Motorhome life

Campaign for real aires

What is CAMpRA?

CAMpRA – Campaign For Real Aires – was launched on Facebook on 23rd Feb 2019 by one man, who like many of us, had travelled in Europe in his motorcaravan and was frustrated by the lack of similar facilities in the UK

It was not until the name of the group was changed to Campaign For Real Aires UK on 8th July, when the founder, Donald Macdonald, was joined by IT specialist, Roy Goring, and the group was promoted, that things really took off.

Motorhomes are designed for adventure and exploring, and being on the roads on tour 365 days of the year. This campaign is working to try to get the UK to accept the need for a network of overnight parking and waste disposal points. It is not asking for aires because they have them in Europe, nor to demand the right to park everywhere, in fact not to criticise, complain or be confrontational. ‘THE CAMpRA WAY’, wishes to promote responsible overnight parking with environmentally friendly disposal of waste, by creating dedicated places where motorhomes can be safely parked in villages and towns with easy access to places close to the tourist attractions people have come to see. In addition, CAMpRA is raising awareness of the untapped spending power of motorhome tourism in local communities and explaining the benefits to local town councils, chambers of commerce, tourism offices, MPs and local businesses.

www.shutterstock.com/Andrey Armyagov

The CAMpRA group is seeking suitable locations in a variety of places, such as village halls, community centres, wasteland, large organisations and small businesses with space in the car parks, churches, sports clubs – anywhere that has enough space to be offered for a few campervans and motorhome parking bays, and may wish to earn some extra funds.

What else is CAMpRA doing?

CAMpRA is also working with the leading French aire network company, Camping-Car Park, who have agreed to expand their very successful European operation into the UK.

Camping-Car Park operates secure barrier controlled aires with CCTV, barrier entry systems, ehu and wifi. Entry is by a member card that is topped up online or at the site. These will be larger sites, 10 to 20 motorhomes, and all they need is a landowner to allow them to use their land. They install and manage the sites. Most sites are within walking distance of a town or major tourist attraction. This is the way to go.

This is a campaigning group and you can help by keeping an eye open for ideal sites near you, or for local council notices in local papers, and Public Consultations (look out for surveys) and ‘have your say’. If it’s a notice about parking, step in and suggest motorhome parking as a benefit to your locality.

For more details see our website www.CAMpRA.org and Facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/campra.uk