As with all area`s of Life, there will be those who abuse, however your “lady” councillor is undoubtedly talking about a very small minority. Who would be better targeted individually, in the same manner as vandalism and hooliganism would be? Rather than potentially creating an impression that those who use “motor homes or campervans” are to be tarred with that same brush.

The vast majority of motor home owners, who stay overnight in such places are most likely “touring”, will have spent time and money in the locality, and have either decided to have “one more day” potentially spending more money? because it`s a “nice, welcoming, place”. Or having enjoyed the amenities plan to move on when rested. Local tourism is dependant upon the free movement of people and their spreading the word about the positive (or negative) impact of any location. Public Relations in action, with so much competition from other places, any impression that a particular destination is unfriendly towards a certain grouping can quickly impact upon the numbers who visit, with the knock on effect of loss of revenue.

Most motorhome owners, have per-se to use the vehicle as transport, and parking them is (as I know myself) a difficult exercise where little or no provision is made. Where there is provision, it is usually barred overnight, for reasons which I fail to understand? After all, a small fee to Park overnight is better than no fee for an empty parking space?.

At times persons, Like your councillor for example, will “advise” that there are Camp sites, why not use them?, true, but there is a growing concern that many camp grounds are adopting a two or three night minimum rule, so spending one night can either be a non starter or could cost far in excess of the standard one night fee, and at busy times pre booking is essential, which in itself is the antithesis of spur of the moment travel, the reason why so many use this particular mode. With the possibility why so many avail themselves of the facilities of the “aire” system in Europe, in preference to holidaying in the UK?

To return to the subject of rubbish, and, I think the word was, “effluence”, probably meant to be “effluent”?. I doubt that any responsible motorhome owner would consider such a thing. And would undoubtedly attract the approbation of their peers if it became known. For the record, my motorhome, as most are, is completely self contained, and no “effluent” would ever be disposed of except in a proper place. If your lady councillor wants to experience real effluent, try the HGV parking area`s on any motorway services! Especially those most frequented by visitors from the Eastern bloc and Continental Europe.

Good will and a welcome to any visitor attraction are hard to win back when lost by injudicious use of language in the media. And so many of us spread the bad and good word instantly by the use of the social media network these days, which is the method by which I, living in the North East of England, am aware of this issue.

Peter Hewson