The current situation where caravanners use public spaces in which to park for free came to a head in Silves this February when the local GNR expelled a group of caravanners and their vehicles from the public carpark by the river.
The mayor commented at the time, "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.”
Encouraged by the town hall the caravanners returned, only to be expelled again by the GNR who were responding, it was alleged at the time, to complaints from locals.
A February debate on this topic in Castro Marim drew over 200 interested people contributing to topics such as the inadequacy of parking spaces, security problems, motorcaravanning as part of tourism development in the region and its positive effect on seasonality.
Another issue addressed in the Castro Marim debate was a CCDR-Algarve report on the creation of support structures for motorcaravanners and the importance of the 2008 legislation that already has enabled the construction of 12 dedicated motorcaravan parking areas in the Castro Marim area alone.
Overall in Castro Marim it was seen as a positive move to create a regional network of caravan parks with infrastructure for the supply of water and sewage discharge. Therew as noi agreement actually to do anything, just to agree it was a good idea if someone did something.
The debate on the future of caravans in the Algarve is scheduled Friday, 11th July, at 21:00 pm at the Teatro Mascarenhas Gregório in Silves.
It remains to be seen whether re-running the debate in Silves, just five months after the Castro Marim debate, will add anything that has not already been discussed.
Comments
At least I stuck to subject matter.
Goodness! I had to check that i hadn't wandered into the Oxford Uni debating society by mistake. thanks for that reasoned argument. i have a lady parked in a camper on my land at the moment, and now I see I have been misjudging her all along.
interesting use of comma spacing as well there in algarveandroid's contribution, as well as the Daily Mail advanced persuading technique of putting the most important points in upper case. you should learn to spell "areas" though, it kind of takes the wind out of your argument. John in Lagos, if you were commenting about caravans and regulated sites, then it would boost your credibility no end if you had spelled at least one of those words correctly
Are u talking about yourself? You've made a perfect description indeed!
The modern motorhomer , is shy at paying for anything after their transport , this is where the problem arises for those decent somewhat seen to be a minority of the like.
The solution is to tar all wit the same brush , create AIRES for overnights only and just off the A22 , which would have a positive affect on use of the a22.
At any one time , especially so during off season , the legal parks are suprisingly empty , which proves the point that the majority dont move nor wish to pay a daily rate for parking up and using the services.
They actually supply very little to the local economy , maybe some shopping at lidl and aldi , so it serves the local and national govts own interests to make these AIres like the French have on their TOLL roads.Another Alternative use is the Algarve stadium.
And if these Motor homes /caravans are found to be parking on unragulated sites they should be fined..