CAMpRA and the National Trust

You never went free camping  to Piemanson beach at the bottom of the Camargue then ?  Dig a hole in the dunes and empty your toilet in the hole was the general practice. The French authorities closed it down in the end for hygiene reasons, just as the Portuguese authorities are closing down free camping in natura zones across their country too. 

Yes, I've got no issue with taking stuff home and recycling or disposing, just felt that the siring of bins strategically and then never emptying them seemed a bit of a waste of effort...

It was while we were in that area we observed multiple walk ins to the camping car park Air we were on at Port Saint Louis du Rhone. The Air held about 100 and there were 3 of us on it. Vans pulled up at the barrier used the bins, walked in with their cassette and drove off, presumably to stop for nothing elsewhere. I suppose at least they were dumping responsibly, however at others cost. There is even the option of paying a reduced fee if you only want to dump and fill.

Oops just noticed this is in the UK section so a bit Off topic.😀

Steve, not too OT as we are discussing overnighting on new sites/parking areas....

The concept of being able to dump/fill at a point where stopping isn't allowed (services-only aires) is certainly one that many on here won't be familiar with.

often (usually) the bone fide 'aires' have parking AND services...

but, even then, there are many that have parking but NO services.

with the majority of aires being free, pulling in to overnight or just refill/empty is all part of the 'service' and shouldn't be seen as unusual or sponging in any way.

then there are the chargeable aires where folk are unlikely to try and use 'part' of the service (waste/water) as they have to pay for all of it...

but regular campsites also get in on the act...some allowing the use of the service point, usually outside the camp gates or close to reception, by passing traffic for a small fee...€2 or so.

...but some even go further and have a fully developed, separate aire just outside the site, pitches sold at a good bit less than those on the site but with access to services and facilities granted to aire users...

when folk try and compare a new UK initiative to the long standing aires network across Europe, they are comparing something that's part of the touring vanning fabric with the use of a car park or two...but even a couple is progress.

however, I wonder how many uk council officials considering the use of their car parking space for overnighting have ever been to check what makes a good aire and how they operate?

Precious few, I'd wager, and certainly not anyone from NT judging by some of the info in this thread.

What have your LA said when you contacted them with your suggestion?

but even a couple is progress.

A few more than a couple BB, The figure I have read is 125 todate. with hopefully more to come.

peedee

I haven't got a 'suggestion' thanks..unless you mean councillors visiting France?

i was just adding to Steve's point and the contrast between a system that's been evolving over many years and what's been discussed here.

im under no illusion that things will move far very quickly, despite the simple solutions (use of spare space via overnight marked spaces) being the best and cheapest to implement.

sometimes, all it needs is the removal of the 'no overnighting' text on the car park rules board...

some car parks already have 'no charge' outside certain hours, so cars can be left there overnight for free...you can do it in a MH (if no height barriers, no specific exclusions etc) provided you don't sleep in it!

no problem with a special 'overnight sleep' rate (say) £5 even if you are next to a car that's there all night for nothing.

PeeDee, any links? Thanks.

I would guess many of the recently available chargeable O/N parking spaces, including the Nat Trust’s Lake District recent trial, are as a result of illegal O/N parking in popular areas by the increased usage of M’homes and Campervans due to Covid related staycations. Unfortunately, Scotland is not the only area in the UK where illegal overnighting happens though it does seem to get the most coverage.

Aires in Wales -  tricky auto’s post is an illustration of that area’s solution to what they see as a problem – hope it works for them.

This is what I found if it works  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/new-aires-approved-gwynedd-tackle-22116266

I will see if I can find find one but you can use Search for Sites using CAMpRA as a filter. It will show those currently approved.

peedee