Caravan sites opening and safety measures feedback
Comments
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Many of the bigger sites down here are having staggered openings and reduced numbers. The request not to use the facilities if possible is the same as CAMC as far as I can see. Some sites aren't taking tent campers this season. It's a varied picture but the facility blocks are likely to be the places where Covid could be spread so best avoided.
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Three of the largest sites down here (Hendra, Perran Sands and Park Dean at Holywell) have only just opened today with reduced numbers and facilities; Trevornick was open at the weekend but, again, as far as I understand with reduced numbers.
Our site, which is family run with a staff of 2 in the office and 3 ground staff are open only for those with their own facilities - no tents, no toilet/shower blocks open but the laundry is (as I informed Mrs M!
).They are going to take quite a financial hit, but for us, things will be a bit quieter without groups of youngsters using the road as a cycle speedway track! 👍
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From a personal point of view it wouldn't bother me if facility blocks are open or closed. However I imagine that the Club have had sufficient feedback to suggest that if those facilities were not opened the impact on occupancy, regardless of any fee reduction, would be seriously reduced as there are many members who would not consider using their own on board facilities. You only have to monitor the Facebook forums to confirm this view. That clearly has a serious ongoing impact on Club finances and in the longer term the survival of the Club. As an organisation the Club can only put in place routines to try and reduce the risk of infection. It seems they have tried to do this but some members are doing their own thing. They are putting themselves at risk but I suspect those that are really concerned won't be using the toilet blocks anyway.
David
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Just the same as CMC and many larger sites due to the different permitted operations in UK's 4 countries.
England
Our campsites with facility blocks are now open in England.
Scotland
We are open without facility blocks. We will be able to open the facility blocks from the 15th July. Due to Scottish government policy, only self-contained units of a caravan or a motorhome will initially be allowed on site, until 15th July. Unfortunately, the current policy means that campers in units without onboard facilities, such as tents, trailer tents and campervans will be unable to stay on our Scottish campsites. This is also applicable even to those with toilet tents. These cannot be on site until 15th July.
Wales
In Wales we have confirmation we can open from 11th July without facility blocks.
We are waiting on further confirmation as to when we can open our facility blocks and welcome back tent campers and campervans. Current Welsh government policy states that only self-contained units of a caravan or a motorhome will initially be allowed on site. You need to have your own on-board shower, WC and kitchen facilities. Unfortunately, the current policy means that campers in units without onboard facilities, such as tents, trailer tents and campervans will be unable to stay on our Welsh campsites. This is also applicable even to those with toilet tents.
Northern IrelandIn Northern Ireland, Delamont Country park is now open without facilities blocks.
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Haven't used the forum for such a very long time but wanted to add to this thread today. Having spent ages reading the thread to find out what was actually happening, to no real avail apart from 1 proper account of Burrs Country Park, so I telephoned where I am soon visiting, Henley on Thames. The very helpful lady warden explained that they were using the rubber band system, as described on this thread, & were having no problems with them going missing. The ladies block allows 3 to use and the men's 2 at any one time. She said they had not had any queuing and no other problems with very frequent cleaning. So that all sounded very promising.
Its been interesting seeing some of the familiar names posting from when I was a regular user Keep safe & enjoy.5 -
Currently on the Sandringham caravan site. On arrival given fob for barrier and 2 wristbands for use of facilities. Pitch was already allocated. To use facilities you hang wristband on peg outside. There is a maximum of two people allowed in the facilities at any time. If pegs have two wristbands hanging you need to wait in a socially distanced queue until a peg is available.
Have noticed that some people have forgotten to pick up their wristband after using facilities and suspect that some have forgotten to take them when intending to use facilities-not sure if they have returned to their units to pick up wristband.
Handsanitisers available outside facilities and reception but none near water points or cdp.
Wardens have done a great job of making us feel as safe as possible.4 -
As requested in original post, our comments are regarding organisation and cleansing. We arrived at Sutton-on-Sea on Saturday and it’s very well organised. They’re using the wristbands with pitch number for social distancing in facilities blocks, 4 hooks to hang bands on, if there’s no spare hook you need to wait until someone exits, we haven’t used them much but have not seen any queue. A warden comes around several times each day and sanititizes fresh water taps etc and dustbin lids. People are being sociable as usual but at an appropriate distance. We were a little nervous about this first outing but are confident all possible steps are being taken by staff and members. I hope this helps to allay fears that some people may have.
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Evening All
I was going to give daily feedback of how things are going onsite but I'll leave it until the end of the week. By all accounts the measures we've put in place have been well received. Valuable lessons have been learned the last three days and will be put into use moving forward.
Thanks everyone on site for your patience and understanding, we'll all get used to the new normal! Thanks also to the folk who needed some elastic bands, if you'd only ask we have a drawer full of about five thousand in reception
.Had a well earned rest day today, it's been hard graft the last couple of weeks but good to be back in the saddle again.
Now on for a large brandy or two!!
Cheers all
JK
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Thank you for the few people staying on the club caravan sites at the moment that responded to my request. I am sure lots of people will be happy to hear your positive responses to safety on the caravan sites. We are looking forward to our trip away this month.
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Enjoy that much deserved brandy!
As you say, valuable lessons over the past 3 days will have been learned. What is happening is new for absolutely everyone. I get quite tetchy when some people offer nothing other than criticism as to how things should be done, aren’t being done, and seem to have this wonderful gift of seeing into the future with assertions or at the worst, probabilities! We can only try our best and learn by our mistakes.
Cheers to all enjoying their caravans, campervans and motorhomes this week. Long may it continue.
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So are the allocated pitches an ongoing thing or just for the initial rush? We are booked for Troutbeck head on Thursday and can say are looking forward to it immensely!
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We arrived at Modbury on Sunday. Check in was great. Paid by card around the plastic screen, asked if we would be using the facilities, which we aren’t as we only decided to go ahead with the trip on the basis of being totally self sufficient. So brought drinking water and all food with us and using on board facilities which we have always done anyway and are fortunate to have. The site is just under half full I would estimate but there is a steady stream of trudgers back and forth to the wash block, some of them tent campers but also many caravanners who have onboard facilities but are choosing to use the shower block. This has surprised us but each to their own. We wear gloves to dispose of rubbish and waste after waiting for a lull at the SP.
Quite relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere here and definitely worth coming.
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The alternative way of using the band system (one band per pitch and hang it outside when you use the facilities) seems better than the ‘2 bands in a bucket’ used at Burrs although they would need to buy a lot of bands here because the site is almost full. Lots departed yesterday but pitches were taken up with new arrivals - seems a lot of people are testing the procedures with short breaks this week.
Band system breaks down a bit if there are 2 showers being used. Would be better if they closed all but one shower so the ‘desperate’ could use the toilet cubicles. Husband called at the block yesterday evening, no bands in the bucket but when he popped his head round the door the block was empty.
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With the new 'contact free' arrival procedure removing the possibility of paying with cash, I have a question.
I'm a bit of a 'dinosaur', I've always paid on arrival with cash - I don't like disclosing debit/credit card numbers, especially not in an unencrypted email - for the whole world to access - so I was wondering if anyone knew if sites accept 'Apple Pay' as it does not disclose the aforementioned numbers?
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I've never seen any reference to Apple Pay, either online or onsite. I thought for visits other that the first day the CC were putting a sign up at the site telling you how to pay. You would either ring from your car on a mobile or if no phone signal, as at Clumber, there would be other instructions. Presumably one at a time into office.
I have not seen anything about paying by email. I certainly wouldn't want to put card details in one. I would have thought if paying before arrival the phone would be the way to do it.
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Not quite a dinosaur if you are contemplating Apple Pay
According to the Club website these are the following accepted methods of payment"On Club owned and managed sites you can pay your site fees by MasterCard, Visa, cash, gift voucher or Site Night Voucher."
So it seems no Apple or Google Pay.
David
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I don’t think there would ever be a need to put card details in an email. I’m happy to pay any business over the phone but I’m not sure where the idea of email came from.
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anyway there is a smallish limit on paying through those apps, might be enough for one two nights but not for longer stays.
I did say once I would like to be able to pay on the website before arrival, on the morning perhaps, as well as on arrival. This was before the virus and it didn't go down well I recall, but while the current situation goes on might be an idea?
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According to the "site managers" (note new names they now have
)there are two systems at can be used 1 When you advise office of your pitch number a wrist band is to each member with you pitch number on,which you keep until leaving and used for facility block access -If the pegs/hooks are all in use in means that the area is at a safe capacity and you need to wait for some one to leave ,if a peg/hook is free then you put you band on the free one and enter,
2 The bands are in sanitizing liquid and if none there as above
it seems the first system is working better ,but as usual it has yet to be "understood" by some but it seems less "misunderstanding?" than system two
Card payment IF possible for stay can be made in the office ,one person only at a time ,not all the outfit ocupants
Ps no visitors allowed on site
Food deliveries IE deliveroo must be met at site entrance, and supermarket deliveries to designated point but only with agreement site managers ,but none to enter site
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@ SteveL, Tinwheeler : The 'email' was my interpretation of 'check-in by phone' (on the "Covid secure commitment" page) - I constantly confuse texts with emails - my mistake 🤭... don't ask about 'INSTA-BOOK-TWIT-CHAT" social media 😱😂.
@ DavidKline : I think the accepted means of payment have changed (see the "Covid secure commitment" page) - I'd be much more comfortable paying by cash as it's included in the list you quoted but I suspect they've forgotten to update their website.
@JVB66 : If it's still possible to stick my card in a reader and enter the pin then that addresses my issues but the "Covid secure commitment" page says it's all going to be phone based (which is what led me to consider 'apple pay')
@RedKite : That sounds encouraging - If some sites are accepting Apple Pay I think contacting them directly is the way to go
... Thank you all for your help
Regards
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My interpretation of check in by phone is to speak to the staff and tell them the card details, WW, and I think that’s what others have done.
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We have stayed at Broadway site for three nights arriving on Saturday opening day. We could not fault anything from arrival to leaving and the wardens and the club were faultless. We were given a pitch number and arrival time, and the wardens were all outside to sort things out. There was no queue and we went straight to our pitch, and went to the office Sunday morning to pay. We used our own shower and toilet and felt very safe on the site. Well done the wardens at Broadway.
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