Do yo spend more in a welcoming/free area?

[Tonks]

Powys is very welcoming all council carpzrks free overnight and many have loos

Yes, I've taken advantage of this policy in Powys, with gratitude. I've always spent in the towns where I've parked, but in general would much rather use the loo in my van than the loos in or nearby the council carparks!

If we are staying over for free we always shop local or spend in a cafe/bar. In Europe if locals come round selling fruit etc we always buy. (Not seen this in Uk) They then have a reason to welcome/support Motorhomers & our money definitely goes where we want it too.
I also carry a litter picker & clear up around us if needed.

I like to visit farm shops to provision my van if I'm away on a trip. Also, many have nice cafes. I rarely eat out in a restaurant if I'm away in my van, but I'll fairly often have a coffee and a snack in a cafe.

We spend in local bars and restaurants wherever we stay that's why we have gone there, what else are you going to do , just sit in the van?

I can count on one hand the number of bars and restaurants I've visited in the last year while away in my van. There are usually lots of other things to do. Including having a walk with my camera and then relaxing and reading in the van. I do pop into a nice cafe or coffee shop sometimes for a cuppa though.

I do the same talking to locals around here ( Whitby) but it's a real uphill struggle. The town is rammed with visitors in the summer motorhomes or not!

Whitby has been made much more difficult by the insistence of so many vans/MHs overnighting where there are clear notices that this isn't allowed. Thus resulting in even more restrictions. Lost count of the number of times I've read posts on various forums/groups saying (not just about Whitby!) 'it says no motorhomes but my (obviously a campervan/MH) is registered as a van, so can I overnight', or 'those restrictions signs don't say blah blah blah so aren't legal', or 'just do it anyway, and say you were tired so had to stop there' or variations ad nauseam on the same theme, basically just saying 'stick two fingers up' at anyone or anything the poster happens to disagree with. Whitby's very popular anyway, as you say The Wino and so MHs/campervans are often (usually) more of a hindrance than a benefit to the town.

 

[Dorwyn]

Yes, I've taken advantage of this policy in Powys, with gratitude. I've always spent in the towns where I've parked, but in general would much rather use the loo in my van than the loos in or nearby the council carparks!

I like to visit farm shops to provision my van if I'm away on a trip. Also, many have nice cafes. I rarely eat out in a restaurant if I'm away in my van, but I'll fairly often have a coffee and a snack in a cafe.

I can count on one hand the number of bars and restaurants I've visited in the last year while away in my van. There are usually lots of other things to do. Including having a walk with my camera and then relaxing and reading in the van. I do pop into a nice cafe or coffee shop sometimes for a cuppa though.

Whitby has been made much more difficult by the insistence of so many vans/MHs overnighting where there are clear notices that this isn't allowed. Thus resulting in even more restrictions. Lost count of the number of times I've read posts on various forums/groups saying (not just about Whitby!) 'it says no motorhomes but my (obviously a campervan/MH) is registered as a van, so can I overnight', or 'those restrictions signs don't say blah blah blah so aren't legal', or 'just do it anyway, and say you were tired so had to stop there' or variations ad nauseam on the same theme, basically just saying 'stick two fingers up' at anyone or anything the poster happens to disagree with. Whitby's very popular anyway, as you say The Wino and so MHs/campervans are often (usually) more of a hindrance than a benefit to the town.

Last time I was up in that corner was in quite high season visiting my rellies I don't get to see much, and yes it was jam packed, especially Whitby. Scarborough not so bad, Brid neither, Withernsea nearly empty. But my nephew helped with the top two. I think we may make the effort again, for old time's sake. While we still can. This is a warning, rellies!!

 

[L' Hobo]

I know what you mean. I remember being on one about six miles out of Cognac. Not only was it free but it had sixteen amp hookup. Tiny little village and no shops. I rode around on the scooter trying to find something to buy. Nothing!! Not even a hairdressers which is unusual as the French will put one in a field in the middle of nowhere.

Perhaps, it's EU money?
I remember many years ago, when I was still Trucking, delivering a 20ton + load of steel to Zarragoza and they had just started building motorways in Spain.

As these new motorways ran virtually parallel and close with the main roads, I couldn't understand as no-one was using them, and they stool idle and unused.

After I had dropped the load, I asked one of the local truckers about why Spain kept on building them.

His reply was, " why should we PAY to use them when the old roads are adequate?"

"What about the cost to Spain" I asked?

"It cost Spain no extra money, it was the given allowance by the 'Common market,' to all countries and if it was not used, we would get less next year"

 

[L' Hobo]

Yes, I've taken advantage of this policy in Powys, with gratitude. I've always spent in the towns where I've parked, but in general would much rather use the loo in my van than the loos in or nearby the council carparks!

I like to visit farm shops to provision my van if I'm away on a trip. Also, many have nice cafes. I rarely eat out in a restaurant if I'm away in my van, but I'll fairly often have a coffee and a snack in a cafe.

I can count on one hand the number of bars and restaurants I've visited in the last year while away in my van. There are usually lots of other things to do. Including having a walk with my camera and then relaxing and reading in the van. I do pop into a nice cafe or coffee shop sometimes for a cuppa though.

Whitby has been made much more difficult by the insistence of so many vans/MHs overnighting where there are clear notices that this isn't allowed. Thus resulting in even more restrictions. Lost count of the number of times I've read posts on various forums/groups saying (not just about Whitby!) 'it says no motorhomes but my (obviously a campervan/MH) is registered as a van, so can I overnight', or 'those restrictions signs don't say blah blah blah so aren't legal', or 'just do it anyway, and say you were tired so had to stop there' or variations ad nauseam on the same theme, basically just saying 'stick two fingers up' at anyone or anything the poster happens to disagree with. Whitby's very popular anyway, as you say The Wino and so MHs/campervans are often (usually) more of a hindrance than a benefit to the town.

What I still don't understand is, if EVERYONE is spending all this money while stopping on Aires, why are towns around the Scottish 500, or anywhere else ( with the exception of Whitby) complaining and not taking advantage of all this extra income.

 

[The Wino]

What I still don't understand is, if EVERYONE is spending all this money while stopping on Aires, why are towns around the Scottish 500, or anywhere else ( with the exception of Whitby) complaining and not taking advantage of all this extra income.

Given people are spending whatever they would at home largely it's just money moving from one bit of the country to another. Maybe we need non UK motorhome parking areas to improve our balance of payments?

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