How much money do motorhomes fetch into an area in the UK?

[lorger]

There’s a nice little park up near where we stay at Glencaple in D&G, they allow parking and ask for donations that goes towards the village. I’m not sure how long it took but the money donated was spent on building a new playground for the kids, so all the villagers know this which helps them accept the vans. There are 4 or 5 spaces and some nights you get a dozen vans, unfortunately that’s annoying the locals as the car park is also used by the cafe and hotel.

 

[denisejoe]

We often park at the park up at the P&R Canterbury P&R site

 

[CazPaul]

There’s a nice little park up near where we stay at Glencaple in D&G, they allow parking and ask for donations that goes towards the village. I’m not sure how long it took but the money donated was spent on building a new playground for the kids, so all the villagers know this which helps them accept the vans. There are 4 or 5 spaces and some nights you get a dozen vans, unfortunately that’s annoying the locals as the car park is also used by the cafe and hotel.

Thats great to see the income generated was used locally too

 

[Neilh]

I don't think you're allowed to overnight but it looks like a lot do!

I’m 99% sure no overnight parking allowed in any York P&R, not even for cars.
I’ve written to York City transport planners, to ask why, but never got an answer.

 

[CazPaul]

I’m 99% sure no overnight parking allowed in any York P&R, not even for cars.
I’ve written to York City transport planners, to ask why, but never got an answer.

He was talking about Abbey car park in Whitby I think

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[funflair]

I’m 99% sure no overnight parking allowed in any York P&R, not even for cars.
I’ve written to York City transport planners, to ask why, but never got an answer.

I believe that comment was regarding Whitby Abbey car park, but thanks for your effort with York P&R.

 

[Neilh]

He was talking about Abbey car park in Whitby I think

I believe that comment was regarding Whitby Abbey car park, but thanks for your effort with York P&R.

 

[Jon Stewart]

He was talking about Abbey car park in Whitby I think

Wouldn't it be nice to park up at Pickering and take the NYMR to Whitby for the day?

 

[funflair]

Wouldn't it be nice to park up at Pickering and take the NYMR to Whitby for the day?

Well you can, but not for free. https://stay.bigbearbikes.co.uk/#benefits

 

[Jon Stewart]

I dont mind paying from time to time!

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[Carpmart]

The average UK citizen doesn’t get Motorhomers and see us as a subset of the traveller community or the in vogue van lifer FLTs, neither is wanted in their community as far as the average person is concerned. This is irrespective of how much money we do, or could spend if we were able to stop in a local area. Sad but true!

This leads me to continued belief that the only viable answer to using the motorhome in the way it should be used, involves a ferry or a train and European touring!

 

[Neilh]

We did exactly the same journey yesterday, except parked a car at Pickering stn. The rail fare is £50 return, which is okay as a novelty, although we have a season pass. Big Bears an option, we've also stayed at Upper Carr, a short walk to the Stn.

 

[Neilh]

Should add, we're only travelling in the UK, until we retire end of August, then it's to Europe.

 

[dunnah01]

Pretty much given up on the popular tourist spots and cities in the UK. But there must be a way of encouraging responsible overnighting at smaller villages where the contribution would be more tangible.
Maybe a responsible motorhomers scheme sponsored by this forum. Win win for the forum and local communities and even expandable to include dealers and insurers etc.

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Wouldn't it be nice to park up at Pickering and take the NYMR to Whitby for the day?

You can, £5 all day parking. Just drive past the station turn left over the little bridge . Carpark on the right just before Mount Terrace CL site

Plenty room to park up even the biggest motorhome .

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[jumartoo]

There's a big difference between motorhome/camper vanners. Those who use their vehicle to visit places are likely to spend, and sometimes spend a lot. Unfortunately there are a lot of people who won't/can't spend, and these swelling numbers are exacerbating the problems seen by locals.

The amounts taken in don't, sometimes, seem sufficient to offset the cleaning up needed, or even the lack of parking for cars in some areas.

It's the same everywhere there's an attraction, not just in the UK.

 

[Pausim]

I am parked on a CL on the edge of a village. By the time I leave I will have spent money on meals, provisions and visiting a local attraction. If I had been parked free in the car park I would have spent exactly the same less the £18 saved on the CL. I would have been £18 better off and would have spent £18 less in the local economy. Being a bank holiday the car park was overflowing and I would not have been able to stop and spend any money.

Sadly free facilities are often abused and I suspect the village traders are happier welcoming day visitors than overnight ones.

 

[Neilh]

Generally if we stay in a CL, we don't spend much in the community, because most CL's are not near to the "Community" rather in a field several miles away, okay we'll take our bikes and have lunch, maybe 15 miles away from said CL.
However if we can stay in an Aire type stay we generally go out for dinner, a drink and maybe breakfast, similarly to how we travel in Europe.
There a few exceptions, such as the aire in Goathland = £12 parking, Village Hall, £60 dinner in the local inn, £10 cafe.
Not sure I agree that Motorhomes or any other section of the community should be judged by how much they spend.

Neil

 

[15edward]

Have a chat with CAMpRA
They have various Case Studies and reports (which typically include 'win-win' scenarios)

Campaign for Real Aires UK - CAMpRA

This campaign is to encourage spending in the local economy by the provision of Aires

campra.org.uk

You have to admire their tenacity and be grateful /supportive of their efforts as they've been working on establishing more Aires for a long time (despite limited success)...

Over 120 I read- seems quite successful to me

 

[EuroTrotters]

We are all just seen as “FT’s” or Guiri’s as we are known in Spain.

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[BrochMike]

Over 120 I read- seems quite successful to me

Agreed but still limited compared to approx 3000 in Germany, 4000 in France, 2000 in Italy

UK is dominated by campsites but it seems UK councils, etc are still reluctant to embrace the concept of a MH aire, despite (or because of?) the increase in numbers of vehicles

 

[DandJ]

The average UK citizen doesn’t get Motorhomers and see us as a subset of the traveller community or the in vogue van lifer FLTs, neither is wanted in their community as far as the average person is concerned. This is irrespective of how much money we do, or could spend if we were able to stop in a local area. Sad but true!

How many of the 60 million + average UK citizens did you speak with to deduce this?

 

[Carpmart]

How many of the 60 million + average UK citizens did you speak with to deduce this?

A substantial poll numbering at least 10!

Do you not get the vibe I am referring to? ‘The Press’, actually media in all its forms doesn’t help; actually exasperates further the feeling towards those doing things ‘different to the norm’ with poor reporting such as that surrounding the parking in Bristol (see other thread!)

Be glad to see evidence counter if you have it?

 

[gus-lopez]

Someone staying in an Airb&b will spend more than someone who has driven their house to an area.

Not necessarily. most who stayed here brought food bought on the way or from where they started from. The only people we ever had who spent locally were workmen , builders, electricians ,etc who worked on shops etc in the commercial centre

except parked a car at Pickering stn. The rail fare is £50 return, which is okay as a novelty,

When daughter & her partner go away ,with & without the teenage kids ,they take the food with them having shopped at home.
Last one we stayed at with them was 2 miles down a single track road off the N devon link road & 14 miles from the nearest shop

 

[The Wino]

How many of the 60 million + average UK citizens did you speak with to deduce this?

The people I speak to around here are pretty much the same. They don't get using a motorhome off a campsite apart from van lifers.

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[gus-lopez]

They don't get using a motorhome off a campsite

Why would you use it on a campsite? You might as well go to Butlin's?
The last place you would find me is on a site that has pools, bar, entertainment ,toilets,showers etc.

 

[The Wino]

Why would you use it on a campsite? You might as well go to Butlin's?
The last place you would find me is on a site that has pools, bar, entertainment ,toilets,showers etc.

I agree with your thoughts but the great British public can't see that. They have all sorts of worries like the toilet flushing onto the road that make no sense!

 

[TheMobileWanderer]

The average UK citizen doesn’t get Motorhomers and see us as a subset of the traveller community or the in vogue van lifer FLTs, neither is wanted in their community as far as the average person is concerned. This is irrespective of how much money we do, or could spend if we were able to stop in a local area. Sad but true!

This leads me to continued belief that the only viable answer to using the motorhome in the way it should be used, involves a ferry or a train and European touring!

I wonder whether the clubs should embark on an industry marketing initiative to inform people of the differences?! More people might take up motorhoming; more people might join their membership, more Aires may be seen to be necessary, in more places too.

I wonder too; do those coming into the UK, bring their groceries or do they buy local? Maybe they should be incentivised to buy local, with loyalty points, for example, which could give discount to NT and other public places. Then it could be seen what the value to GDP is the Moho community as distinct from FLTs and others.

I suspect there's less spend locally than from people who stay in B&Bs. Though possibly, the cumulative value may be higher. It could be guesstimated already.

Number of moho coming in X number of days in the country X (say) 30 quid x 180 days

It's the visitors to the country, I think, who would drive the argument for more services to be provided by Councils. A circular economy (money already in UK); that won't attract governmental interest.

 

[Pausim]

I wonder whether the clubs should embark on an industry marketing initiative to inform people of the differences?! More people might take up motorhoming; more people might join their membership, more Aires may be seen to be necessary, in more places too.

The Clubs are unlikely to embark on any marketing that involves providing more choice for the motorhoming community. They are very happy with their dominant positions and the lack of Aires. They claim to represent all campers whilst opposing anything that involves wild or free camping (or change).

 

[The Wino]

I wonder whether the clubs should embark on an industry marketing initiative to inform people of the differences?! More people might take up motorhoming; more people might join their membership, more Aires may be seen to be necessary, in more places too.

I wonder too; do those coming into the UK, bring their groceries or do they buy local? Maybe they should be incentivised to buy local, with loyalty points, for example, which could give discount to NT and other public places. Then it could be seen what the value to GDP is the Moho community as distinct from FLTs and others.

I suspect there's less spend locally than from people who stay in B&Bs. Though possibly, the cumulative value may be higher. It could be guesstimated already.

Number of moho coming in X number of days in the country X (say) 30 quid x 180 days

It's the visitors to the country, I think, who would drive the argument for more services to be provided by Councils. A circular economy (money already in UK); that won't attract governmental interest.

Why 180! If you mean that's the longest you're allowed to stay I would be surprised if many stay in the UK that long apart from anything else they would spend a fortune on site fees. I think the whole thing is that most motorhomers think they are a lot more important to the economy than they really are.

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