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...... the Newbury/Reading/Basingstoke Triangle.

Any ideas? Tips? Costs? Anyone with space available?

Thank you for the quick replies.

I've done most of the above - may go and chat with some Farms.

I was hoping upon hope that someone knew of a definitive place.

Thanks all ....

dazzer252 - would that be the place next to Oaklet Farm Caravan Park? This site gave me there number .... it's certainly an option, just a bit of a drive away from where I am (would I want to pick it up to go on a weekend trip, is a question I ask myself - if it's hassle in the distance away?).

I've even thought about moving house to get somewhere with space to keep a van - then, I realise it will cost £25,000 to move!!

Hi,

Yes thats the one, is run by the same family. Its not the closest one to us but was the most resonable in terms of price and access, our nearest one wanted £55 a month and that wasn't even a Cassoa site. There is also a cassoa site near Basingstoke that you might want to try (http://www.caravan-storage-hampshire.co.uk/map.htm) I think they charge £40 a month though.

I know what you mean ....we have also considered moving for this and other reasons but in the current climate can't justify it. We can just get the van on our driveway if we put one car in the garage so what I tend to do is pick it up a day or 2 before we go away and then we can load it up, etc. It does mean heading off on the spur of the moment isn't an option but normally with a small bit of forward planning isn't an issue. For examaple if we decided today to go away next weekend I would collect the van on the way home on Thurs eve and then leave it on the drive overnight, head off on the friday and then return on the Sunday........leaving it overnight on the drive for a night or two and then taking it back to storage.

We have a covenant on the house saying you aren't meant to keep caravans but as the developer no longer exists (and accordingly to the advice I have had from a solicitor friend it was only them that could enforce it) we don't worry to much if its only for a few nights and all the neighbours are fine with it........in fact two of them have just told us to leave it there all the time!

Personally I don't mind it been away and out of sight in storage as I then don't worry about one of the kids banging in to it! ....although if I had a large driveway I would keep it at home.

If you know anyone with some land let me know......I reckon we should open a site in this area as there clearly isn't enough around and when you compare the prices with further north we are paying through the nose down here!

Thanks dazza252 for your replies.

That place in Basingstoke has a waiting list, they have told me just to e-mail them every month.

There is clearly a market in this area for storage - I assume that Planning Permission is required still? About 25 years ago we had a Caravan and kept it at a Farm, we sold it to move house ..... just in time, as it turned out, as the Farmer didn't have Planning Permission and everyone (about 50 vans) had to get off!!

I would dearly love to be able to keep the van at home, loaded, ready to go!

My concern about bringing the van home for a few nights before leaving for holiday is the security aspect ..... you hear terrible tales of families losing their van, full of toys, TV's, etc. the night before their holiday as it tends not to be as secure as when left in storage - empty!

Those thieves can smell a caravan from 20 miles away ........ however, didn't a gang get locked up a couple of years ago, the one responsible for an estimated 60% of all Caravan thefts? When are they due out of Prison, I wonder?

I wouldn't worry about the theft aspect. The chances of it being stolen on the one night it is kept at home are slim to say the least. Providing it has a good wheel and hitch lock you will be fine, for added safety I park the X-Trail in such a way that no one could got it off the drive without moving that (which is alarmed) or with a helicoptor! The rate of caravan thefts in this area is fairly low and you will find that most people that have them stolen from home are people who keep them there all the time and where they can be seen from a major road.......i.e someone see's it while driving by and then comes back at an opportune time and nicks it! Ours is only at our house for 2-3 nights a month at most so the chances of someone coming to nick it on the one night its here are slim to say the least.......and its insured so I don't worry too much.

I am sure you have done this but also check your insurance about where you can keep it. We are with the CC and they don't mind where it is stored as long as we have the wheel and hitch lock on at all times. Other firms have different policies and some won't let you keep it on farms unless there is certain security in place.

Yes you do need planning permission for caravan storage.......I would guess to avoid certain groups setting up "storage sites" and then living in them. I did approach a couple of local farmers about storing it but as most of them seemed to want about £30-£40 a month we opted for a proper storage site. The one in basingstoke looks ok and is also fob access so you can get in without booking......but it was an extra 10 miles for us to go and also £180 more a year (which will pay for a 2 week holiday!).

You could always try storage for a few months and see how you got on. Most places just ask you to pay monthly so you can always switch sites as one closer comes up without loosing any money.

Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 04/3/2012

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There is a place on the A33 southbound just south of Popham (just north of Woodmancote) but I don't know details. Can be seen from the road.

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Hi Bob61

Thanks for this - yes, I am aware of that one ..... it's on the wrong side of Basingstoke for us (in an ideal world).

Not sure of costs or contacts there.

dazzer252 ..... good point regarding Insurance, I am insured on our Conway Camper with the C&CC - I would just swap units on the Policy I guess?

We have been spoilt with having the Conway Camper actually, it sits at the back of the garage with the little sports car and is so easy and simple to keep .......

There is also this one near Wokingham. No idea what they are like but I think a friend of ours used to use them:

http://ninemilerideindustry.com/site/caravan_storage.php

Would be interested to know what they charge......Still can't think of any others that our West Berks without going as far as Swindon.......hopefully a few others may post some ideas.

I take it you have also looked at Venners at Purley (just outside Reading). We did consider them but they were asking over £50 a month plus were fairly restrictive on access times.

Quote: Originally posted by MrRee on 04/3/2012

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dazzer252 ..... good point regarding Insurance, I am insured on our Conway Camper with the C&CC - I would just swap units on the Policy I guess?

We have been spoilt with having the Conway Camper actually, it sits at the back of the garage with the little sports car and is so easy and simple to keep .......

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Yes you can just change the policy, I can't remember the C&CC policy on where you can store it but I am sure if you give them a call they will be able to tell you.

We did look at a folding camper before buying our first van last year......in the end the practicality's of a caravan won us over ......we have a 1yr old so it was easier with cots, etc plus the OH liked the idea of her own shower! The only downside is the storage cost / issue but I suppose when you consider you can use it all year round it doesn't work out too bad overall!