Sutherland councillor Richard Gale hugely 'disappointed' after Highland Council blocks ban on motorhomes parking overnight in Durness and Golspie
Sutherland’s leading councillor has said he is hugely disappointed at the failure of his bid to ban motorhomes and campervans from parking overnight in two Highland Council car parks in the county.
Cllr Richard Gale, chairman of Sutherland County Committee, said there was widespread support for the ban, which was stymied last week by the council’s Administration.
He had put forward a motion to prevent these vehicles from using the council’s car parks at Golspie and Durness overnight under the Highland Campervan and Motorhome Scheme.
The move follows a large number of complaints over littering, dumping of waste and anti-social behaviour. It was hoped a ban would encourage camper vans and motorhomes to use nearby privately-run campsites with dedicated facilities.
Fellow Sutherland councillors backed the ban but they do not have the power to impose it without the support of other Highland councillors.
The motion was put forward for discussion at last Thursday’s full council meeting but was ruled to be in breach of standing orders by council convenor, Cllr Bill Lobban.
Cllr Gale said: “The issue of motorhomes had been discussed at a meeting on March 6, and under the standing orders it cannot be discussed again for six months.
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“I called for a suspension of standing orders to allow it to be debated, but the convenor proposed that there should be no suspension, so it went to a vote - you have to have the support of 66 per cent of the meeting.
“With the convenor proposing no suspension, the administration councillors fell in behind him so we lost the vote, and it wasn’t debated.”
Cllr Gale continued: “As motorhomes are discussed at some point at most meetings these days, it would be impossible to get my motion debated under standing orders. And, without the support of Administration councillors, it would be almost impossible to get past standing orders.
“However, I have to say that all the Sutherland councillors voted to suspend standing orders and I am grateful for their support.
“It is a great disappointment, as we had such strong support from across the Highlands.”
He added: “Such restrictions are already in place in other parts of the Highlands for example in Carrbridge where campervans are not allowed overnight parking in the carpark from 10pm until 8am, so it is a particular disappointment that this has been denied in Sutherland.”
