2nd class members
Seems to me that us contributors on this forum are classed as 2nd class. Letter below appeared on Facebook
The Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club has sent an open letter to the Chief Medical Officer, we've copied it below
Open letter to Chief Medical Officer, United Kingdom
Dear Professor Whitty
The Caravan and Motorhome Club represents a million members and operates the largest network of campsites in the UK. The Club has been in existence since 1907 and has over 200 Club operated locations and a further 2,300 smaller sites (Certificated Locations) operated mostly by farmers and small rural businesses. This means that holiday makers do not have to travel large distances to find a campsite, on average there is a site every 20 square miles.
In normal circumstances visitors to these sites spend some £700,000,000 pa in rural communities. However our members can follow their leisure activity in a self-contained manner, with all of their own supplies and amenities within their outfit, thereby having a low impact on the area they visit. The average party size of our members is 2.7 people from the same household and on average they stay for a few days at a time.
It has been heartening to see the recognition from Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, and Professor Van-Tam that careful thought and consideration is being given to the resumption of outdoor holidays.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club is liaising with Visit Britain, Tourism Alliance and other campsite operators to ensure best practice operating, cleansing and safety protocols are developed to ensure we are COVID Secure when we are able to reopen campsites. In fact the Club and its sites network was already operating with adapted protocols to observe social distancing guidelines, reduced common areas and increased cleaning of all shared facilities pre lockdown and closure.
Be assured we are closely following all relevant Government and public health bodies advice and guidance to adapt or update our processes on site, which currently provide for:
vehicle pitches already spaced at least 6m apart, thus inherently enabling family groups to maintain current social distancing guidelines
rigorous cleaning of all communal areas and we will increase the number of times they are cleaned, in particular the significant touchpoints and limit the amount of people who can use the amenities at any one time
contactless check-in and clear markings on the floor in and near communal areas to ensure all visitors to our campsites can easily maintain distancing guidelines while enjoying their holiday
communal areas (water, waste and refuse points etc) will be subject to a queue system in line with the current social distancing guidance of 2m distance. This will be marked on the floor
Club restaurants, bars, swimming pools, games rooms and social areas will remain closed until otherwise advised. Mobile (take away) catering units will be available on some sites with social distancing rules in place while queueing
Information provided to site visitors to remind them of social distancing whilst visiting local amenities
The benefits of outdoor holidays were highlighted in a recent report from the UK Caravan and Camping Alliance, which concluded health and wellbeing had improved for visitors who reported doing more exercise and feeling more relaxed while on a holiday park or campsite.
The same report also confirms that holiday parks and campsites around the UK support 171,448 full-time employees so not only are touring holidays hugely beneficial for individual wellbeing, they are a significant contributor to local economies and wider UK economy.
As a responsible members club we actively encourage Club members to adhere to the Caravan Code which ensures their vehicles are in good repair with particular attention is paid to those sections of the Highway Code relevant to trailer caravans. The club also reminds members to observe the Countryside Code relating to water, cleanliness, fire dangers, litter, public paths, gates, control of dogs, damage to crops, hedges, walls, trees and plants, livestock and wildlife.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club firmly believe that the touring industry is well placed to ably support the Governments need to maintain its COVID-19 social distancing measures, provide reassurance to local communities with responsible behaviour and aid economic recovery, by reopening its sites at the earliest possible date.
I and my colleagues would very much welcome the opportunity to offer our experience and support on touring and camping to further inform Government and Public Health Authorities in these unprecedented times.
With our warmest regards,
Nick Lomas
Director General, Caravan and Motorhome Club
Comments
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The plot thickens. See 'When Lockdown Ends', Pathfinder.
Second class, indeed!
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It's bad enough noting that it appears on FB before here. It's worse still when you see it was shared to FB from Practical Caravan.
This is from the club website news on Coronavirus guidance,
"Keep up to date with the latest advice from Public Health England about the Novel Coronavirus"
The last news was on the 11th may
So yes, it does appear that we are second class
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Really? Come on, PD, you're being a bit dramatic there🤣
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Full marks to the club for sending such a well considered letter with eminently sensible proposals. HOWEVER! This follows questions by the press now on 2 occasions at the daily press conference and this should have been sent to all members, no excuses. If all the supermarkets and other retailers i use can send out regular updates with changes to their response to Covid, then clearly the tech exists to enable the CAMC to follow suit. However i am intrigued to know if the CCC have sent a similar lobbying letter?
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What a fuss some are making. This was a letter to Prof. Whitty. It tells us nothing at all except that the there is some communication (possibly one directional at the present) between the CAMC & government.departments. I for one could wait until there is some communication back which may contain something approaching news!
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Desperation creates desperate people Tinster🤢🤢🤮. . .Eewwwww
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The club cannot have it both ways, if we are customers then why are we paying a ‘membership’ fee?! they talk about members, so treat us accordingly. I agree the letter is part of a process however i still believe the ‘club’ should be demonstrating to its ‘customers’ or members how they are being proactive. For an organisation whose very survival and existance depends on the reopening of sites, they simply do not give out the right message, ie ‘the club is working hard and engaging with Visit England/UK, the wider industry, PHE and so on to reopen sites ASAP in a safe manner for staff and visitors’ - or some such wording - and tell us what they are doing. I get a twice weekly update from my employer, i am daily updating my director and others on impact of C19 on my sector. Twittersphere is on fire with ‘stuff’, Its not difficult!!
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A message about our financial services products
was just wondering how many people received an email on this topic from the club, mine arrived yesterday, have skipped through it but cant see that we are going to get much by way of refunds for the various insurances the club provide.
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Probably quoting from the 2019/20 Site Directory " If you're looking for something a bit different try one of our CL's - There are around 2300 to choose from!"
David
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And he's the guy that's supposed to have his finger on the pulse of the club. Bet doesn't even know how many club sites there are!!
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I don't think the accuracy to the exact number is very important in the context of the letter written. I can't see the CMO double checking it
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I wonder if Professor Whitty is a caravaner, and that he might just happen to know these figures are wrong. I also had not realised he had suddenly taken over the role of CMO in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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Still no news from the DG then
An interesting post on another forum from a C&CC member. It would appear that the members there have had emails informing them of the latest situation.
Also it looks like they have sent out a survey asking members how they feel about returning to caravaning.
It certainly looks as they they are treating their members more proactively. Their website also states that membership will be extended for the term of the shutdown
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What for. They don't listen despite the PR spin.
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