Toilets with Yale key entry

harryb
harryb Forum Participant Posts: 1,536
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edited February 2018 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Having just been to Rowntree Park and found this system in use it would be nice to know the reason for this entry which seems very dated. I understand the reasons for keeping some site toilets locked but using the key operated system does have drawbacks, as I found out to my cost when getting to the door twice and realising I had forgotten the key.

There are over 100 pitches at York with two keys each so, with spares, that must cost well over £1000. Two coded key pad entry locks would cost about £25 each. Does not take much working out which is the cheaper system.

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Comments

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #2

    With that many keys to be cut, the cost per key would be much less than £5 , but indeed still significant.

    Some sites do have number pad locks, but it seems that the code can fall into undesirable hands and needs to be changed frequently, plus some of us may have a problem remembering it correctly, leading to the same result as forgetting the key!

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #3

    Much prefer the code, rather than the key. We generally stop a week and I soon remember the code, but would often forget to take  the key. 😀

    I would suspect the electronic coded ones at Clumber cost more than £25 and given the hammer they get, might need replacing on a fairly regular basis. However, I think the main reason for using them over keys is less admin, replacing those that are lost or taken.

    What would be better is that your CAMC card could be coded on arrival and used for both the barrier and block door (if required) The wardens could still make sure you went back to tell them what pitch you were on by not coding it until you returned with your pitch number.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2018 #4

    It is like most sites that have problems with passers by useing the facilities,and the key pads cost more and do not last very long

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited February 2018 #5

    What's up, are they frightened someone is going to make off with the bog-rolls?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2018 #6

    Or making them in a mess that members would never doundecided

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #7

    Keys very dated? Even coded is old hat, the next then? Finger or iris recognition?wink Save for the odd loss those old fashioned keys and their locks should last decades!

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited February 2018 #8

    During a stay at Tredegar House which had a keypad, I paid a late night call of nature to find a vagrant waiting to enter. Not sure if it was to use the facilities or a warm room for the night.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited February 2018 #10

    Until the refit at Southport a few years back,  the gents toilet block could be opened with anything that looked vaguely like a key as the lock was that worn. I also agree with Corners in that some of us can't reach to press the buttons when stood far enough away to see them 😁 but over all prefer buttons to keys. 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited February 2018 #11

    Write it on the back of your hand 😉

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #12

     I would suspect the electronic coded ones at Clumber cost more than £25 and given the hammer they get

    Just goes to show how long it is since we've stayed on Clumber....the last time we were there the toilets had Yale locks, which I must admit were very loose. Have they the same system on the laundry room, as one had to use ones key to enter there, I seem to remember.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #13

    I do too, the buttons can be fiddly and I have to remember my glasses and the code. wink

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
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    edited February 2018 #14

    Key Pads are a dead loss in the dark when you reach a certain age! As per previous comments they have a relatively short lifespan when used continuously.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited February 2018 #15

    I'd suggest that many of the CC sites are far enough from the beaten track to not need any kind of door lock ..... 

  • MidsomerMikey
    MidsomerMikey Club Member Posts: 46 ✭✭
    edited February 2018 #16

    Its to stop people like rough sleepers using the facilities usually on sites in built up areas as anyone could stand & watch the key code number being used & then gain entry.  Also it becomes a bit of a problem changing the key pad number during the season with people coming & going making sure they all have the right number if they don`t then the wardens get moaned at. So keys seem to be the best method.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2018 #17

    If i remember  or No wash for the time on site then,wink

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2018 #18

    And normally do not have themundecided

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,394 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #19

    If you have stayed at Love2Stay, the very modern affiliated site at Shrewsbury, you will know that the contactless  barrier card they give you also allows access to the facilities block. No fiddling with keys or remembering numbers.  just place the card on the detector pad and hey presto the door opens and your in.

    peedee

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2018 #20
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #21

    Last year at Crossways the key code was written above the key pad , !!

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #22

    Also it becomes a bit of a problem changing the key pad number during the season with people coming & going making sure they all have the right number if they don`t then the wardens get moaned at.

    A note on the block door saying the code is going to be changed tomorrow and please call in to reception for the new one, should solve the problem.

  • PITCHTOCLOSE
    PITCHTOCLOSE Forum Participant Posts: 658
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    edited February 2018 #23

    Keep the keys,simple, most homes use keys, refundable deposit reduces cost for keys lost,all this talk about key pads ect,when they become the norm it might make sense.

  • mbee1
    mbee1 Forum Participant Posts: 557
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    edited February 2018 #24

    I wonder what the criteria is for having wash block locks?  Clumber is in the middle of nowhere so why would it need locks.  One of the wash blocks at Incleboro Fields is so close the the C&CC site that there is a sign up asking them not to use it but use there own site facilities yet no lock there!

  • Road Trip
    Road Trip Forum Participant Posts: 10
    edited February 2018 #25

    Having stayed at the Keswick C&CC site on NYE any key card entry system gets my vote for these type of sites (Yellowcraig too).  There were around 12-15 motorhomes / campervans parked on the road outside the site, all using the facilities unchallenged whilst the rest of us paid £35 per night with a minimum 5 night stay. 

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,394 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #26

    Was that with the sites permission. I have stayed outside a full site, not a Club site, before and all they asked for is a donation in the charity box.

    peedee

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2018 #27

    Motor caravans are now parking on the lane near Ferry Meadows site and have been seen useing the site toilets and showers since the keypads have been removed,but they still empty wastes on the road,as the residue can be seen

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2018 #28

    undecided

  • JollyKernow
    JollyKernow Forum Participant Posts: 2,629
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    edited February 2018 #29

    Hi

    An interesting subject, thanks harryb. I run a very busy site in the west of Cornwall, very close to a popular surfing beach and closer to a public footpath. We have no locks on our facilities but we have a keypad lock on our pedestrian gate at the rear of the site. During the busy times there are regular complaints of queueing to use the facilities. Also during these times we have to deal with quite a number of people that wild camp nearby in their expensive motorhomes and not staying on site who even join the queues putting an unnecessary strain on things.

    Keypad codes are easily passed on, keys are not.

    The last keypad lock I installed was £100. They wear out quickly.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #30

    One of the problems that some of the keypad systems generate is that anyone who has the code can easily change the code to another one and create the sort of havoc that seems to amuse teenagers.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #31

    Happens at the Stonehaven site too.  Seafront parking taken up by MHs and they just walk onto the Club site to use the facilities.