Hostile policy is keeping motorhomes away from Galway city

Galway city, the tourism capital of the West of Ireland, is implementing planning policies that are openly hostile to motorhomes, an industry estimated to be worth €3.3 billion annually in Europe.

Galway’s ‘céad míle fáilte’ no longer extends to the operators of motorhomes and camper vans, who have been banned from Galway Harbour following a directive by the planning office at Galway City Council. The Council has told the Harbour Board to stop allowing motor caravans from parking on their premises at the Docks.

The Harbour Company had installed ‘charge points’ that facilitated electricity and water to campervans. The points attracted motorhome tourism to the city, and provided a revenue stream for the Harbour Company. But the recent ban on parking campervans at the harbour, has caused disquiet among local politicians and representatives of users of motorhomes.

Colin McCarthy, Honorary Secretary of Phoenix Motorhome Club of Ireland, has raised concerns about the policy with officials at City Hall and elected representatives.

Labour Party City Councillor, Niall McNelis, says it is “complete nonsense” to ban motorhomes from the docks, and he called for a reversal of the policy.

In a letter to planners, Mr McCarthy said: “Since demands were made on Galway Harbour Company to cease providing parking for motor caravans there is now no off-street, 24-hour parking place for motor caravans within the city of Galway. Such a situation is clear discrimination against those who use such vehicles as their mode of transport, vehicles which are taxed, insured and roadworthiness tested.

For more, read this week’s Connacht  Sentinel.