Holidaymakers in campervans are reaping the benefits of free facilities while stopped overnight at a Highland beach – while local people are forced to pay for parking.
Oban-based councillor Roddy McCuish wants the local authority to either find a way of appropriately charging them, or keeping them out.
A sign at Ganavan, a popular public beach in Oban, clearly states “No overnight parking” however the rule is regularly being flouted with motorhomes parking up for the evening and leaving first thing in the morning.
Councillor McCuish said: “Campervans are coming in at night, parking up and getting water and electricity for free at the newly refurbished £25,000 public toilets.
“The local people of Oban have to pay for parking at Ganavan which was very controversial when it was introduced and now these campervans are coming in at night and staying there for nothing.
“It is also detrimental to the official sites in Oban.
“We either have to find a way of charging them the appropriate price or stopping them from getting in there at nights. They are taking up the best views at the front overlooking the sea and some of them are so big they are taking up more than one bay.”
Mike Tye, owner of Roseview Caravan Park at Glenshellach, Oban, said: “Something definitely has to be done about it. It’s happening all the time now, there is nothing restricting them from doing it.”
A spokeswoman for Argyll and Bute Council said: “Whilst people are welcome to park their vehicles at Ganavan, there must be no residential use of the car park between the hours of 11pm and 7am. We have issued fixed penalty notices in this area, but it can be very difficult to prove that someone has actually slept in their vehicle overnight.
“We will continue to monitor the car park and carry out patrols. Regarding use of the toilets, these are public toilets and are open to everyone.”
Protests were held at Ganavan and a petition was launched when the council moved to introduce parking charges there.
The beach was gifted to the town in 1927 and locals believe there was a condition attached that no charges should be made for using the area.