West Cork needs more camper van sites as beaches 'congested'

A recent meeting of Cork County Council’s West Cork Municipal District heard regulation was needed in certain areas to limit the amount of time camper vans were allowed to stay

A recent meeting of Cork County Council’s West Cork Municipal District heard the issue needed to be addressed now ahead of the busy summer season as camper vans were increasingly taking up parking spaces in already congested town centres. File photo

Cork County Council needs to address the shortage of proper camper van sites in the area ahead of the next summer season, according to a local councillor.

The issue was raised by Independent Ireland councillor Daniel Sexton at the recent meeting of Cork County Council’s West Cork Municipal District. 

Mr Sexton said he was not against camper vans and welcomed the tourism business they bring to West Cork but there was a need for more properly serviced sites to accommodate them.

Mr Sexton said the issue needed to be addressed now ahead of the busy summer season as camper vans were increasingly taking up parking spaces in already congested town centres and being parked at beaches and other rural locations for long periods of time.

Mr Sexton said there were issues with camper vans making congestion worse at locations like Baltimore and Inchydoney and that the vehicles “do not belong in our town centres”. 

He said regulation was needed in certain areas to limit the amount of time camper vans were allowed to stay and that more serviced sites should be provided that camper van owners should be encouraged to use.

Fianna Fáil's Joe Carroll said camper van owners who were not from West Cork are often driving the vehicles down narrow roads that are not suitable and parking them overnight in small beaches and coves. 

He said there should be “no camper vans” signs erected in certain locations.

Executive officer Noreen O’Mahony said Cork County Council would take the comments of councillors on board and that the tourism directorate was currently looking at several locations with the potential to be developed for motor home parking. 

She said it was a “work in progress” and it was hoped that a proposal would be brought to councillors soon.

This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.