Motorhome Facts - Another Aire in the UK ?

With the support given to Dawn Rogers for her application to have an aire de service in Pembrokeshire there seems to be a renewed interest in the establishment of aires in this country. Following the advice given by MMM's Graham Hambly to go out and do something if we wish to see such facilities in this country, I too have been in consultation with my local authority - Redcar and Cleveland - to get them to develop a municipal aire in Guisborough. I first wrote to the Chief Executive in January 2005. After receiving an initial brush off from him I wrote again and had meetings with my local councillors, MP, Guisborough Market Town Initiatve and (eventually) the council staff specifically involved in developing tourism in this part of the world. It has been slow and frustrating at times but everyone involved so far has been totally supportive once the idea and potential benefits have been explained. I found that there was a great deal of misunderstanding about what a motorhome was and even what facilities they have on board. These and other issues had to be overcome by showing them my own van and detailing just how simple facilities at an aire could be. In fairness to the council, there are points that do have to be addressed (quite apart from their pre-occupation with 'travellers') including the changing of parking orders and justifying the spending of public money on such a facility. This, necessarily, involves quite a few of the council departments and getting them together has been the biggest hurdle of all.

However, we

are now at the stage where the Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism has convened a committee to ensure the idea is progressed and implemented. For anyone who would like the opportunity to stay overnight in this lovely ancient market town and see more of the local area could I also please ask you to support my efforts by e-mailing the Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism at:

david_fitzpatrick@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

and express your support for the development of overnight parking and aire de service in Guisborough. A simple, short e-mail mentioning my name and that, as a motorhome user, it would be a facility that would attract you to visit the town and area would suffice.

I am convinced that once one of these developments is established (and used) it will make it so much easier for others to follow suit. Even within Redcar and Cleveland authority they will consider other places such as the coastal area but it does need the support of the motorhoming fraternity - and that also includes the editors of publications like MMM and Which Motorcaravan who could also e-mail Councillor Fitzpatrick to lend their support - and it would help considerably if motorhome users were to indicate now, at the planning stage, that there is such widespread interest because one of the past problems has been convincing such authorities that the facilities are actually wanted and will be used.

Thank you, in advance, to anyone who takes the time to support the initiative.

Best regards, David Lloyd

and later

QUOTE I have just spoken to the Tourism and Leisure Officer who confirms that a meeting between all the interested council departments has taken place. The main difficulty lies with the parking officer who really doesn't want the hassle of changing the necessary parking order to permit motorhomes and overnight stays even though everyone else, including the elected officials, is supporting the proposal.

In the next few days the minutes of this meeting will be sent to the Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism, Councillor David Fitzpatrick, who does have the power to overrule the council officers if it is in the interests of the council and community.

The more support that is shown from around the country the more likely he is to feel that the interests of the town would be better served by establishing an aire and recommending that the council go ahead with the facility.

If you have not already done so please help by sending a brief e-mail in support of the establishment of daytime parking and an overnight aire de service at Guisboorugh to:

david_fitzpatrick@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

Please mention my name (david lloyd) and any reasons you have for supporting the proposed aire.

Many, many thanks to everyone.

Best regards, david