Campsites to reopen

[Okta]

I hope Prof. V-T persuades the Government. However I wish the reporters would stop misusing the word “staycation” because that is what many are already doing, staying at home and taking days out. It makes taking UK holidays sound like a second choice last resort holiday.

 

[Fisherman]

My biggest concern is that a sudden large increase in numbers of ‘learners’ who may behave improperly in terms of parking discretely, setting up camps and worst of all if a proportion of them act as badly as many seem to have done at resorts and beauty spots, then our future access and our standing in the eyes of the public could be damaged, more than it currently is.
At least in the past our numbers have grown steadily but probably organically and newcomers can see good practice as they get more experienced in their initial years.

Davy

Yes Davy I completely agree, that an already poor situation could become worse.
Particularly if the hired vans become more numerous, these are mainly driven by folk with little knowledge of how to behave.
But of course many of the issues that may result from this are due to the draconian measures already taken,
reducing significantly the amount of spaces available.

 

[zzr1400tim]

Yes Davy I completely agree, that an already poor situation could become worse.
Particularly if the hired vans become more numerous, these are mainly driven by folk with little knowledge of how to behave.
But of course many of the issues that may result from this are due to the draconian measures already taken,
reducing significantly the amount of spaces available.

@ Fisherman I agree with you and Davy. I have a few pitches booked at a site late July in Cornwall. One mate has pulled out because his missis is one of the scared ones about the covid crap. I am keeping the "vacant" pitch open until the last minute hoping that I can find someone to take it.. (I reckon that "staycation" pitches will be in very high demand this year)

 

[jeffmossy]

The cruelty may be that campsites will open - no thanks, not for us they'll be too crowded, but wilding will still be banned. Wouldn't make sense but what has?

I am in constant contact with Littleborough Rugby Club and as soon as we get the go off the Government we should be able to have a meet within 3 weeks . it might be subject to social distancing and other measures but we will have a grass pitch and plenty of space between vans , at least we can get out and hopefully sit out in the sunshine

 

[barge1914]

Yes Davy I completely agree, that an already poor situation could become worse.
Particularly if the hired vans become more numerous, these are mainly driven by folk with little knowledge of how to behave.
But of course many of the issues that may result from this are due to the draconian measures already taken,
reducing significantly the amount of spaces available.

Yes, we are forever bewailing the poor impression caused by hire motorhomes whose occupants are entirely ignorant that there is any etiquette or indeed any social responsibility to be observed, or the effect their behaviour will have on Public perceptions of motorhomers. I found a similar situation to exist regarding hire boats on canals both in UK and Europe. They are completely ignorant in this respect, to a large degree because the Hire Companies provide them with no such information or guidance beyond the rudimentaries of how things work on the vans.

Perhaps it is time that groups such as ours should be writing to and putting pressure on hire companies concerning this. Certainly there would be some merit in such companies in turn being persuaded not only to provide better guidance but also to put pressure on or even support local authorities to provide proper facilities for motorhomes. After all in the absence of this their activities, and ours, can be expected to be increasing constrained as time goes by. Local authorities in rural France for example are by no means unaware of the value of hire boat visitors to their local economies...or indeed motorhomes...as is evidenced by the considerable improvements in facilities in France for both boats and motorhomes that have been in evidence in that country over the last two decades.

 

[zzr1400tim]

Yes, we are forever bewailing the poor impression caused by hire motorhomes whose occupants are entirely ignorant that there is any etiquette or indeed any social responsibility to be observed, or the effect their behaviour will have on Public perceptions of motorhomers. I found a similar situation to exist regarding hire boats on canals both in UK and Europe. They are completely ignorant in this respect, to a large degree because the Hire Companies provide them with no such information or guidance beyond the rudimentaries of how things work on the vans.

Perhaps it is time that groups such as ours should be writing to and putting pressure on hire companies concerning this. Certainly there would be some merit in such companies in turn being persuaded not only to provide better guidance but also to put pressure on or even support local authorities to provide proper facilities for motorhomes. After all in the absence of this their activities, and ours, can be expected to be increasing constrained as time goes by. Local authorities in rural France for example are by no means unaware of the value of hire boat visitors to their local economies...or indeed motorhomes...as is evidenced by the considerable improvements in facilities in France for both boats and motorhomes that have been in evidence in that country over the last two decades.

Agreed. The hire boaters are a nightmare. Its not entirely their fault. They only get a short bit of tuition before being let on the water.

 

[Fisherman]

Yes, we are forever bewailing the poor impression caused by hire motorhomes whose occupants are entirely ignorant that there is any etiquette or indeed any social responsibility to be observed, or the effect their behaviour will have on Public perceptions of motorhomers. I found a similar situation to exist regarding hire boats on canals both in UK and Europe. They are completely ignorant in this respect, to a large degree because the Hire Companies provide them with no such information or guidance beyond the rudimentaries of how things work on the vans.

Perhaps it is time that groups such as ours should be writing to and putting pressure on hire companies concerning this. Certainly there would be some merit in such companies in turn being persuaded not only to provide better guidance but also to put pressure on or even support local authorities to provide proper facilities for motorhomes. After all in the absence of this their activities, and ours, can be expected to be increasing constrained as time goes by. Local authorities in rural France for example are by no means unaware of the value of hire boat visitors to their local economies...or indeed motorhomes...as is evidenced by the considerable improvements in facilities in France for both boats and motorhomes that have been in evidence in that country over the last two decades.

Yes I agree, but the problem with our pastime is we are controlled by organisations who’s only motive is profit, and even do their utmost to portray us in a poor light, as indicated by the letter in last months CCC ragazine. The big two would love to see us banned completely their short sightedness is breathtaking. They think if some draconian law was passed that we would all head for their campsites. Well speaking for myself, I would be looking for a buyer to take my now motorised caravan of my hands. And I believe many would do likewise. Just think of the damage this would do to those employed in the industries supporting and supplying our pastime.
The hiring is normally done by the very people we buy our vans from, they should know better. My supplier last year rented out a Motorhome to a couple who put diesel into the water tank, causing over £10,000 pounds worth of damage. I dread to think what would have happened If they had turned on the hot water with a boiler now filled with diesel. This kind of thing is avoidable, but when your only motive is profit this kind of thing is always going to happen.
Then of course the behaviour of people with limited knowledge of their vehicles, and how to behave out and about only makes matters worse for us all.

 

[runnach]

In defence of the dealers handing vehicles over, people are that giddy it goes in one ear and out the other. It is a perennial problem within the industry,

It’s not the first time either the issue raised on this forum ...as an example

Wildcamping How To Guide 2012

I have just been reading through our 16 page wildcamping guide. unfortunately this contains a lot of info and discussion rather than being a guide. I want to have a guide on here for people to read, so I am starting a new thread and I will ask people to add one suggestion per post. you can make...

wildcamping.co.uk

One of the original ideas was a booklet commissioned and given to the rental companies that folk can read take with them on their travels

Naturally after this time elapsed ideas would need an update, production costs possibly covered. By advertising revenue from our partnersv

Any takers? Not something I could commit to nowadays unlike the past

 

[barryd]

I am in constant contact with Littleborough Rugby Club and as soon as we get the go off the Government we should be able to have a meet within 3 weeks . it might be subject to social distancing and other measures but we will have a grass pitch and plenty of space between vans , at least we can get out and hopefully sit out in the sunshine

Good idea. Perhaps sounding out several rally fields at locations around the UK for exclusive use by members might be a good idea

 

[yorkieowl]

My supplier last year rented out a Motorhome to a couple who put diesel into the water tank, causing over £10,000 pounds worth of damage.

£10,000!!!! I’d love to know where they get these extortionate figures from, - oh yes it would be an insurance job, now whose the robber. (And in this case it sure ain’t the insurance company).

 

[The laird]

Probably charged for loss of rental if he had to wait on a new water tank etc ?

 

[yorkieowl]

Ah,

Probably charged for loss of rental if he had to wait on a new water tank etc ?

Ah didn’t think of that! Yes that would make a lot more sense.

 

[Fisherman]

£10,000!!!! I’d love to know where they get these extortionate figures from, - oh yes it would be an insurance job, now whose the robber. (And in this case it sure ain’t the insurance company).

Well think about it, the Truma 6Kw boiler alone is £3,000, then you have the tank, all of the plumbing in the van,Taps, shower fittings etc.
And I would think the labour time would have been great.

 

[antiquesam]

Me thinks you're thinking these people will automatically do the proper job and not just flush the system through and hope the next hirer thinks the funny taste is normal for tanked water.

 

[Fisherman]

Me thinks you're thinking these people will automatically do the proper job and not just flush the system through and hope the next hirer thinks the funny taste is normal for tanked water.

Me thinks yer jist an auld cynic Sam

 

[yorkieowl]

Well think about it, the Truma 6Kw boiler alone is £3,000, then you have the tank, all of the plumbing in the van,Taps, shower fittings etc.
And I would think the labour time would have been great.

Wouldn’t have thought it got through to all pipes/taps etc before they realised what they’d done, anyway still think it’s excessive.

 

[Fisherman]

Wouldn’t have thought it got through to all pipes/taps etc before they realised what they’d done, anyway still think it’s excessive.

I was told it did, they had to replace all of the pressurised and drainage pipes.
It took two of their men three days to sort it all out.
thats 48 man hours at say £70 an hour or whatever they charge.

 

[Asterix]

I hope Prof. V-T persuades the Government. However I wish the reporters would stop misusing the word “staycation” because that is what many are already doing, staying at home and taking days out. It makes taking UK holidays sound like a second choice last resort holiday.

Isn't it a second choice?, most of the arrogant misbehaved oiks usually go to Benidorm and the like,now we'll have to put up with them for the summer instead of the Germans.

 

[2cv]

Admittedly it’s the DM, but this article suggests that campsites may not be allowed to open on July 4th because of shared facilities.

 

[Okta]

Surely the answer would then be to open the sites but keep the shared facilities closed, I do not intend to use them anyway. Neither of the sites I have booked for July have facilities.