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Do all Campsites have to abide by the Fire Safety Regulations ,? or are they allowed to make up their own rules on the distance between two units.?

We had a large late arriving Mobile Motorhome park next to our pitch, 3 foot away from our units bedroom window. Hubby shot outside to tell the owner about the Safety Fire Regulations. The Owner reluctently moved it over to leave a 6 foot gap between us, saying he needed to fit a tent on the pitch for other family members.

The Camp Owner arrived and Hubby told him he wasn't happy about the distance between both units,(and Fire Regs. etc.,) the CSO agreed and said the MH should be further over and the tent over the other side of the field. The Family had gone off site, so nothing happened at all, till they came back later that night, and coincidently the Camp site was plunged into darkness. The CSO came out and sorted the electrics problem straight away, and guessed who the culprits were, but nothing more was said/done over the  distance between the units issue.  

The Owners were lovely friendly people, as were all the people we met on the site, including the MH Owner, but it did put a damper on part of our Holiday.

Coastwalkers. 

Thanks Millermicm,

Surely there must be standard Health and Safety Fire Regulations for every Campsite when they apply to the Councils for permission to run a Campsite,

Also are pitch sizes determined by Health and Safety Rules on CS's ?

Anyone out there know for sure,?  'cos you can't go preaching your rights about another unit being too close (Health and Safety/Fire Regulations) to other Campers or Campsite Managers if they don't have to abide by any rules, just their own on Fire Safety issues.

Coastwalkers

Quote: Originally posted by Coast walkers on 27/8/2011

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Do all Campsites have to abide by the Fire Safety Regulations ,? or are they allowed to make up their own rules on the distance between two units.?

We had a large late arriving Mobile Motorhome park next to our pitch, 3 foot away from our units bedroom window. Hubby shot outside to tell the owner about the Safety Fire Regulations. The Owner reluctently moved it over to leave a 6 foot gap between us, saying he needed to fit a tent on the pitch for other family members.

The Camp Owner arrived and Hubby told him he wasn't happy about the distance between both units,(and Fire Regs. etc.,) the CSO agreed and said the MH should be further over and the tent over the other side of the field. The Family had gone off site, so nothing happened at all, till they came back later that night, and coincidently the Camp site was plunged into darkness. The CSO came out and sorted the electrics problem straight away, and guessed who the culprits were, but nothing more was said/done over the  distance between the units issue.  

The Owners were lovely friendly people, as were all the people we met on the site, including the MH Owner, but it did put a damper on part of our Holiday.

Coastwalkers. 

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Quote: Originally posted by saftlad on 28/8/2011

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Quote: Originally posted by Coast walkers on 27/8/2011

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Do all Campsites have to abide by the Fire Safety Regulations ,? or are they allowed to make up their own rules on the distance between two units.?

We had a large late arriving Mobile Motorhome park next to our pitch, 3 foot away from our units bedroom window. Hubby shot outside to tell the owner about the Safety Fire Regulations. The Owner reluctently moved it over to leave a 6 foot gap between us, saying he needed to fit a tent on the pitch for other family members.

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So if I read the second paragraph right, you were on your pitch and left 3ft (1m) between you and the boundary, then the motorhome came and (at a second attempt) parked 3ft away from the boundary too. If I've got that right, then there's a whiff of double standards here

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Now I am confused!   Distance to boundary  is immaterial unless it's flamable, i.e. woodland.  Distance between units is for safety in event of fire spreading from unit to unit and 6 metre is norminal.  Within this gap can be a vehicle easily removable in emergency.  A MH is not easily removable especially on blocks and with awning so should comply with 6 m ruling.  (this is oflen set by local council in planning permission or Club Rules.   

The problem here is with the mentality of some MH owners who can be seen parked up 'cheek by jowel' in certain places.  They can be very insular and give no thought to canvassed campers.  Many believe themselves to be above the rest of us.

A question within the question.

Why is it whenever you pitchdown in an near empty field. You end up with an immediate invasion all sides of you sometimes crossing over guylines is a habit of some. It seems as if they are trying to push you out. To move away as they want that particular space.

Then at times they leave enough room. Yet the field is near empty.

I do not mind neighbours as we like to get to know ours by a chat or greeting etc. But it does seem strange.

Is it because basically we like to be near someone rather that be too far away just in case of ???     Happen to you has it?.

We once arrived early and had the whole field to choose from so liking our privacy we pitched our tt on the far side , in a corner, away from the main drag etc.

Within minutes of finishing setting up, another group of campers arrived, drove all round the field then parked up right next to us.

The man said hello then started unpacking. My OH said hello then just looked at me in amazement. His wife commented on how good it was to have the whole field to choose from so I mentioned that we had come early because we liked to be on our own I even used the words " away from everyone else" but the comment went right over their heads. At a loss  to say anything more blunt for fear of it sounding rude we shut up - but if anyone can suggest how to put it nicely I would be grateful.

They were not problem neighbours in any sense so it could have been a lot worse but the field remained relatively empty the whole weekend with lots of places available and subsequent arrivals all seemed to choose pitches widely spaced from existing campers so what was going on with our neighbours remains a mystery.

Yup! that is what I mean. There seems to be something inborn, Their pitch looks good lets go join them OR I wonder if it is. They are away from the others so maybe they are quieter themselves especially at night. As we want to sleep also Lets join them.

How is that?

I have another strange tale.

Last month we spent a week, this time in a static at a site near Looe in Cornwall. The statics were all arranged in an oval around a wide green with 2 or 3 tents camped up the top end close to the amenity block.  Our caravan was right down at the bottom end overlooking the green. Half way through the first day a couple arrived with a tent and pitched right close to the edge of the green opposite our and several others' decking at the front of the statics - no problem for us or the other statics other than a lost view but for them it meant having everyone's cars riding less than 2 feet away from their porch/guy ropes everytime someone used their cars. I couldn't work out why they had chosen the spot.

Quote: Originally posted by the giraffes on 28/8/2011

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We once arrived early and had the whole field to choose from so liking our privacy we pitched our tt on the far side , in a corner, away from the main drag etc.

Within minutes of finishing setting up, another group of campers arrived, drove all round the field then parked up right next to us...

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isn't saftlad saying that if the pitches are in a row, and there is some method of clearly defining where the pitch boundary is, then in order for the units to be six metres apart, it's reasonable to leave oneself 3 metres between the unit and the pitch boundary?

I am not saying that the OP didn't, i can't work it out from what is said, shame we can't draw little pictures on here sometimes!

In terms of the being surrounded when pitching first in an empty field, yes, it's happened many times. I used to think it was simply because when we arrive we pick what we think is the nicest spot in the field and it was simply that that caused others to crowd round. So, since being a bit away from people is a big part of my enjoyment, I started thinking 'that's the least desirable bit, so i'll go there and no-one will join me'. It still happened

I am thinking of having a sign made to hang on my camper 'I pitched away from everyone else because I snore like an elephant' and seeing what result that has!

when ever i have been on a site that sticks to the 6meter guide,i have found that they tell you,you can only pitch to one side of the pitch.so leaving the gap to the next pitch.

as to people pitching around you,i belive this comes under the same thing as when you park at the far end of a shop carpark,only to find cars parked all around you when you get back.i think it's because we are pack animals.

To Saftlad,

Double standards ?

We were set up centrely with our small unit, we asked the CSO to make sure  we had pitched correctly, and not too close to the caravan on the next pitch already sited, the pitches were on the small side.

When the MH first parked up next to us 3 ft away, had there been a marked out pitchs he probably would have been on ours. 

Along with their MH, they managed to have a Tent, Car and a Gazebo (which blocked off part of the main entrance to the site,) all on one small pitch.

Enjoyed reading your Camping Neighbour Stories, As we usually say,                Remember,  'Camping is Fun'. , and even our 'Close Neighbours' we make friends with as it makes for a more enjoyable holiday, but like Miserly and Sterling advise we will try and do even more homework before booking.

Fidgad, you mentioned the 6m. rule, which we do try to go by, (but not always possible.)

Many Thanks,

Coastwalkers,

Ps.

Question : Are all (big and little) Campsites regulated by the Council, and do they all have to abide by the 6metre rule ? (like Clubsites do)