Efforts to stop motorhomes parking up at Cork beaches for months at a time
A meeting of the Bandon/Kinsale Municipal District Council heard holidaymakers are parking motorhomes and caravans at Garrylucas and Garretstown beaches, near Kinsale, for months at a time, especially during the summer. Stock Image.
Rogue motorhome and caravan owners are parking their vehicles at two popular Cork beaches for months at a time, with the situation now so severe the council is looking to introduce bylaws or use other legislation to move them on.
The caravans and campervans are being parked up at Garrylucas and Garretstown beaches, near Kinsale, for months at a time, especially during the summer - with some owners only occupying them occasionally.
Independent councillor Alan Coleman told a meeting of the Bandon/Kinsale Municipal District Council that 12 caravans were parked up and left at the two popular beaches over the summer months and that a couple still remain.
He said they are taking up valuable parking spaces on the beach fronts at Garrylucas and Garretstown, and “the locals are fairly agitated about it.”
“The ones that remain, to be honest, look an unsightly mess,” he said,
“It beggars belief that these people can take up primary parking spaces for the whole of the summer,” Fine Gael councillor Marie O’Sullivan said.
According to Social Democrats councillor Anne Bambury, the caravans and motorhomes are not only taking up car parking spaces, some are parking on footpaths, causing an obstruction for pedestrians.
She said they were also obstructing views of the beaches for older drivers who wanted to come in their cars to sit and enjoy the views.
Ms O’Sullivan, who chairs the municipal district council, said she had been in touch with local gardaí about the situation, but had been to
ld there is little gardaí can do without bylaws in place.
Mr Coleman then called on the council to introduce bylaws to ban the overnight parking of these vehicles.
It was pointed out that officials have erected signs in the areas already banning overnight tent camping.
Municipal district officer Brian Dunne said he is looking into the matter and takes the councillors’ concerns onboard.
He said the council is examining a section of road traffic legislation which could be used to stop caravans and motorhomes parking up for extended periods, but will also look at the introduction of bylaws.
Meanwhile, he said that cashless parking is now available in Kinsale with card and a mobile app and is expected to be introduced in Bandon in the coming months.
The council has introduced it in collaboration with a private company, Payzone, and it has already been rolled out in Youghal, Cobh, and Fermoy.
“The introduction of this cashless parking system is a significant step in enhancing the visitor experience in Co Cork. As Payzone operates across multiple counties in Ireland, visitors from other regions can use the same app to pay for parking,” Mr Dunne said.
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