Caravan site manager criticises Moray Council plans
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Plans to create five service and parking sites for motorhomes across Moray has met with angry response from a Buckie caravan site boss.
A total of £150,000 has been allocated by Moray Council for the sites, which include ones at Portknockie and Portgordon.
The sites, which are being set up ahead of a predicated staycation surge when travelling restrictions are lifted, will feature chemical waste disposal sites, portaloos and seagull-proof bins.
While some have reacted positively to the news, it has been met with frustration by the manager of Strathlene caravan park.
Colin Fraser, who runs the site on behalf of his son, has accused the council of effectively taking business away from them.
He is also urging the council to act against wild parking.
"The council do not seem to have a clue what the problem is with motorhomes and campervans," Mr Fraser said.
"A large number of motorhome and campervan owners do not wish to pay for a pitch on a caravan park even though they may have paid in excess of £50,000 for their motorhome.
"After wild camping they only come onto a touring park once or twice a week to empty their waste and fill up their water tank, which can take quite a few gallons of water.
"At Strathlene we have a council car park, directly opposite the caravan park, which is used during the day by patrons to the Bijou by the Sea Restaurant and visitors to the beach.
"But at night it is a favourite spot for motorhomes and campervans parking overnight even though we have vacant pitches available across the road.
"Moray Council should be taking more action to stop people in motorhomes wild parking and pointing them towards the many holiday parks in Moray district.
"They should not be taking away business from holiday parks, especially after the effects of coronavirus restrictions."
Mr Fraser questions how the ongoing maintenance costs of these sites would be met.
He also wonders, if the council erect signages indicating the location of these stopover points, whether they will be subject to VisitScotland scrutiny similar to caravan parks wishing to erect signs.
He added: "If Moray Council go ahead with this idea it should be in areas where there are no commercial caravan parks available ... and not in the likes of Buckie area where they are proposing two stops within seven miles of each other with two commercial parks within that area both being on the coast road."
A spokesperson for Moray Council said: "We’re responsibly preparing for an increase in demand for stopovers as people look to take staycations as restrictions ease, and to mitigate against any complaints regarding waste disposal in particular.
"The intention is not to take business away from existing sites but to offer resilience for informal stopovers as it’s predicted that numbers visiting the area will significantly increase.
"We’re improving infrastructure to allow safe and hygienic stopovers by introducing chargeable waste disposal points at Burghead, Craigellachie, Portknockie, Portgordon and Ballindalloch.
"In these locations, as well as Lossiemouth, we’re improving parking surfaces, improving signage and toilet facilities where applicable.
"We recognise that established sites will offer enhanced facilities such as washing and laundry facilities.
"Development work is under way, funded by the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund, to create new carparks and overnight stopping points in Findhorn, Hopeman, Cullen, Portknockie and Ben Rinnes, to be managed by a mixture of community groups and Moray Council.
"This work is significant and more information will be released as the project progresses.
"For all projects, all necessary consents will be secured and regulations adhered to."
Councillor Sonya Warren (Buckie/SNP) said: "Clearly there are significant numbers of campervans being used and many are parking up in public car parks.
"We believe we can offer facilities that will be complimentary to rather than in competition with local sites."
