us all.
I would have turned up, took a look and headed elsewhere.

 

[myvanwy]

On the subject of sleeping in vehicles, I saw some info the other day (may have been RAC email) that a test is on the way similar to drug wipe, that checks for sleep depravation in the case of an accident. If I can find it I'll post.

 

[Rolyan57]

It's a photo from a newspaper, so it was probably taken with a long lense to forshorten the view and make it look more crowded.

Or it was indeed as bad as shown. Let’s not try to defend the indefensible.

There has been a huge increase in the number of Motorhomes I see on the road. No doubt fuelled by Salesmen telling them they can stop anywhere, anytime, totally free, selling the dream that doesn’t exist.

Then people go out and ignore common sense and also rules. So we lose Helmsley, Skipton is starting to look iffy, problems in Boroughbridge so that may be next.

Then we wonder why it goes wrong!

 

[Fisherman]

Or it was indeed as bad as shown. Let’s not try to defend the indefensible.

There has been a huge increase in the number of Motorhomes I see on the road. No doubt fuelled by Salesmen telling them they can stop anywhere, anytime, totally free, selling the dream that doesn’t exist.

Then people go out and ignore common sense and also rules. So we lose Helmsley, Skipton is starting to look iffy, problems in Boroughbridge so that may be next.

Then we wonder why it goes wrong!

I reckon nail on head sums up that post Rolyan.
Covid was a game changer for us, and now we have folk out there who don’t fully appreciate that at times we are only tolerated. We have spoken to folk who casually tell us that they are here for the week, table, chairs and on one occasion even an awning was set up. But covid also brought out the tent dwellers who left everything behind when they left, on some occasions even their tent. The pressures on our pois have never been greater, and sadly I reckon it can only get worse.