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 Topic: Ouistreham problems /closures etc.
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18/4/2023 at 2:49pm
Location: South East
Outfit: Lunar Quasar
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Joined: 30/12/2010 Silver Member 
Forum Posts: 121
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After 7 weeks in Spain and France, we arrived with car and caravan at Camping Riva Bella, 4pm, to find a Closed notice on the gate. At the same time a motor home arrived. Our intention was to stay overnight ready for the 8.30am ferry next day. It's a well-used campsite by those using the ferry but has changed hands, hence the closure for renovations. There's always room out of season so we don't phone ahead.
So - drove around and eventually parked up in the town square by the canal in front of hotels etc. Police nearby said we could stay there overnight.
Went for a snack, still daylight, people around. On our return, another camper parked next to us warned us that they suspected somone was in the 'van. They were fluent French speakers so called police who found two stowaways under the bed squashed in with all our holiday goodies. Scolded and sent off. They had left behind a serrated cooking knife, presumably used to force open a window, breaking the catches.
Fortunately we were able to get on the 11pm ferry, followed by the police to ensure our safety and ward off some other nearby migrants looking for a free ride.
Note also that the motorhome aire is currently closed for renovation too.
We have learnt some lessons. Hope this report helps others.
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18/4/2023 at 3:51pm
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
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Joined: 17/9/2015 Diamond Member 
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As a annual user of the ferry crossing for many years, very familiar with the camp site (but we've always favoured the nearby Camping des Capucines site in Ranville - for one thing it doesn't have any illegal encampment of dubious sorts right outside it's gates!), the car parking area AND the dubious sorts that loiter there!
The temp closure for refurbishment of Riva Bella has been mentioned on UKC and other forums before, so thought the word had spread well enough that most would be aware.
We've parked up in the car park for every trip, but never with a caravan or MH, just a Land Rover or car. We've always sat in the surrounding restaurants so we could keep an eye on the car, and given it a good once over on our return to it to make sure we haven't acquired any 'guests'. We've always been rather reassured that there is usually quite a decent Police presence, and they seem quite vigilant, and we've witnessed them moving on the 'dubious' sorts without them having committed any obvious attempt to break into vehicles, but EVERYONE knows what their intent is!
Caravans, MH's where they can hide inside or 'trucks' with high ground clearance where they can climb and cling on underneath seem to be their favourite target vehicles, but having witnessed the checks on such vehicles once inside the port, their chances of success seem quite slim. There is usually plenty of time for security to do a reasonably good check on any likely vehicles rather than just a random check because of time constraints. You certainly don't want to arrive in UK with illegals on board! - It's worth the time checking any vehicle left unattended to make sure you haven't acquired any unwanted passengers!
It's not a nice feeling having to be so vigilant and it has slightly tainted what we always regarded as a rather nice port, and must be very unpleasant to find you've actually been broken into. The scale of the problem seems to vary from year to year, but has been there for quite a few years now, but thankfully nothing like the scale of Calais!
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