Camping CFs - AIBU?

[CampingCFs]

I live in a seaside town in the south west of England. We have a long coast road, lined with houses and hotels on one side, mostly with no parking restrictions.

In the last few years campervans and motorhomes have set up camp, sometimes for a night or two but sometimes for weeks, on the road. So rather than pay for an actual campsite they sleep on the side of the road. It strikes me as (a) cheeky but mostly (b) unsanitary as many don't have self-contained facilities and there are problems with human waste littering the area

It used to be for a handful of weeks in the summer but yesterday there were a dozen or so on the road and in the (free) car parks dotted along. AIBU to think that people should respect a residential area and not claim public space as their private holiday spot?

This was happening in the main town near us. The wide road leading to the beach was filled with RV's and caravans, not travellers. Every night in summer. Blocking peoples driveways or making it hard for residents to get out in the morning for work. Emptying their waste in the drain at times too. Ended with the council putting double yellows all the way along both sides, so nobody wins. They had tried sending parking wardens down each evening telling people no overnight parking and issuing tickets.
I notices they have moves to another spot right on the beach front, no houses to block there at least. But I'm sure the council will end up putting in no parking overnight signs. We are awash with camp sites around here, no excuse not to use them.

@Allelbowsandtoes

Britain has such a weird attitude to people in vans, imo. All over Europe the local councils subsidise "aires" - free basic camping spots for vans with water and somewhere to empty waste. They know that campervan tourism brings money into economies in other ways and they welcome those tourists, and get rid pf the problem of waste by giving people somewhere to dispose of it in a sanitary way.

We really need to adopt this approach. Even the smallest village in France has an Aire. Both the providers and the camper van/ motorhome users keep them clean and tidy. It's to everyone's advantage.

@PattyMelt

This was happening in the main town near us. The wide road leading to the beach was filled with RV's and caravans, not travellers. Every night in summer. Blocking peoples driveways or making it hard for residents to get out in the morning for work. Emptying their waste in the drain at times too. Ended with the council putting double yellows all the way along both sides, so nobody wins. They had tried sending parking wardens down each evening telling people no overnight parking and issuing tickets. I notices they have moves to another spot right on the beach front, no houses to block there at least. But I'm sure the council will end up putting in no parking overnight signs. We are awash with camp sites around here, no excuse not to use them.

The cost is the excuse

Even the smallest village in France has an Aire.

As a campervanner who has spent a lot of time in France, this is bollocks. Aires exist, yes, but in some areas you can go a very long way without seeing one. In many areas you only really find them on the motorway network.

Agree that most aires are on the moterway but lots of villages will have car parks next to recreational spots where you can park up the camper.

The vanlife community I know are responsible, often envronmentally aware, people who wouldn't dream of disposing of any type of waste irresponsibly.

I imagine people who live in vans are the same as people who don't live in vans. Some are lovely and some are arseholes. Painting all "vanlife" people as perfect is naive.

Even if the problem of litter/waste didn't exist it's still feels like CFery to monopolise a public space like this.

I agree the housing crisis has contributed and it's absolutely immoral that it exists.

Err, Im a Londoner so I'm familiar with the odd tourist.

Not this type of tourism though. London does not attract campervanners.

I have a camper myself, but I can't deny that over the last 2 years, there has been appalling antisocial behaviour from #vanlife types. A lot have hired or freshly bought the camper and are new to it - campervan sales went through the roof after lockdown.

(I live in a national park, so I see it from the resident's side too, as well as what I witness when I go on trips in my own camper)

Not this type of tourism though. London does not attract campervanners.

I never claimed it was. I was directly responded to a point about subsiding those using local services.

Agree that most aires are on the moterway but lots of villages will have car parks next to recreational spots where you can park up the camper.

Having said that these areas will still be classed as aires.

Ended with the council putting double yellows all the way along both sides, so nobody wins.

This is my fear. Everyone has coexisted for years without restrictions. Ignored/tolerated the occasional van. Now it seems to be multiplying.

If you dont like tourists, then there are probably less touristy areas you could move to

Travellers have that reputation but campervan tourists generally are not the folks who shit on beaches

It is definitely not travellers. It is families who have hired a van for a cheap UK holiday.

We were staying in Broadstairs last summer, and the car park directly in from of the hotel (on the headland, gorgeous views) was filled with people in campers (not RVs, the ones that look like converted transit vans).

Each morning we would look out of our window and watch multiple parents and children get up and shit on the pavement. There are public toilets 10m away on the beach, but they were too lazy to walk over there. There’s no possible defence, it is revolting scummy behaviour.

@flounfer

Not this type of tourism though. London does not attract campervanners.

I never claimed it was. I was directly responded to a point about subsiding those using local services.

It's a totally different type of tourism though.

A visitor to London would find it almost impossible to access the attractions etc. without spending any money. The money they spend means they are almost never being 'subsidised' by locals.

A campervanner in a rural area (coastal, mountains, whatever) can very easily spend £nil locally. And often that's what they do - stock up the van beforehand in a Tesco when they start the journey, and then don't spend anything in the area they visit. Walks and beauty spots such as those on the NC500 are free.

@XmasElf10

Human waste littering the area? Really? Travellers have that reputation but campervan tourists generally are not the folks who shit on beaches. I’ve not come across anyone who uses even the smallest campervan without a loo on board… that’s one of the main advantages! I will happily use my van outside of a camping ground. It’s small but has an onboard waste water tank and a loo.

I work for a national park authority. In the last few years we've seen a huge increase in roadside camping, to the extent we now have a special task force including the police and fire service that patrols the area during busy periods moving people on. Campervan folk absolutely do leave human waste behind, including soiled underwear, used tampons, condoms. Also bags of rubbish, beer cans, disposable BBQs. Campfires are a huge problem, with branches hacked from trees and farmer's fences vandalized. Campervan owners are not universally "nice" people who respect the countryside. They trash one spot before moving on to the next, leaving volunteers and rangers to literally clean up their shit. They are causing a huge pollution problem here. The time and money we use dealing with the issues would so much better be spent looking after the land and wildlife here. I know I'd much rather be out planting trees than picking up burned out beer cans and shitty tissues, or getting in an argument with yet another entitled campervan owner.

I think the answer is better facilities too
If people are going to want to do this kind of tourism because of lockdown and increased costs then councils should cater for it
It's the same as the outcry about Air BnB in cites. You can't necessarily hold people back from doing something just by your disapproval

I will admit to being guilty as charged for going on a camper van holiday in a hired van for the first time in our lives last year. We hired campsites all the way round, had a van with a toilet and shower and absolutely did not shit in any woods or on any beaches.
I wanted the security of using campsites for our first time but I did see that some local councils were reserving places on car parks with 24-7 toilets or local businesses were seeing an opportunity and allowing use of their car parks for a very nominal fee and that seemed to me to be mutually beneficial.
It was an amazing holiday and we had a really great time. I would say we did contribute to the local economy by eating out, using local shops, going to attractions and buying souvenirs.

@CovoidOfAllHumanity

I think the answer is better facilities too If people are going to want to do this kind of tourism because of lockdown and increased costs then councils should cater for it It's the same as the outcry about Air BnB in cites. You can't necessarily hold people back from doing something just by your disapproval

I will admit to being guilty as charged for going on a camper van holiday in a hired van for the first time in our lives last year. We hired campsites all the way round, had a van with a toilet and shower and absolutely did not shit in any woods or on any beaches.
I wanted the security of using campsites for our first time but I did see that some local councils were reserving places on car parks with 24-7 toilets or local businesses were seeing an opportunity and allowing use of their car parks for a very nominal fee and that seemed to me to be mutually beneficial.
It was an amazing holiday and we had a really great time. I would say we did contribute to the local economy by eating out, using local shops, going to attractions and buying souvenirs.

We have lots and lots of actual campsites which are only full in peak season. What "better facilities" should the council provide for people staying for free on public roads?

Last night I was looking at campervans as I would love the freedom of a weekend away without trying to find somewhere that takes a dog (bear on impossible). I kept thinking “but what about a toilet?”. Now I know..

It's a totally different type of tourism though.

I replied to a question that talked about tourist hotspots. London is full of tourists. The question wasn't do you have lots of camper tourists.

A campervanner in a rural area (coastal, mountains, whatever) can very easily spend £nil locally. And often that's what they do - stock up the van beforehand in a Tesco when they start the journey, and then don't spend anything in the area they visit. Walks and beauty spots such as those on the NC500 are free.

But this can be true of any tourist not just those in a camper which is my point.

@Branleuse

If you dont like tourists, then there are probably less touristy areas you could move to

I have zero problem with "tourists". I do have a problem with CFers. Please can you tell me where in the world I can move to which is CF-free?

@XmasElf10

Human waste littering the area? Really? Travellers have that reputation but campervan tourists generally are not the folks who shit on beaches. I’ve not come across anyone who uses even the smallest campervan without a loo on board… that’s one of the main advantages! I will happily use my van outside of a camping ground. It’s small but has an onboard waste water tank and a loo.

I think this is a bit nasty. Only travellers could be that dirty huh? Middle class people who can afford a campervan wouldn't ever do that right?

Of course some of them are disgusting and have no respect for anyone. Just go and work in an office for a week, you'll see all kinds of disgusting behaviour. Or look up the toilet threads on here, for a site that claims to have so many middle class people on it and so many very wealthy people, it's amazing how many cannot follow basic hygiene like washing their hands after using the bathroom.

Anyone can be a dirty bastard, regardless of their status, job title or bank balance. And so many are proving they are these days.

Perhaps it would help if camp site fees were not so exhorbitant. Some sites have really taken advantage and have taken the piss in the last two years.

We have lots and lots of actual campsites which are only full in peak season.
Are they open all year round? I wonder if they are shut so people are on the roadside.

Something like the French aires mentioned above ie parking space, toilets and waste disposal plus fresh water fill up.

As I said we paid for campsites all the way but sometimes it did feel like we were paying twice because we had a van with a shower and toilet and had booked campsites with the same facilities that we didn't entirely need. I think it was generally about 20-40 pounds a night. It wasn't a mega cheap holiday at all to do it that way and that's what people are after and why they don't use campsites

You won't deter them by saying they have to use campsites as they already have that opportunity and don't use it so you either provide a cheaper option or you paint the yellow lines and get wardens to police it which costs money.

We have lots and lots of actual campsites which are only full in peak season. What "better facilities" should the council provide for people staying for free on public roads?

This. The issue isn’t lack of facilities, it’s that these people are too stingy or lazy to use them. It’s easier to just shit on the pavement directly in front of you van than walk over to the free public toilet 10m away, and why pay £15 for a pitch when you can park opposite somebody’s house for free and just throw your rubbish out of the window?