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The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
It is time that campervan users are taxed off the NC500
Cross the Rockies from Calgary to Vancouver in Canada and the roads and campsites are absolutely full of them, mainly driven by overseas tourists with all the time in the world on their hands. Over there, they are very much welcomed, although there will undoubtedly be some grumbles from locals who are constantly stuck behind them, To be fair, the main road through the Rockies is pretty decent and there are plenty of places to overtake. But it is a very different situation in Scotland where campervans are treated as public enemy number one, particularly by people who live along the NC500. It is easy to understand why they are so controversial. For a start, the NC500 is not equipped to deal with campervans, particularly the famed Bealach na Ba from Lochcarron to the Applecross peninsula. It is a nerve-wracking series of hairpin bends straight up the hill and it is scary enough when you only have cars coming the other way to worry about. But despite signs at the bottom that state clearly the road is not suitable, many campervan drivers take the risk which is as stupid as it is selfish. It is not just the Bealach na Ba, though, where campervans are causing misery for locals, it is along the entire route - one which just isn't set up for such mass tourism with its sharp bends and single lanes. Glorious it may be but driving it comes with responsibility and that is where many campervan users let themselves down. To be blunt, locals have simply had enough of them and it is hard to argue against them. Read more Alan Simpson Last week, the Labour candidate for the Inverness & Nairn constituency at next year's Holyrood election proposed a tourist tax on campervans visiting the Highlands. Shaun Fraser said the roads 'cannot cope' with the huge increase in traffic in recent years. He said the move would form part of a 'fair and well–designed' visitor levy to help maintain roads and fund public services stretched by surging tourist numbers. The Highlands have seen a dramatic increase in motorhome tourism in recent years, with Highland Council estimating that nearly 36,000 campervans toured the region in 2022 alone. That has led to a surge in complaints about congestion, illegal overnight parking, and waste being dumped. Residents on the NC500 route have reported damaged verges, blocked passing places and overfilled bins during peak season. Highland Council estimates a 5% levy on overnight accommodation could raise £10 million a year — with that figure rising further if a charge on campervans is included. The council held a four–month public consultation on its draft scheme earlier this year and is now considering the feedback ahead of a full council vote. If approved, the levy could come into force by winter 2026 - the earliest permitted under legislation passed by Holyrood last year. That law, the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act, gives local authorities the power to impose a charge on overnight tourist stays and spend the revenue on services that support tourism. While the levy must be used to fund tourism–related improvements, critics have warned it must not be used to replace core funding lost through years of cuts. Scottish Labour has long supported the introduction of a visitor levy and backed the legislation at Holyrood. The party says councils should be empowered to design their own schemes and use the money to improve facilities for both residents and visitors. However, it was recently criticised by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who described it as a tax on 'ordinary working people'. Mr Fraser said: 'Initiatives such as the North Coast 500 have transformed the dynamics of Highland tourism, with a huge rise in campervans using rural single–track Highland roads. "Our roads cannot cope with this. It is a mixed blessing.' "Highland communities and local services must benefit from tourism. I support a fair and well–designed visitor levy and sensible measures to manage the impact of campervans. 'I would be open to looking at options attached to campervans, including number plate recognition to charge visiting campervans using Highland roads. I think that this should be considered.' While this may sound draconian, it is certainly well worth considering. Anyone who has driven the NC500, or at least parts of it, particularly in Wester Ross and Sutherland, can see the road is not suitable for such a vast amount of campervans. And with the rise of social media sites such as Instagram fuelling people's desires to get the best pics at beauty spots that regularly feature then the situation is not going to get any better. Any revenue raised that pays for better facilities and road improvements would be welcomed by pretty much everyone. For those put off by the levy, then they probably weren't the type to go and act responsibly anyway. Like everything else, it is not the campervans fault entirely, but the people who drive them and their passengers. They are to blame for the state of the place and there is absolutely no excuse for behaving like savages just because the area is beautiful but remote. They would be the first ones to complain if folk from the Highlands travelled down to their local park, left litter and human waste lying about and parked up on a path for days. Obviously, the good folk of the Highlands wouldn't dream of doing such a thing so why do people from urban areas think it's fair game? It is a good idea to tax them, in my opinion, in fact it should be extremely expensive so that it deters many people. Maybe training courses should also be mandatory, educating people on the right way to drive and behave generally when travelling on rural roads. Tourism is the main economic driver of the Highlands but it is in severe danger of becoming over-visited. It is no longer just a summer thing, but now lasts throughout the year thanks to initiatives such as the NC500. But there is a tipping point and we are probably nearly there already as many of the remotest areas become swamped and can no longer cope. Visitors all have a responsibility when they are on holiday and anything that can deter the irresponsible ones should be welcomed - by everyone.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Calls for campervan tax in the Scottish Highlands amid claims roads ‘can't cope' with traffic
Calls have been made for a campervan tax in the Scottish Highlands amid claims that roads 'cannot cope' with increased tourist traffic. A Scottish Labour candidate for Inverness and Nairn for next year's Holyrood election has floated the idea of a tourist tax that specifically targets campervans being driven in the area. The candidate, Shaun Fraser, said that roads can no longer handle the surge of traffic in the Highlands, much of which is on the popular driving route, the North Coast 500 (NC500). Tourists flock to the 516-mile 'superloop' each year to drive among some of Scotland's most magnificent scenery as it weaves past glens, mountains, castles and coastline. The NC500 follows the main roads along the coastal edges of the North Highlands of Scotland, through Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross, the Black Isle and Inverness-shire. Motorhome tourism has become popular along this route, with campervans making it easy to stop in off-grid locations with the essentials they need when shops or accommodation become scarce. The Highland Council estimated that nearly 36,000 campervans toured the historic and mountainous region in 2022 alone. However, with the surge in visitors has come an uptick in complaints from local residents over damaged verges, blocked passing spaces and overfilled bins, The Herald reported. Mr Fraser told the newspaper he wants to see a campervan tax introduced that would form part of a 'fair and well-designed' visitor levy to help maintain roads and boost public services. The Labour candidate continued: 'Tourism is a key aspect of the Highland economy, and it is important that we are sensitive the the introduction of such a scheme, but there has been a 65 per cent increase in tourist numbers since 2012 and local infrastructure has not kept up with these demands.' 'Initiatives such as the North Coast 500 have transformed the dynamics of Highland tourism, with a huge rise in campervans using rural single-track Highland roads. Our roads cannot cope with this. It is a mixed blessing.' 'I would be open to looking at options attached to campervans, including number plate recognition to charge visiting campervans using Highland roads.' Proposals for tourist taxes are not unheard of in the Highlands, as the Highland Council have already started a consultation process of introducing a visitor levy in the region. The Highlands are joined by Scotland's two major cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, in working their way through consultations to introduce a visitor levy. The Visitor Levy Act became law in September 2024, which allows councils in Scotland to tax overnight accommodation if they wish to do so. While Glasgow is still making its way through the consultation stage, Edinburgh voted in January to add a five per cent surcharge on visitors' overnight stays by 2026. The Highland Council's visitor levy proposal would also see a charge that would apply to overnight accommodation to improve infrastructure, such as roads and public toilets, that incur wear and tear due to tourism. With more than six million people visiting the picturesque Highlands annually, the Highland Council calculated the tax could bring in between £5m and £10m a year. If approved, the Highlands' tourist tax could also be implemented by 2026.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Calls for campervan tax in the Scottish Highlands amid claims roads ‘can't cope' with traffic
Calls have been made for a campervan tax in the Scottish Highlands amid claims that roads 'cannot cope' with increased tourist traffic. A Scottish Labour candidate for Inverness and Nairn for next year's Holyrood election has floated the idea of a tourist tax that specifically targets campervans being driven in the area. The candidate, Shaun Fraser, said that roads can no longer handle the surge of traffic in the Highlands, much of which is on the popular driving route, the North Coast 500 (NC500). Tourists flock to the 516-mile 'superloop' each year to drive among some of Scotland 's most magnificent scenery as it weaves past glens, mountains, castles and coastline. The NC500 follows the main roads along the coastal edges of the North Highlands of Scotland, through Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross, the Black Isle and Inverness-shire. Motorhome tourism has become popular along this route, with campervans making it easy to stop in off-grid locations with the essentials they need when shops or accommodation become scarce. The Highland Council estimated that nearly 36,000 campervans toured the historic and mountainous region in 2022 alone. However, with the surge in visitors has come an uptick in complaints from local residents over damaged verges, blocked passing spaces and overfilled bins, The Herald reported. Mr Fraser told the newspaper he wants to see a campervan tax introduced that would form part of a 'fair and well-designed' visitor levy to help maintain roads and boost public services. The Labour candidate continued: 'Tourism is a key aspect of the Highland economy, and it is important that we are sensitive the the introduction of such a scheme, but there has been a 65 per cent increase in tourist numbers since 2012 and local infrastructure has not kept up with these demands.' 'Initiatives such as the North Coast 500 have transformed the dynamics of Highland tourism, with a huge rise in campervans using rural single-track Highland roads. Our roads cannot cope with this. It is a mixed blessing.' 'I would be open to looking at options attached to campervans, including number plate recognition to charge visiting campervans using Highland roads.' Proposals for tourist taxes are not unheard of in the Highlands, as the Highland Council have already started a consultation process of introducing a visitor levy in the region. The Highlands are joined by Scotland's two major cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, in working their way through consultations to introduce a visitor levy. The Visitor Levy Act became law in September 2024, which allows councils in Scotland to tax overnight accommodation if they wish to do so. While Glasgow is still making its way through the consultation stage, Edinburgh voted in January to add a five per cent surcharge on visitors' overnight stays by 2026. The Highland Council's visitor levy proposal would also see a charge that would apply to overnight accommodation to improve infrastructure, such as roads and public toilets, that incur wear and tear due to tourism. With more than six million people visiting the picturesque Highlands annually, the Highland Council calculated the tax could bring in between £5m and £10m a year.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Labour and SNP call for Scottish Highlands campervan tax saying roads cannot cope with soaring number of tourists from across the world
Figures from Labour and the SNP are calling for a Scottish Highlands tax on campervans in a bid to raise cash and help maintain the area, as it is warned the country's roads cannot cope with an influx of tourists. The number of visitors to the Highlands has risen by 65 percent since 2012, and many of those visiting bring campervans as they tour the region. Some 36,000 campervans visited the Highlands in 2022, according to the local council, with many encouraged by the development of the North Coast 500, a scenic 500-mile route dubbed 'Scotland's Route 66'. A recent study by Glasgow Caledonian University found the 2015 project has boosted the local economy by £22 million a year, creating about 200 full-time jobs. But tensions have been rising in the Highlands as the area increases in popularity, with complaints from locals that campervan drivers clog up the roads and leave rubbish behind. Labour's Shaun Fraser, who will be standing as their candidate for Inverness and Nairn in the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, told the Telegraph: 'Initiatives such as the North Coast 500 have transformed the dynamics of Highland tourism, with a huge rise in campervans using rural single–track highland roads. Our roads cannot cope with this. It is a mixed blessing. The council already introduced a voluntary scheme for campervan drivers, who can now pay £40 for a week's pass which would give drivers access to local car parks and daily shower facilities 'Highland communities and local services must benefit from tourism. I support a fair and well-designed visitor levy and sensible measures to manage the impact of campervans. 'I would be open to looking at options attached to campervans, including number plate recognition to charge visiting campervans using highland roads. I think that this should be considered.' Current MSP for the SNP, Emma Roddick, separately called for campervan users to be included in a wider tourist tax being considered by the council. Highlands Council is currently deliberating whether to implement a five percent levy on overnight accommodation. It is said this could raise £10 million per year - and this figure could rise if campervans are included. The council already introduced a voluntary scheme for campervan drivers, who can now pay £40 for a week's pass which would give drivers access to local car parks and daily shower facilities. It is hoped the scheme will eventually raise £500,000. Frustrated locals previously called for an overnight parking ban due to the quantity of touring campervans in the region. Problems cited at the time included rubbish left behind, with the council's £40 scheme not providing waste disposal.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Scottish Highlands plots ‘campervan tax' amid huge rise in visitors
Campervan drivers face paying a tourist tax to drive through the Scottish Highlands because the roads 'cannot cope' with the number of visitors. Tensions have risen in recent years between locals and campervan drivers following a surge in motorhome tourists, with accusations they are clogging up roads and illegally dumping waste. The number of visitors to the Highlands has risen by 65pc since 2012 with nearly 36,000 campervans touring the region in 2022, according to the local council. The increase is in part down to the construction of the North Coast 500, a scenic 500-mile route around the north coast dubbed 'Scotland's Route 66', which has attracted tourists from around the world and led to a rise in visitors renting campervans to complete the drive. A study by Glasgow Caledonian University found the route, which was launched in 2015, has boosted the local economy by £22m a year, creating about 200 full-time jobs. However, Labour and SNP politicians are calling for campervan drivers to pay a levy to visit the area with some suggesting the council install cameras to track the registration plates of drivers to make sure they pay. Shaun Fraser, who is standing to be Labour MSP for Inverness and Nairn, said: 'Initiatives such as the North Coast 500 have transformed the dynamics of Highland tourism, with a huge rise in campervans using rural single–track highland roads. Our roads cannot cope with this. It is a mixed blessing. 'Highland communities and local services must benefit from tourism. I support a fair and well-designed visitor levy and sensible measures to manage the impact of campervans. 'I would be open to looking at options attached to campervans, including number plate recognition to charge visiting campervans using highland roads. I think that this should be considered.' It comes after Highland Council introduced a voluntary scheme last year whereby campervan visitors could pay £40 for a seven-day pass to park in some of the local authority's car parks with daily access to showering facilities. The initiative was shunned by tourists with the council forecast to raise £20,000 from the initiative in its first year despite setting a target of £500,000. Emma Roddick, of the SNP, has called for campervan visitors to be included as part of a wider tourist tax being considered by the council. The Highlands MSP said it was 'fair' that campervan drivers contributed to the 'preservation and maintenance of the areas they enjoy so much'. Highlands Council is currently reviewing whether to impose a 5pc charge on overnight accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs and holiday lets that it suggests would raise £10m a year, increasing further if campervans were included. The proposal has been met with fierce opposition from local business groups who fear the tax would put the area at a disadvantage to the rest of the UK and detract visitors. If approved, the levy could come into force by the end of next year, the earliest permitted under legislation passed by the Scottish government last year. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
