Freedom of information

Ards and North Down Council FOI request (not by us)


https://www.whatdotheyknow.com…mes_campin

A very interesting exchange or should I say verbal fencing. It appears from the council's stance that its thinking is being guided by vested interests who seek to put obstacles in the way of the development of a network of Motorhome Parking Areas for NI.

I have a fundamental issue with the notion expressed vis a vis 'camping'.
I have always argued, and continue to do so, that motorhomes are parked in the same manner as other mechanically vehicles and what goes on inside them is a matter of personal privacy not to be interfered with by the state. For example, could the state ban the playing of music in a vehicle when parked, or consuming food, or playing a musical instrument, playing cards, or any of the innumerable activities, like sleeping which are in themselves inoffensive to the general public outside the vehicle.
As regards sleeping in the vehicle, this activity is a common occurrence across all categories of mechanically propelled vehicles be they cars, coaches, HGV's, etc, there is nothing unique about people sleeping in motorhomes.

The use and acceptance of the use of 'camping' to describe a parked motorhome is most unfortunate and inappropriate. The generally accepted meaning of the term 'camping' is the temporary occupation of a piece of ground to set up a tent or other structure and creation of a 'living space'. It is, for this reason, that motorhome parking areas are reserved solely for the parking of a mechanically propelled vehicle and any external occupation of the space for the deployment of 'camping' related equipment is strictly prohibited, see Cobh and the rest of Europe.

Another source of misunderstanding, which seems to be particular to NI, is the use of the France language descriptor Aire de Service. Aire de Service, when translated to English means a Service Area, a facility distinctly different from an Aire de Stationnement which translates to a Parking Area, parking area NOT a camping area. The facility at Ards should correctly be described as a motorhome parking area with a services area. To illustrate the difference, it is not uncommon for the parking area and service area to be provided at different locations.

The one issue not address or challenged in the exchange between Mr Smith and Ards and North Down Borough Council is the council classifying the parking area at Ards as a 'camping area' subject to The Caravans Act (NI) 1963 Section 21. If the council's position on the matter is to be followed to its logical conclusion the overnight lorry park at Larne Port should also be subject The Caravans Act (NI) 1963 Section 21 because living and sleeping in vehicles also take part there.

Finally, IT'S PARKING NOT CAMPING needs to be shouted from the rooftops. The Caravans Act (NI) 1963 Section 21 my arse.

Come on Ards and North down, you can beat this just like Cobh was won.


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Threat of legal action to council over camper van parking bay planned for Cobh

Sean O’Riordan
Monday, October 31, 2016
A group representing motorhome owners has jumped to the defence of a municipal district authority threatened with legal action after developing a parking site for camper vans.

Some caravan park owners in the east Cork area took exception to the Cobh-Glanmire Municipal District creating an overnight 30-unit parking bay in Cobh.

But Phoenix Motorhome Club, which has hundreds of members drawn mainly from the Munster region, believes the Cork County Council municipal authority should stick to its guns and retain the parking bay.

Full Story:. https://www.irishexaminer.com/…28232.html

Basically, road legal vehicles may park anywhere on the road, the road includes carparks and other public spaces where vehicles may legally circulate.

Any restrictions on the right to park MUST be shown to be required for safety or traffic control reasons, time limits MUST be shown to be necessary to provide parking bay turnover to facilitate new arrivals.

For "no parking between 8pm and 8 am" to be a legal regulation the lawmaker must demonstrate it is necessary for environmental reasons or for the efficient management of traffic.
Parking restrictions cannot be based on a whim or on spurious grounds.

Best thing we can do as a group is to support the council in the forthcoming court case. I'm happy to attend court if it would help them or perhaps we as a group submit a letter of support. I'm sure the judge would like to see the difference between a caravan, a tent and a Motorhome.

New updates for the request 'Prohibition of Motorhomes camping overnight at the Commons, Donaghadee.'
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Mr Smith sent a follow up message to Ards and North Down Borough Council ( 8 May 2019)
"Thank you for your message of 7th May 2019. Is Ards and North Down Borough Council in a position to issue a partial response within the time fame?..."
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com…ing-897563

Ards and North Down Borough Council sent a response to Mr Smith ( 8 May 2019)
"Dear Mr Smith, Thank you for your request for information to Ards and North Down Borough Council in relation to overnight camping and motorhomes...."
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com…ng-1362216