CAMpRA and the National Trust
166 replies
eurortraveller replied on 16/11/2021 09:38
Posted on 16/11/2021 09:19 by young thomasI obviously visit the wrong (right?) type of places as, in 11 years of bumbling round Europe, I've never seen 'effluent' where it shouldn't be nor a member of the 'camping fraternity' putting it where it shouldn't go...
..but then we've only used full fat sites, THS, CL/CS, the odd rally, Commercial sites, wild camping, aires, continental sites etc....perhaps we need to get out more?
one of my bugbears is that, where there are stopping and parking places, why are the bins never emptied often enough...surely popular spots (often with limited bins) need faster emptying turnover or more bins?
Posted on 16/11/2021 09:38
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.
young thomas replied on 16/11/2021 13:50
Posted on 16/11/2021 09:30 by Rocky 2 bucketsBins?🤔, or folk could hold onto their rubbish until somewhere to dispose of it safely can be found. It isn’t about a particular section of travellers it’s about attitude & being socially responsible whatever the country👍🏻
SteveL replied on 16/11/2021 14:10
Posted on 16/11/2021 09:38 by eurortravellerYou 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.
Posted on 16/11/2021 14:10
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.😀
young thomas replied on 16/11/2021 15:12
Posted on 16/11/2021 15:12
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.
JVB66 replied on 16/11/2021 15:16
Posted on 16/11/2021 15:12 by young thomasThe 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.
peedee replied on 16/11/2021 16:29
young thomas replied on 16/11/2021 16:29
Posted on 16/11/2021 16:29
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.
young thomas replied on 16/11/2021 16:30
N1805 replied on 16/11/2021 16:53
Posted on 16/11/2021 16:53
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
peedee replied on 16/11/2021 21:39
Posted on 16/11/2021 16:30 by young thomasPeeDee, any links? Thanks.