Campervans in Marina area?

sporina

loads of camper vans down in the parking area - end of marina - Shandon Boat Club/Greenway car park..

just curious - do they need permission to be there or whats the scenario?

thehairygrape

As long as they’re just parking and not camping there should be no problem. They pay tax and insurance so as entitled to park there as much as anyone else. Now, there’s a few caravans there that I’d question. Great facility. Hope the campers behave re taking up one space only and not dumping their waste where they shouldn’t. Otherwise, good luck to them. Bringing business to the area.

sporina

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121754538#Comment_121754538

business to the area? its a parking lot.. i am there a lot and there are a few camper vans that are always there.. so i'd say that some are staying over night for sure

BagofWeed

They're causing no harm to anyone. For some of them their camper is their home. Leave them be.

thehairygrape

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121755153#Comment_121755153

Yes, business to the area. Coffee dock right next to it. The Marina Market and Black Market witching easy walking distance. Blackrock village within easy walking distance as is the City itself. Why do you think it’s so popular?

Of course people are overnighting there. It’s perfectly legal. I live close by so won’t need it for my own camper, but when I’m abroad I’m sure the villages and towns I stop in are grateful for whatever bit of business I bring to their area.

tom1ie

What have people got against others overnighting in caravans In car parks?

So what?

sporina

thanks for your thoughts...

ummm.. I dunno.. I see potential problems arising if many more arrive..

and doubt they are spending much in the area - except for perhaps supermarkets.. and fuel stations..

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121755153#Comment_121755153

To be able to stay somewhere overnight is why they bought camper vans.

thehairygrape

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121755237#Comment_121755237

Well, there’s a big difference. Motor homes and Campers are built on their own chassis and are classified as vehicles in their own right. They are also insured and taxed in their own right. Hence, they are legal to park in public car parks. Caravans need towing and are not classified as vehicles in themselves. Parking a caravan is essentially camping, which may not be legal. This is the origin of Aires in France, where caravans are not usually allowed. Motorhome owners argued (successfully) that they are allowed park as per any vehicle so the Aires developed from there and on to other countries in mainland Europe. This brings business to towns and villages that would otherwise go elsewhere. Many of these towns put services in for waste etc and charge a small fee as an alternative to campsites. These services are not available in the Marina, so it’s just a car park. Cobh does have an area which does provide services and charges.

John_Rambo

I live in Dublin close to a carpark where a lot of campers will overnight in before heading off on the Ferry. A lot will drive from Cork, Kerry, Donegal etc... so there's no stress getting up in the morning and driving miles, could be a similar situation you're seeing. There's no problem with them. I also have a camper and as a community they're pretty responsible, self regulated and when they're not in a designated campsite they keep a very low profile, no BBQ's or tables out, no noise and they tend to never pollute or flytip.

Do you live close to where they're parking up?

thehairygrape

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121755415#Comment_121755415

Yes, agree with all of this.

sporina

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121755359#Comment_121755359

thats what I am talking about...

seems to me that its the same camper vans that are there all the time... and while its not a prob now, imagine if loads more arrive?

I live near by and meet all my buddies in that area for walks/coffee/lunch... as do sooo many other people.. but there are loads of these camper vans - less parking for people using the area as a local amenity... (where they spend lots of money in the local cafes etc)..

its a 'greenway car park'.. not a camper van car park..

I see probs in the future...

a camper van car park should be just so - like the area in Cobh.. thats my opinion

PS they are not caravans - camper vans!

thehairygrape

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121756486#Comment_121756486

I’m not disagreeing with you. I’d love to see (more than one) proper campier/Motorhome park in Cork. Tramore Valley was mooted at one point. My reply to the OP was just trying to explain the legalities and the difference between campers/motor homes and caravans. There were two caravans there last week and one there on a fairly regular basis. Doesn’t bother me but that may pose legal problems re camping as opposed to temporary parking as I tried to explain above. I foresee problems in the future as well, especially with the CCC potentially putting up a height barrier. Hope that never comes about as I’m on the camper side of the argument. Proper parking for campers could be a good money spinner and these owners do spend in the locality.

I probably pass you on your walks on a regular basis. Fantastic amenity. Hello anyway.

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121756486#Comment_121756486

So they must be locals then. It's not something to worry about to be honest, you can't pinpoint a problem except "seeing problems in the future" which is a bit ambiguous. On the other hand, as a responsible campervan owner it's great to hear about another place to stay in a city.

Thelonious Monk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121755415#Comment_121755415

the one on all saint's road? i often notice campers from germany etc. there.

you get loads of them in posh sandymount in D4 too on the seafront car parks, and no one seems to mind that much, so far.

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121756631#Comment_121756631

Spanish, German, Swiss, UK and plenty of Irish ones, lots from Cork! Never a problem... they often leave the camper & get the bus in to town for the day.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121756486#Comment_121756486

I sympathise - there's quite the difference between camper vans just pulling in to a greenway type car park for an overnight and then moving on - to camper vans using it as semi permanent parking spot. Particularly if it impacts on local usage. First is fair enough, second is out of order.

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121757533#Comment_121757533

Places like Kenmare, Tramore and Salthill have issues where campervans are parked along the waterfront and block access or views.

I mean, you spend half a mil for a house overlooking the sea in Salthill, and there's constantly a row of tall campers blocking your view throughout the summer.

I have a camper and try to park respectfully, but Ireland is poorly set up for it.

Grey123

I've been surprised at the amount of campervans there too. The car park gets full so it does have some impact at times.

Word has obviously got out, to be fair it's a great place to park. I'm not really against them, never seen issues with it but I can see if numbers continue to grow it may be an issue.

I find Ireland is pretty poor at providing facilities for these kinds of things. That's probably the route of the issue.

PreCocious

The vans usually stay up towards the far end and the numbers are low. I haven't seen any increase in litter - more likely to get the takeaway wrappers dumped from a car whose owner has stopped up for whatever.

The only time the carpark is full is when there's an event on so they're hardly taking space from "locals". (Who if they're local don't really need to drive..).

It's a nice spot to stop especially if on the way to the ferry - quick access into town, local places to get refreshments, away from the noise.

dory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121755294#Comment_121755294

This is a common misconception. People who have campervans are generally not short of a few bob. Those vans cost a lot. They don’t need to go to Aldi and buy beans and fry them up in their van. They use the van as a base and go to the local restaurants/bars. I’ve joined them many a time and none of the people I travel with would cook if not on a campsite, or on a very long trip.

sporina

good healthy discussion..

all contributions welcomed and pondered..

next time i'm down there i'll make note of the number of them that are there.. camper vans! not caravans! - there are none of the latter..

but last weekend, there was nothing on in "Supervalu".. yet there was hardly any where to park.. there must hav been about 12 camper vans.. at a guess..

I guess if nothing else - this has highlighted the need for a specific area for camper vans to park..

also noted.. no litter etc...

I'm just noticing more of them there - and less space for "greenway users' and the car park is for the "greenway'

Mefistofelino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760135#Comment_121760135

There was a Cork Kilkenny hurling league match taking place on Saturday evening.

There are over 200 places in that car park - 10 or 20 campervans doesn't have a huge impact. A bigger problem I see is the number of drivers who take two slots to make sure no-one parks alongside their car.

There are also three local boat clubs using the car park - Lee, Shandon and Naomhoga Chorcai.

sporina

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760222#Comment_121760222

i was there on Sunday.. no games and hardly anyone or thing on the river.. lots of cars - cool - after all its a "car park".. but there wer about 12 camper vans - some of whom are always there.. (I am down there often as live near by)

anyway like I said - just curious

Kaisr Sose

This was an issue near Coal Harbour, Dun Laoghaire. Camper vans parking up taking more than one space (parked so the space beside it could not be used by another vehicle so they had space to sit outside). It was just selfish behaviour by most of them. Recreational users of the area (paddle boarding, sailing, going for a walk had fewer spaces for short term parking, which is the purpose of the car parks. When a big concert was in in town it would be rammed with vans to avail of a cheap overnight (€4)

Generally the people parking up there spent little in the area. Some left refuse, emptied toilets into sea and also tried to avail of free hot showers in a nearby sailing club. I think in Howth they are banned from the car park now over similar reasons.

Last year DRCC who now manage DL harbour erected a height restricted barrier which solved the problem

I have nothing against camper vans. In popular places, dedicated parking areas with proper facilities, and a charge that reflects the time spent parked up is the way forward.

alias no.9

I've heard the accusations of emptying toilet cassettes into the sea before but first of all, you'd need to be an absolute cu*t to do something like that and second of all, I've never heard of any convictions for doing it which is strange given that all it should take is the reg plate of the camper to identify the perpetrators.

I'm not saying it never happens, there most certainly are some absolute cu*ts out there, but the frequency at which it's claimed to happen, you'd think even one of the people witnessing it might manage to get a reg plate.

Kaisr Sose

Sorry, edited post above to say 'some' emptied toilets, left litter.

It's would be easy to do things like this late at night or early morning.

Parking enforcement is little to none around there anyway.

PreCocious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760135#Comment_121760135

I'm a bit lost here. Firstly there was a match on which drew in people from all across Cork and Kilkenny.

Secondly - are we saying that 12 camper vans were taking up an entire car park ? There are a lot of spaces there. The spaces are for those who require parking in the area. If their vehicle is a camper van or a builder's transit or a beefy SUV or a wee Smart then it makes no difference as long as they're within the white lines, not parking on the grass by the trees and not littering the area.

EnzoScifo

I counted about 15 campervans parked up there during christmas week. Not a bad idea for people visiting family, I guess.

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760348#Comment_121760348

The Coal Harbour ban was nothing to do with rubbish or emptying cassettes, someone just made that up, it's scuttlebutt. The official statement:

"Officials at Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown local authority, while sympathetic to the demand for, and popularity of motorhome tourism, insist they have no option but to introduce the impediment to motorhome parking to protect the car park for its primary purpose and ensure safe access to an important slipway utilised by numerous boating and water sports groups".

I sail in Howth & know the harbourmaster, there was no rubbish or effluent issue in Howth either, they were maliciously spread rumours. The ban was a result of local busybodies complaining, they simply didn't like the look of the campers and had them banned.

Both were popular stops with the Campervan community with all the restaurants and pubs but alas no more, it was brilliant for regattas because only half the crew could fit in the boat, the rest could stay in the camper.

sporina

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760540#Comment_121760540

that game was on on Sat - I was there on Sunday..

as for the rest - read my previous posts for my points of concern

Fabio

The hand-wringing is a bit much.

Yes, there are a couple of campers there which have been there kinda semi-permanently. The vast majority are tourists parking for a night or else people coming down to have a cup of tea in the camper, go for a walk, maybe get a coffee from the van nearby, or else stroll up to Marina Market or into town.

Anytime I have been it's clean, there's no rubbish from campers around, and they only take up one parking spot (i.e. they don't park sideways).

This kind of hand-wringing is a bit much Sporina - you've said yourself there are no issues, to be fair. What's next, remove any benches along the Marina in case people sit on them?

Kaisr Sose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760667#Comment_121760667

I also sail in DL. Not many people turn up for regattas with camper vans for crew. Most visitors to our club are happy to sleep on board or in hotels/BB's etc. When visiting other clubs, including Howth, we have stayed on board.

There was litter and sewage issues in DL. Not all, or many, but some users. That's all takes.

It's unfair to label critics of camper vans over nighting in Howth or elsewhere as busy bodies etc.

What is needed in both locations, and elsewhere, are custom built pitches for campers with the required facilities for them. Obviously, these would cost more to stay in and may impact the popularity of them.

sporina

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121761518#Comment_121761518

🙄...

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121761734#Comment_121761734

You're correct, not many people turn up to regattas in campers but some do.

There's no record of litter & sewage from campers in DL. The statement from Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown local authority cited other reasons, if there was cases of effluent this would be emphatically stated.

It's perfectly fair to accuse people critical of people parked up doing nothing wrong as busybodies.

Unfortunately that's not how Ireland works. When people complain and make up scurrilous stories because they don't like people in Campervan's, barriers are put up and it's ruined for everyone. There's no alternative arrangements made for the people in campers unlike other countries where aires are set up and the complainers will wonder in years to come did they do the right thing.

mrpdap

There are regularly 10 / 12 campervans parked in the Marina carpark, they tend to stay there for a while rather than just an overnight. Some have on occasion parked across more than one parking space, and there are a few that are longer than a parking space so they stick out into the roadway. There are also a couple of caravans. There's a Facebook page to guide the campervans to the spot.

However, its not a campervan park, there are no facilities of any kind, its unclear how they are disposing of any waste.

opus

I remembered this thread when I saw the pic.

sporina

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122177023#Comment_122177023

twas only a matter of time

cantalach

That notice has a classic grammar mistake which significantly alters the meaning. It clearly hasn’t been run past a solicitor.

If you say, “no overnight parking will be allowed,” this means that it is permissible not to park there overnight. What they presumably meant to write was, “overnight parking will not be allowed.”

Back in the 80s when “no smoking” started to become a thing in local government offices in the UK, my uncle continued to smoke at his desk for months until they eventually replaced the badly worded “no smoking is allowed” sign. He told his boss that he agreed fully with the sign because nobody should be forced to smoke :)

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122177023#Comment_122177023

Typical council policy. Some bad eggs so everyone loses out and they might have an alternative in the future. Rubbish.

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122177749#Comment_122177749

Especially when you complain to the city council.

sporina

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122179741#Comment_122179741

i actually didn't think of it - didn't bother me that much I guess - but I can understand why people have done so..

John_Rambo

Delete

beer enigma

First and foremost, you have no right to accuse anyone of being a coward, thats a personal attack and has no place on here.

Secondly if you think Sporina has single handedly achieved this then you are very wrong. I was chatting to my local councillor only last night. They have received nearly 100 complaints recently about the permanent status of some of the vans.

Only the other day, Corkbeo carried a story about a business owner living there for the past 12 months.

The park was only ever designed for short term, there are two or three parks for €10 a night available on the edge of Cork with full facilities.

Whilst I feel for those genuinely struggling; its a public amenity which was filled by vans. Unfortunately not all of the owners were fully responsible and according to my conversation last night, there has been photographic evidence of onboard toilet casettes being emptied into the Lee.

The council never objected to short term, but 12 months is residential.

Rules apply to everyone

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122180449#Comment_122180449

Yeah, you're right. I got carried away. It's just exasperating that campervan owners to be punished because of busybodies. I love visiting Cork. The OP couldn't even pinpoint a problem, they just didn't like them… so some "problems" were created.

What I predicted in February happened: "When people complain and make up scurrilous stories because they don't like people in Campervan's, barriers are put up and it's ruined for everyone. There's no alternative arrangements made for the people in campers"

sporina

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058335743/campervans-in-marina-area

thats for the info opus - and now I got the answer to my Q..

glad now that people who wanna use the "greenway" cab park in the "greenway carpark"..

beer enigma

I think a few have spoiled it for the rest. I had a mate so down in his camper a few times a year en route to Killarney and it was great to visit them, glass of wine by the river, but now it's like a trailer park. Let's see what the council come up with a apparently they have a new location

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122181474#Comment_122181474

I don't think a few have ruined it, it's over zealous enforcement meaning everyone gets affected instead of the few.

I used go wild camping in kerry years ago. Occasionally the council would show up and were sound about it. If you were messy, noisy or being difficult you were asked to move on. If you were being clean and kept to yourself then no issues.

I was down the same place last weekend and saw signs everywhere that bans all wild camping now, which is a shame.

beer enigma

Wild camping is fine, short term overnight is fine and both accepted by the council.

The issue is resident campers, 12 months isn't wild camping, plus if there's photographic evidence of toilet cassettes being emptied into the Lee close to where kids row, that's just not on

https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/nowhere-go-owner-well-known-29207340

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122182743#Comment_122182743

I understand that. But instead of enforcing the rules on people who are staying there for 12 months, they enforce a new rule on everyone instead. So everyone loses out.

PreCocious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122181185#Comment_122181185

With circa 250 parking spaces there was never a case of them all being taken up by campers.