The push to get a start on proper serviced Aires.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Davidod
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Subject:

The push to get a start on proper serviced Aires.

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Posted: 08.10.2011  ·  #1
Hi Folks,

We've just returned from a fabulous three week holiday in France when we stayed in just two campsites over the period and one of those was near Monaco where there just aren't any aires in the vacinity.

On our return as we drove off the ferry in Rosslare together with a load of continental campers visitors. While driving back home we talked about the non existent facilities here in Ireland and as to how we could not have had the holiday that we had just enjoyed but for the facility of aires.

I buy both MMM and Practical Motorhome magazines most months and recently I saw a 'Star Letter' that really hit the Ireland motorhome situation 'nail on the head'. I felt that I really couldn't let any more time go by without trying to do my little bit for the cause.

With that in mind I sent an email to contact names in both Failte Ireland and Waterways Ireland. I have copied the Failte Ireland email below. The Waterways Ireland email was suitably amended to cover the different situation. I attached four jpgs one of which was the letter in Practical Motorhome. I have also attached these jpgs to this posting for reference.

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COPY OF EMAIL TO TRACY COUGHLAN Manager Key Sector Liaison FAILTE IRELAND.

Dear Tracey,

Regarding the provision of facilities for motorhomes while touring in Ireland I would like to draw your attention to a ‘Star Letter’ in a September 2011 issued edition of the magazine Practical Motorhome. I would urge that you read this (attached) and note the prominence that it has been given in a specialist magazine with a circulation of upwards of 20,000.

I know that you have already been made aware of the need for facilities in Ireland for this ever increasing form of tourism. However, having just returned from a tour of France and seeing the large number of Continental registered ‘vans that exited the ferry in Rosslare I could not help but feel embarrassed at the complete absence of suitable facilities in Ireland compared with those that our Continental cousins experience while traveling on the European mainland. After all these people have chosen Ireland and paid a ferry crossing for the destination of their primary holiday of the year.

Other than parking, the basic facilities required to sustain a motorhome can be accommodated in an area of 10 square meters. Many towns and villages throughout the country have Community Centres with parking facilities or other areas for group parking. A well signposted motorhome service point located in such an area would open up the local area to the European motorhome community as well as encouraging local tourism. It is well established in the rest of Europe that when overnight parking is provided it encourages the use of local shops, services and restaurant facilities along with increased general local tourism. This is confirmed by the ever increasing number of fully serviced overnight parking areas provided in towns and villages right across Europe. The latest number of fully indexed locations now totalling upwards of 20,000.

While the use of most of these service points are provided free of charge, there is an increasing tendency to charge a nominal amount for fresh water or electricity (when provided). This is handled by the use of an automated 'Borne de Service' (see accompanying photo attachment). There are also an increasing number that have a Pay and Display or Barrier system with a special overnight charge, typically €4 - €8. There is also an attached picture of a motorhome parking area adjacent to the small village of Turenne in Limousin, France. This ‘Aire’ was totally free for overnight parking. This village has a listed population of 776.

I know from motorhome forums that Ireland has been building up a reputation for being very unfriendly for motorhomes for quite some time now. I really do believe that at a time when the Country needs to build up it’s tourism it should do what it can to combat this reputation and start to provide these badly needed facilities. In regard to overnight parking facilities I might point out that Ireland is not alone in having concerns regarding less than desirable traveling communities. However as most of these are provided in or immediately adjacent to towns and villages this has not been a problem.

I know that campsite owners are not in favour of having facilities provided other than those that they provide. However many parts of the country have nowhere near enough campsites to provide such facilities anyway. There is also the very important fact that very few of our campsites are located adjacent to town and villages where the main tourist boost would apply. Add to that, many of our existing campsites already have a reputation for charging exorbitant overnight rates (see magazine articles and forum postings) and will not either allow or discourage the use of their water and service facilities by another exorbitant charge – most unlike their Continental cousins.

It must also be fully understood that hotels and other forms of accommodation providers are not loosing out as a result of providing these facilities as these are additional tourists that would not have been using hotels in the first place. Campsites that are prepared to provide the basic facilities that motorhomes require – and at an acceptable charge; would also benefit.

I look forward to your response,

With kindest regards,

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Don't know if any of this will help but we can only hope.
BTW I have not had either acknowledgement or reply from either email yet. Yesterday (7th October) I copied the email to Leo Varadkar for good measure.
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Dave


Ally
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Re: The push to get a start on proper serviced Aires.

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Posted: 08.10.2011  ·  #2
Great post and pics, hope you get a reply soon be interesting to see what that is going to be.


Davidod
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Re: The push to get a start on proper serviced Aires.

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Posted: 17.10.2011  ·  #3
No reply or acknowledgement so far. Any suggestions as to what to do? The options that I would see are: wait a bit longer, follow up with another email or follow up with a phone call?


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Re: The push to get a start on proper serviced Aires.

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Posted: 17.10.2011  ·  #4
Hi Dave.

Might be as well contacting bq125rex on tho forum as he and his wife are actively involved in getting more Aires in Ireland.

He might be able to tell you if there is any point in trying again or if they have already had feedback from the same office.

I am sure your communication with FAILTE IRELAND can only reinforce the message they are trying to get across.


willie
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Re: The push to get a start on proper serviced Aires.

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Posted: 17.10.2011  ·  #5
Failte Ireland have been looking at Motorhome Tourism in Ireland this year and the report is just completed, I should think they will want to consider the recommendations in that before you can expect an answer


Davidod
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Re: The push to get a start on proper serviced Aires.

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Posted: 17.10.2011  ·  #6
That's good news Willie. Thanks for letting me know. I don't think that they could possibly find against the introduction of Aires or whatever they will officially call them here.


kilree
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Re: The push to get a start on proper serviced Aires.

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Posted: 26.10.2011  ·  #7
I'd like to congratulate Davidod on his excellent letter to Failte Ireland and the post in general. I am unfortunately unable to see the attachments as they refuse to download but the sentiments expressed in his letter are absolutely on the button. As a caravanner for many years and a new addition to the motorhome community (first motorhome in June of this year) I am apalled at the lack of interest and downright animosity to the motorhome community in this country. Not alone are there no aires type facilities provided here but the local authorities make it impossible in many counties to park up during the day for shopping in town centres. Try and park in any pay car park on Waterfords quays, for example, and you'll see what I mean. The local authorities in Ireland are more concerned with erecting height barriers and providing the smallest parking spaces possible than they are with welcoming the business brought by motorhomers.
I wouldn't be expecting much of an hearing from Failte Ireland however as they seem to be in the pockets of caravan site operators as evidenced by their closer than healthy relationship with the ICCC and the hand in glove approach to the production of that organisations (ICCC) site guide.. We can only hope, but at this stage we are sorry that we made the leap to motorhoming. The freedom we thought it would give us has turned out to be a fiction primarily because of this country's attitude to motorhoming.


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