Ever since the council decided to erect height barriers I have been in communication with an MLA, a local councillor and an official of the Newry Mourne and Down council.
The barriers were a done deal before we got wind of the development so as I have indicated in other posts, my actions are to try and ensure parking provision is made elsewhere in the town.
The height barriers will be in place by mid to late December. Suffice to say poor practice by motorhomers including abusive behaviour by a van owner towards the enforcement staff ( a van pictured on here recently) together with other complaints by residents etc over the last few years, especially when Motorhomes almost totally filled the designated disabled parking area at Glen river during the air show mean we are unlikely to have access in the short to medium term. An individual took an equality request to the council, with particular reference to blue badge holders, but this was overruled on the grounds that lots of disabled parking and concessions were made all around the town, but probably the ruling revolves around ordinary parking, not overnight with a sea view.
During several meetings with the above mentioned officials, there does seem to be a willingness to have some provision in the town. Indeed I have had several meetings with the council officer (as recently as yesterday) including bringing the Motorhome to locations around the town. There are three locations which I have been lobbying for proper marked bay provision, but these are subject to negotiation and approval by committees etc, so I will not name them. Suffice to say they will not have sea views, but will have other excellent views of the mountains etc and be fairly central. Bear in mind that many if not most aires do not have views, but are convenient and free or cheap places to overnight, Portrush springs to mind. For a sea view in the interim you will need to use the small car park beside the Rock outdoor swimming pool where overnighting will be tolerated.
The councils original plan had been to provide some bays in the Donard car park, but I don’t think this is either practical or an appealing place to stay. I cannot put a time frame on when alternatives will be in place, but I am pushing for ‘pilot’ schemes to get the ball rolling. It is likely that the council would see the locations as shared parking, ie it would be difficult to make the bays Motorhome specific, so like some french Aires (Cahors, Carnac etc) it would be the case that if you plan to arrive after approx 5 pm the car park will be fairly empty and you could park overnight and have possession of the bay next day or up to whatever time limit is envisaged. This would not preclude a van parking in a non Motorhome bay during the day and moving to a wider bay as they become available.
I am confident that if the council are convinced, then we might have about 10 to 15 bays in 3 or 4 locations. I am also pursuing permission to park and overnight in the paddock at the back of Donard carpark as an overflow during summer months and of course I am hoping we can get a service point at one of the locations. Time will tell.
ARDS & N. DOWN UPDATE
I have also (with assistance by Mark) been working with Ards & N. Down council on their plan to provide up to nine overnight parking locations with perhaps 3 having services. They are still working towards that goal, but as with all government it is slow. Their biggest concern at present is the overuse of Donaghadee on occasions when up to 30 vans were staying including on the grass areas. Expect that to be a maximum of a 10 bay provision at some point in the future. Again I am trying to get them to advertise Ballyhome and Millisle as close alternatives. Let us remain optimistic that some extra locations could be available before next year as 30 plus vans is not doing us any favours.
Davy
The barriers were a done deal before we got wind of the development so as I have indicated in other posts, my actions are to try and ensure parking provision is made elsewhere in the town.
The height barriers will be in place by mid to late December. Suffice to say poor practice by motorhomers including abusive behaviour by a van owner towards the enforcement staff ( a van pictured on here recently) together with other complaints by residents etc over the last few years, especially when Motorhomes almost totally filled the designated disabled parking area at Glen river during the air show mean we are unlikely to have access in the short to medium term. An individual took an equality request to the council, with particular reference to blue badge holders, but this was overruled on the grounds that lots of disabled parking and concessions were made all around the town, but probably the ruling revolves around ordinary parking, not overnight with a sea view.
During several meetings with the above mentioned officials, there does seem to be a willingness to have some provision in the town. Indeed I have had several meetings with the council officer (as recently as yesterday) including bringing the Motorhome to locations around the town. There are three locations which I have been lobbying for proper marked bay provision, but these are subject to negotiation and approval by committees etc, so I will not name them. Suffice to say they will not have sea views, but will have other excellent views of the mountains etc and be fairly central. Bear in mind that many if not most aires do not have views, but are convenient and free or cheap places to overnight, Portrush springs to mind. For a sea view in the interim you will need to use the small car park beside the Rock outdoor swimming pool where overnighting will be tolerated.
The councils original plan had been to provide some bays in the Donard car park, but I don’t think this is either practical or an appealing place to stay. I cannot put a time frame on when alternatives will be in place, but I am pushing for ‘pilot’ schemes to get the ball rolling. It is likely that the council would see the locations as shared parking, ie it would be difficult to make the bays Motorhome specific, so like some french Aires (Cahors, Carnac etc) it would be the case that if you plan to arrive after approx 5 pm the car park will be fairly empty and you could park overnight and have possession of the bay next day or up to whatever time limit is envisaged. This would not preclude a van parking in a non Motorhome bay during the day and moving to a wider bay as they become available.
I am confident that if the council are convinced, then we might have about 10 to 15 bays in 3 or 4 locations. I am also pursuing permission to park and overnight in the paddock at the back of Donard carpark as an overflow during summer months and of course I am hoping we can get a service point at one of the locations. Time will tell.
ARDS & N. DOWN UPDATE
I have also (with assistance by Mark) been working with Ards & N. Down council on their plan to provide up to nine overnight parking locations with perhaps 3 having services. They are still working towards that goal, but as with all government it is slow. Their biggest concern at present is the overuse of Donaghadee on occasions when up to 30 vans were staying including on the grass areas. Expect that to be a maximum of a 10 bay provision at some point in the future. Again I am trying to get them to advertise Ballyhome and Millisle as close alternatives. Let us remain optimistic that some extra locations could be available before next year as 30 plus vans is not doing us any favours.
Davy
Liked by: Irishbee
. Belfast only got £2m after the Primark fire and were lucky to get it. £34m must be part of the wider Belfast city deal? I always thought my home city of Newry would be a great location for an Aire given it is halfway between Belfast and Dublin.
