Back from Bank Holiday outing within 5 hours....

[Auvergne]

A couple of months ago we booked into Grange Farm, Clacton On Sea, Camping and Caravanning Certificated Site for this bank holiday weekend as it is nearby our favourite seaside destination of Frinton.

We have stayed there on a previous occasion in the Winter and was one of only two vans on site, lovely views over fields, horses gamboling etc. peace and quiet, it was our idea of an idyllic bank holiday venue.

To our horror we pulled on tonight to see not less than approx. 30 vans/motorhomes on grassed areas labelled "old field" and "new field" (which were adjacent areas), more dome tents than you can shake a stick at pitched among the caravans, kids running amok, adults kicking footballs around the vans whilst balancing cans of beer to the best of their ability - to say I was shocked is an understatement. We had invited friends up for the day tomorrow and there was no way I could survive the embarrassment of introducing them to our caravan lifestyle in this environment. If I say it was crowded you'd have to have seen it to believe it - I wished I'd taken pictures but didn't stay that long. It was everything we didn't want.

We didn't even unhook. We rang the owner and she said "I haven't been a CL (note CL not CS) for years" and to add insult to injury said she had given our planned spot away!.

What I would like to know is why is this site being advertised on the C&CC website as being a Certificated Site? The website states the Certificated Sites are noted for being "intimate", "hidden jewels" and above all restricted to 5 vans. As the website also states this site was inspected in 2008, how have the owners got away with it for so long as there are many more EHUs than 5 and one toilet! Why are there C&CC Certificate Site signs still up at the entrance?

It has cost us for the diesel used in the 140mile round trip, the aggravation of getting the van out of storage and putting it back in the pitch dark, packing and unpacking clothes, food and accessories for what?? Our Bank Holiday weekend was written off before it began - back to work on Monday. I just can't say how bitterly disappointed and conned we feel.

I shall certainly be writing to the C&CC and will be interested in their reply. Has anyone every known anything of the like?

 

[LMH]

Sorry to hear about this. Sounds like you need to send off a strong letter to CCC.

What does this mean:

'horses gamboling'

Regards

Lisa

 

[jmg12]

ohhh we have expericed the very same thing we booked up for a weeks stay in a 5 star site although it was not cc or c&cc. We were told it only held 70 vans and was a quiet and tranquil site. The pictures on the net showed it to be very nice as well. Anyway we arrived on site and when we arrived the site must have had 200+ caravans crammed in the grass wasn't freshly cut and it was full of kids running about playing ball games massive tents and the parents looked worse behaved than the children anyway we decided to pitch up and see how we felt in the morning, once we pitched up we realised we were next to a family with 5 kids and 3 staffordshire bull terriers. they also put a tent up which was inches away from or brand new caravan. I went and mentioned their tent was on part of our pitch but all the adults i assumed there were a group were all drunk with bottles of vodka lying around. They basically called me stuck up and later that night a ball hit my brand new range rover luckly with no damage, I complained to the site manager but they just were not interested so we left having paid for the full week. I just did not understand how it could have been classed as a 5 star site. Sorry to here about your experience as well

 

[Damian]

I have looked at the C&CC website, and the UKCamping site and both list the location as members only 5 van CS.

However, the site owners website tells a different story, an makes no mention whatever of being affiliated to any club, and the photos of the site clearly show many more than 5 units.

I imagine what has happened is that at one time they may have been affiliated and a 5 unit site, but have since extended and become a fully commercial site, which is their perogative.

The C&CC and other websites advertising them as 5 van sites should have been updated, but obviously have not

 

[Auvergne]

Hi,

According to the C&CC website, the last inspection was undertaken in 2008 - how often are these sites meant to be inspected and/or reviewed?

Surely the owners must pay an affiliation fee to the C&CC? presumably yearly?

 

[Auvergne]

Sorry to hear about this. Sounds like you need to send off a strong letter to CCC.

What does this mean:

'horses gamboling'

Regards

Lisa

Articulation is not my strength but its horses sort of playing friskily, frollicking, doing stuff happy horses do!

 

[Auvergne]

UK campsites have them as C&CC 5 van site too.

 

[Heethers]

How much of this is the campsite owners realising the increase in caravanners and making hay while the sunshine's.

Surely if it was inspected in 2008 the C&CC should have realised the increase from a 5 van site to a commercial one, l lay the blame solely with C&CC

NigelH

 

[David.O]

Valerie

Sorry re your spoiled weekend. The c&cc allow 5 caravans and a unspecified number of tents on there CS. We found that tents require you to have toilets on site, well most do, hence when we set up we went with the CC with a CL. But we have a major event in the area this weekend so have been asked if we would open up a field for a rally.so for 3 nights we have some 10 caravans in a field. At this moment the sun is shining and all appears OK.

David from Suffolk

 

[ThePlotter]

What is happening more and more is an owner will have a legitimate CL/CS and another adjacent field for which he gets permission to have as a commercial site.The permission is gained on the back of having set the precedent with the CL/CS.This then allows them to legally increse the number of vans but avail themselves of free advertising via the two clubs.Also of course they have the right to let out a field to a caravan club for a rally if that club has an excemption certificate

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi all

this siuation seems to be happening more and more and really must be got to grips with by the respective clubs.

we recently got back from a 3 month tour of the south west and being newly retired wished to make the pennies go a bit further so looked to stay on as many CL,s as we could, while some are very very good, very clean with good amenities, others are not fit enough to put a dog kennel on, let alone a caravan,

one we stayed on (one night only) advetised in the book as a small CL, yes it was small a 20yard strip of hard standing behind the reception? in front of it 3 acres of static caravans. another one described as peaceful and tranquil was sited on a farm behind the cow shed, tranquil with the cows comming into the shed at 5am for milking er no.

colin

 

[Moonchester]

ohhh we have expericed the very same thing we booked up for a weeks stay in a 5 star site although it was not cc or c&cc. We were told it only held 70 vans and was a quiet and tranquil site. The pictures on the net showed it to be very nice as well. Anyway we arrived on site and when we arrived the site must have had 200+ caravans crammed in the grass wasn't freshly cut and it was full of kids running about playing ball games massive tents and the parents looked worse behaved than the children anyway we decided to pitch up and see how we felt in the morning, once we pitched up we realised we were next to a family with 5 kids and 3 staffordshire bull terriers. they also put a tent up which was inches away from or brand new caravan. I went and mentioned their tent was on part of our pitch but all the adults i assumed there were a group were all drunk with bottles of vodka lying around. They basically called me stuck up and later that night a ball hit my brand new range rover luckly with no damage, I complained to the site manager but they just were not interested so we left having paid for the full week. I just did not understand how it could have been classed as a 5 star site. Sorry to here about your experience as well

We had exactly the same experience, 'see one of my posts under 'woodlands' under UK parks.

Adults drinking whilst playing with a football, surrounded by six dogs, balls getting bashed onto our new van. All the offenders were from tents.We told them to stop as it was dangerous for our two babies to be outside with big dogs running free and balls flying about. We got hit with abuse too when we asked them to stop.

All we wanted was our property to be safe along with my family.

We left the next day.

 

[LMH]

Sorry to hear about this. Sounds like you need to send off a strong letter to CCC.

What does this mean:

'horses gamboling'

Regards

Lisa

Ah, I see. I had visions of the horses placing bets on each other in the next race.

Lisa xx

 

[donb]

Even if the site is now running as a commercial site providing it has planning permision then it requires a site license from the local authority. Standard site conditions are applicable and can be enforced but at the moment the site owner has to be prosecuted for non complience on three occasions before losing his licence. This is hopefully soon to change when the Government finaly get round to updating touring site conditions, they are consulting on mobile home park licenses at the moment with holiday parks and hopefully touring sites to follow.

If you are not happy with any dite then contact the local authority whose area it is in and they should be able to tell you if its a certificated site issued by DEFRA to several clubs or licensed by the local authority.

 

[bev2]

This time last year we stayed on a beautiful CL in Warwickshire but the farmer was also accepting several dozen other caravans in another "rally" field on the other side of the barns. I have to admit this wasn't a problem for us. The farmer and his family were working round the clock to bring in the harvest which was late and of poor quality due to last summer's weather. This was the 3rd year running he had had a bad harvest. While I can see that Valerie's particular site was ruined for her, I did have great sympathy for this farmer as it was clear the financial worries were seriously endangering his mental health and although a few extra caravans weren't going to offset his debts that much, he probably felt he had to do all he could to survive.

 

[Auvergne]

I take your point Bev, as we are all aware times are difficult for many people in the present climate and I'm not unsympathetic to anyone struggling financially. However, I cannot agree that anyone should make money by blatant misrepresentation, after all I work hard for my money too. If Grange Farm had been advertised as a commercial site I would have made an informed choice whether or not I wanted to pitch on it. I made the choice to attend on the understanding it was a Certified Site. Both fields contained far more than 5 vans and this is just not on.

 

[Rita1]

Bev i would be interested to know which cl in warwickshire please So that i can avoid it

 

[bev2]

It was Hampton House Farm, Kineton. I would return to this site again despite the rally field because as I said, the rally field was the other side of the barns and didn't bother us with noise or views. I would also return as I would like to support this hard working farming family who still made time to talk to us and tow us out when the field was waterlogged at the end of our stay. The CL was well maintained with neatly mown grass, views and wonderful walks.

 

[Rita1]

Thanks Bev I live about 6 miles from there in a southerly direction The hill in pic with trees on top is 4 miles from me and has some nice walks around it

 

[MrsRobinson]

hi all

this siuation seems to be happening more and more and really must be got to grips with by the respective clubs.

we recently got back from a 3 month tour of the south west and being newly retired wished to make the pennies go a bit further so looked to stay on as many CL,s as we could, while some are very very good, very clean with good amenities, others are not fit enough to put a dog kennel on, let alone a caravan,

one we stayed on (one night only) advetised in the book as a small CL, yes it was small a 20yard strip of hard standing behind the reception? in front of it 3 acres of static caravans. another one described as peaceful and tranquil was sited on a farm behind the cow shed, tranquil with the cows comming into the shed at 5am for milking er no.

colin

"another one described as peaceful and tranquil was sited on a farm behind the cow shed, tranquil with the cows comming into the shed at 5am for milking er no."

But it was a farm and work does usually start about then . . .

 

[forestgump]

just got back from dorset big site but just a few tenters made things bad not a caravan snob but dont find having a cr,,,,,p in the loos not flushing and thn brake theloo saet off not funny more than once tents with large dogs tied up so adults can go down club for 6 hours seems the thing is to buy a camping out fit for 6 for 100 pounds then spend 500pounds on booze laeve the kids too ride bikes in the dark no lights wrong way around the one way system when one youg lad nearly got run over by park warden the lad got up roade off calling the warden a f...ing w,,,ker the lad must off beeb all of 7years old the site was verey nice the staff great they must be so frustrated at these not real campers but they pay the bills

 

[Di3]

just got back from dorset big site but just a few tenters made things bad not a caravan snob but dont find having a cr,,,,,p in the loos not flushing and thn brake theloo saet off not funny more than once tents with large dogs tied up so adults can go down club for 6 hours seems the thing is to buy a camping out fit for 6 for 100 pounds then spend 500pounds on booze laeve the kids too ride bikes in the dark no lights wrong way around the one way system when one youg lad nearly got run over by park warden the lad got up roade off calling the warden a f...ing w,,,ker the lad must off beeb all of 7years old the site was verey nice the staff great they must be so frustrated at these not real campers but they pay the bills

Dean

This sounds familial, just returned from visiting two sites in Dorset (week on each) second one had brand new toilet bloke, husband informed me that one of the seats in the gents had been ripped off and I found a couple of loo's as you described! All I can say is that I would not like to visit these people's houses. Also why do some people think that they are not requested to mop out the showers after use., and they look at you in disgust when you ask them to do so!!!

It is a shame that a few always spoil things for the masses and unfortunately, you find this in all areas of life!

Off to the IOW next week hoping may be bit quieter with schools back etc.,

Feel better after my Tuesday moan, sure I'm turning into grumpy old woman!!!

Di

 

[Auvergne]

Hello Peeps,

Quick update. Had email reply from C&CC saying they will look into the matter and contact the site owner as there should only be 5 vans on site. They made the point that it was acceptable to have a rally in an adjacent field though despite advertising on the website that these CSs are tranquil, hidden jewels!!

Anyway, formal written complaint sent off to C&CC today with more detail - will let you know!

Val.

 

[MGreen_5040958]

We use a cl site in Exmouth. The owner has another field too and I have seen as many as 22 tents and caravans in it. There are 2 toilets on the extra field one for the ladies and and also a Gents, but the only showers onsite are advertised for the cl site. Just 2 of them down the drive by the cl, one each in the Ladies and Gents. these come under huge pressure when both fields are full. I book the cl not expecting queues for showers as I expect to be sharing them with only 4 other units not 26.

 

[forestgump]

hi di dont think any one who owns a caravan be it big or small 20 grand or 1 grand would do this to there loo or shower cost to much to repare and respect there pride and joy