Rogue motorhome and caravan owners have 'taken over' public car park in East Cork

Councillors told the situation was generating foul odours and driving away tourists and shoppers

Rogue motorhome and caravan owners have effectively 'taken over' a public car park in Midleton, it has been claimed. Stock picture

Rogue motorhome and caravan owners have effectively "taken over" a public car park in Midleton, East Cork, with councillors claiming some vehicles have been abandoned for months and human and animal waste is being dumped in the area.

Members of Cork County Council's East Cork Municipal District were told the situation at Distillery Lane car park, beside the Midleton Distillery visitor centre, is generating foul odours and driving away tourists and shoppers.

Fianna Fáil councillor Ann Marie Ahern said she had been monitoring the site on an almost daily basis, and counted 11 motorhomes and two caravans parked there for up to six months.

She said one vehicle had its wheels jacked up, one was parked across two spaces, and others had been there so long they had flat tyres, with long grass growing up around them.

Ms Ahern said two caravans appeared to be “completely abandoned". 

Independent Ireland councillor John Buckley, a member of the local Tidy Towns group, said he recently counted 16 motorhomes and four caravans in the car park.

“It seems some people are sleeping in them. That’s the last thing we want to see. The smell down there is revolting. It’s turning people away from going there,” Mr Buckley said.

Mr Buckley later alleged human and pet waste was being dumped in the vicinity.

Ms Ahern questioned why parking by-laws had not been enforced at the free public car park, as signs clearly state there is a maximum parking limit of 48 hours.

“We’re coming up to Christmas, and I want to see increased footfall coming into Midleton. There’s a massive tourist hub at the distillery and this car park is not properly operable. We need to go after these vehicles,” Ms Ahern said.

She asked if newly appointed community wardens could use their powers to remove them, but was told by officials this was not within their remit.

Fine Gael councillor Rory Cocking described the situation as “farcical".

Officials said they could ask gardaí to take action against the owners.

Several councillors also argued the problem highlighted the need for a dedicated motorhome facility in East Cork.

Independent councillor Mary Linehan-Foley said there also been issues in Youghal with rogue motorhome and campervan owners.

Fine Gael's Michael Hegarty pointed to the success of the council-operated motorhome park in Cobh, which was the first municipal-owned one opened in the country. It provides parking, electricity, and waste disposal.

Mr Hegarty suggested the council owned a huge amount of land next to its municipal offices at Midleton Lodge, part of which could be opened as a motorhome park.

A written reply from council officials stated: "Awaiting the outcome of the national motorhome parking guidelines and will revert back to councillors if any work can be undertaken in the interim." 

Mr Hegarty said he was not happy with the response, adding: “For Christ’s sake it shouldn’t take a lot [to develop].”