A councillor in West Cork has warned campervan owners that the way they park at local beaches is “very, very dangerous”.
Lockdown saw a surge in the number of people buying campervans as - faced with international travel restrictions - many wanted to use them to explore Ireland.
In 2018 there were 11,200 in Ireland and by autumn 2020 that figure had risen sharply to 13,700.
However, while travellers may find them a convenient way to see the country, Fine Gael councillor Marie O’Sullivan says down in Cork they have become something of a nuisance:
“We welcome all tourists, any kind of tourism is very much welcome to West Cork,” Cllr O’Sullivan told Newstalk Breakfast.
“But the problem is that the beaches have become quite a danger area - especially at the weekends.
“Because I suppose people are so fortunate to have motorhomes they can go for the weekend, park up by the beach and, when people who are waiting all week to go to the beach with their children arrive to go the beach on a Saturday and Sunday, there’s no parking right next to the beach.
“And particularly in Garrylucas where they park alongside the footpath, it’s very, very dangerous because we all know with our own children that they don’t really look when they’re at the beach.
“So if you’ve campervans parked alongside the beach and a child runs out, oncoming traffic doesn’t see them.
“So it is becoming a danger issue at the beaches.”
Cllr O’Sullivan says this is not a new issue and suggested that campervan owners should park on the other side of the road:
“What we really want to do is appeal to the owners of the campervans,” she continued.
“If they could park at the other side of the road, leaving the beachside free for cars to park for when families arrive back… and just to make it safer for everybody.
“So everybody can enjoy the beach.”
Cllr O’Sullivan has asked the council to put up signage and hopes that will resolve the issue.
Main image: 25/07/2013. Camac Valley campsite. Campervans at the Camac Valley campsite off the N7 near Newland's Cross this afternoon. Photo: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
