Cobh to provide state-of-the-art camper van site

A harbourside town in Co Cork is to become the first place in Ireland to create a state-of-the-art site for camper vans which will be governed by bylaws.

Council officials are preparing to create up to 30 bays at the special camper van location at the Five Foot Way near Whitepoint in Cobh, which has magnificent views of Cork harbour.

It’s the culmination of nearly two years work and the brainchild of a local councillor who founded the highly successful Cobh Animation Team, who dress up in period costume as part of tourist-attracting activities.

Cllr Claire Cullinane (Ind) saw the opportunity when well-heeled camper van owners from the continent started pulling up in the town to savour its outstanding history and panoramic views. She started engaging with them and asked what facilities should be provided which would allow the local authority to charge for occupancy of the bays.

“They said they wanted a secure site, which it is, and a proper facility to empty their toilets into and a water (supply) station. In addition to that we will be putting in an eco-friendly toilet at the site which will be solar-powered,” Ms Cullinane said.

“Unfortunately the toilet is unlikely to be ready until the end of September or maybe October.”

Council officials told a meeting of the county council’s local municipal district council that they expect the facilities to be ready by the end of May — in time for the main tourist season.

She said there was an international body which advises camper van owners of places of interest where they will be well catered for.

“We will be having an introductory weekend, free of charge for these people, and hope they will market the site through their own magazine and website,” Ms Cullinane said.

The county council will also putting up internationally-recognised signs on the approach roads to Cobh showing the availability of the facilities.

Senior council official Pádraig Lynch said they were finalising bylaws for the operation of the bays, saying they would be the first in the country to introduce them.

It has been decided that a pay-and-display introductory charge of €10 will be applied per overnight parking in the bays, with a probable 48-hour maximum limit for stays, although this might be extended.

Ms Cullinane said camper van visitors have told her that they would be willing to pay up to €25 per day for similar facilities in other countries. Mr Lynch said 20 bays were initially proposed for the facility, but they’d now been upped to 30.