"Tracks and lay-bys across Snowdonia filled with overnight campers"

[MrSoapsud]

I'm sure no-one here would have contributed to this but thought I'd mention it...
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/tracks-lay-bys-across-snowdonia-18771317
We live in the area and there are a few places we used to go for a local night out in the van where there are now signs banning it with some or other wording (one mentioned in the article) but then if van users behave like it's alleged they behave, it's not surprising they're not wanted...
MrS

 

[colinm]

My fear is that the problems seen over the past couple of months will lead to blanket bans, or laws, covering whole counties, if not whole countries. The constructive thing would be for councils to allow, if not build themselves, Aires, but if our local council is any guide it won't happen.

 

[sparrks]

In the 1st photo every single van could have been ticketed for parking on the pavement. With more people holidaying in the UK it can only get worse.

 

[antiquesam]

Will someone please explain to these officials that there are many more people desperate for a holiday after being in lockdown, often on 80% pay, and are forced to stay in the UK. I'm sure many campers would like to go to a campsite, but many are full to capacity, if what i saw in Devon this week is anything to go by. It seemed that any farmer with a fallow field had it filled up with tents and small campers, and no facilities from what I could see, so probably not licenced.

 

[Val54]

I really do fear that North and Mid Wales will become "no go" areas next year after all the various authorities have had time to reflect on the complaints and "colourful" newspaper articles. I know most of those sites pictured in the report and irrespective of who left "the mess" , the fact that so many vans are regularly and blatantly ignoring existing restrictions is just handing all the ammunition the authorities will need. They may be a minority in overall numbers but the impact is significant. There are some comments on the article trying to set the record straight, maybe we should pile in en mass with our thoughts ?

 

[Fazerloz]

That rag has an agenda. No tables, No Chairs. No BBQs, No rubbish to be seen anywhere. You can bet your life if there had been there would have been photos of it because for once it looks like they have actually got off their arses and taken some pics instead of just using stock photos.

 

[Fazerloz]

In the 1st photo every single van could have been ticketed for parking on the pavement. With more people holidaying in the UK it can only get worse.

Not for Parking on a pavement it would have had to be for something else. It is only illegal in London. There was talk of it been rolled out to the rest of the UK a while ago.

 

[mickymost]

That rag has an agenda. No tables, No Chairs. No BBQs, No rubbish to be seen anywhere. You can bet your life if there had been there would have been photos of it because for once it looks like they have actually got off their arses and taken some pics instead of just using stock photos.

So its being made to look worse than it actually is, and as Antiquesam says many are trying to have a holiday (even though they have just had at least a Three month holiday lol) they have been on Thurlough so money may be tight.Rest assured if they could afford it they would mostly be holidaying in Benidorm or such like NOT holidaying in the UK! The accusations of rubbish dumping and toilet deposits could also be down to daytrippers in cars who have escaped their "home prisons"after a long lockdown. The Motorhome/Campervan owner is getting all the blame and the local Rags are relishing the front page articles distorting the truth on what is actually happening.

 

[UFO]

Wondering from this and dates of similar stories over the past few weeks whether this mass inconsiderate parking is happening mostly over weekends. Would like to know as planning to head up through the middle of Wales this week, on our way to SW Scotland.

 

[Val54]

For what its worth I've just added this comment to the Daily Post article ...........

The automatic assumption that all the "mess" is left by motorhomers always baffles me. Why would someone who has onboard facilities far superior to squatting in the grass want to do so? Surely it is more likely to be car visitors caught short especially when public loos are closed. The Posts stock photos never provide any evidence. I was at Cable Bay a couple of days ago and saw no evidence of motorhomer "waste". As to us all being "freeloaders", I reckon we have easily spent over £100 with local businesses. The cafe at Penrhos Nature Reserve seeing most of it, and excellent it was too. The answer is not to ban us but to make provision for motorhomes that do not want or need the facilities of a campsite. A place to park, leave rubbish responsibly, take on water and an elsan point is all thats required. Most van owners I know will happily pay £5 -£10 to overnight in such a facility and provide income that would soon recoup the expenditure required. There has been a massive growth in motorhome ownership, banning us will not provide a workable solution in the long term.

 

[antiquesam]

I've just written a little comment on the article, but I see a lot of locals are in support of us.

 

[Wully]

One of Europe’s biggest campsites is in wales and not too far from there shell island who say that due to Covid they won’t be opening the campsite this year it has 850 pitches that might be a contributing factor.

 

[Moped]

I've just written a little comment on the article, but I see a lot of locals are in support of us.

Local business wants the trade that the campers of all types bring. It is generally the second home owners and those outsiders who have moved in on retirement that do the moaning.

Absolutely no excuse for the Welsh authorities failure to plan for the increase in visitor traffic of all types. Anybody with even a pea sized brain could have predicted this.

All they can think of is fine and ban. It’s the local businesses that for the most part pay their inflated council salaries lest they forget.

 

[landoboguy]

I was on business in Ceredigion this week, near aberystwith and drove through snowdon on the way an dspoke to some of the guys, who said they appreciate the income from holiday / Motorhomers.
I have stayed and climbed snowdon lots of times from lots of start points and the most issues I see with parking are cars and T5s and vans. I once seen a chap in an audi with an old battered horse box on the back coverted into a sleeper on his towbar, no bog. Ive never seen motorhomes parked half on the road and off as its too much worry getting scraped i suppose.

End of the day doesnt matter what you drive, be respectful, and tidy, though that doesnt sell newspapers does it.

"DOZENS OF MOTOR HOMES parked at Snowdonia Leave no rubbish, (actually pick it up) cause no trouble and spend money in the local shops..>SHOCK HORROR"