Not Specifically about Kenmare

 
 
 
 
 
 
baguette
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Not Specifically about Kenmare

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Posted: 12.11.2017  ·  #1
On both this forum and FB there has been a lot written in recent days about the way forward regarding motorhome parking.
It would appear that we have a third product emerging. Up until now there have been
1. caravan and camping parks,
2. Aires
o ‘aires’ on sections of public parking areas (like Cobh) and
o ‘aires’ developed on off road sites (like Ardmore).

The new arrival is a motorhome only camping park in the tradition of a caravan and camping park.
This recent development of so called ‘motorhome parks’ can be welcomed for what they are.
However, they must not be confused with motorhome parking areas, as found throughout Europe, in the style of the well known French ‘aire’.

A huge effort has been put in over the past four or five years by those trying to promote ‘aires’ in Ireland, known here as ‘motorhome parking places’ or ‘páirceáil do veaineanna campála’. This effort has borne special fruit in both Cobh and Ardmore and which is now spreading, albeit rather slowly, to other counties.

Cobh.
After over four years of sustained effort in the face of threatened legal action by caravan and camping park owners, opposition by some local vested interests and concerns over fire safety, there now exists a motorhome parking area which is of the highest standards. It has proven itself by its huge popularity. It is a development much praised by the traders of Cobh, who appreciate the added income to the town. As most people are on a finite budget, the less paid for parking, the more is left for the shops, pubs and restaurants.
Cobh’s progressive council staff have taken the time to familiarise themselves with best practice elsewhere and used what they learned to set out the area and adopt appropriate bye-laws to ensure the facility it is not abused.
The motorhome parking area at Cobh is now a credit to the local council and an excellent example which other can follow.

Ardmore
The motorhome parking area with planning permission at Ardmore is, like Cobh, the result of sustained hard work by all those involved and in particular the architect retained by Dick Power. Dick was fortunate that his chosen architect is a motorhome owner with significant touring experience on mainland Europe.
The initial reaction to the planning application was “where are the toilet and shower facilities, the reception area, the campers kitchen”. Following a number of meetings, at which Dick’s architect literally walked the planning department thought the concept (even to the extent of bringing his own motorhome to one of the meetings) the planning officer came to understand that there was another product with a different offering to a caravanning and camping park. After some fine tuning, full planning permission was granted for Ireland first motorhome parking area on private land.

The single focus in all the above effort was to create officially sanctioned motorhome parking areas based on the European models.

Taking Cobh as an example.
There is now precedent for the establishment of a reserved motorhome parking area with services within a defined section of any existing car parking area. Such a facility can be either within a car park operated by a local authority or a private business. This concept is widely adopted throughout Europe by both local authorities and businesses like supermarkets and hotels/hostels. Such facilities can be provided on very modest budgets and provide a free or low cost alternative choice versus caravan and camping parks. They are recognised as bringing valuable income to local business.

Likewise, the example at Ardmore can be used to promote the use of private or municipal land to provide a realtively low cost secure off road motorhome parking and services. This version of a motorhome parking area is often access controlled with security fencing and c.c.t.v.. EHU and WiFi connections may also be offered. The tariff at such venues can range up to €12 or thereabouts depending on season and location.

A Clear Message
It is vitally important that all who speak for motorhome users are of the same message, as mixed messages will only serve to fragment and weaken our call for motorhome parking areas.
It is only the above two models which are truly motorhome parking areas. When the names used in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, etc. to describe such places are translated into the English language they translate to ‘rest areas’ or ‘parking areas’. Any alternatives, exclusive to motorhomes, which offer the full range of facilities traditionally associated with a caravan and camping park are just that, caravan and camping parks but with restrictions. Caravan and Camping Parks or Motorhome Parks should not be promoted as motorhome parking places, particularly if the existence of such a place could be detrimental to efforts to provide an ‘aire’ in the same area. The existence of one should not preclude the other.
It is important that the notion that a motorhome parking area involves costly infrastructure does not get hold. If it does, we can kiss goodbye to any idea that in time to come motorhome users will be able to tour Ireland using a network of ‘aires’ as can be done in Europe.

Anyone offering advice on the matter must have a clear understanding of what the difference is and not be drawn into supporting the creation of any facility which could be detrimental to the provision of an ‘Aire’ type parking area. As motorhome users our single focus should be the development of a network of motorhome parking places here in Ireland in the European tradition and let the Irish Caravan & Camping Council look after caravan and camping parks and any variants of such.

Finally
At time of writing Fáilte Ireland do not have a specification specifically for motorhome parking or a services bay but currently they have a project team working on drafting one. In the meantime any enquiries will only be handled with reference to existing specifications relevant to traditional caravan and camping parks.


Helgahobby
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Re: Not Specifically about Kenmare

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Posted: 12.11.2017  ·  #2
Good piece of writing Baguette. There is no similarity between a Motorhome park and an Aire. We've been on quite a few aires in different countries and they are all very successful in doing what they do. We've also been on more than a few campsites and largely they've been equally successful in what they do. However, they are as different as chalk and cheese, and they always will be. Commercial ventures are just that, means of making money for an individual or business. Aires however are there to encourage visitors to spend money in the locale, and show off the area. The latter will necessarily introduce a lot of funding because he knows the higher prices he will charge will return to profit quicker. Whereas a council will not necessarily have profit as the main driver. So in my opinion, having the meetings held by the wrong people instead of by confident long term experienced motor homers, is like having a second year apprentice, teach a new apprentice all there is to know about his trade, Can anyone see that happening?


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