Pop up pitches less than 6m away from caravans
We we’re amazed last night to return to our pitch on the Wirral club site to find a camper van pitched between ourselves & the next hard standing pitch. Admittedly the piece of grass between us and the next pitch is larger than the normal grass border, but this camper van was not 6 m away from our van. Have spoken to the warden this morning, & he apologised & said there was nowhere else to put them & their pitch was under water. We understand the warden’s position & might well have done the same in his position. The frustrating thing is that the 6 m rule is rigidly enforced on most sites & we’ve always pitched strictly according to rules. On one site we were not able to put our awning up because, having pitched perfectly on the peg there wasn’t enough room for our awning without going on the grass & we’d been warned on booking in that you mustn’t go on the grass. We were only there for the weekend & so managed without the awning. What we’re saying is the club make the rules, but break them themselves, even the safety ones.
Comments
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You spoke to the warden who explained and apologised. If you’re still unhappy, the best thing is to contact the club.
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I can understand your annoyance; I'd definitely feel the same.
In this situation, a late night arrivals area could have been used in an emergency but I know this site doesn't have one.
As in the case of flooding at York Rowntree Park, site staff would do all they can to let people know not to arrive. Other than turning the camper van away, the site staff had a difficult decision. They could possibly have assisted in finding them an alternative site. Maybe they explored that possibility and considered how many nights they were booked in for. Are they still there?
I might be inclined to contact Head Office Sites Team to mention it, as this could quite easily happen again and I doubt that the site staff would let them know that they've contravened their own rules.
I hope it hasn't spoiled your break.
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TomSue
As far as I can see you have done everything correctly by discussing it with the warden and clearly he wasn't happy having to do it and it was good to see the conversation was constructive. I don't know the site in question but I assume the were no little cul de sac's where the motorhome could have been parked on the road? I imagine the warden would have done that had it been possible without blocking another pitch. It's obviously up to you whether you feel you want to take it further but I can't see the Club changing its general policy on spacing. There are so many variables across the network none more so than the range of pitch sizes. I know I tend to bang on about signing up for site surveys but these surveys are an ideal way of getting views across if you don't want to go into a full blown complaint.
David
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actually it is 6m between adjacent walls on your caravan or motorhome. It is 3m between any part of your outfit (awning, tents, car) so if the tent was more than 3m from any of your outfit it is within the rules.
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Opps sorry everyone
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Thank you all for your comments. The said motor home left this morning & the warden took away the “pop up” peg & repaired the ruts in the grass. We totally understand his predicament, but there is so much written by the club & people on this forum about pitching correctly & how dangerous it is to pitch less than 6m away from sides of vans. We have to say that the wardens on this site are some of the nicest we’ve come across & were extremely helpful about vacant pitches when we booked in. However “rules are rules”!
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I have stayed at the site and am wondering why a camper van could not have been accommodated in the car park area opposite the reception. It is big enough and I have never seen it full. As an emergency stop gap I would have accepted it if I was the camper van owner.
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As you were specifically told not to use the grass for your awning....and as the Warden has broken the club's safety rule, this is a definite email to the site team at HO.
Further there could have been an issue with insurance claims, if heaven forbid, a fire had occurred. Who would have been held responsible..
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It would be interesting to know if 'less than 6m' means 5.8m or 3.2m. The actual figure could put a different perspective on things.
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why?
if I was to move a peg a 'short distance' to one side would it matter what that short distance was?
if we have a rule that's 6m then I guess it's 6m.
what I find interesting is how fire prevention requires a 6m gap in one direction yet only 3m in another, irrespective of wind or other factors.
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Another habitation unit within 6m is a Hazard. The Risk is that of it going on fire.
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I don't follow the end kitchen idea. Give a fire in a caravan a couple of minutes and it will all be well alight, wherever the kitchen might be.
Was there not an article on the web about a year ago where it was claimed most caravan fire were electrical in origin?
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or even end bedrooms, surely?
or even two MH cab to cab?
or.....
it does make you think why it isn't 6m all round....although the answer is certainly a compromise that allows sites to retain a 'fair number' of pitches despite being cognicent of the fire risks...
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it is more to prevent it spreading not preventing a fire in itself BB.
remember those pics of a fire at a club site? The outfits either side of a completely ruined caravan only had minor damage (including a car I seem to remember and awnings have a low fire loading anyway) but were largely intact.
The 6m/3m rule or guideline is given by the fire services not thought up by the club, I would imagine they know what they are doing.
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Well done the warden!
On such pop up sites run by the CMC, I think the caravan show site is one example, the 6 metre rule can be ignored and is, so I think for a limited stay as in this case, although unexpected taking everything into account I see no reason for complaint, just one of those things that now and again happens.
Rather than complain, more seek information?
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"so I think for a limited stay as in this case, although unexpected taking everything into account I see no reason for complaint, just one of those things that now and again happens."
Couldn't agree more! Bit like a boiler breaking down and being out of action for a day, eh, W?
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Yes 👍
As if the sky is going to fall down! 🐓
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I wish the site would be named, a few have asked and it would be useful for other members planning to use it if it is still having problems.
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Well if a pitch is out of action wouldnt that reduction then be reflected in availability?
I'm thinking it's no longer an issue, but if so, doesnt a site start phoning members due to arrive?
If site full last person booked on, phoned to say weather forces cancellation perhaps?
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It's in legislation, I did have all of the bumf but changed computers t'other year and I always destroy hard drives, so alas gone.
Its Google able
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no burt it is the minimum distance between any adjacent wall or either a caravan or or MH, and three meters between any part of your outfit (car, awning, tent).
Post edit found a copy: http://www.westyorksfire.gov.uk/uploads/assets/sitepoint/pan/fireProtection-FS/FS-PAN006-CaravanSites.pdf
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