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I have no grievance with them having more than 5 vans I was just p****** off that the only place for us was on the long uncut grass without HU !! & we missed out on what was supposed to be a nice relaxing weekend .... it just made for a very stressfull time, we have only had the caravan since June so OH is not an experienced tower,not good  for someone about to have heart surgery !!

I don't feel comfortable with nameing & shaming on this site but will probably leave feed back & might email the C&C.club.

Thanks for all your good wishes re-opp, we have just heard today that he will be having his opp on Monday .... so we have other things to think about now, like winterising the caravan & washing jim jams   

Quote: Originally posted by Davep on 04/10/2011

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Both Clubs have Statutory Powers to Licence the CI's or CL's for up to 5 Caravans. They act in place of the Local Council issuing Planning Consent and Licensing the site.

Those stopping on-site have to be members of the Licensing Club. If the Site exceeds the Statutory Maximum Number of Units allowed. It is committing a Offence Under Planning Laws, their Public Liability Insurance is void as they are no longer a Licensed Site whilst exceeding the Statutory Number of Units.

Not only do they risk the Licensing Club withdrawing the Licence, they risk being prosecuted by the Local Council responsible for Planning. Also you could find that your own Insurance on your Unit is voided by stopping on a unlicensed site.

I looked into the requirements of applying for Licence for Committee covering another hobby I'm involved in. Any Committee acting on behalf of their members, can apply for Statutory Powers to Licence a Location as a Temporary Camp Site, for a maximum of 30 days. Provided that appropriate facilities and Authorised Persons are on site to run it for that period.

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They can also be prosecuted for operating a caravan site without a licence. So two appearances in court. Good point about caravan insurances.

For a number of reasons there is a government review into caravan sites and one of those reasons is that some flout the law, so there is a feeling that things should be tightened up. One proposal is that those who operate illegally should be fined up to £20,000. Local Authorities, as part of the consultation, have suggested that the fine should be up to £50,000. Another proposal is that a duty should be imposed on a Local Authority to carry regular checks of sites, which, at the moment they are not obliged to do. Its a kind of mobile phone/speed camera concept. Once the powers that be know that many folk flout the law, it is reviewed and there becomes a focus on how to make it possible to achieve revenue from the offenders.

Phil

I am really confused around this. There is a local site which has won CL of the year and now has pitches for more than 5 vans? He must have got planning permission?

Quote: Originally posted by Linsee on 05/10/2011

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I am really confused around this. There is a local site which has won CL of the year and now has pitches for more than 5 vans? He must have got planning permission?

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Then you get a field with a hedge across it and a gap wide enough for a van to pass through...thus 2 CLs which look to be in one field but which is actually, and legally, two separate CL sites.....

Phil

Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 05/10/2011

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Then you get a field with a hedge across it and a gap wide enough for a van to pass through...thus 2 CLs which look to be in one field but which is actually, and legally, two separate CL sites.....

Phil

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Phil - What is the detail of the 5 van restriction. Are you limited to 5 vans max on site at any time or is it overnight?, i.e. could there be an excess during an overlap of those coming and going as long as only 5 overnight?

The rules are that there shall be no more than five vans on the site at any one time. Any more than that and it is an unlicensed site and one operating without planning permission.

You will no doubt sometimes get one chap leaving late and the next occupant for that pitch having to wait somewhere else in the field for him to go and that will give you six vans. Four occupied, one waiting to move on to a pitch and one loading up to leave but not actually "occupied". That is still six on a Cl and unlawful. The one waiting is actually using land for the siting of a caravan in legal terms. However, in those kind of circumstances, although unlawful, the powers that be would not prosecute for that temporary (maybe a few minutes) overlap. To overcome this possibility many prudent site owners have the rule about leaving before a certain time and non entry until after a certain time. If the proposed changes to caravan sites are ever implemented (and the review has been ongoing for around four years now!!) I would expect to see all sites implement such a rule for their own protection. After fines of up £20,000 can focus your mind.

You get some non CC members using CLs. Even though there are only five vans on the site it is still an unlawful site.  The exemption from the requirements for planning permission and a site licence are quite prescriptive, so you can have no more than five vans on the land and each must be occupied by a member of the club that has granted it the exemption.

Phil

Quote: Originally posted by Hacksaw Bob on 05/10/2011

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I would have agreed with Tony's first explanation, but the site I think Linsee is referring to is still currently listed as a CL both on this site and the Caravan Club's list.

The CL plus rally field idea is a possibility.

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