Toilet facilities
I've just had an enjoyable weekend away at a Club site. I'm a bit confused by some of the Covid restrictions.
At this site the number allowed to use the Toilet block at a time was higher than the other sites we have used, yet the blocks seem to be similar in size, just wondering why the difference?
In the mens toilets all the urinals were out of use. I can't understand why 1 or even 2 weren't in use as there could be a 2 metre gap between, but also it seems, to me, a lot more Covid safe than having to touch door handles and seats. We have stayed at a site where 1 was in use.
Comments
-
All sites facilities were examined and space adjusted to facilitate social distancing as per HMG instuctions
As ABM mentioned a conversation with the site staff can usually sort out any "confusion" with anyhing site specific
PS " it pays to talk"
0 -
I agree GS1 the difference between sites does not seem to follow any sort of logic. We have stayed on 9. I wondered if it was down to local authority input, but couldn't be bothered to ask. We hardly used them so it didn't really affect us.
0 -
When we were at Cromer I noticed that there were six pegs outside the toilets which seemed a lot compared to elsewhere and given the toilet block is no larger than the other site we had been on. Looking at this website the guidance is pretty general. I tend to have a look through the new site reviews and it is pretty obvious from some of the comments from members that either they don't understand the need for restrictions or they think they are too restrictive. Is it possible that the Club is evolving how it applies the rules based on experience?
David
0 -
I recently stayed on three CMC sites and they each had different systems in place for entering the toilet block.
One site you were given an elastic band with your pitch number on to hang on an available hook outside the toilet block.
On the second the bands didn't have the pitch number on so you could potentially have to use someone else's band if they took yours by mistake - not ideal if you're trying to avoid touching uncleaned surfaces.
On the last site the bands were floating around in a tub of sterilising solution. I went in using the last remaining band one morning, only to find the block empty!
I don't understand why the Club doesn't have a standard system for all Club sites.
John
0 -
We have used two club sites since the lockdown reopening of sites and as "advised" by site staff what ever systen that they have tried it gets abused/ignored by some members ,one of the sites we used pitch numbers were on the wrist bands but even they were not being used as members were just taking the wrong bands
0 -
Does it really matter, simply follow the rules of the site you are staying on without overloading your grey matter with why it is different. This year I stayed at Baltic Wharf, Carsington Water and Clumber Park, all different but also all do-able following guidelines.
6 -
On our travels this year we've noticed greatly reduced traffic to the site facilities and varied systems in use. Families can go in together and I think if you need the loo it's much easier to use the one in the van rather than get in a queue. Some places it's just one at a time, some have become unisex, depends on the design of the building. Personally we've avoided anything communal on site.
2 -
Mind boggling to me. We actually took our MH away with us to a cottage so that we could be as safe as possible all holiday when out for day. Our own loo, our own cafe. We weren’t the only ones doing the same either, lots of natty campers and small MHs out and about in Norfolk.
3 -
Oh yes😁 We parked up on shingle beach at seaward end of Cley Marshes, so half way round the full walk if done from NWT centre. Lots of glances from twitchers and fishing folk, some said hello and how nice to be able to have a cuppa etc.... We can remember that very old coffee shack, small low wooden cabin, that used to be where the shelter is now. It did a lovely cuppa and delicious cakes and puddings. Loos as well of course. Fell victim to a bad Winter storm I think, too perilous to replace no doubt.
0 -
With reference to the original subject of this thread, when comparing toilet blocks one must consider the provision for ventilation and how effective it actually is in use.
0 -
Having recently returned home from 14 nights at Sandringham I never once saw any queueing for the facilities .Saw plenty of people waiting to fill water carriers or emptying them 😀. Seems people were adhering to using their own facilities. Us included I might add .
2 -
We've just returned from 2 weeks away, during that time we stayed on 4 CAMC sites. The first 3 sites were virtually identical at the point you entered them (female) the first 2 sites had one of the hand washing sinks in use and one taped off.
The toilet directly opposite the sink in use was closed then every second toilet cubicle was in use. The showers and wash cubicle's were the same.
At the 3rd site they had both of the hand wash sink taped off and the toilets opposite them all closed (3) others were open further down the room.
My OH said that in the gents on this site ALL the urinals were out of use yet in all the other sites they were in use (same layout)
I did ask a member of the team why they were different to the other sites with the same layout and distancing.
The reply I got was "I wasn't involved it was the site manager" and "you can use your own facilities if it bothers you"
I pointed out that as the site manager wasn't available I was asking who was on duty and could she please pass my concerns on to the manger.
My concerns were like yours in that I witnessed people walking out of the facilities having just been in a toilet, without washing their hands. I felt that this breached basic hygiene let alone Covid guidelines.
Like you my OH felt that with the urinals not in use it was more of a risk having to touch handles and seats.
As I didn't get any satisfaction out of the on site staff, I did contact the club. The answer I got was that they had all been risk assessed. I got the distinct impression that my description of the blocks involved and how they worked was not even read. The reply I got was a fob off. I asked for it to be escalated to the sites team.
The last site we visited had an older style facilities block, much more space, bigger toilet and shower cubicles. The block was tired and needs a refresh but it was spotlessly clean and I would rather have a tired block with plenty of space than these new squashed in like sardines blocks.
1 -
Couldn't agree more. In one block every window was wide open, flipping freezing but Covid safe
On another site the blocks windows were not only closed but locked so you couldn't even open one if you wished. Lovely and warm inside but when one person had a shower the place filled with steam, not really Covid safe but lovely and warm.
0 -
It did suffer damage in a bad storm Ttda but in order to restore it to the standard required by H&SE would have cost too much. A smashing place it was too for a bacon butty and cuppa or a slice of homemade Bakewell. All cakes were homemade.
Sorry for off topic explanation.
We didn't bother with facilities when staying on site. Used our own.
2 -
So did we on our recent visit to Minehead. I've no idea what was taped off or not. It is beyond my comprehension why the Club have not adopted a "use your own" policy across all sitesnas this clearly minimises any risk.
4 -
The commercial site we used in Devon only had a small facilities block in comparison to some club sites, but everything was in use, every sink had hand sanitiser and hand lotion, every shower had big bottle of sanitiser spray which you were asked to use before and after showering, always carried our own antiseptic wipes for surfaces, all windows wide open, never had a problem using the facilities, and people were just so careful and mindful of others.
0 -
I agree. We have been on just 8 sites this year, with both clubs.. Used our own facilities throughout even though some blocks were open and some shut. We also avoided all cafes , restaurants, pubs and attractions. Just food shops and diesel purchases for us which are unavoidable points of contact.
2 -
I guess the Club wanted to keep the facilities blocks open because any member with a small caravan or camper van without their own onboard facilities would be denied access to all the sites that they've paid a year's membership to access.
John
0 -
We have only been away for a couple of weeks to two club sites and one ptivate site since they were allowed to open again
The club sites both had the band system with each arrival issued with one for every member in the party and it was then working fine at the facilities
The mens urinals were all out of use as it could be seen that it would have been impossible to social distance if they were in use and the handbasin in close pximity ,
the private site did not have any form of restrictions in place but as the entrance was through a shared door it was easy to keep distanced
On the sites we used we always took an anti bac wipe to wipe the facilities we used first
0 -
We saw a few toilet tents in use on CLs this year, with campers alongside. Seems a sensible option to me. Rather that than sharing public facilities, no matter who is cleaning them.
0 -
Some of us have moved on from a simple strip wash and want something better. How many kettles would would you have to boil to use the garden sprayer. Most people also have central heating at home rather than going back to the winter days when you used to scrape the ice off the inside of the windows in the house.
1 -
"It is beyond my comprehension why the Club have not adopted a "use your own" policy across all sitesnas this clearly minimises any risk."
The reason why a lot of people - us included - use CC sites is because they have good on site facilities. I am happy to shower in the van but OH hates it and using our loo for anything other than wee's is just not happening. Of course some people do not have their own facilities either.
Other toilet facilities - eg supermarkets - seem to be operating fine with additional cleaning (ie more often) and some have toilets closed off to distance - although why this is needed if you are in a separate cubicle and not likely to be there 15 minutes I am not sure.
0
