Motorhome/Camper Van Parking & Services (‘Aire’)
Request: For the inclusion of a policy to promote the development of a Motorhome/Campervan service area in Abbeyfeale town, and to identify a site on the new Zoning Map.
The service area (known as “aires” across France and mainland Europe) would include overnight parking, grey water disposal points, chemical toilet disposal, fresh water supply and electric hook-up points, bins, all for a fee. Many municipal authorities across Europe include these facilities in public car parks to encourage tourists to stopover in small towns and contribute to the local economy.
Unlike holiday parks, “aires” are designed to attract passing tourists driving motorhomes into the town for a few hours or one night.
An example of this type of facility already exists in the car park at the Askeaton Leisure centre.
Reason: To encourage passing tourists to stop in Abbeyfeale and contribute to the local economy and enhance the vitality and viability of the town centre.
High volumes of tourism traffic heading Dublin - Kerry passes through the main street of Abbeyfeale on the N21. There is an opportunity to take advantage of this passing trade by providing facilities in the town to encourage some of the passing motorhomes to stop for an afternoon or a night, and to contribute to local businesses in the town centre. The Greenway is a new attraction that would encourage motorhomes to stop for a few hours/overnight.
I have travelled extensively in Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe in a campervan over the past 10 years and I have seen first-hand how these facilities attract passing tourists to stopover and contribute to the economy of smaller towns.
Background Evidence: There were 13,915 licensed motor-caravans (motorhome/camper vans) in the Republic of Ireland at the end of December 2020 and this represented an 8.77% increase on the previous year, and a 35% increase over the previous 5-year period since 2015. (Source: Dept. of Transport, Tourism, and Sport - "Irish Bulletin of Vehicle and Driver Statistics 2020").
A further 4749 motor-caravan were licensed in Northern Ireland (Dept. for Transport Statistical Office).
This demonstrates a growing demand for facilities.