Re: Advice for Councils installing an Aire or Aire De Service

There IS stuff happening. Thanks for adding your bit to the debate, all lobbying of The Minister and Fáilte Ireland is really helpful, please keep it up.
I'm confident we will have the concept of 'Aires' officially recognised by FI in the not too distant future.
Stay tuned.

Below is a copy of Sprinter's letter, with modifications, which I sent almost a month ago to Wexford County Councillors and the County Manager. ALL the replies I've received to date are included. The first CC meeting since the email went out was yesterday. I never realised we had such a big ostrich farm here. Is it worth trying again or am I flogging a dead horse?

14 Aug
As a Motorhome owner and a member of a Forum ( Motorhomecraic.com. we currently have 23 million visitors and 5000, mainly Irish, registered members. ) interested in the promotion of all things to do with Motorhome holidaying, I would like to bring to your attention to the lack of facilities in Co.Wexford. What is required to bring motorhome tourism to your locality is an " Aire ". This is a term used throughout Europe to describe an overnight parking place for Motorhomes ( not Caravans ) When we use the simple term "Aire" we generally mean an Aire Stationnement (parking area), which may or may not have a service bay. "Aire de Service" is a term which translates to Service Area, the bay where emptying and refilling are provided.

At this stage, so as not to confuse anyone what we are asking for your assistance with is "Motorhome Parking and Motorhome Service Area's" The very minimum "Motorhome Parking area " is, two white lines to park between ( a little wider than the normal car space ) for an overnight stop, with a grass / graveled or paved area to the rear to allow for rear axle overhang, initially with very little or no expenditure , this can be provided in any car park in scenic areas , towns, villages , within walking distance of shops , supermarkets , pubs , restaurants , places of interest.
Preferably free overnight or for a reasonable charge. If you consider, for example, public car parks, swimming pool, council offices mostly empty at night and some at weekends. A few years ago Cavan CC passed a motion allowing motorhomes to park overnight in any council owned car park. This move attracted more motorhome tourism to the area at zero cost to the council.

If it would help Council officials and managers to understand how little or no money need be spent initially, to get the "Motorhome Tourism " going in your area , we would be prepared to organize three or four different types of Motorhome / Campervans to meet at the council offices before the next council meeting in September or at an arranged time, to demonstrate the space required and how self-sufficient they are with regard to toilet, washing and waste facilities.

We have our own guidelines, which we expect our members to adhere to and would generally recommend a 2/3 night stay in any one place. At all times local rules are obeyed or enforced.

The standard motorhome insurance policy, underwritten by Axa Ireland or Aviva allows for overnight parking, as long as the policyholder take reasonable steps regarding their location. All other types of leisure accommodation, caravan, tent, motor racing vehicle/horse transporters are not insured when overnighting at an unofficial stop.

By providing some targeted motorhome parking, the council can promote locations, not on the general tourism trails. An example in Co Wexford would be the lovely village of Crannford.

"2015 figures issued by the European Caravan Federation stated that there were approximately 1.7 million motorhomes registered in Europe with the highest levels of ownership in Germany, Italy, France and the United Kingdom.

If we accept that our membership consists of owners, there are 5000 plus motorhomes in Ireland ( north and south )

Herein information attached.

advert/GUIDE_TO_USING_A_MOTORHOME_AIRE_IN_IRELAND.pdf

Examples of Aires can be found here: http://www.motorcaravanningireland.org/

There is also a great facility in the North Of Ireland if you care to investigate it.
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/ar…ng-forests

I would also like to bring to your attention some of the other groups interested in this topic.
Campaigners and Supporters who are on the same page with what we would like for Motorhome Parking in Ireland North & South.

Websites:
Motorhome Craic
Motorhome Parking Ireland
Motorcaravanning Ireland
Facebook Groups:
Motorhome Craic & Motorhome Parking Ireland
Motorhome Friendly Locations Ireland
Motorhome Locations Ireland
Clubs:
Phoenix Motorhome Club
App:
Motorhome Parking Ireland
Motorhome Parking Ireland FB Group

Obviously, as I am sending this all Councillors in Co. Wexford It will be of no help to any of you, or to me to receive a standard thank you for your contact letter. I would rather you spend your time doing something for motorhome tourism in Wexford and become a leader in this regard and an example to other Counties to follow.

I look forward to meeting you to discuss the above and debunk some of the myths going around regarding motorhomes.
Best regards,
Liam Fortune.



Malcolm Byrne
14 Aug
Many thanks. This issue has been mentioned before and am aware of the problem.

I’m happy to meet individually or set up a group meeting.

I’m on holidays myself this week so can we touch base next week and we can arrange?

14 Aug
to Malcolm
Thanks for the very prompt reply Malcolm. I think a group meet before the next council meeting should suit everyone. We can talk later, meanwhile enjoy the holiday.

I resent a copy of the letter, (See post #45) to the Councillors expressing my disappointment at the almost total lack of response from our elected representatives. This time I had a slightly better response so I've decided to push things a little. I'm sending them an email inviting them to come and inspect the fresh water, waste water and sanitation system in my motorhome on Monday next before the next council meeting. I could do with two or three others to give them a selection to look at. Ideally I'd like to have a van conversion, a coachbuilt and an A class for them to look at. If anyone is available on Mon 10th from 10 o'clock till two and would like to join me let me know.

Cost of providing signage, marking out the 30 bays and services bay at Cobh was approximately €5k.
Income from the parking charges is expected to be about €20k this year (2018)
Surpluses are 'ring-fenced' for the provision of community facilities for residents of the town.

BTW, we had a very fruitful one hour meeting today with members of Waterford Council regarding the provision of official motorhome parking places and services in the city and county.

Attached seems to have been lost during the recent IT problem, so here it is again. No, it isn't, it seems to be too big to upload. Ally, I'll send it to you as an email attachment, perhaps you would put it up here.

File attached.

I'll add it to ourt Aires area later also.

File and others now in our Aires section, which as always can be found via the "more" menu on a PC or the drop down menu on a mobile device.

HERE

Well, I set up camp in the carpark at the Council offices at 9:30 this morning and I had the grand total of one councillor come to see me. Councillor Anthony Connick, (non party), was the only visitor I had and a very positive visitor he turned out to be. He's definitely getting my No 1 in the next election just for turning up. He sees the benefits of motorhome tourism and is very keen on establishing Aires in the county. He informed me that the Council have purchased this field beside Aldi and it's earmarked for a motorhome parking area. https://www.google.ie/maps/@52…a=!3m1!1e3 He also said that at the moment motorhomes park overnight in the carparks on the quay and they are most welcome. We discussed the good and bad points of different aires I had visited in Spain, I had loads of photos, and he understands what we need and more importantly what we don't need. I suggested the Council do a pump and dump trial at their campsite in Ferrybank, charge €5 for motorhomes to discharge their waste and take on fresh water. He said he'll put that idea forward to those responsible. I also suggested an online survey if they want plenty of input and suggestions from motorhomers. I will be following up with further communications with him in the coming days. What a pity the other councillors couldn't be bothered to meet up. If I get any further news I'll post it here.