500 signatures reached
To: Local councils and local msps and mps
Overnight motorhome parking and the impact on existing camping parks
There are various proposals across the country to provide overnight motorhome parking at a rate which devalues the price of a camping pitch within Scotland. The Highland council to name one is considering opening many of their existing car parks to overnight parking of motorhomes for a low, possibly voluntary charge. These car parks are often in prime town and beach front loctions and are in direct competition with caravan parks. A proposal is to be made to the Highland council soon to include Dornoch Beach car park in this scheme, which is in a prime beachfront location within 200 yards of Dornoch Caravan and camping park. Currently there is no overnight parking signs in this area and this deteres many overnight campers and drives them into the adjacent campsite. There is space for around 20 campervans in the beach carpark which has the potential to take 20 pitches per night from an existing established buisness which supports many local jobs.
We request that such proposed facitities do not undermine the commercial viability of local camp sites in terms of cost or location. For example we believe that such overnight parking should be offered at a charge of at least £10 per night and only be situated within 2 miles of an existing caravan and camping park if the caravan and camping park agrees to such proposals
We request that such proposed facitities do not undermine the commercial viability of local camp sites in terms of cost or location. For example we believe that such overnight parking should be offered at a charge of at least £10 per night and only be situated within 2 miles of an existing caravan and camping park if the caravan and camping park agrees to such proposals
Why is this important?
Caravan and camping parks have been in existance for many years and provide much needed income to local communities and employment for local people. Camping parks help with the problem of wild camping by providing much neeeded facilities in good locations at a cheap rate. Councils have been misled by the surge in motorhome holidays caused by the inability of people to travel abroad. Self contained motohome holidays were seen as a safe means of holidaying at home and hence flourished after lockdown eased. This will not remain the case when borders reopen and people can agian explore the world safley. When travel returns to normal, as it most certainly will, the proposed cheap overnight motorhome parking provided by local councils will damage local caravan park buisnesses perhaps making them obselete.
