Firsthand Experience: What It’s Like To Own A Camper Van On An Island Surrounded By Disapproval
A camper van owner has given their firsthand experience on what it’s like to own one on an island which has very little to no tolerance for them – while navigating the enforcement of a recent law.
A few weeks back, a new law was enacted, aimed at regulating camper vans in Malta due to the growing issues of land takeover and taking up space for months on end – if not years.
The new legislation states that a permit needs to be acquired prior to taking the camper van to a new location, to be approved by the local council in question.
But how has this new law really affected owners?
“I am a camper van owner and I was very happy with the legislation issued in Malta on 1st July, which was supposed to regularise abuse, eliminate public land squatting and issue permits for legalised camping,” the owner, who forms part of the Malta Camping Club, told Lovin Malta.
“However as soon as the legislation came into force, it resulted not only in the rightful enforcement of abuse, but in the near total elimination of camping by camper vans and caravans for the whole four months of summer and possibly more.”
The owner continued to explain that the issue mainly revolves around the fact that when an individual applies for a permit, it results in one of the following outcomes:
“A permit is denied, as that local council does not want any camping in its jurisdiction.”
“A permit is issued if there is space in the very limited area designated (between one space to 20 spaces) depending on the locality.”
“The permit issued is in very limited and restricted sites.”
“Individuals like us, who have always considered ourselves as environmentalists, and value immensely the interaction of being connected to nature, are totally against abuse and in favour of a proper legislation,” they continued.
“However we have been robbed of our lifestyle, we cannot camp not even for a night all of summer, nowhere near a beach, even if it is in deserted or rocky areas, where bathers do not frequent much and even if its’ a parking space where other commercial vehicles or other normal cars park.”
“Most of us (thousands) are not protesting or honking horns because we do not want to associate ourselves with those caravans who squatted on public land and abused the system and further validate the hatred perpetuated by the media.”
“However we are deeply hurt by the way the government is unjustly punishing everyone instead of tackling the abuse and without any consultation,” they sustained.
“There are thousands of registered camper vans in Malta, for which the government had no problem with charging 50% registration tax on, generally averaging between €8,000 to €15,000 or more per van.
“The government has pocketed millions from our hobby. They did not have a problem collecting this considerable amount of tax from us, but now they have a problem with us using them. ”
“While our hard earned savings that we have invested in our vans, most of us over €20,000 each are sitting in parking spaces on the street or in a garage.”
On top of all that, camper van owners can currently only use the van near the coast for up to four hours without a permit, and if not, people have been fined up to €100 each.
They continued to say that they are currently pleading to the government to amend the legislation and to enforce cooperation by local councils, so that when an individual applies and pays for a permit, an actual permit is issued and we are pleading for the issuing of permits for wild camping as this was never the problem.
“Governments have over the years been incompetent when it comes to enforcement and instead of using the citizens and their hobbies to create sustainability, they continue to use fragmentation.”
“This is not only about camper vans or caravans, this is the case with a lot of hobbies like camping, downhill and trail biking, enduro bikers, and many others who cannot practice their hobbies due to the environment, which is totally understandable, but the crucial need to create alternative areas to do so is not being addressed.”
They appealed that the management of common resources entails managing the interests and needs of different stakeholders and not excluding some stakeholders from that use.
“There is limited space for all people with everyone’s’ diverse and relevant hobbies to enjoy themselves on this tiny island, instead of working together to find solutions and create sustainable spaces, governments continue to take decisions which fragment society, create anger and hate between groups of people and take decisions without consulting the stakeholders which are ultimately us the citizens.”
“In the meantime, there are over a dozen hotels and a larger number of restaurants and lidos who have been given our coast, the people’s land, for privatisation. But that is all undisputed, in the name of a thriving economy which is ultimately killing the golden goose.”
They also added that wild camping was never the problem, and they wish they could have it back, even with a permit.
“We wish we could have wild camping back, even if we have to do a permit (although technically speaking a camper van is a vehicle like all others and it’s just an extra tax), but we are willing to do a permit and pay for it.”
What do you make of this reality?
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