Caravan sites opening and safety measures feedback

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  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2020 #482

    Separation would not be reduced. In hot weather we usually pitch facing North as no windows in the back to let in the heat of the southern sun. Come back to pitch at 3 or 4pm and car parked on nearside of van and our chairs etc in shade on the offside

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #483

    Yep, that’s why I said "The distance remains the same" 👍🏻

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2020 #484

    And why, on a rare occasion, I agreed with you.

    Gawd this site moves like a hot knife through very thick syrup!!

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #485

    You feeling OK, Easy?🤔

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #486

    Just experienced the Covid 19 safety measures on two sites, CAMC & C&CC. Good measures in place but people having trouble sticking to them so we'll carry on using our own facs till further notice.

    C&CC site had entrance doors and windows open in facility block so that looked better than people fumbling with keys and bands at CAMC block. Both clubs had hand sanitisers placed at entrances, not always in use from our observations.

    Overall experience good as long as we keep well over next two weeks? 

    Were we glad to have a break, yes! Sites were busy but local areas much quieter than usual.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,309 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #487

    I read it as. If you were sat outside your van you would be adjacent to the folk sitting outside the van alongside, rather than having a car and van between you. So potentially 3 metres between groups, (although generally more) rather than a minimum of 7 metres. Which I suppose is a valid point, although 3 metres is still a safe distance in the open air, as far as we know.

  • Kasspa
    Kasspa Club Member Posts: 360
    edited July 2020 #488

    We have just returned from a 17 day 'tour' of the SW, our maiden voyage so to speak, stayed at Haycraft, Steamer Quay, Looe, Merrose Farm (Curgurrell Farm Shop a must for seafood), Trewethett Farm & Willingcott.

    Measures in place differed from one to the other but folk were abiding by the new rules...... well they'd be new to most but not us.... & accepting that this is how it is.....

    ALL toilet blocks were open with limited numbers allowed. We used our facilities for the most part, showering late at night when quiet.

    Used dishwashing facilities occassionally if we'd had a fry up or bbq, these were limited to 1 family.

    Hope this helps!

     

  • AnnB
    AnnB Forum Participant Posts: 226
    edited July 2020 #489

    We were neighbours then.  On pitch 20 behind you and to the left opposite the service area.  There was a dinky little teardrop caravan parked next to us Monday night - very cute.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited July 2020 #490

    I saw the tear drop leave .... very cute but not for us ... not enough room wink

  • Muddibootz
    Muddibootz Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited July 2020 #491

    We spent 3 nights at Buxton Last week.  The email I received stated arrivals from 12 noon. Before we set out, I check on the CAMC site app and it said arrivals from 12. (The app is till reporting arrivals from 12:00). So we arrived at around 12:15 to see a queue of vans in front of us and started to build up behind us. We got out (as did most others) and walked to the office only to see "Arrivals 1pm" chalked on the board. None of us that arrived were aware of this so obviously a communications problem here. The problem here was that lots of people were needlessly congregating around the site office, increasing the chance of spreading Covid? The same thing happened every day that we were there.

    The only other issue was regarding the distribution of the "wristbands". These were issued by a warden without any PPE (mask, gloves etc) walking along the line of waiting vans handing the bands through the windows , clearly breaching the 2m rule and potentially spreading infection to everyone on the site.

    We didn't use the toilets or showers, preferring to use our own but apart from the issues above, everything else felt very well organized and we felt very safe. Other members walking around site seemed to respect social distances.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,864 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #492

    According to the email I got from the Club this is the link to follow https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/reopening-our-campsites/latest-information/ It is all a bit confusing because it was suggested on here that all sites were operating a 13.00 arrival time which clearly not the case. However for Buxton it does say 13.00 arrival.

    David

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,309 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #493

    The App which the poster consulted does still say 12:00. They really do need to get things together.

  • royandsharont
    royandsharont Forum Participant Posts: 735
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    edited July 2020 #494

    Just got back from 4 nights at Members only Henley Four Oaks Club site, Thurs – Mon. This very pleasant and green site was full at around 75 vans. The wardens were very, friendly, helpful and engaging keeping the site and the sole toilet block clean and sanitised during this current Coronavirus pandemic. This was very reassuring and we felt safe throughout our stay.

    For those interested in how the site toilet block worked I'll first describe the building so you get an understanding. One door in to each section. In the gents there are 4 toilet cubicles with only 2 being used to keep a 2m distance. This meant that only 2 showers and 2 privacy cubicles were open as well as 1 urinal. The ladies had 5 or 6 toilet cubicles so this allowed for 3 to be in use and hence 3 showers and privacy cubicles.

    The correct number of rubber wrist bands were in a small pot outside the door filled with Milton fluid & you collected the band when entering and replaced when leaving. So only 2 in the gents and 3 in the ladies, although I am certain on occasions some additional members entered to use the toilets in both blocks when they were available as those inside with the wrist bands were in the shower. There were clear instructions and hand sanitizing gel outside as well as distance spacing markers on the ground. Although we didn't use the laundry or pot washing area there was only 1 person/van allowed inside each at any one time. They were cleaned twice a day at 1030 and I think 1630.

    I felt that it was used by many more members than I had anticipated, but I only ever queued twice for about 10 minutes on 2 occasions at 0730 time each day. My wife's experience was similar. I did see larger queues of around 6 deep a little later on in the morning but these went down quickly with the majority going to the toilet. One member I met returned and showered in his caravan after finding a large queue on morning. I also found  two young brothers in there one morning, using the two bands, but one was just waiting for the other to finish rather than coming outside despite me being there queuing.

    Given the restrictions, beyond the Warden’s control, it seemed to work pretty well. There are no serviced pitches here so that may have added to the numbers using the facilities but all aspects of the facilities were being used by some members and larger families washing the pots etc. Some members were using it just like they normally would such as going across to brush their teeth etc.

    At the end of the day everyone is different and all have the right to use the facilities as they wished to. Overall we were very pleased for our first outing after the lockdown being eased and we never heard any grumbling. 

    Hope this assists those that wanted to know exactly what was happening. I know I was keen to find out, hence my visiting the forum for the first time on this topic in about 2 years. The forum is important for such things so long as they don't get kidnapped

  • V70Ranger
    V70Ranger Forum Participant Posts: 43
    edited July 2020 #495

    Just to add to the feedback about opening times.

    We arrived at Ashridge Farm a week ago, arriving at dead on 1200 as this is what the site page states on the website. There were 2 outfits in front of us. There then ensued a traffic nightmare as others outfits tried to either leave the site or return to storage. One motorhome who didnt want to wait for the queue to move forward drove down the side of the outfits waiting to be booked in. Ended up in total gridlock.

    The relief wardens did their best to book people in as quickly as possible.

    The full time wardens returned a few days later and put out a sign saying that arrival time was 1300.

    Yesterday (Sunday) as we sat and watched, outfits began arriving at just past 1200. The queue stretched out of the entrance gate and into the approach road. The office was closed at this time.

    The wardens arrived about 1250 and started to book people in. As the queue moved forward we counted 13 outfits coming in. The queue must have stretched back along the approach road onto the main road into Ashwell village. Total chaos.

    Cheers

    V70Ranger

  • Muddibootz
    Muddibootz Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited July 2020 #496

    This page has been updated since last week when Buxton and the Wirral (which we are due to visit next week) were not showing the 1pm arrival, so at least that error has now been corrected. Both sites still show 12:00 arrival on the CAMC site app (Android version). I did mention this to the warden when we checked in when I apologized and explained why we were all early but they didn't seem very interested.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,864 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #497

    We are off to Club site soon and have just had our booking reminder email. That says arrivals from 13.00 but the link I put up thread (sent to my by the Club) still suggests I can arrive by midday!!! Clearly different parts of the Club using different hymn sheets!!!!!

    David

  • Muddibootz
    Muddibootz Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited July 2020 #498

    Thanks that's very useful.

    It's strange that the club appear to have different processes across different sites. At Buxton, the system seemed to be that every member was given a rubber wristband for each person. We were given a red one and a blue one. When you went into the toilet block you were supposed to leave your band on one of the three hooks just outside. so if the hooks were occupied, you waited. Fair enough.

    The only slight concern with this is that on leaving, you could pick up the wrong wristband with a risk that it could have been placed by someone with the virus.

  • StinkyPete78
    StinkyPete78 Forum Participant Posts: 25
    edited July 2020 #499

    Just spent a week at Daleacres, Kent.

    Site was virtually full plus all the Yurts and 8/9 tents.

    Only two toilets, showers and cubicles available which led to some Qs at peak times. Entry by picking up a band in solution at the door.

    No way to clean shower floor as all equipment was removed hence they were dirty in the morning (perhaps from late afternoon / evening showers).

    Never used facilities again during stay.

    Some guy insisted in jumping the Q to check if any toilets were available rather than waiting if people were in the shower (toilets in use).

    Some families (say mother and three daughters) would all enter together on the one band.

  • Muddibootz
    Muddibootz Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited July 2020 #500

    I have just received our booking reminder for the Wirral for next week which states 13:00 so that is good to see. I probably wouldn't normally think to check elsewhere.

  • vbfg
    vbfg Forum Participant Posts: 504
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    edited July 2020 #501

    I returned from Wirral Country Park Site on Saturday after a 5 night stay.  I had not received any notification about arriving after 1.00 pm but didn't actually arrive until then anyway and did not have any wait nor had any problems checking in.  The site looked really good, everything regularly cleaned and wardens cheerful and friendly.  You are given a wrist band which you leave on a peg when you visit the facilities and 2 people are allowed in at a time. There were few queues so I envisage that a lot of people must have used their own facilities. I cycled into Heswall and West Kirby and they both have lots of eateries and some (but not all) shops open.  All in all, an excellent 5 day break!

  • Lunarcpl
    Lunarcpl Forum Participant Posts: 47
    edited July 2020 #502

    We went to St Agnes site on the first weeek of opening, and to be honest were a bit disappointed in the safety measures.  The booking in process was good, we didnt have to leave our car, but after that it was practically non existent. St Agnes doesn't have toilets or showers, so that didn't come into the equation. What really surprised me was the total lack of hand sanitiser at the service points, in fact the only hand sanitiser available was at the entrance to the laundry, the only place with hot water. I commented on this to a person at the water tap, and his stuffy reply was, " they expect you to use your common sense and wash your hands when you get back to your caravan ". Well yes, but supposing the person before me was infected,  after I had used the tap and before I had the opportunity to wash my hands I would have touched my water hog, the pump, the door handle of my van, and maybe the zip of my awning,  the thresh hold around the door, and maybe other items. To get over this I used my own sanitiser before and after I touched any service point equipment. 

    In contrast we spent our second week at a small private site that had sanitiser at all water points, the chemical emptying point, and even at the gate to the entrance of the site. They closed  the toilet block ,and were only taking bookings from those who were self sufficient regarding toilet and showers.

     

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #503

    I found the  Covid safe efforts put in at both the sites we visited were good but noticed people going in and out of the facilities didnt always use the sanitisers. 

    Apart from needing to access water and emptying points where we washed our hands thoroughly  after use we felt safer not using anything else that was shared.

  • Stewart P
    Stewart P Forum Participant Posts: 31
    edited July 2020 #504

    Just got back at the weekend from a 3 week holiday in our caravan, the first week being at Godrevy Park in Hayle.

    I haven't read through the 500+ posts in this thread but expect that there will be lots of both positive and negative comments, however, I have nothing but praise for the staff at Godrevy on the opening day. I can't comment on the facilities as we chose to use the ones in our caravan during the week we were there, partially to reduce the risk to us and partially because we knew the facilities at the site would be reduced and people in camper vans without facilities would have a reduced wait at busy times if people are able to use their own facilities on board .

    We got a phone call a few days before the 4th from the site about our arrival and not only did we get an excellent choice of arrival slots, all 1 hour long, but they also knew what pitches we had been on in previous visits and asked if we would like to stay on one of them if free or we had the option of going to any other pitch not already allocated. We chose our pitch and arrival time from 11.00 - 12.00 and were asked to phone if running late, or park up in a lay-by if running early. We wanted a stop anyway for a late breakfast and were just about to set off from our lay-by for the last 25 miles at 10.45 when we got another call from the site to ask how we were doing and to say that the previous hour's arrivals were all there and we could arrive early if we wanted. We arrived on site at 11.15, were booked in without getting out of the car and escorted to our pitch. I think the process was brilliantly organised, well done the Godrevy Staff!!!

    The service points seemed to be emptied, cleaned and disinfected at frequent intervals throughout the week we were there and we had absolutely no worries about our stay there.

    We hope to be back next year once again.

    Peter

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
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    edited July 2020 #505

    We are just back from our first trip of the year to White Water Park. Only for 3 nights and far far shorter than we would go away for normally. The site had the rubber band system in place for the facilities block but we didn't use it as we thought it better to be self contained. It seemed as if many were doing the same as there appeared to be less movement to and from the block. We spent the time riding our bikes along the Tees riverside tracks which was pleasant enough, as far as Middlesbrough and Stockton in either direction but didn't venture as far as going in to either town as we have done before. Having taken all we needed with us we didn't spend anything apart from site fees and diesel, wanting to stay well clear of everything and everybody. It could be a long time before we feel safe doing otherwise so this is the new normal for us. It was nice to be away in the van, but not the same, not by a long way.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,669 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2020 #506

    Hi everyone.  I said I would write an update on the sites we visit this summer, outlining the different procedures in place within the light of Covid-19..... Club and private sites.

    Wells Touring (already posted) were very pro-active.  Our second site was Hidden Valley (Woolacombe/ Ilfracombe... on the A361 in N Devon.  I think this site has taken the easy option.  Pitches open as normal, but toilet block closed completely - they say Social distancing is difficult to achieve.....  The only hand sanitizer dispensers ser was at the CDP.   The security barrier worked on numberplate recognition, so no keypad and no need for sanitizer.  The restaurant was open for meals in and for takeaways....  we didn't try it, but one or two were not impressed with the food - one family complained so much they were given the meal free...  Lovely looking entrance, but the look of the place deteriorated whe you got further in.  Some of the pitches looked really tired and some hardstandings were in need of a good weeding!  Pitches weve lovely and large.  We had a Premier/Full Serviced pitch.  Caravan on a nicely laid brick hardstanding, then a gravel section for awning, then a large grass section, complete with picnic table.  Enough room for the car to be parked at the edge of the pitch (accross the front of where the caravan hitch was, so didnt encroach on pitch space.  Very sheltered - lots of trees - quite dark at times.  This could be a nice site if the spent a little more time and care.  Other than the closed toilet block, handsanitiser at CDP, and the need to keep social distancing at reception (+ hand sanitizer).  Things felt very much 'normal' here.

    David

    Sites to visit: 

    • Wells Touring;
    • Hidden Valley, N. Devon;
    • Globe Vale, Redruth;
    • Putts Corner CAMC Site: 
    • Hunters Moon CAMC site;
    • Briarfields Motel & Caravan Park, Cheltenham.

     

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,864 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #507

    Justus2

    Interesting observations. We are away soon for a few days just to try it out to see what we think. When on site we tend to be out and about visiting places using public transport. We tend not to sit around the van as the main occupation of our stay so we are wondering how we will feel if we are restricted in what we do? Not long to go before we find out!!!

    David

  • Dave Nicholson
    Dave Nicholson Forum Participant Posts: 408
    edited July 2020 #508

    We stayed on two separate CMC sites on our way to the Eurotunnel earlier this week. One has no loo/shower facilities in “Normal” times and the other has Full facilities open, albeit restricted number access via the armband system. I thought the staff were managing the system extremely well and have clearly had some training on Covid19 hazards etc. I was on holiday and not in the habit of monitoring the activities of my fellow campers but one “incident” put a smile on my face. I was walking towards a facilities block on my way back from reception when a lady ran towards me in a state of some panic. She told me there was a mouse in the female loos and asked me if I would remove it. My immediate thought was ‘this is a windup’ but she was clearly serious. I pointed out to her that under even normal circumstances I’d be reluctant to enter the ladies loos and that the chances of catching the animal was minimal anyway.  I think I reassured her that the creature would be far more scared of her than the other way round and that if it did see her whist she was on the loo it’s unlikely it would tell anyone and so she eventually went inside. We need a bit of humour in these present times and she clearly doesn’t live in a 300 year old house like we do. I hope she was OK after all the excitement.

  • lesandang
    lesandang Forum Participant Posts: 243
    edited July 2020 #509

    Sites visited:

    Morn Hill, Winchester

    Wood Farm, Charmouth

    New Forest Centenary Park

    No problems anywhere, all felt safe, used our own facilities. Would have liked to have seen sanitisers at service points though, just had to remember to wash your hands after use.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #510

    Back from our trip, visited 2 full on campsites and 1 CL.

    1st campstie Moffat C&CC hand sanitisers at every water point, bins, CEP and at entrance to the toilets both male and female.

    2nd site a CL had the same set up of hand sanitisers at the water points and CEP

    3rd site Culzean castle C&CC site same set up as Moffat re sanitisers, smaller site and facilities block so they had a one way system going on.

    At both the C&CC sites every other sink, shower and toilet was closed off. Never saw a queue at either site. 

    Site staff came round every couple of hours to sanitise the block/water points etc and a deep clean was done twice a day. 

    All felt quite safe although some folk forgot the one way system.

  • AnnB
    AnnB Forum Participant Posts: 226
    edited August 2020 #511

    We were on a private site last weekend, Belmont Camping, Great Budworth, Cheshire.  They had handsanitisers everywhere, outside the toilet block, by the bins, by the various water taps and by the chemical disposal point.  I was surprised that the CAMC only have them outside the office and the toilets.