Amenity blocks closed until 17th May
Anyone realised this. I just don't get it. Why can pubs open their shared toilets for outdoor diners / drinkers, motorway services shared toilets never been closed, but caravan & camping sites can open 12th April but can't open their amenities until 17th May. And I would bet that most site toilets are far more hygienic and cleaned more often than pubs and motorway services. Bonkers.
Moderator Comment - I think this thread has run its course now. When the off topic posts outnumber the on topic ones it is time to close.
Comments
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Has its upsides...the site we have booked from 4th May thru to 18th May has quite a few tenting pitches, which under normal circumstances would be very full, especially at the weekend, however, all these are closed so many more slots will be available for the indoor swimming pool which will be open, and I do like my swimming pool.
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Yes, we did.
As for why - that's a question for Boris.
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Sorry can`t make any sense of this, the government has decreed facilities can`t be shared before 17th May. We found the system operated by the club worked perfectly well on the sites we were on last year. I would imagine the club will lose a fair amount of business if facilities can`t open and its particularily unfair on anyone with diabilities who needs to use site facilities.
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I believe that the 17th May deadline stems from the 'Data not Dates' UK Government policy, supported by the English CMO & CSO who each gave evidence to the UK Parliamentary Committee today. These gentlemen, Prof Whitty in particular, was at pains to highlight the danger of a 3rd surge if reopening of closed sectors of the economy occurred too quickly. Both he and Sir Patrick Vallance stressed that SAGE needed 5 weeks to assess the impact of a reopening on COVID transmissions so this fits with the 12th April initial opening.
Given the early recognition 12 months ago that COVID passed easily and quickly by touching shared surfaces, and the Phase 1 Ban on using shared toilets/neighbours' toilets, even when household mixing was permitted last Summer, a cautious approach to opening site facilities is understandable, if a wee bit frustrating.
Scotland is being even more cautious so our Summer Season is likely to start around 15th November with ites shutting for Winter on 1st December and a minimum stay of 3 weeks ...
Steve
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Be thankful for what’s on offer I say. Everything could still go wrong according to scientists today. If compromise and self discipline helps, careful controls across all modes of self contained holidaying (not just the Club) will concentrate minds. We never expected more between mid April and mid May, so it won’t affect us. A change of scenery, not far from home, no socialising, no eating out. We shall cope.
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I wonder if they'll reduce their rates down to match non facility sites?
Or even increase the non facility sites to match those to level up the field so to speak?
Doubt it for either but would be nice to see rates reduced if blocks are shut. I think we're tentatively booked onto a site early May for 4 nights but will definitely be using our own on board ones.
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To be honest I'll just be happy to get the sites open and to go away.
We used out own facilities at most sites last year so no problem there.
The fact that all the sites on the network are to be open this year is a huge bonus, they were so busy last year and this year is predicted to be the same.
To the OP, be thankful you at least have a date at which you can go to a site, there are a lot of us still waiting to hear. I'd be happy to go away on the 12th April facilities or no facilities.
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Oh you wag you😂 I shall look out for flying pigs tonight. It would make our trip to FM cheaper.
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Just interested. Why do so many people find it so hard to use the facilities in their vans. The onboard facilities are very good these days and we pay a fortune to have them as part of our outfits. I'm just curious as to the reluctance of many to use them. Keep safe and really looking forward to getting out in our van in April.
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Presumably as the information, dated 24th Feb, on the covid information page remains unchanged the club have not yet given up on getting something open.
Following the UK Government's recent guidance, we are planning to reopen all our Club campsites in England from 12 April 2021. We are however awaiting further clarification on the use of communal areas and shared facilities (including toilet blocks and showers) and will advise on this as soon as possible.However, to me the government guidance seems quite clear and I can’t see anything other than perhaps opening the toilets being a possibility.
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For us, it not a case of finding it hard. In more normal times we would use the communal facilities provided. It’s simply quicker and easier and I get a better shower.👍 Plus of course we are paying for them. We certainly use our own on Aires and largely did so last September on CC sites when we ventured out for 3 weeks. There are of course only two of us. For a family of four I would think having communal facilities would make for a much easier holiday.
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Quite agree with you, we bought our caravan with much thought to the bathroom area as we always use our own facilities in normal times. At present there is no way I would consider using shared facilities anyway!! We are just looking forward to going away somewhere that isn’t at home. 🤞
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Like Mr Sambambles, I cannot understand the aversion to people using their own facilities. It is one of the reasons I'm averse to using club sites as I am paying handsomely for something that I do not need. The non facility sites are, unfortunately, rare. I also doubt that we wills a price adjustment for reduced facilities either. Not that the SD gives us any idea what the fees are though. I'm still waiting for the promised printed price list. Perhaps someone can report this post as a reminder to HO.
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We don’t find it hard, nor are we reluctant, to use the vans facilities and neither do we find it hard, or are reluctant to use the sites.
One could similarly ask why people who “pay a fortune” for these facilities in their outfit do not stay exclusively on non-facility sites?
One thing we notice is that the sociable aspect of camping is evident in site facilities use with many a conversation being struck up.
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I think an earlier poster "advised" about people with disabilities needing other than what their L/V facilities provide,my OH has in the last couple of years needed help when getting showered (balance problems)and dressed,which even though our c/van has full width toilet and shower has not the room, which when we are away now means i need to be around in case she starts to fall or needs retrieving from the shower, which we have found is extremely difficult in the confines of the van,
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When booking sites we always go for serviced pitches if available and still use the shower blocks in normal times, but like many more people last year we used our van for everything and felt a lot more safe, although the shower blocks were open for a limited number at a time. We have both had our first vacation injections but will continue to use our own van for everything until we feel safe not to do so. Just listen to the medical people who know more about coronavirus than we do.
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