Members of the 
Silves council executive have professed total surprise and shock at the expulsion of the motorcaravan city that had been allowed illegally to build up in the council car park next to the FISSUL building by the river.
In a statement, the council found that the action by the GNR Environmental Portection Force was ‘strange,’ leading as it did to the ‘expulsion of motorcaravanners.’
“We find it strange and incorrect that the council was not informed or consulted," read a statement, adding that "recently the council together with the GNR had been developing an awareness among the motorcaravanners to persuade them to move to neighbouring camping sites which have appropriate conditions, but at the same time allowing them to remain at the FISSUL site if they respected a set of rules."
"In a time of severe economic, financial and social crisis, more patience and restraint was called for when judging what measures should be taken, because the presence of the motorcaravanners in the city of Silves is a boost and considerably supports local businesses.”
“Silves council regrets what happened last Friday and commits itself to reverse the situation by the promoting and the creation of appropriate conditions for the installation of a caravan park for the city of Silves," the document concludes.
Locals say there were around 150 motorcaravans in the carpark on Friday morning, and 30 by the end of the day with some apparently stored for the winter - owners absent. The two other unofficial campsites near the city have also been cleared of motorcaravans.
Comments
It's a funny old world we live in!
Freeloaders bring minimal benefit to Silves, are an eyesore, sponge on the facilities paid for by residents and, presumably, dispose of their excrement in the river.
I have no objection to travelling campers stopping for one night where there are no pay sites, but these are long term campers and in summer there are hundreds of them in the car park.
Time a 6 foot high bar was erected across the entrance/exit.
the motorhomers have really abused any goodwill they might have had by staying for long periods of time
...at least the caravanistas were asked just to 'move along' rather than being taken to court and charged.
Leaving vehicles parked up for the winter, if true, is not in the spirit of things. The FISSUL area is a car park, not a camp site. If Silves want campers there for free then it should build a facility and let them use if for free - no, I can't see that happening either.
Perhaps Silves Camara should pay the motorcaravaners to be there like Ryanair which bullies its destinations into paying per tourist under the heading of 'boosting your economy'.
Those people don't pay for the garbage. Only the citizens are paying taxes.
They take water from the fountains, discharge there waste in a illegal way.
The only benifits are for the swimmingpool because they can shower for a cheap price and for the supermarket on the other side of the road.
The official camping sites have a economical lost.
The president of a the official Dutch camperclub is furious because those wild campers don't respect any rules.
Chasing away is not the right solution. I indeed would see the benifit if the council charged some amount. At last they would have a income for the lost of funds.
Another solution is to allow new legal camper sites with the right conditions.
I wonder how many of these motor-homers will now not return to the algarve