Unlawful trespass at Knaresborough Site

JillwithaJay
JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
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edited August 2021 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Unconfirmed reports of Knaresborough Club Site having to close due to a group of caravanners having illegally entered the site.  If you have a booking it is recommended that you ring the club's HQ.

It is alleged by members who have left the site earlier today that children had been sent to retrieve barrier fobs from the box at the exit.

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Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited August 2021 #2

    is there an elephant in the room that we're not allowed to discuss/mention?!?

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #3

    Not that the barrier would stop one of the "elephants".

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #4

    They know all the tricks to gain access,  another (not this year) site one "member" booked in and proceeded to open the barrier with the card that had been issued to allow entry to othersyell

    On another site the entry barrier was broken off "accidentally ?" which then allowed others to enter,undecided

    One private site owner in Gloucestershire who had an illegal, entry got rid of them by filling a Jerry can with water and said if they do not leave in half an hour he would burn all their units  they did not go so he used another Jerry can with petrol in to set fire to some material nearby. as a warning, then approached their units with the water filled jerry can ,they were off very soon after surprised 

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,644 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #5

    Can't see a CC site wardens doing that, can you?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #6

    No ,and it cost the club as far as I know, to get a court order and bailiffs to remove them, and each unit has to have a separate order?,it is hoped that the new law going through Parliament makes it easier and cheaper to get them removed

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #7

    Knaresborough Situation Update - The trespassers have now been removed from site, however the club can’t guarantee they won’t return. They have 24hr security in place for the BH weekend.

    If you have a booking for the site, it might be wise to make contact prior to arrival.

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited August 2021 #8

    That's a good update Jill.  Hopefully, the members who've booked for the BH weekend will be able to enjoy their weekend now.

    These "trespassers"  are just lawless thugs who have no consideration for anyone other than themselves.  From what I've read, a similar group were evicted from another location in Knaresborough earlier this month ......

  • hywelsycharth
    hywelsycharth Forum Participant Posts: 37
    edited August 2021 #9

    I stayed at Knaresborough from Sunday last and had paid until today (27 August). When the children of the "trespassers" started throwing stones at all and sundry it was time to leave and I made a quick exit. I lost one night's booking fee which I expect to be refunded by the Club. I feel deeply for some members who had booked and paid for an extended period and had realistically no option other than to leave immediately. I really felt also for the wardens who seemed to have no support whatsoever from anyone. I would suggest that the Club remove all barrier pass boxes from the exits and provide safe deposits for these items in a secure place which cannot be broken into or pilfered by children. I have been caravanning for close on fifty years and a Club member since 1980 and have never before come across this problem. It is high time that legislation was changed to afford the polce power to rectify behaviour of this kind.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #10

    Read the reviews posted about Alderstead Heath site, we left earlier this year before our stay was complete

    It seems  becoming more of a problem on club sites are they still in Uttoxeter race course site

    There has been several cases in the last couple of years oncc sites

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,644 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #11

    Just as a matter if interest, does anyone know if any of the C&CC's site been similarly affected?

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2021 #12

    No idea but have encountered members of hat community who have behaved reasonably on C&CC sites

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #13

    Not aware of any but I have been on a commercial site where there were problems. In this case they were delt with by the police who were going to tow away their caravans if they didn't leave.

    peedee

     
  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #14

    The Police,Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill which should provide more protection in these matters is currently going through the House of Lords. I wonder if the Club thinks this Bill will make a difference, some say it will others not? If it receives Royal Assent, as it stands, then perhaps we will have to wait and see how it is enforced with respect to tresspass and illegal entry to sites.

    peedee

     
  • hywelsycharth
    hywelsycharth Forum Participant Posts: 37
    edited August 2021 #15

    Following on from my report of the problems at Knaresborough on August 26 it would be interesting to learn if any of the affected members who. like myself, had to laeve the site have been officially contacted by the Club with maybie an offer of free night vouchers and an apology, The Club will know who they were as it is a legal requirement. At the moment I feel badly let down by the deafening silence on the Club's part.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #16

    Firstly I am not sure what there is to apologise for as these circumstances were outside the control of the Club. There may be lessons to be be learnt but that is for another time. If you have a personal case for compensation you must take that up with the Club direct, no one on this forum will resolve it. I imagine the initial response from the Club would be to concentrate on the well being of their staff who have probably been very shaken up by the experience.

    David

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #17

    Were you requested.? to leave of did you leave on your own accord ,I am not sure under the circumstances that the club are in any way to blame for what is becoming a more common practice by the people involved.   it is not just this club that has the very same problem

    , Hopefully when the latest paper going through parliament becomes law it will help with managing the problems

     

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited August 2021 #18

    Having never been in the unfortunate position of having to leave a site under such circumstances, I feel really sorry for the staff and for those members who've had their breaks curtailed, but I don't see how the club can be held responsible in this instance.

    By definition, these "trespassers" clearly entered the site illegally.  They didn't book like everyone else, so the club will not know who they are!  These 'people' do not comply with legal requirements like everyone else! 

    However, I would have expected site staff to have called the police immediately?  You previously referred to "the trespassers' children throwing stones at all and sundry"  This is surely a matter for the police.  A few criminal offences spring to mind .....  assault, criminal damage etc etc

    I wonder if the club make refunds for other unexpected events like flooding?  Do they have insurance to cover refunds to members in these kind of circumstances?  I don't know ....

     

     

  • GTrimmer
    GTrimmer Club Member Posts: 169
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    edited August 2021 #19

    Thequestion that appears to be unanswered is how they got in !  Club sites have barriers, don't they?  Were they let in ,or did they break in? If the latter the Police should have been summoned immediately !

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #20

    The CEO and his senior team will be off on jollies and the folk who really run the won’t be allowed to make independent decisions

  • eyebrowsb
    eyebrowsb Forum Participant Posts: 554
    edited August 2021 #21

    Go back to the beginning of the thread GT  wink  ....  they sent their kids to 'steal' barrier fobs from the drop off box.  It's surprising how many thing kids with skinny arms can steal!!

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #22

    Some boxes that you put your barrier card into are not locked? or should I put ,were not, locked surprised

    One site we have been on it was? just an open plastic containerundecided

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #23

    Better still return them to reception on departure. Some sites even require a deposit (oops should mention that word) refundable on departure. Godrevy used to charge a couple of pounds deposit for the rear gate key so it is not unusual for the Club site to do so.

    peedee

     
  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #24

    If when you leave as on quite a few sites it is requested to post your barrier card through the office letter box as the office may not be personed ,as other work is required on site before the earliest arrival time,wink

    It would be difficult here as after clearing the out barrier you could be obstructing the public footpathsurprised

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #25

    A member of the EGH management team is on call out of hours  for such problems who should then be able to set things in motion 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #26

    Double post Deleted User by me

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #27

    It would be difficult here as after clearing the out barrier you could be obstructing the public footpath

    A couple of minutes inconvenience while the passenger nips back with the barrier fob. Even solo owners wouldn't take long. If reception is closed, pop them through the letter box like they do at Clumber Park.

    peedee

     

     
  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #28

    You could be obstructing a public foot path waiting to depart with traffic on Ham Lane. this morning for example with  the park runsurprised and even longer by returning a barrier card and if the driver pulled onto Ham Lane even with a motor caravan you would be a great ambassador for LV owners, with other road users undecided

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #29

    The C&CC sites we have used have had key pads for entry and open automatically on exit. As long as these can accept more than one code and be updated easily, I think they are less likely to be compromised than cards left in a box. In the event of an incursion the codes could easily be Deleted User and only those entitled issued with a new one.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #30

    Even easier to get in if no code is required for exit.

    peedee

     
  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #31

    It is like the codes on the toilets then. "have you got the code I have left it in my caravan"surprised

    Entry exit cards can be Deleted User off the system