Motorhome owners could ‘disappear to Europe’ – warning amid calls to expand facilities

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Over the summer holidays, thousands of Britons journeyed around the UK in a leisure vehicle, including a motorhome or campervan. As a result of the increased popularity of staycationers, many were critical of the lack of facilities for those with leisure vehicles.

The Campaign for Real Aires (CAMpRA) encourages spending in the local economy through the provision of motorhome and campervan aires.

Aires are frequently seen across Europe and act as short overnight stops for self-contained motorcaravans, generally between 24 and 48 hours.

No camping behaviour is allowed, so things like chairs, tables, awnings and barbecues are not allowed.

They are not bookable in advance and are usually close to town centres – unlike campsites.

So far, CAMpRA have been involved in setting up around 115 aires across the UK in the last year, with a further 50 more expected to be opened in the upcoming year.

Carolyn Mitchell, one of the leaders of CAMpRA, spoke about the need for better facilities for motorhome and campervan owners.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, she said: “It would be nice to think that we could, at some point in the next five to 10 years, be somewhere close to France.

“I mean I know we’re a lot smaller, I know we don’t have the land, I know we are more heavily populated.

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“This is why we keep trying to say to people, we’re not after free places, we just want safe places that we can park up overnight.

“We’re trying and we are getting there. We are in a very much stronger position than we were last year.”

There are almost 400,000 motorcaravans registered with the DVLA, together with an unspecified number of “vans with windows” – some of which are converted vans. 

Motorhome tourism is believed to be worth over £1billion to the UK economy.

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