Campervan plan for Laois to be unveiled next month

A NEW policy to promote campervan facilities across Laois is being developed, amid complaints about a severe shortage of motorhome sites for tourists.

With campervan travel booming, Laois Co Council is developing a policy regarding the provision of serviced sites, with details due to come before councillors this September.

The plans were outlined at the council’s latest monthly meeting, after Cllr Marie Tuohy said that Laois was “missing a trick” by failing to respond to the surge in this type of travel. She said: “We are being left behind on the great campervan adventure.” 

Cllr Tuohy asked the council to commission a feasibility report into ‘the potential and prospects for a dedicated motorhome/camping facility in the county, exploring the possibilities, partnerships and location for such an amenity, in light of the huge demand and popularity of this tourism sector’.

Director of Services Angela McEvoy replied that a lot of work has already been done on the issue and a policy document will be presented to councillors at an upcoming meeting.

Ms McEvoy said that she visited and met the manager of the Barrow Valley Activities Hub in Graignamanagh, on the Carlow/Kilkenny border, together with Regina Dunne, who is EU Just Transition Fund tourism activator for Laois.

She said: “The Hub has fantastic facilities and we’d like to replicate that. We are looking at a number of locations and we also have consultants looking at this. They might bring fresh eyes on the county to see the locations we are missing.” 

According to the council, the policy document ‘seeks to outline the current gap in facilities for motorhome tourism in Laois, to develop a policy and encourage facilities and identify dedicated motor home aires or service areas to attract and accommodate this tourism sector’.

The county council is also looking at the possibility of parking for motorhomes, caravans and tourist vehicles, food facilities and a visitor centre on council land, to the front of the Donaghmore Agricultural Museum near Rathdowney. It recently applied for funding from Fáílte Ireland to carry out a feasibility study.

There are already limited campervan facilities in the county, which include the Making Tracks glamping site in Ballybrophy and The Forum hostel in Mountmellick. A tent campsite called Ruth’s Garden opened in July at Woodenbridge, beside the River Erkina near Ballacolla and there are plans to add some campervan parking at the site next year.

A planning application has also been lodged for a serviced campervan site in Timahoe village, containing six campervan aires and two short stay accommodation pods. A decision on planning permission is due by 6 October.

In a detailed speech supporting her proposal, Cllr Tuohy said: “Camping and motorhomes have always been popular but they have taken off especially since lockdowns and the renewed emphasis on nature and holidaying at home.” 

While she praised the work of MidlandsIreland and Fáilte Ireland, she said: “Unfortunately, we are missing a trick here in Laois when it comes to tapping into the booming market for motorhome and campervan visitors.” 

She agreed with the positive assessment of Barrow Valley Activities Hub, a collaboration between the community and the county council which is worth an estimated €1.5m a year to the local economy. She felt there was great scope in Laois for similar facilities, especially in the context of regenerative tourism.

Cllr Tuohy noted that there are 21,600 registered motorhomes in Ireland, according to latest CSO figures. That figure would increase tenfold if the UK market were included, not to mention visitors from continental Europe.

She said: “The council can act as a catalyst. It can support, it can partner with others and provide such an amenity here in Laois, identify suitable locations and finally put the county on the motorhome map for Irish, UK and European visitors."

Seconding the proposal, Cllr James Kelly said: “We have to have proper facilities. We can’t have them pulling in to the side of the road. This has to be a private enterprise and the council will point them in the direction of funding.” 

Cllr Tommy Mulligan commented: “We have got to make this happen. We are at the crossroads of Ireland and we are doing a disservice to the county by not having these facilities in place.” 

The proposal got unanimous approval, with Cathaoirleach Cllr Barry Walsh and councillors John King and Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley also speaking in support.

A council document on the issue will come before a special policy committee (SPC) meeting in September, before it is presented to a full county council meeting.