Caravan sites opening and safety measures feedback

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  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,428 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #302

    But there is a trade off isn't there? doing as you suggest may affect how many people go. I certainly wouldn't and all those people who are using the facilities now may not have gone.

    Less people means less income but costs are still there and it may have been that there would be a point when sites do not open, better this way I think on balance.

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2020 #303

    Maybe the club though that it would get more bums on seats with the facility block open? wink

  • scoutman
    scoutman Club Member Posts: 441 ✭✭✭
    edited July 2020 #304

    Welcome to Wales

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,073 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #305

    I certainly wouldn't and all those people who are using the facilities now may not have gone.

    and after all the hassle may not go again, making way for those who do not mind using their own facilities but could not get a pitch, and thus providing a much more risk free environment for all.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,864 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #306

    That would have been the sensible answer as far as I am concerned but then we always use our own facilities. However reading some of the chatter, particularly on Facebook Groups it would have had a major impact on the number of people visiting sites and like everything COVID related these days it is a compromise between absolute safety and the economy and getting back to normal. Until there is proof, if there ever is,  that the opening of toilet blocks has actually contributed to the spread of COVID the Club will feel vindicated in its decision to keep blocks open.

    David

  • royandsharont
    royandsharont Forum Participant Posts: 735
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    edited July 2020 #307

    Over the years there has been many conversations on CT over the sole use of onboard facilities, by the very small minority of Club members who use CT I might add, and when reading them it always appears that those who do so, think that everyone else should, without a thought or care for others needs. From observations of camping on the continent, where most of our camping is done, I feel confident in saying that almost everyone uses the site facilities for everything, showers, toilets pot washing etc. and there are many more campers there than here by a long way. In fact many don't even have water onboard! I personally don't follow that regime but I am mindful of those that want or need to use the facilities, after all that is what they are there for and you are paying for. I haven't camped with children but I imagine to get a family of young children through all the bathroom processes could prove very difficult, especially given the space in most motorhomes whilst caravans do seem to have larger bathrooms where this may be more possible. Then what about the disabled members whose disability means that there would be no way they could physically use their onboard facilities, I have a friend who cannot in their motorhome. So before we get into another long disagreement on this sensitive topic lets all be a little mindful about others and their needs or desires may be very different from ours and keep to the topic on which I might add I would have expected everyone who uses any of the facilities to use antibacterial wipes on all the surfaces they touch before and after doing so. This would help the wardens and all the other campers as well as themselves to keep safer. I'm hoping the members leave the toilets in particular cleaner than what they often did in ours, and many others, experience pre pandemic smile

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2020 #308

    I am sure that if the clubs site with facility blocks ,had remained closed ,(and it would not have been short term if the scientific information is correct) 

    The full pitches that are showing on a very large proportion of the network would not be so ,even if a price reduction above the vat reduction was implemented ,as  posted by others they would not be using the sites yet ,even as now with reduced capacity in the facilities block and reduced pitches on some sites

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #309

    From what I have read here, there has been very little reduction in the number of pitches in use on sites.

    Apparently only those adjacent to service points have been taken out of use.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2020 #310

    Depends on how many service points on the sitesundecided

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2020 #311

    In normal times we make some use of the facilities but cope equally well on non facility sites as a couple.

    When our youngest was born we had no problem for the next 7 years with our annual 10 day stop at Shawsmead near Aberaeron. Up until about 15 years ago it was a non facility site and my wife and I with our two kids would make a regular pilgrimage because of the nice beach at Cei Bach.

    First outing youngest about 1 and eldest 10. Washing was no problem. Had a 40 litre builders bucket equivalent used as a bath for youngest and a strip wash for rest. Hot water in bucket and sink in washroom of an evening and me and wife in a morning. These days though many families are used to showers. 

    If we had gone away then more of a nuisance on our 5 to 7 week tours would be lack of clothes washing facilities. We can just about manage three weeks without washing clothes but normally do a wash after about two weeks.

  • Unknown
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    edited July 2020 #312
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  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #313

    Obviously the bigger the site the more service points, so look at the site plan and subtract 2 pitches per point most likely, will depend on the layout.  Hardly a large number compared to the total pitches on a site.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,864 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #314

    In some ways it matters not what people have done previously as we are in uncharted waters during the current crisis and sites have not been open a month yet. Opening toilet blocks was always going to be the achilles heel of reopening sites. They will be the point of risk over all else that takes place on a campsite. The Club have tried to mitigate that risk by only partially reopening toilet block by restricting access and numbers. Members obviously have to also take responsibility for how their action impacts on others. Not sure about antiseptic wipes as they are likely to be flushed down the toilet which is not a good idea!!! The Club have asked members to use their own facilities if at all possible so that pressure can be taken off the reduced capacity. Whether someone uses their own facilities or not is completely up to the individual what I suspect is more difficult to understand amongst those of us that advocate being independent of toilet blocks is that many seem unable to consider such a possibility? There will be genuine reason why some can't. As mentioned disabilities and perhaps the ability to lug water and waste around because of frailty. But if push came to shove are people really saying that they would have prefered sites not to have opened if the toilet block had to remain closed?

    David 

  • millie8
    millie8 Forum Participant Posts: 54
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    edited July 2020 #315

    David, I couldn't agree more.  Very eloquently put.  I fear though that you and I are in the minority with regard to the toilet block issue.  Apart from the good people on this site, without facilities, who are of the same mind.  

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2020 #316

    At FM there are five service points just on the west side that has a majority of handstands thats about £300 per night with 10 pitches out ,for just two adults (before Vat reduced price)

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #317

    JVB......we are not considering money here, rather physical distancing and keeping people safe.

    You cannot put a price on a life!   If you, or I , were to catch this virus, our prospects would be very uncertain.

    The more people on site, the more risky it is.

    If the  Club needs to dig into its reserves, delay a new purchase, put off a site upgrade, it is not the end of the world.  Life is more important.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2020 #318

    I suspect that for me and OH the prospects would not be that uncertain. Most likely death but, at best, disability. 

    I would have no fear of social distancing on site. However the restriction imposed by ourselves, off site, make it less desirable

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2020 #319

    Not worried about money just pointing out ,how many pitches and another cost this virus in putting on the leisure industry surprised

  • Briang
    Briang Club Member Posts: 670 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #320

    We are in Treamble valley Site the site is almost full pitches are all as usual everyone is keeping the 2 metre distance on site. There is a banding system in use 4 for the gents and 5 for the woman's toilets you put your band on the hook outside then go in if there are 4 bands already on the hooks you have to wait until someone comes out. Plenty of hand sanitizers there. As for going out it seems that social distances don't matter there are ignored. People walk towards and do not adhere to the 2 metre distance you have to keep your eyes open all the time. The Fort Inn in newquay with its big beer garden is waiter service you order you drinks by an app or pay by cash and your drinks are fetched to you on a tray which then you take the glasses of the tray. Overall I feel safe as long as you take notice of what you are doing. And plenty of hand washing. 

    Brian 

     

     

  • Unknown
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    edited July 2020 #321
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  • Ernie S
    Ernie S Forum Participant Posts: 47
    edited July 2020 #322

    Agree with this. We are going to Dockray Meadow today, a site booked a couple of months ago specifically because it has no facilities, as that was how I was feeling about using the Club's facilities on reopening, at the time. Last weekend we were at the River Beamish site and we fully intended to not use the facilities block, but the systems in place looked so good to us that we changed our minds and used them. It all felt perfectly safe and well organised.

    The Club opens the blocks with enhanced cleaning and limited entry in place. Individuals then choose whether to use them or not. Straightforward really.

     

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,310 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #323

    As there seems to be uncertainty over arrival times.  I thought I would go on live chat to see what there take was on it. However, no operator available. Typed arrival time into the interactive help and it returned as shown below.

    If it has been changed to 1pm for all sites the CC is not doing itself or it wardens any favours by not announcing it clearly. If I didn't come on CT I would have no idea it had apparently changed.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,056 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #324

    JK, I asked a question about arrival times on another thread, a genuine question, as to if it was extra cleaning that required a later arrival time. For some reason, it has been Deleted User, but I just wanted you to know it was a genuine enquiry, nothing more. We have spoke previously about all the extra work Wardens have taken on, and you know I was sympathetic about the work load. I couldn’t respond to you on that thread, it’s now locked. But I wanted you to know I wasn’t being critical, it was a genuine enquiry. As you say, unchartered territory for everyone.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2020 #325

     From closed thread in reply to your Deleted User post:

    Posted on 20/07/2020 08:14 by JollyKernow 

    Morning

    The last two weeks have been hard. I won't dwell on that but with the extra duties we now perform every morning makes it impossible to have reception ready for mid day. The last two days we've had arrivals queueing out on the road at nine am! Haven't yet worked out how to be in two places at once and to be honest I'm fed up with trying. Arrive at 12.00 if you like but you may be queueing on the main road.

    JK

  • millie8
    millie8 Forum Participant Posts: 54
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    edited July 2020 #326

    We arrived just before one last Tuesday and were told by the warden it was now one o'clock for arrivals.  We said we didn't know and it was still twelve at the site we had just come from, at least when we arrived the week before.  I gather it had changed four days previously.  She later explained that it was because the wardens were having trouble getting the cleaning done by twelve, although there are no facilities on this site.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2020 #327

    If it has been changed to 1pm for all sites the CC is not doing itself or it wardens any favours by not announcing it clearly. If I didn't come on CT I would have no idea it had apparently changed.

    It certainly is not doing locals a favour in the area of many of the sites Steve. Imagine at sites such as Morton on Marsh or the Leek site if those who have booked have no warning prior to arrival. In addition warnings should have gone out to all affected at least a week before putting such a change in place.The club does not have a good track record in informing of such changes. 

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,056 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #328

    Thanks ET, I had read it. I just wanted to respond to JK to let him know my post was a genuine enquiry and not a criticism. Locking the thread had denied me this ability. 

    Arrival times are academic to me, we never arrive at opening time, whatever it may be. We won’t be using Club Sites at the moment either. But good wishes to all who do, and those working hard to keep places as safe as they can.

  • ErnieJH
    ErnieJH Forum Participant Posts: 114
    edited July 2020 #329

    Reading many of the comments on this thread it appears to me that the main problem is that the club is changing the conditions on site, ie arrival times, visitor restrictions etc, which I’m sure no one will object to but the problem is that it’s just not making the information available to members in an obvious way. I have been trying to find the arrival time for example and have found it very difficult. 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2020 #330

    I have been trying to find the arrival time for example and have found it very difficult. 

    I found it easy when I booked yesterday. Web page said 12 O'clock as did the subsequent confirmation. undecided

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,310 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #331

    It certainly is not doing locals a favour in the area of many of the sites Steve. Imagine at sites such as Morton on Marsh or the Leek site if those who have booked have no warning prior to arrival. In addition warnings should have gone out to all affected at least a week before putting such a change in place.The club does not have a good track record in informing of such changes.

    Cirencester might also be interesting. That one has changed to 1pm because of the new road. However, I have a booking made a few months ago which states 12:00 and haven't been informed of the change. If I didn't frequent CT I wouldn't know of the new road or revised arrival time. Could result in a few irate tennis and cricket club members, if it backs onto the lane.