Where are we actually welcome

[Nabsim]

Ang on a minute Neil - I just said that Loughborough had a large annual fair.

Although I should point out that we got our first royal charter 50 odd years before you newcomers. Ner Ner Na Ner Ner!

I may have a house in Hull Rob but I am a Surrey boy lol

 

[Robmac]

I may have a house in Hull Rob but I am a Surrey boy lol

Yeah I know Neil.

I left Loughborough decades ago.

 

[REC]

Canterbury City Council welcome motorhomes....and the coastal carparks have places too....but I suppose they do restrict parking on coastal roads now. Don't mind going to places which have adequate places provided, hate those who just put height barriers in and don't allow parking anywhere else... ( Wells on Sea being my pet hate... see post in the past!) Pubs seem to be the main option as they welcome you knowing that you will be a customer. My brother found a great one in Margate when he came up to visit my mum in hospital in an emergency. They even knocked on the door in the morning to check if he wanted a free cuppa or breakfast as he had set off in a hurry and had not stocked the van. Stayed there two nights at no charge.He did use their bar and restaurant in the evening though

 

[Fisherman]

Pub stops make so much sense for everyone.
But up here there have been complaints about them from guess who………… yep campsite owners. The Royal hotel in Ullapool was forced to stop charging £10 inc EHU when “someone” Pointed out the vans were not 6m apart. You can park there for free now but without the EHU first come first served.

We are fortunate up here. We are just back from 5 nights wc with absolutely no hassles whatsoever. Friendly locals, we even got an invite in to a cottage in St Monans for a coffee. We love coastal walks and did our usual Elie to Anstruther walk. WC is still possible up here, and if anything things are improving. Mostly though it involves making a payment (sometimes voluntary) of £5-10. We stopped over in Leven for the first time, great stopover for a donation of £5 a night. The photos above were taken there.

 

[GeoffL]

But up here there have been complaints about them from guess who………… yep campsite owners.

... same in Cornwall a few years ago. We had some great pub stops until the campsite owners complained to the council, who (AIUI) promptly 'deemed' the pubs to be operating unlawful caravan sites. We still have some, but not as many as before...

 

[barryd]

View attachment 136031View attachment 136032Pub stops make so much sense for everyone.
But up here there have been complaints about them from guess who………… yep campsite owners. The Royal hotel in Ullapool was forced to stop charging £10 inc EHU when “someone” Pointed out the vans were not 6m apart. You can park there for free now but without the EHU first come first served.

We are fortunate up here. We are just back from 5 nights wc with absolutely no hassles whatsoever. Friendly locals, we even got an invite in to a cottage in St Monans for a coffee. We love coastal walks and did our usual Elie to Anstruther walk. WC is still possible up here, and if anything things are improving. Mostly though it involves making a payment (sometimes voluntary) of £5-10. We stopped over in Leven for the first time, great stopover for a donation of £5 a night. The photos above were taken there.

Pretty sure the 6m thing is advisory and not law. I suspect whats happened here is the campsite dobbed them in for not having a licence or an exemption.

 

[Robmac]

Pretty sure the 6m thing is advisory and not law. I suspect whats happened here is the campsite dobbed them in for not having a licence or an exemption.

I think it's a Natural England rule for exemption certificates for rallies Etc. Barry, or it used to be.

 

[GeoffL]

Pretty sure the 6m thing is advisory and not law. I suspect whats happened here is the campsite dobbed them in for not having a licence or an exemption.

I think it's a Natural England rule for exemption certificates for rallies Etc. Barry, or it used to be.

AIUI, it's a rule that CCC and CMC apply. I'll take your word re. Natural England -- especially since it's a reasonable measure to limit the spread of fire. However, I suspect that only applies to camping as opposed to parking and sleeping in your vehicle. In coming to that conclusion, I'm thinking of motorway services where all that don't have a dedicated camp site permit overnight stops (for a fee). Although mainly for the trucking community, we can also use those facilities and the spaces are not 6m apart! Thus I suspect that @barryd is correct and the issue the campsite has raised is the 1960s caravan site planning regulations? Anyway, here's a link to the full regulation. Note that (as per Schedule 1) there are ways around this and CAMpRA is one of the entities who can issue exemptions.

 

[Robmac]

AIUI, it's a rule that CCC and CMC apply. I'll take your word re. Natural England -- especially since it's a reasonable measure to limit the spread of fire. However, I suspect that only applies to camping as opposed to parking and sleeping in your vehicle. In coming to that conclusion, I'm thinking of motorway services where all that don't have a dedicated camp site permit overnight stops (for a fee). Although mainly for the trucking community, we can also use those facilities and the spaces are not 6m apart! Thus I suspect that @barryd is correct and the issue the campsite has raised is the 1960s caravan site planning regulations? Anyway, here's a link to the full regulation. Note that (as per Schedule 1) there are ways around this and CAMpRA is one of the entities who can issue exemptions.

I wasn't sure about the full extent of an exemption certificate or who can issue them apart from Natural England. I was a rally organiser a few years back on another forum and held an exemption certificate myself for this purpose and so was in regular contact with NE at the time and it was made clear to me at the time that breaches of the rules would result in withdrawal of the certificate.

If you look at the link below you will notice that the contact point under the heading 'Certificates for England' is Email: caravan.camping@naturalengland.org.uk but yes it doesn't surprise me that the CCC and CMC adopt this rule to cover themselves as as having taken reasonable precautions in the event of an incident.

The document itself although issued by GOV.UK is actually from NE as you will see in the first few lines;

Social clubs: get an exemption to camp without a licence

Recreational organisations like caravan clubs or the Scouts can apply for an exemption to camp without a licence or planning permission.

www.gov.uk

But yes, you (and Barry) are correct these rules are not law and not applicable to parking, I was just stating where the 6 metre rule originated and anybody quoting this rule when trying to dissuade you from parking is either deliberately misusing it or don't understand it.

 

[Nabsim]

Very unusual for me but I have been staying a few days on a camp site! I am on hard standing with the nose of my van only feet from the water. I have a hookup point in front of my can with all the power I may want included, I will connect up later to top my battery up maybe. Behind me I have drinking water and close by rubbish bins and elsan point.

Last night I used the washing machines and dryers so I wouldn’t have much to do when I go home for appointments next week. There are a couple of blocks with showers and toilets and even a room you can sit with friends if you want such things. Reception have a few basics and ice cream but it’s not a proper shop.

I am in one of the most popular places to visit in the U.K. on the shore of Loch Lomond

Now the reason for the post. It is costing me £15.70 a night all in for me and the two dogs. Please explain how it is more expensive for other camp sites or even how £10 for a car park is good?

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Very unusual for me but I have been staying a few days on a camp site! I am on hard standing with the nose of my van only feet from the water. I have a hookup point in front of my can with all the power I may want included, I will connect up later to top my battery up maybe. Behind me I have drinking water and close by rubbish bins and elsan point.

Last night I used the washing machines and dryers so I wouldn’t have much to do when I go home for appointments next week. There are a couple of blocks with showers and toilets and even a room you can sit with friends if you want such things. Reception have a few basics and ice cream but it’s not a proper shop.

I am in one of the most popular places to visit in the U.K. on the shore of Loch Lomond

Now the reason for the post. It is costing me £15.70 a night all in for me and the two dogs. Please explain how it is more expensive for other camp sites or even how £10 for a car park is good?

That is a very good price, Neil. October is "out of season" I guess.

Be interesting to know what they charge full season when everybody and his auntie's cat wants to visit that area?

 

[trevexess]

Where are we actually welcome. A question for the many that say they will just take their money where they are welcome. This is another greatly depressed area that is full of boarded up shops and in need of money. Cleethorpes and Grimsby. This proposal is for only 10 MHs max stay 48hrs. Another case of NIMBY even when their back yard requires a lot of maintenance.

Council submits plans for motorhome parking area in Cleethorpes

Concerns have been raised by a local business after North East Lincolnshire Council unveiled a proposal to transform part of the Boating Lake car park in Cleethorpes into a motorhome parking area. Plans were submitted in 2023 for a “change of use to create a formalised motorhome parking area”...

gi-grimsby.co.uk

The UK is so short sighted when it comes to motorhome parking compared to France and the rest of Europe. There are a couple of places we use in Yorkshire that welcome us in their car parks but mostly we are not wanted. By providing Aires in the towns and cities councils could make a fortune, but they decide not to offer this service, so short sighted but been this way for years. When you look at any UK town or City, the amount of bombed out sad looking third world land that's now avalable that could be put to good use is there for all to see. Maybe could help in reducing council tax.... = The funding pot for their pension schemes...

 

[mariesnowgoose]

The UK is so short sighted when it comes to motorhome parking compared to France and the rest of Europe. There are a couple of places we use in Yorkshire that welcome us in their car parks but mostly we are not wanted. By providing Aires in the towns and cities councils could make a fortune, but they decide not to offer this service, so short sighted but been this way for years. When you look at any UK town or City, the amount of bombed out sad looking third world land that's now avalable that could be put to good use is there for all to see. Maybe could help in reducing council tax.... = The funding pot for their pension schemes...

Yup. Been like that for a long while and you are correct about the perceived UK "attitude" - except:-

1. "They" (public or private) won't necessarily "make a fortune" and, as discussed in other threads etc., it's easier for councils to simply ban outright or bung in some height barriers to (purportedly!) prevent "anti-social behaviour". Local councils are rarely big activists in the imagination and vision stakes! And their hands are often tied by central government rules in a thousand and one ways.

2. Don't be deluded in thinking there are no plans, or never will be, for the "bombed out sad looking third world land". Those who own or trade in said land are just waiting for the right "big money" opportunities. That old chestnut about land; they don't make it any more - and the majority of it is already in the hands of the extremely wealthy and big business.

50% of all UK land is owned by 1% of the population, gifted to them by William the Conc. all those 100s of years ago. The rest is up for grabs by whichever multinational or extremely wealthy privateers can see a way make it pay them big dividends, and they will lobby the government non-stop until they get their way.

Anyway, we're getting a brand new AI data centre apparently, courtesy of some big Trump backers. At least some of the crumbs from the billionaires might actually drop on our small, deprived table up here in the North East at long last. 4,000 jobs they say - and hopefully the attendant "ripple out" economically into the surrounding communities and small businesses.

Soon to be accompanied by the Hong Kong style Freeport (which has already made a handful of individuals incredibly wealthy) down Middlesbrough way - on the back of our public money, btw

 

[barryd]

Very unusual for me but I have been staying a few days on a camp site! I am on hard standing with the nose of my van only feet from the water. I have a hookup point in front of my can with all the power I may want included, I will connect up later to top my battery up maybe. Behind me I have drinking water and close by rubbish bins and elsan point.

Last night I used the washing machines and dryers so I wouldn’t have much to do when I go home for appointments next week. There are a couple of blocks with showers and toilets and even a room you can sit with friends if you want such things. Reception have a few basics and ice cream but it’s not a proper shop.

I am in one of the most popular places to visit in the U.K. on the shore of Loch Lomond

Now the reason for the post. It is costing me £15.70 a night all in for me and the two dogs. Please explain how it is more expensive for other camp sites or even how £10 for a car park is good?

Its a bit of a no brainer this time of year. There are some good deals about. I hate campsites but I tolerate this one "Twitchen house" at Mortehoe / Woolacombe and over the road their other site "Easewell Farm". If you are a bit savvy you can get dates here for long term if you pick the right day to book it on for as little as £12 a night. I get a discount as I keep rebooking but the premier pitches here in the peak season are as much as £99 a night. Tennis courts, Golf course, lovely indoor pool, steam rooms, sauna water on pitch, EHU etc and midweek its pretty quiet. Weekends can get a bit annoying but its probably just me. I'm so used to quiet CL sites in the middle of nowhere big campsites are always a bit of a culture shock but all this week we have had an entire level to ourselves. Michelle likes it as all her favourite walks are dead handy, there is an off road Tramper at Woolacombe TI so I can go off with her over the hills or down the beach. They even deliver food to your pitch here.

Talking to Reception this morning we might have to move to Easewell for half term as we will have been here four weeks by then and "officially" we have to clear off for 24 hours.

 

[Fazerloz]

Very unusual for me but I have been staying a few days on a camp site! I am on hard standing with the nose of my van only feet from the water. I have a hookup point in front of my can with all the power I may want included, I will connect up later to top my battery up maybe. Behind me I have drinking water and close by rubbish bins and elsan point.

Last night I used the washing machines and dryers so I wouldn’t have much to do when I go home for appointments next week. There are a couple of blocks with showers and toilets and even a room you can sit with friends if you want such things. Reception have a few basics and ice cream but it’s not a proper shop.

I am in one of the most popular places to visit in the U.K. on the shore of Loch Lomond

Now the reason for the post. It is costing me £15.70 a night all in for me and the two dogs. Please explain how it is more expensive for other camp sites or even how £10 for a car park is good?

Very similar we are on Thornwick Bay Haven at the moment and the site has just emptied after the weekend, vans now sparsely doted about. 7 nights £54 inc ehu and alll amenities on site. When the offers are there make the most of them if you can just don't expect to go during kids hols at these prices.

 

[barryd]

Very similar we are on Thornwick Bay Haven at the moment and the site has just emptied after the weekend, vans now sparsely doted about. 7 nights £54 inc ehu and alll amenities on site. When the offers are there make the most of them if you can just don't expect to go during kids hols at these prices.

Blimey! You can easily pay that much per night in summer. Haven do some great deals off season. I think thats the key. Look at the larger chain sites. I reckon off season they sell the pitches at a loss presumably in the hope that you will spend money in the bars, shops etc and they don't want them empty I guess. Parkdean resorts do some reasonable deals also. We enjoyed our time on the Lizard in September but at the risk of sounding snobby, the clientele come the weekend when we left was a bit less than desirable. Bit rowdy. Pitch up often gives you an idea of who is doing cheap off season deals.

 

[Nabsim]

That is a very good price, Neil. October is "out of season" I guess.

Be interesting to know what they charge full season when everybody and his auntie's cat wants to visit that area?

That is a very good price, Neil. October is "out of season" I guess.

Be interesting to know what they charge full season when everybody and his auntie's cat wants to visit that area?

It’s the CCC site at Milarrochy Bay Marie so that does include old git discount, no idea what it would be in high season but I wouldn’t be here in high season

 

[JQB]

Where are we actually welcome. A question for the many that say they will just take their money where they are welcome. This is another greatly depressed area that is full of boarded up shops and in need of money. Cleethorpes and Grimsby. This proposal is for only 10 MHs max stay 48hrs. Another case of NIMBY even when their back yard requires a lot of maintenance.

Council submits plans for motorhome parking area in Cleethorpes

Concerns have been raised by a local business after North East Lincolnshire Council unveiled a proposal to transform part of the Boating Lake car park in Cleethorpes into a motorhome parking area. Plans were submitted in 2023 for a “change of use to create a formalised motorhome parking area”...

gi-grimsby.co.uk

We do like little Cleethorpes, but campers are banned from parking at all, even in daytime, on parts of the prom. Yep, the town is ptetty down at heel as you indicate. Soo many chipies nr the seafront and also ice cream vendors, but be choosy, we were just recently charged mega money for two very crappy cornets from a caff nr where the busses park and turn on the seafront. No prices displayed. More fool us, just along a little better ices and far far cheaper.
Councils, interested parties on councils, the subjects of motorhome aires, motorhome parking of any kind, all stir up head in the sand councils to do mostly nothing good. And the local rags love to sensationalise the subjects too, finding some bonkers contributor to say bonkers things.

 

[GeoffL]

TBH, ISTM that many sites offer camping as a sideline to help offset lack of income from other revenue streams. The place we're at right now falls into that category AIUI. Anyway, £12.50/night without EHU and £20 with. There's water, toilet, CDP and a truck stop/bar onsite. However, we're not here for the camping, which is a means to an end. We're here for a Bluegrass picking weekend jamming with several like-minded musos! It's the same with other places we use: next Sunday, we'll pay £15 to overnight at a pub that's hosting a uke jam. Early Nov, we've paid £25/night to camp at Baskerville Hall for a Bluegrass picking weekend.

 

[barryd]

TBH, ISTM that many sites offer camping as a sideline to help offset lack of income from other revenue streams. The place we're at right now falls into that category AIUI. Anyway, £12.50/night without EHU and £20 with. There's water, toilet, CDP and a truck stop/bar onsite. However, we're not here for the camping, which is a means to an end. We're here for a Bluegrass picking weekend jamming with several like-minded musos! It's the same with other places we use: next Sunday, we'll pay £15 to overnight at a pub that's hosting a uke jam. Early Nov, we've paid £25/night to camp at Baskerville Hall for a Bluegrass picking weekend.

Now they sound like fun. Well apart from the Uke's