I'm Puzzled

No, not at all but I just think that it might be being done. If so, they have my support so long as it is kept to minimum numbers, ie 6 or 7 outfits where space allows.

I wonder why you chose to publicise potential law breaking and blind eye turning when you support such actions, John. I’d have thought you'd want to hush it up.

Not sure if one of the CLs you mention having an extra unit on site is the one you recently reviewed, but if it is, then you need to be aware it actually offers a caravan for hire as holiday accommodation. Could this be the extra unit? Five tourers and one holiday let. 

Yes, “I’m Puzzled “ too. 😀

Hi JohnM20

Thank you for your post, when setting up CL sites we do not encourage more than 5 hard standing pitches, however, as mentioned by some members, some CL sites have the space to offer pitching options. Whilst we are responsible for certificating a site, there must be no more than 5 vans on the site at any one time, whatever the layout.

Our CL sites are visited by a CL Adviser every year but with a small team of volunteers it is hard for us to police the 5 van rule without the help of our Members. The CL owners are aware of the 5 van rule and that we do not under any circumstances condone exceeding the number and would ask our Members to report this to HO for investigation. Exceeding the 5 van limit can be a serious health and safety risk, as well as a breach of the exemption that allows us to certificate these sites each year.

The exempted status privilege which is regulated by Natural England, which enables us to operate CLs, comes from the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960. That privilege applies not only to our CL operation, but also to all of our temporary sites and the more than 2,500 rallies that our Centres organise across the Country every year. The fact that the Act has survived intact for 59 years is a credit to all of the Exempted Organisations, who approach their activities in such a responsible manner through their codes of conduct and the behaviour of their members.

We need to be very careful that any argument for an increase in the number of pitches on a CL is not just viewed as a back door way of getting around the site licensing regime, which is a compliance requirement for the operators of commercial sites.  Indeed, many of our members enjoy staying on CLs because they offer a more intimate experience and they would not necessarily wish to see them increasing in size. 

The Club’s focus is on doing all that we can to grow the number of CLs, not the size of individual CLs,  so that we have a balanced coverage across the country for all our members to enjoy.

Thanks

Maddie

“The Club’s focus is on doing all that we can to grow the number of CLs, not the size of individual CLs, so that we have a balanced coverage across the country for all our members to enjoy.”

Maddie It appears that the club are not successful in growing the number of cl’s. There are more closures than new cl’s almost every month so how can you use the words “balanced coverage” as the way things are going there will always be an imbalance.

The relevant law for the purpose of exemption is now nearly 60 years old. How many caravans were around then and more so how many members. I have made the following statement before on this forum. “In 1986 when I joined the club there were 5000 + cl’s there are now only half that.” So by upping the limit to 10 vans (if space allows) it will bring back the number of pitches to that of 33 years ago. This would be two fold. It would benefit both members and cl owners. It may stop the loss of cl's who have plenty of land to accommodate more vans. This would not be seen as “a back door way of getting around the site licensing rules” if it was done in the correct manner by the club. Outdated laws can be changed with diplomacy especially if they are of benefit. If you don't ask you don't get or perhaps, as discussed in other posts, you don't want.

Today 2500 cl’s or 12,500 pitches. At the present rate of losses how many in another 33 years. None. Food for thought.

I don’t think it’s for the club to push for a change in the exemption regs, Harry. If you want a change then perhaps lobbying your MP is the way forward.

Obviously, CL owners are completely free to redeem their exemption and seek permission by the usual planning methods to operate a larger site if that’s what they wish.

A CL we go to has what looks like  7 hard standings however two of these are usually occupied by the owners caravan whilst their daughter stores theirs on the other. These two pitches are slightly apart from the others and closer together but I can see how some may jump to conclusions. Mind you this 'jumping' seems to be quite a regular habit for a few. 

Rather than 10 vans how about a minimum of area (SQ Metres) per pitch up to 10 vans as a  lot of CL's do not have space for 5 vans comfortably let alone 10.  I can imagine if some CL's were suddenly allowed to double their income they would do so without looking at the space available?

There you go, MT, another idea to put to your MP.

Only the Govt can change the existing rules.