Ruby Bay Elie issues.

[st3v3]

50 vans in a carpark where only 7 are allowed is the problem.
And not everyone is paying.
I have left Ruby Bay when 20 odd vans where parked there not wanting to be part of an encampment, god only knows what 50 would be like.

Yea, that's ridiculous and just needs to be 'policed'. How that happens is a dilemma....

 

[maingate]

About 15 years ago (or more) I was in conversation with the Harbourmaster (a fellow Geordie) about allowing motorhomes to overnight. He gave my details to the Harbour Trust Committee and there were a few interested in this as a means to raise funds for the Harbour and its maintenance. I originally had reached the conclusion that the 'High Season' was a no no as it was too busy. I a had a number of discussions online and on the phone but the Committee voted against an Off Season scheme but I believe quite a few of them were in favour of some sort of Motorhome Parking (for a fee).

Way back then, nobody realised that the pastime would boom and most of the newcomers would act like morons. So I am now pleased that it never came off back then.

 

[mistericeman]

On a very random tangent, did you ever do Ringspit lane?

Closed years ago, but was pretty cool.

Ringspit Ln · Bristol

Bristol

www.google.co.uk

Here's a much faster visit than we did!

No sadly not (bit far south for my usual stamping grounds )

BUT lots in my local derbyshire/North Wales etc

 

[barryd]

Whats the attraction? 50 vans on a car park that costs £10 a night. Are there dancing Dolphins in sparkly costumes or something? I don't get it. Scotland and of course the islands has so many places you can get away from it all, maybe find your own spot but whats with the herd mentality and the desire to all be at this place at the same time?

 

[Jo001]

Whats the attraction?

It is a lovely spot, with great views, on the coastal path for walking, good restaurant ... but -

50 vans on a car park that costs £10 a night.

that, not so much.

 

[caledonia]

Its location offers a free seaside holiday to the new breed of vanners whose goal is to break as many rules and p1ss as many respectable people off as they can.
Strict policing costs but that’s what’s required.

 

[runnach]

Whats the attraction?

DOLPHINS, hunners of them.

 

[mistericeman]

Whats the attraction? 50 vans on a car park that costs £10 a night. Are there dancing Dolphins in sparkly costumes or something? I don't get it. Scotland and of course the islands has so many places you can get away from it all, maybe find your own spot but whats with the herd mentality and the desire to all be at this place at the same time?

Sheeple .....

 

[alcam]

Its location offers a free seaside holiday to the new breed of vanners whose goal is to break as many rules and p1ss as many respectable people off as they can.
Strict policing costs but that’s what’s required.

Surely just issue tickets? Virtually no extra expense if there is a mobile warden in the area .

 

[barryd]

Sheeple .....

Does my head in. Ill not go anywhere near a group of vans when wilding but its a bit of an impossible tactic as we are often the first there with us having the bike so get to our wild spots early (I know this is not a wild spot). Once they see a van there they all start piling in.

 

[Nabsim]

The way I see it there are going to be more problems that cover everywhere in the UK. The UK either needs to start doing something to make it better or it will end up going the way of Greece and other countries with a blanket ban.

There is a massive increase in vans but hardly any change in the infrastructure. I see things blamed on different sectors of folk but at the end of the day facilities are not there for any sector. I see gypsies and travellers blamed but hardly any councils provide the statutory park ups for them never mind doing anything to help put anywhere else. Anyone in a van is a traveller and any sanctions will affect everyone. It needs more facilities everywhere and a change in attitudes by could and landowners to do any good.

Anywhere that stops vans parking up is just making a bigger problem for somewhere else.

 

[runnach]

The way I see it there are going to be more problems that cover everywhere in the UK. The UK either needs to start doing something to make it better or it will end up going the way of Greece and other countries with a blanket ban.

There is a massive increase in vans but hardly any change in the infrastructure. I see things blamed on different sectors of folk but at the end of the day facilities are not there for any sector. I see gypsies and travellers blamed but hardly any councils provide the statutory park ups for them never mind doing anything to help put anywhere else. Anyone in a van is a traveller and any sections will affect everyone. It needs more facilities everywhere and a change in attitudes by could and landowners to do any good.

Anywhere that stops vans parking up is just making a bigger problem for somewhere else.

Our council built a facility for travellers where an old mine use to be, cost a lot of tax payer money, facility now gone and been for years now. Why, the travellers trashed the place and local crime increased.

 

[Fisherman]

The way I see it there are going to be more problems that cover everywhere in the UK. The UK either needs to start doing something to make it better or it will end up going the way of Greece and other countries with a blanket ban.

There is a massive increase in vans but hardly any change in the infrastructure. I see things blamed on different sectors of folk but at the end of the day facilities are not there for any sector. I see gypsies and travellers blamed but hardly any councils provide the statutory park ups for them never mind doing anything to help put anywhere else. Anyone in a van is a traveller and any sanctions will affect everyone. It needs more facilities everywhere and a change in attitudes by could and landowners to do any good.

Anywhere that stops vans parking up is just making a bigger problem for somewhere else.

Well put Nab spot on.
Your point is highlighted up here where we have a council trying to be fare towards us, yet look to the other side of the Firth of Forth and we have the lothians (primarily East Lothian). I am not saying this would solve the issue of lack of spaces but if every council throughout Uk behaved more reasonably towards us, it would create many more spaces than are currently available. Fife are victims of their generosity here, and it has to stop in my honest opinion.

 

[Nabsim]

I know it doesn't relate to vans but just been on the news that the courts have deemed it is our right to wild camp on Dartmoor. That's a bit of good news.

 

[Tonybvi]

I know it doesn't relate to vans but just been on the news that the courts have deemed it is our right to wild camp on Dartmoor. That's a bit of good news.

But wild camping in this ruling only applies to people on foot or on horseback for the purposes of open air recreation. The ruling specifically applies exceptionally to the common areas in the Dartmoor National Park. So nothing for us motorhoming folk but nevertheless good news which will be welcomed by a lot of people.

 

[Nabsim]

But wild camping in this ruling only applies to people on foot or on horseback for the purposes of open air recreation. The ruling specifically applies exceptionally to the common areas in the Dartmoor National Park. So nothing for us motorhoming folk but nevertheless good news which will be welcomed by a lot of people.

Yes, thats why I said it doesn't relate to vans. Its the fact the ban has been overturned that I found encouraging

 

[Tonybvi]

Yes, thats why I said it doesn't relate to vans. Its the fact the ban has been overturned that I found encouraging

Sorry, speed reading was never my forte and I missed that bit - mea culpa!

 

[TJBi]

The obvious solution is pre booking with ANPR camera on a barrier. This works very well at the Cullen and Findhorn aires in Moray and ensures arrangements are sustainable and well managed whilst getting a good income

One of the problems, unless things have changed, is that the parking area is used by all vehicles during the day and certain well-separated spaces are designated for overnight parking. This results in vehicles parking for the day perfectly legally using overnighting spaces. Also, the overnighting spaces are not specifically motorhome spaces (despite the icons used on the signs) but for overnighting by any vehicle (which may include cars whose occupants have disappeared into the surrounding area with a tent). Setting aside a designated area with well-separated spaces (due to perceived fire risk) for overnighting motorhomes would result in considerably fewer daytime parking spaces, which is likely to be an issue at these popular locations.

 

[Fisherman]

One of the problems, unless things have changed, is that the parking area is used by all vehicles during the day and certain well-separated spaces are designated for overnight parking. This results in vehicles parking for the day perfectly legally using overnighting spaces. Also, the overnighting spaces are not specifically motorhome spaces (despite the icons used on the signs) but for overnighting by any vehicle (which may include cars whose occupants have disappeared into the surrounding area with a tent). Setting aside a designated area with well-separated spaces (due to perceived fire risk) for overnighting motorhomes would result in considerably fewer daytime parking spaces, which is likely to be an issue at these popular locations.

One thing for sure is there are no solutions using the current format.
I think Fife Coastal Trust have to go down the road of Findhorn, Cullen, and many other locations in Scotland have done. As you say trying to use existing carparks may work in less desirable locations, but not in popular ones such as Elie. But what this will come down to is money, will Fife go for this, who knows.
I was unable to contact Robbie on his mobile today, he’s a busy man, but I will chat with him soon.

 

[Tonybvi]

Cordoning off, for example all or part of the left hand side of the top car park controlled by an ANPR barrier for booked motorhomes would still leave a fair amount of space in the rest of the top car park and the lower parking for cars. As you say, though, this would not be cheap.