Campervans not wanted in North Kerry

Niall_G wrote: »

Not so good if you want to go to the beach though - every beach from Westport towards Croagh Patrick has height barriers - sometimes without any warning half way down a small laneway.

That is such a small part of Mayo coastline. I live in Mayo and still haven't covered all of the coastline.

Allthough I wouldn't want to live there, too touristy for me, Westport is a great town when festivals are on and there's a car park where the barrier is only in operation from 18:00 - 06:00 or 08:00 (not sure about that time as I'm never up that early) in the centre of town. This seems a good idea, to me, as it means there is more chance of people spending money in the town as opposed to just arriving for somewhere to park and sleep.

Those people sound likem animals.

So animal training should be used with them, rub their noses in it, to teach them where to sheit and piss.

I live in Kenmare, a popular summer destination and I have noticed a large increase in the number of camper vans visiting the town. About 2 weeks ago, I counted 12 vans parked along the road to the pier, overlooking the bay. This seems to have become a regular, although "unofficial" camp site, which I personally, am all in favour of.

There is also a long designated parking bay (free of charge) on the road to Molls Gap, just on the edge of town, suitable for campers/buses and the like.

I would love to see these locations developed and encourage more vans with better facilities and there are ongoing moves to encourage visitors to see Kenmare as a destination, rather than a place to pass with a short stop. Perhaps a proper camp site, charging reasonable rates might not be too far away.

niloc1951 wrote: »

We have parked on Pier Road many times and left much Euros in Kenmare. We have restocked our groceries, enjoyed excellent food and drink in the many restaurants, bought gifts for our grand children and even a wedding present.

Kenmare is a good example of a town which could benefit year round if there was appropriate official motorhome parking provided, the limit could be 48 or 72 hours and if there were services and access control or c.c.t.v. for security a charge in line with that paid for such facilities in Europe would be very acceptable to 99% of motorhome based tourists.

PS. The Pier Road is not used as a camp-site, I have never seen and of the activities associated with a camp-site taking place, but it is certainly a lovely place to park for a night or three .;)
Incidentally, there is a bit if a road beyond the pier which seems to be an unfinished project from the past which would seem to lent itself to the development of a motorhome parking area at minimal cost.

True, the pier road is not a camp site, official or otherwise, but is, as you say, a pleasant place to park, hassle free, within a short walk to town. There are a few locations around town that would lend themselves to the development of a proper camp site, but there would be the usual red tape etc. to get past, but, watch this space! PS Thanks for the nice review!!

niloc1951 wrote: »

Camp site, why a camp site. A formal motorhome parking area would cost a fraction of what it would cost to provide a camp site, is there demand for a camp site.

A motorhome parking area would not require the provision of a reception building, shower/toilet block, campers kitchen, electrical hook-up points or any of the other infrastructure of a caravan and camping site.

A motorhome parking area can be as simple as photo below. BTW where's all the rubbish we are supposed to leave behind :P:P

Apologies, but as we were discussing motorhome parking specifically, that's what I meant when I used the term "camp site". Of course the level of facilities is as long as a piece of string, and some might prefer more creature comforts than others.

But I agree, a simple "motorhome parking area" shouldn't cost the earth. And I have never seen any rubbish left behind by anyone using the pier road in Kenmare.

I have no doubt there are citizens who have the facilities to create private 'Aires' all over this country But the Councils wont allow it because they want campsites with a large development levy to be collected.
Truckers park overnight in many places and often in numbers on established commercial premises and nobody bats an eyelid but if some enterprising person made this facility available to Motorhomes then there would be 'planning' issues in no time.
Perhaps we need some representation as a united group.

Onetraveller wrote: »

They's laws are for travellers not ye just set up a camp on the side of the road we've done it for 100s of years and will do it for 100s more and for toilets behind a big fat tree

Which part of Kerry do you represent on the Council

gozunda wrote: »

I visited a small local beach in Kerry this summer - a campervan parked up over 2 days and proceeded to use the area beside the entrance to the beach as a toilet/disposal area - the stench was overpowering. I say fleck away off and pay for some facilities or at at least dispose of responsibly. Cheapskate who didn't give a damn about an otherwise unspoilt beach and rural area :mad:
Personally I support Kerry Co Co action with this type of behaviour going on.

You never get that elsewhere in Europe because local councils provide facilities to empty toilet tanks and waste water tanks for a modest fee which we are delighted to pay.

BTW if you were a good citizen and really concerned with the environment you should have taken the reg number of the offender and reported them to the Gardaí.
There are litter laws which should be enforced, problem is they are usually not.
You wouldn't get away with a fraction of what goes on here in another country, dirty Ireland for sure, it's a pleasure to travel in Europe, unfortunately.

Why cant ppl use a caravan park??

niloc1951 wrote: »

People with motorhomes do use caravan parks.

It's about choice, unlike people with caravans and tents who need the facilities of camping sites, people with motorhomes do not always need the facilities of a caravan park that's why so many of us resent others attempting to force us to pay for something you don't need.

So you think you should be provided with free facilities is it?, ie parking

niloc1951 wrote: »

You never get that elsewhere in Europe because local councils provide facilities to empty toilet tanks and waste water tanks for a modest fee which we are delighted to pay.

Regardless whether there were gold plated local facilities or otherwise these paragons of virtue had a duty to take their sh1te with them and not dump it on a beautiful and otherwise pristine beach

niloc1951 wrote: »

BTW if you were a good citizen and really concerned with the environment you should have taken the reg number of the offender and reported them to the Gardaí.
There are litter laws which should be enforced, problem is they are usually not.
You wouldn't get away with a fraction of what goes on here in another country, dirty Ireland for sure, it's a pleasure to travel in Europe, unfortunately.

Good citizens they were certainly not...

Their reg was noted and reported though I wont say by whom.

gozunda wrote: »

Regardless whether there were gold plated local facilities or otherwise these paragons of virtue had a duty to take their sh1te with them and not dump it on a beautiful and otherwise pristine beach



Good citizens they were certainly not...

Their reg was noted and reported though I wont say by whom.

The vast majority of campervan owners would utterly condemn the sort of behaviour you referred to and, I hope, would either speak to anyone they see dumping anything or report them.

I think by your tone and knowledge of camper owners that you are not one?. Like niloc I'm glad the people were reported but rather disappointed that a concerned citizen like yourself left it to someone else to do.

niloc1951 wrote: »

Missed my point, re-read my post.
The good citizen I was referring to was yourself "if you were a good citizen and really concerned with the environment you should have taken the reg number of the offender and reported them to the Gardaí." and I am delighted their reg number was reported and it doesn't really matter by whom. Question is why did you not report them yourself if you witnessed the disgusting anti-social behaviour.

Yes I know - I was ignoring it. The matter is independent of whether I am a 'good citizen' and btw I dislike the contrast between my position as an observer and a bunch of gobsheens using a pristine beach as their dumping ground for their sh1te. Why do you have to question whether I reported it or otherwise - what exactly has that got to do with the matter? As stated the reg was noted and reported. End of story.

gozunda wrote: »

As you said all right thinking individuals / campervan owners would condemn the act of dumping sh1te on a beach. Why do you think I don't have a campervan? Because I am disgusted by what happened? To be honest Kerry Co Co have indicated that this is occurring elsewhere - this is inexcusable whether there are facilities or otherwise. Individual responsibility is uppermost where an individual / group decide to go camping. Even with a campervan - it would be my duty to leave no trace and either find suitable facilities (and amend any itininery by reason of) or take it away with me and Not dump it where it will cause all those with campervans to suffer the consequences.

As I already clearly said, I am making no statement as to the manner in which the incident was noted and reported.

Why don't you have a campervan? is it because you were disgusted by what happened?.
Follow that logic and you shouldn't have a car either, some people use those in a manner which maim and kill people

Too much tit for tat going on now. The fact is that , as in most cases, the majority are being tainted by the minority. 99.9% of motorhomers "leave no trace" I won't even put my rubbish in litter bins as in my opinion they are not for my "domestic rubbish" We are just back from a one nighter, broke the bye law of no overnight parking, but still manager to leave no trace that we had been there and left over €80 in local restaurants. Which was more welcome? An empty space in a car park or my €80?

Absolutely and under no circumstances do I, or most motorhomers condone leaving litter and ESPECIALLY the emptying of toilet waste or waste water anywhere except in disposal points.Most motorhomers revisit areas several times and are very protective of those areas. You should see my missus when she spots someone failing to pick up dog litter. She is straight out the door of the camper waving a doggie bag offering it to them. Shame is the only way to educate some people. I want to travel around Ireland, I don't really want to park in camp sites (it is hard to explain this until you have a camper) I have no problem paying for parking. But most importantly, if I see someone abusing facilities, thereby giving motorhomers a bad name and denying me the future use of said facilities then I will be straight onto the phone to the authorities and most motorhomers are the very same.
Banning all motorhomers based on the actions of a very small minority is akin to banning The Rally of the Lakes because of the actions of a few fools being reckless on the roads.

gozunda wrote: »

Fair play in being conscientious about visiting places. Not saying in this case but I don't think that there is a comparison to be made between X euro/empty space/ and a load of sh1te on a beach. Unfortunately the majority (I believe) are getting dragged down by a small number of individuals and who are making conditions increasing difficult for all. Regarding a code of conduct such as leave no trace - is there any method by which campervaners ( to use an odd phrase) can be self policing? I don't know - I am just putting it out there.

Self policing rarely works just look at the disasters caused by those organisations and companies who were left to self regulate or police themselves if you like.
My opinion is that we pay taxes to fund a state police force (An Garda Síochána) and I will report to them any contraventions of our laws which have a negative effect on me, my family or the environment in which I live if I so wish.

BTW, this "sh1te on a beach" is not confined to a few miscreant motorhome users, dog fouling and soiled disposable nappies are a common site on a lot of beaches and other public areas :mad:

gozunda wrote: »

I agree but unfortunately that is a possibility as long as there are some that do. N Kerry co co are already on this road. What I am asking is there a way of counteracting this type of reaction through a united / agreed / self policing system. As I said I don't know the answer just that currently there does seem to be a problem especially where not accessing the paid facilities at least some of the time eg for organised waste disposal has resulted in 'some' campavaners using small litter bins and beaches for illegal waste disposal.

The type of facilities required, paid for or free, are abundant throughout Europe there are over 7,500 in France alone. The majority of these types of facilities are provided by local councils and some by campsites situated outside the gates and subject to a fee.

Below are two examples, a low budget service area and a top of the range area, both provide for the disposal of grey and black water and provide refilling facilities for fresh water. Domestic refuse disposal facilities are also usually provided.

gozunda wrote: »

Solutions not difficulties please. Self policing was just one suggestion - if there are better then do list them. Unfortunately the present debacle looks like there will be increasing restrictions on campervaning especially if other co co follow suit.

The issue at hand is not dogs or babies. No two or wrongs will make it right. "A few miscreant motorhome users" may result in restrictions on all.

Why the worry about those who refuse to abide by common decency norms, there are laws available The Litter Pollution Act 1997 under which such activity can be prosecuted, why the reticence to use it. IMHO the County Councils are just too lazy or else using the litter question as an attempt to force business into their cronies camping sites :mad::mad::mad:

The simple solution is to provide an alternative to parking in car parks. There is enough unused council land in Kerry (and the rest of Ireland) to provide modest overnight parking. The same sort of ban happen in an area of Co. Waterford, now the local restaurants and shops are up in arms due to the lost revenue plus I belive the local tidy towns committee have lost their annual donation from the motorhomers.

When it comes to the dumping of ordinary rubbish, without a doubt there is more dumped by ordinary motorists and pedestrians than by camper owners. In the area where I live, all country roads, I see plenty of it, yet I've never seen another camper in the area, and how often do you hear of a prosecutation taking place?, once in a blue moon and then usually for fly tipping.
Legislation states that motorhome owners are not even allowed to let waste water out of the sink into the road/gutter, yet if a motorist stops by the side of the road, has a drink of tea/coffee from a flask and throws the dregs from the cup into the gutter, as far as I'm aware, he/she is not breaking any law.

As I said earlier, the vast majority of us behave correctly yet some people want to tar us all with the same brush.

Like niloc, I've had enough of the bickering going on in this thread.

Thanks to the op who started this thread but I'm now unfollowing.

pastense wrote: »

You mean Nth Kerry and a few other like minded places.

I'm afraid that on this forum it's possible to 'get directly at' people with Motorhomes and Camper vans and hold them to account for bad behaviour by some fellow citizens who happen to have a similar vehicle.

In the same way as a discussion would open in any forum you'd be guaranteed to hit home if you had a personal gripe and you could exaggerate to your hearts content to magnify the issue.

Excuse please? No one is 'getting at people with camper vans'. The is no 'personal gripe"

The incident described indeed involved a 'camper van' which was observed and reported for the behaviour described.

Do you somehow believe that those with camper vans etc users / owners are immune / could in no way ever be involved in disposing of sh1te as described ???

pastense wrote: »

..Fact is, its not up to owners of a particular type of vehicle to 'police' the illegal actions of people who own a similar type of vehicle.

If law is being broken its up to every citizen to report it and in my opinion its no different to Fly Tipping, Driving without tax or insurance, Tax dodging, Burglary and any number of offences.

I don't intend to become a 'warden' for Nth Kerry Councillors or any Councillors but if I saw what you say you saw then I'd be phoning the Guards not giving grief to somebody who happens to drive a similar vehicle.

I've had enough of this 'lynching' for the sins of others.

I will stand over what was witnessed and which was reported. How do you propose to 'phone the Guards but somehow at the same time not give grief to somebody who happens to drive a similar vehicle.'???
Should we bury out heads in the (rather smelly) sand ?

Yes It's ironic that N Kerry Co Co are reporting similar issues. And yes it can be ignored if you like - however what was been discussed was possible suggestions for solutions before all camper vans get tarred with the same.

I cannot understand the level of denial for any possible bad behaviour. Tbh what I have seen here is enough to believe that there is very little future for any cooperative action of any form to overcome existing problems .

gozunda wrote: »

Excuse please? No one is 'getting at people with camper vans'. The is no 'personal gripe"

The incident described indeed involved a 'camper van' which was observed and reported for the behaviour described.

Do you somehow believe that those with camper vans etc users / owners are immune / could in no way ever be involved in disposing of sh1te as described ???



I will stand over what was witnessed and which was reported. How do you propose to 'phone the Guards but somehow at the same time not give grief to somebody who happens to drive a similar vehicle.'???


I cannot understand the level of denial for any possible bad behaviour. Tbh what I have seen here is enough to believe that there is very little future for any cooperative action of any form to overcome existing problems .

I just saw an Articulated truck exceeding the speed limit and being driven in a reckless manner while throwing bags of rubbish out the window, so here's what I'm going to do, I'm going to demand that all truck drivers should put a stop to this kind of stuff. I'm going to shift the responsibility for all truck offences onto other truck drivers.

That is plainly ridiculous but it's what some people seem to expect of Motorhome owners.