By William Coleman
Recently there has been a slight ground swell of negativity toward the touring community. Some areas have actually gone as far as to impose bans and parking restrictions for motorhomes in certain coastal areas. One member who feels directly, and wrongfully, impacted by these wave of changes wrote into the Dorset Echo. The publication felt so strongly they actually published the letter. I too feel like this letter needs to be shared.
I love the unspoiled sea side area that hasn’t got thousands of betting shops and arcades, and I travel there at least every couple of months.
I am also a motor home owner. I am responsible, and don’t leave a trace of having been in an area, and I abide by rules in regard to parking.
However, I fail to see why residents are so hesitant to have us in West Bay. Currently I use a site for overnight sleeping and pay the £2 for day-time parking at Station car park.
Why don’t you charge £10 a night and allow overnight parking? Use the money to pay for a ‘warden’ and the extra generated can be put to use in the community.
We shop in your town, we eat in your restaurants and bring money in all year round – not just in the summer.
Rather than tarnish us all with the same brush – understand us. Learn how to maximise the potential to support us to support your community!
Speak to your shop owners. We have! They want our trade. As of November 1 each year all the campsites are closed – so we have no where to stay.
Station car park is ideal – and we are happy to pay or don’t – and accept that you are losing money.
I accept that some people take the mick and stay for weeks on end and use noisy generators etc, so have a warden who could monitor this and keep the few in check.
Don’t stop West Bay being accessible!
Myself and the CaravanTimes team feel very passionate about this topic, see our previous article here regarding the negative backlash our tourism made by caravan holidays has faced this past season. Having travelled the world over in caravans and motorhomes we can say that the revenue provided by all touring folk is vital and if diminished it will be irreplaceable.
