Campervan strategy is needed for County Mayo

THE need to put in place a strategy for campervans in Mayo has been raised again by a local councillor.

Campervans, said Councillor Peter Flynn, are a reality of the tourism product of the whole country and the council has an obligation to set out how it is going to deal with this growth industry, whether privately or through the local authority.

There is no strategy, he told a meeting of Mayo County Council's tourism committee, and every summer there is 'chaos'.

Problems are persisting into the winter as private operators aren't open. Campervans were parking up at the Quay in Westport, he said, and given the length of their vehicles they were inevitably impeding access to the footpaths.

He had spoken before about aires - stopover facilities for campervans. Other councils had promoted them and they were working very well.

This was a real opportunity for Mayo and locations right around the county could benefit if facilities were put in place, said Councillor Flynn.

He didn't have all the answers but it was incumbent on them to come up with a strategy for the county.

Councillor Michael Kilcoyne agreed the matter needed attention. People were parking at the Quay as there was no accommodation for them.

Achill-based Councillor Paul McNamara said there is enormous traffic coming west from the east coast and facilities have to be provided for these people. It's not their fault if they arrive in a location and there's no place to park or dispose of waste.