Motorhome drivers to face new rules amid calls for a 'campervan tax'
The Scottish Government has been urged to introduce a new tax for motorhomes and campervans amid concerns over the popularity of the vehicles clogging up the roads
Motorhome and campervan owners could face a "mixed bag" of new rules, including a potential tax, according to experts. The Scottish Government is facing mounting pressure after it was revealed there are no current plans to introduce charges for motorhomes and campervans touring the North Coast 500 (NC500), one of the UK's most popular driving routes.
Thousands of holidaymakers embark on the very scenic 500-mile loop from Inverness each year, leading to calls for a campervan tax to help manage overcrowding. However, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes confirmed this week that there are "no plans to introduce a campervan tax".
Labour Party politician Shaun Fraser, who is standing to be MSP for Inverness and Nairn, has backed exploring "options attached to campervans, including number plate recognition to charge visiting campervans using Highland roads."
"Our roads cannot cope with this. It is a mixed blessing," Fraser said. Ms Forbes suggested that local councils could consider a discretionary approach, encouraging visitors to make a financial contribution towards maintaining the route.
This could ensure the NC500 continues to be enjoyed by motorhome and campervan enthusiasts for years to come, she added.
SNP MSP Emma Roddick has voiced her support for the inclusion of campervan tourists in any wider tourist tax, arguing that it's "fair" for drivers to contribute to the "preservation and maintenance of the areas they enjoy so much," reports Birmingham Live.
Highland Council could "consider alternative approaches" through their visitor levy plans, according to Ms Forbes.
She explained: "There are only five roads in and out of the Highlands, so it can't be that difficult to figure out who is travelling in, who is travelling out, and how you can work with people at that point to look at whether a financial contribution can be made."
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