Derry & Strabane Council Motorhome Parking Motion

Good work and you seem to have made some progress with Councillor Farrell.

Well done, Cllr Farrell put forward the case for motorhome parking very well, he's obviously well briefed on the benefits to be gained from providing such a facility.

Great to see a Councillor listening to our issues, put a motion before the council and the council pass it.

Sadly we saw last night the opposite at Fermanagh and Omagh Council. Their Environmental Services Committee were discussing reports on Motorhome Overnight Stays. They proposed and seconded two options.

Cllr Baird proposed Option1, and was Seconded by Cllr Rainey;
Option One - Continue with the current protocol of enforcing No Overnight Stays. This would entail signage, education, encouragement and monitoring to move motorhome owners to licensed sites across the district. To date, this approach has been carried out by staff on an ad hoc basis, however during the next number of weeks, this may well require the services of a ‘security’ type call off contract to ensure that personnel are available at key locations across the district.
and

Cllr Maguire proposed Option 2, and was Seconded by Cllr Reilly :
Option Two - A longer term option is to upgrade/regularise one or more sites which currently have basic services such as service blocks provided for boating e.g. the Round O, Bellanaleck, Carrybridge, Galloon etc,. Some communication has already taken place with the private sector, with a view to working in partnership with the Council to operate a site/booking system etc via a tender process. To date there has been little interest from the private sector to engage with the Council on this approach. Should the Council progress this option without the involvement of the private sector, this approach would be in direct competition with the sector and lead to potential displacement of local businesses currently catering for caravans and motorhomes in the locality.

Both were agreed. At least they were prepared to go away and do some research and come back to their next meeting on 7 September. Although for the time being they will push us towards Caravan Sites.