Campervan chaos in Leitrim sparks call for dedicated parking facility

Concerns over campervans parking in the public car park at The Quays in Carrick-on-Shannon - causing obstruction and leaving rubbish behind - prompted a call for a municipally run caravan facility in the town.

Cllr Cormac Flynn proposed the motion, also requesting that similar sites be identified and developed in all urban or village settings currently lacking such facilities.

He noted that the campervan site at Lough Rynn is not financially self-sustaining, but argued that Carrick-on-Shannon has the potential to develop and operate a facility that could “at least wash its face” and possibly generate revenue.

Cllr Flynn described a recent incident where campervan users occupied the car park at The Quays, mainly used by shoppers, and left the area in disarray, with nappies, rubbish bags and other litter.

He also mentioned altercations between locals and campervan occupants, who, it is understood, were not holidaymakers.

Regardless, Cllr Flynn said the lack of a dedicated facility is inadvertently affecting genuine holidaymakers that want to come to Carrick-on-Shannon. 

Call for action on campervan occupying public spaces in Leitrim town

Cllr Maeve Reynolds and Cllr Cormac Flynn proposed similar motions regarding campervans occupying public parking spaces in Carrick-on-Shannon.

“The only way to get that balance is to develop a municipally run campervan facility to encourage holiday makers to come enjoy everything Carrick-on-Shannon has to offer, which is a lot,” he said.

His motion was seconded by Councillors Paddy Farrell, Sean McGowan and Maeve Reynolds.

Cllr Reynolds noted that the campervans are too large for standard car parking spaces, and are obstructing wheelchair users and people with buggies on the footpath.

“We do not want to be anti-campervan, we want all visitors coming to the town,” she said. “We need to address that campervans cannot park there and they need to start availing of the private facilities,” Cllr Reynolds added.

A response from the Roads department stated, “The development and operation of the existing campervan site at Lough Rynn is not financially self-sustaining and the development of further similar facilities will place a burden on Municipal District budgets. 

“This issue should be raised and considered at the Strategic Policy Committee level to include liaison with the economic development, tourism and the Town regeneration departments,” the response concluded.

READ MORE: Leitrim student takes gold at Journalism award