'They’re all over the world, but we have none here': Motorhome park considered for Cork city visitors

Cork City Council is to commission a feasibility study in to setting up caravan facilities in the city centre.

The local authority said that they are “committed to exploring opportunities for the provision of high-quality, short-term stay motorhome infrastructure in appropriate locations, providing greater choice and encouraging visitors to Cork city”.

They are procuring consultant services to prepare a feasibility study “to establish the criteria required to develop a motorhome stopover site, identify suitable Cork City Council-owned sites to be considered for development and identify related opportunities and requirements”.

It is expected that this will be completed by quarter three, and will inform next steps in the delivery of a suitable facility, at which point it will be brought to the council’s international relations and tourism strategic policy committee for consideration.

Sinn Féin councillor for the northwest ward Kenneth Collins, to whom the response was provided following a motion on the topic, told The Echo that these sites would be great for the city.

“We should have these in all four corners of the city: North, south, east and west. They’d bring more footfall and tourists to Cork city.

“There’s currently nowhere for these caravans or mobile homes to park up; they’re all over the world, but we have none here.”

The investment to set up the park would pay off in terms of tourism revenue, and he also suggested solar panels could be incorporated to help provide electricity.

Mr Collins welcomed the council response, but said he had been hoping for a better timeline: “If they’re saying Q3, that’s the end of the summer before the report is done, so there will be nothing actually done until next year, but it’s good to see there’s progress being made.”