Consultation on Plans for Deer Leap
Mendip Hills National Landscape (formerly AONB) have launched a consultation about plans to develop the car park and surrounding area at Deer Leap. The consultation is open until the end of September. The proposed changes include some remodelling of the area around the car park to improve access and to help reduce anti-social behaviour. You can review the plans and respond to the consultation here.
Firstly I should declare an interest. I am a resident of Priddy and regularly visit the carpark above deerleap, my mothers ashes were spread there along with a holy tree and wooden bench seat in her memory. I also am a Motorhome owner, although I have never parked it there.
The growth in use of Motorhomes over the last decade has been significant. Sadly the tourist industry in England has not recognised this and tries to minimise their use by not only not providing suitable facilities but also by actively trying to prevent their use e.g. height barriers on numerous carparks. Elsewhere in Europe the situation could not be more diferent. France has “camping aires” in almost every town and small villages. They recognise that these tourists are just as valuable and bring income into their communities. Germany, Spain, Italy, Scandanavia etc have similar facilities. Even in Wales and Scotland many carparks allow overnight stays for 1 in 7 nights for either free or a reasonable charge. Only England seems to think that Motorhomers must be forced to use campsites which provide “at a cost” facilities we do not require.
Deer Leap currently is one of the few sites locally where you can park and stay overnight. The proposal to fit a height barrier will force Motorhomers to to park on our narrow lanes. How else can they visit Ebbor Gorge and Deer Leap. Those who currently use it rarely stay for more than a couple of nights. So what is the problem? Motorhoming is here to stay. We need to increase facilites for them ( charge them where appropriate), not reduce them.