So many people hate them, and the reason is that they will park anywhere for free rather than pay.
I once saw a car with a sticker that said"Make someone happy Burn A Campervan!" I remember laughing at the time, but it is now entirely out of control.
They need to have the whole of Conwy a no overnight parking county unless they park in pay bays, for the same fee as a campsite would charge.
And if they fail they get clamped and towed away.
Disgruntled residents in Conwy want steps taken to address illegal parking and littering by motorhome owners. This week they had a chance to air their concerns on an issue that has caused consternation across the county in recent years.
Owners of motorhomes and campervans say the provision of suitable parking, with minimal facilities (aires), would generate a financial windfall for Conwy. It would also end some of the problems associated with motorhomes, according to CAMpRA, which represents 30,000 owners in Britain. On Wednesday the group met council officials and consultants for “positive” talks”.
In a bid to find solutions, an online workshop for residents was hosted by Conwy Council on Friday. At the heart of the issue is a shortage of suitable parking, the potential income available, and the impact on local campsites.
When the residents’ workshop was announced on Facebook, it unleashed a torrent of concern over the activities of some visitors. “Campervan parked outside my house tonight with two men in!” said one woman. “Told them earlier they couldn’t stay overnight but they’re still there.”
A former campervan owner sympathized. “It’s the same as where my sister lives on the Little Orme (in Llandudno). People just assume you can park in front of houses, across drives, and on pavements,” she said.
Given the age and demographic profile of motorhome owners, CAMpRA says the majority are well-behaved and are eager to pay for modest facilities. It is the minority that has left its mark on North Wales since the start of the Covid pandemic.
“The owners need to take responsibility,” said one woman. “It’s not all campervan owners but people do illegally park, leave rubbish, BBQs and, sadly, empty the toilets. They need to realize they can’t camp wherever they like.
“Our council tax pays to clean up after them and it’s not on. There does need to be (more parking) sites but until there are, people should abide by the law. It’s unfair that, as a resident, my council tax is used to clean up after selfish, disrespectful tourists when basic services to residents of Conwy are being cut.”
A Conwy resident said fly camping problems caused by campervans had been apparent in places like Capel Curig and Llyn Geirionydd this summer. In tinder-dry conditions, many had refused to extinguish fires or had abandoned barbecues still lit.
“Fly camping shows a complete lack of respect for the environment or local people,” she said. “Aires does sound like a sensible option. But at the same time, there should be fines - properly enforced. Who wants to visit a beach that is effectively a campsite?”
Many motorhome owners wince at stories like these and want fines levied just as much as residents. Putting proper infrastructure in place will go some way to alleviating the problems while giving the hospitality sector a much-needed shot in the arm, says CAMpRA.
Steve Haywood, a member of the group’s leadership team, points to a CAMpRA survey of members which revealed an average daily spend of £47 in host communities. This summer he visited North Wales and would like to have spent more money in Conwy, but couldn’t.
“We spent a night in Prestatyn in a five-berth aires in what was effectively a back garden,” he said. “Every car park in the town was empty overnight because they all had height barriers. Had we been able to stay in one of these, we would have been able to enjoy a meal out.
“We would have loved to have visited Llandudno but because of last year's problems, we missed it.
Instead, we went to Conwy town, which has a car park near the castle with spaces for six motorhomes. Had we been able to spend the night there, we would have bought more than snacks and ice creams.
“It would be great to have a large aires in the area – Llandudno probably has more room – with a 72-hour staying limit. If buses were nearby, motorhome owners could spend a day in Llandudno and a day in Conwy, with meals out in each.”
Often, aires can be created at under-used car parks if height barriers are removed and parking bays are repainted. Cheap waste disposal units can be attached to public toilet blocks, as is planned on Anglesey.
A potential stumbling block is the concerns of existing campsite owners, who worry aires will take away their trade. Mr. Haywood thinks this is unlikely, as most motorhome users prefer life on the road and opt for cheaper town or village parking. Owners who prefer campsites will continue using them, he said.
“If all motorhomes parked at official campsites, it would take trade away from town center pubs and restaurants,” he said. “So there will always be an impact one way or the other. With aires, however, overall spending would increase.”
Those who support tourism believe it is time to make North Wales attractive and amendable to all visitors, not just day-trippers, campers, and B&B guests. Gwynedd Council has already announced plans to expand aires provision.
A small aires in Llandudno Junction, with room for around five campervans, has made a big difference to the lives of nearby residents, according to one local. “We don’t have any campers parking up on our road anymore,” she said. “It is used nightly, campers don’t stay long, they all seem happy, they use the local shops and pubs and it’s a win-win.”
From...https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/fed-up-residents-sick-motorhomes-24970134
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