A SCHEME designed to make money from visitors enjoying the Highlands via campervan or motorhome is falling far short of expectations.
Highland Council introduced a £40 voluntary fee – the Highland Campervan and Motorhome Scheme – primarily for those doing the North Coast 500 route, last summer after it was approved last February.
But the scheme – which allows motorhomes to park up overnight for free over a seven-day period in 12 car parks and allows holders to access leisure centres to wash and shower – was met with almost universal disapproval.
And a report going to the council’s corporate resources committee on Thursday shows just £20,000 has been realised against an annual target of £500,000.
The income figure comes just as the NC500 marks its 10th anniversary but the report adds "over-performance" of some other income-generating projects partially offsets the shortfall for the campervan scheme.
And the report states: “Work is ongoing to develop the communications and marketing strategy for this scheme.
“This strategy will go beyond just reach and engagement to include increased promotion of sustainable and responsible tourism across the Highlands to benefit our natural assets, the local environment and our communities.
“The project board is taking mitigating actions to increase the levels of income generated.”
The committee will also be told of an “urgent” need for better access to wastewater disposal sites, freshwater replenishment, and disposal of litter.
The report adds: “Preliminary work has been undertaken to review the potential of existing public conveniences owned by The Highland Council with access to mains sewage network.
“Supported by the respective community development managers, the project team will now engage through area business meetings in the coming weeks to discuss the potential sites in more detail.
“Engagement will include focus upon sustaining tourism in the local area.”
