A Morecambe resident is calling for Lancaster City Council to provide facilities within the town’s car parks for motorhome and campervan visitors, claiming too many leisure vehicle owners are using the streets as a “permanent personal car park”.
The cost of providing campervan and motorhome facilities to stay overnight in existing car parks is estimated to be more than £100,000 for provision of a toilet, shower block, fresh water supply and waste facility, plus additional annual costs.
Councillor Gina Dowding, Lancaster City Council cabinet member for planning, said: “There are 72 sites in the district where campervans are welcome to stay.
“Do we want to enter that market of competing with the private sector, or just try to direct camper vans to these existing sites?”
Susanne Smith presented a petition signed by 347 people to the council at Morecambe Town Hall last week calling for more motorhome and campervan facilities.
Related: Argyll and Bute Council reveal new measures to better accommodate campervans and motorhomes
She said: “A good number of these owners are disrespectful, parking their big fancy caravans there for days on end, putting very little into the local economy, enjoying views across the bay free on a regular basis.
“This is something we as residents pay a high price for in property costs, council tax and maintenance charges, and spending our pensions in the town all year round.”
She said that some motorhomes have been parked on the prom for months “using it as their own permanent personal car park”.
“There are a number of car parks with amenities close by which already have drains carrying sewerage,” she said.
“A few car parks could allow overnight parking with a set number for motorhomes, and a drain identified to allow sewerage disposal.”
Dowding said it was “a long standing problem” and that she understood Miss Smith’s “frustration”.
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She added: “There will be no incentive for campervan owners to park anywhere else while there continues to be free parking on Marine Road.”
A draft Traffic Regulation Order is in place but, she said, Lancashire County Council has asked for new pay-and-display facilities elsewhere on Marine Road to recoup any costs.
“That might not be palatable to people whose businesses might be affected by the introduction of pay-and-display,” said Councillor Dowding.
While campervans and motorhomes can already park in specified Lancaster City Council car parks, sleeping in these vehicles on council car parks is not allowed.
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2 comments
Local councils should sit up and take notice of how the Europeans have embraced folk with Motorhomes and Campers with their Aires initiatives. Scotland is starting to develop quite a few and of course the forestry commission have been running (very successful) schemes for a few years now. The vast majority of the Motorhome and Campers (owners) community are very respectful of the environment and of the communities in which we travel through. Personally I (with my family) spend quite a few quid when we are in and around the Cities, towns and villages on our travels. I could quite easily just “stay in” and eat but we think it is important to give something back to the communities that welcome our tourism.
Back to the subject of Aires, what councils are forgetting is that this can generate income. Yes, like everything else there is an initial outlay but there is also a very good return on investment. Councils not embracing these initiatives have no initiative and are robbing their residents of some much needed income that could be put back into local community projects.
If greedy profiteering caravan sites didn’t charge excessive pitch fees motorhome people would go to them . caravan and camping club. £57 a night on the black isle for non members. 45 for members 2 people a night plus around 50 ayear annual subscription. caravan and motorhome club no better . daylight robbery 😞