Letter to councils and MP
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2021 9:29 pm
This is an email I sent to all Teignbridge councillors, Devon county council, Torbay council and my MP Anne-Marie Morris, lets see what comes of it. If you follow the thread on down the page you will see several promising responses from Teignbridge Councillors. As yet I've only had acknowledging emails fro Devon County and Torbay Councils.
Dear Councillors,
I write to you as a resident of Dawlish
I am a keen motorhome user with over twelve years experience both in this country and on the continent. Having now retired my wife and I spend the majority of our time on the road, and it’s a wonderful way of seeing countries. Pre Covid we spent two years travelling Europe taking in over twenty countries and our aim is to carry on travelling once this pandemic allows.
From our experience of touring within the UK campsites are rarely within easy walking distance of towns and many are vastly overpriced, particularly if you don’t need to use the facilities as motorhomes are fully self contained. Most car parks around the country prohibit overnight stays meaning that after we have visited a town we must move on for the night, this necessitates leaving a town early in order to find a suitable location and cuts the amount of money we would be spending in the town, for example on evening meals.
On the continent we felt much more welcome and indeed France, Spain, Germany and Italy, from personal experience, provide many “aires” in the towns. Some of these are free and for some there a small charge but they all encourage motorhomers to visit the area. In other countries, Greece was a particular favourite, although there are not the dedicated areas to overnight there are provisions to pick up water and overnight parking is tolerated widely.
I have done some research into the provisions made by towns twinned with Teignbridge towns, Torbay and Exeter.
Carhaix, twinned with Dawlish, has a dedicated aire.
Troarn, twinned with Chudleigh, has a dedicated aire.
Perros-Guirel, twinned with Teingmouth, has dedicated motorhome parking in the town without facilities.
Ay, twinned with Newton Abbot, although there is no aire in the town the nearest is in Mutigny on the outskirts.
La Molay, twinned with Bovey Tracey, has an aire within four miles.
Le Pre-d-Augre, twinned with Abbotskerswell, has an aire within two miles.
Hamelin in Germany, twinned with Torbay, has two aires.
Rennes, twinned with Exeter, has an aire.
I follow a group called CAMpRA, Campaign for real aires, who are campaigning to improve facilities in this country for motorhomes enabling short stays in and around towns and cities and the following figures have been researched by the group.
There are over 250,000 motorhome owners in the UK and this figure is growing fast. There are many times this figure in Europe.
They are very keen to visit our area and research shows they would be likely to spend an average of £50 per day in our area. They are mostly retirees with disposable income.
THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO STAY !!
Motorhomers very rarely use campsites, hotels or B&Bs so any provision would not be in competition with these providers. Motorhomers need three things:
1) An overnight parking space
2) A place to dispose of toilet cassette & washing up waste
3) A freshwater supply
The solution is very simple:
1) Allocate motorhome parking spaces in local car parks with a charge of £5 per night plus the relevant day charges.
2) Provide a 'Motorhome Service Area' with facilities to dispose of waste and refresh water, with signage
I suspect any concerns you might have will be with regard to the 'wrong' people using these car parks/sites so, we at CAMpRA, have done our research and discovered the following:
1) The presence of paying motorhomes deters criminals - lots of extra pairs of eyes – just display a contact number for police/security.
2) In rural areas, it has mostly eliminated fly tipping.
3) It can generate a fair amount of revenue which would offset any (minimal) costs involved.
4) We are associated with the 'Wild & Wombling Motorhomers' whose mission is to clear up litter after other people.
However, the BIGGEST BENEFIT is that of their contribution to the local economy.
A quick drive around our area has prompted some ideas for overnight parking/sleeping, eg In Dawlish, Barton car park, Sandy lane car park, Leisure centre carpark, Dawlish Warren outer car park. Teignmouth, Eastcliff car park and Polly steps car park. Newton Abbot cricket field car park.
Service areas could be set up in Retail Parks, Industrial Estates, Car Washes, Supermarkets, Petrol Stations, Leisure centres.
There are many success stories around the country:
· Forestry Scotland has just completed a pilot scheme which it is now continuing
· Craven District Council have trialled with 2 car parks and have just extended to 3
· Canterbury Council have 3 such 'Aires'
· Hawick Council are having great success with their scheme
There are many more and many in the process of being setting up.
Please have a look at this Facebook group (free) https://www.facebook.com/groups/campra.uk or their website https://www.campra.org.uk
I know CAMpRA have met with various other interested bodies and have much more information that could help you, they have lots of networking opportunities for promoting tourism to our area. It really is a 'Win/Win ' situation.
Kind Regards
Yours sincerely
Paul Dennett
Dear Councillors,
I write to you as a resident of Dawlish
I am a keen motorhome user with over twelve years experience both in this country and on the continent. Having now retired my wife and I spend the majority of our time on the road, and it’s a wonderful way of seeing countries. Pre Covid we spent two years travelling Europe taking in over twenty countries and our aim is to carry on travelling once this pandemic allows.
From our experience of touring within the UK campsites are rarely within easy walking distance of towns and many are vastly overpriced, particularly if you don’t need to use the facilities as motorhomes are fully self contained. Most car parks around the country prohibit overnight stays meaning that after we have visited a town we must move on for the night, this necessitates leaving a town early in order to find a suitable location and cuts the amount of money we would be spending in the town, for example on evening meals.
On the continent we felt much more welcome and indeed France, Spain, Germany and Italy, from personal experience, provide many “aires” in the towns. Some of these are free and for some there a small charge but they all encourage motorhomers to visit the area. In other countries, Greece was a particular favourite, although there are not the dedicated areas to overnight there are provisions to pick up water and overnight parking is tolerated widely.
I have done some research into the provisions made by towns twinned with Teignbridge towns, Torbay and Exeter.
Carhaix, twinned with Dawlish, has a dedicated aire.
Troarn, twinned with Chudleigh, has a dedicated aire.
Perros-Guirel, twinned with Teingmouth, has dedicated motorhome parking in the town without facilities.
Ay, twinned with Newton Abbot, although there is no aire in the town the nearest is in Mutigny on the outskirts.
La Molay, twinned with Bovey Tracey, has an aire within four miles.
Le Pre-d-Augre, twinned with Abbotskerswell, has an aire within two miles.
Hamelin in Germany, twinned with Torbay, has two aires.
Rennes, twinned with Exeter, has an aire.
I follow a group called CAMpRA, Campaign for real aires, who are campaigning to improve facilities in this country for motorhomes enabling short stays in and around towns and cities and the following figures have been researched by the group.
There are over 250,000 motorhome owners in the UK and this figure is growing fast. There are many times this figure in Europe.
They are very keen to visit our area and research shows they would be likely to spend an average of £50 per day in our area. They are mostly retirees with disposable income.
THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO STAY !!
Motorhomers very rarely use campsites, hotels or B&Bs so any provision would not be in competition with these providers. Motorhomers need three things:
1) An overnight parking space
2) A place to dispose of toilet cassette & washing up waste
3) A freshwater supply
The solution is very simple:
1) Allocate motorhome parking spaces in local car parks with a charge of £5 per night plus the relevant day charges.
2) Provide a 'Motorhome Service Area' with facilities to dispose of waste and refresh water, with signage
I suspect any concerns you might have will be with regard to the 'wrong' people using these car parks/sites so, we at CAMpRA, have done our research and discovered the following:
1) The presence of paying motorhomes deters criminals - lots of extra pairs of eyes – just display a contact number for police/security.
2) In rural areas, it has mostly eliminated fly tipping.
3) It can generate a fair amount of revenue which would offset any (minimal) costs involved.
4) We are associated with the 'Wild & Wombling Motorhomers' whose mission is to clear up litter after other people.
However, the BIGGEST BENEFIT is that of their contribution to the local economy.
A quick drive around our area has prompted some ideas for overnight parking/sleeping, eg In Dawlish, Barton car park, Sandy lane car park, Leisure centre carpark, Dawlish Warren outer car park. Teignmouth, Eastcliff car park and Polly steps car park. Newton Abbot cricket field car park.
Service areas could be set up in Retail Parks, Industrial Estates, Car Washes, Supermarkets, Petrol Stations, Leisure centres.
There are many success stories around the country:
· Forestry Scotland has just completed a pilot scheme which it is now continuing
· Craven District Council have trialled with 2 car parks and have just extended to 3
· Canterbury Council have 3 such 'Aires'
· Hawick Council are having great success with their scheme
There are many more and many in the process of being setting up.
Please have a look at this Facebook group (free) https://www.facebook.com/groups/campra.uk or their website https://www.campra.org.uk
I know CAMpRA have met with various other interested bodies and have much more information that could help you, they have lots of networking opportunities for promoting tourism to our area. It really is a 'Win/Win ' situation.
Kind Regards
Yours sincerely
Paul Dennett