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Caravan Parks

Update May 2021

As we now are in Step 3 of the Governments COVID roadmap,  caravan sites have been permitted to re-open for overnight leisure stays since 12th April.  
Government Guidance has recently been amended to advise what is expected on sites where facilities may be of a shared nature.

This reads as follows:

Step 3 - from 17 May 2021, the following will apply:

Bathrooms

·       Shared toilet facilities are permitted, and clear signage should be provided on how to use shared toilets in line with social distancing and social contact rules.

·       Shared shower facilities are permitted but should only be used where social distancing can be managed. All possible steps should be taken to minimise household mixing and reduce the risk of transmission. Where possible, this should include assigning shared shower facilities to one permitted group of 6 people or 2 households/bubbles (i.e. making them private) or running a reservation-and-clean rota (whereby one permitted group of 6 people or 2 households/bubbles can exclusively book the shared facilities for a fixed time, and the facilities are cleaned thoroughly between reservations). Where it is not possible to manage social distancing and minimise household mixing, shared shower facilities should remain closed.

·       Where showers and toilets are shared, clear use and cleaning guidance should be set to ensure they are kept clean and clear of personal items, and that social distancing is managed.

·       Ensure that you provide adequate ventilation. This means supplying fresh air to enclosed spaces where people are present. This can be natural ventilation through windows, doors and vents, mechanical ventilation using fans and ducts, or a combination of both. You can find more information in the section on ventilation and guidance from the Health and Safety Executive on ventilation and air conditioning.

In short, shower facilities can be used but should be restricted to one group of 6 at a time or two households (this can be more than 6). Sites should carry out their own risk assessments to work out how they would administer this on site, either through bookings, use of signage/wardens on facilities or enhanced cleaning regimes at peak times of use.

Should you need further guidance please contact caravans@e-lindsey.gov.uk

The full government guidance on accommodation can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/hotels-and-other-guest-accommodation#sec-2-2

Update April 2021

As we now are in Step 2 of the Governments COVID roadmap caravan sites are now permitted to re-open for overnight leisure stays.

Government Guidance has recently been amended to advise what is expected on sites where facilities may be of a shared nature.

This reads as follows:

Step 2 - from 12 April, the following will apply:

Self-contained accommodation

Overnight leisure stays in self-contained accommodation will be permitted. 
This is defined as accommodation in which facilities including: kitchens, sleeping areas, bathrooms and indoor communal areas such as lounges, sitting areas, and any lifts, staircases or internal corridors used to access the accommodation are restricted to exclusive use of a single household/support bubble. A reception area is not to be treated as an indoor communal area if it is required in order to be open for check-in purposes, but it should only be used for the purposes of check-in. Guests may also use indoor public toilets, baby changing rooms, breastfeeding rooms, and facilities for laundering clothes, which are not to be treated as indoor communal areas. These areas should be cleaned regularly and kept well-ventilated and guests should try where possible to limit their interaction with other households whilst using these facilities. This will mean that any holiday parks, 'standalone' holiday lets such as houses and cottages, chalets, yurts, holiday boats, and motels and other accommodation in which kitchens, sleeping areas, bathrooms and indoor communal areas such as lounges, sitting areas, and any lifts, staircases or internal corridors used to access the accommodation are for the exclusive use of a single household/support bubble may open for leisure stays.

Campsites and caravan parks will be permitted to open for leisure stays

Provided that the only shared facilities used by guests at the campsite or caravan park are receptions, washing facilities (including facilities for laundering clothes), public toilets, baby changing rooms, breastfeeding rooms, water points and waste disposal points. Shower facilities should be operated so as to ensure no household mixing takes place. This would involve either assigning shower facilities to one household group/support bubble, (i.e. making them private), or running a reservation and clean process (whereby one household can exclusively book the shared facilities for a fixed time, and the facilities are cleaned between reservations and kept well-ventilated). Other facilities - receptions, facilities for laundering clothes, public toilets, baby changing rooms, breastfeeding rooms, water points and waste disposal points - should be cleaned regularly and kept well-ventilated and guests should try where possible to limit their interaction with other households whilst using these facilities.

In short, shower facilities can be used but can only be used by one household at a time and must be fully cleaned between household groups.

Should you need further guidance please contact caravans@e-lindsey.gov.uk

The Full government guidance can be found here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/hotels-and-other-guest-accommodation

Update March 2021

We are receiving increased enquiries from Caravan Sites about allowing people to visit site to "inspect and maintain" their vans from 29th March 2021.

In the absence of further guidance from the government other than the 'roadmap' document, our advice to caravan owners and park owners is as follows:

  • Although we are phasing into coming out of lockdown, the virus is still stubbornly present in parts of the county and recently East Lindsey has experienced a rise in cases, so we are not out of the woods yet.
  • The roadmap states that from 29th March people should still minimise travel wherever possible, and should not be staying away from home. Caravan Sites and Self-contained accommodation are not permitted to open at this stage other than for the exceptions relating to being homeless etc. provided in the current restrictions.
  • If you are a site owner you should not be allowing people to access the site for the purpose of "inspecting" or "maintaining" their vans.
  • People should not be travelling from outside of the county in order to just visit their caravan. We are taking that "minimise travel" as described in the roadmap at this time still means stay local, which the government guidance states is as follows: If you need to travel you should stay local. This means you should avoid travelling outside of your village, town or the part of a city where you live. You should reduce the number of journeys you make overall.
  • No overnight stays on site are permitted during this period.
  • If sites do have to allow someone on site, as a result of a caravan being broken into or damaged for example, the caravan owner then may have a legitimate reason for needing to visit. Parks should keep details of anyone who is on site for this purpose and operate an appointment system for this detailing the date and time that someone is on site. We would encourage parks to notify us of such bookings at caravans@e-lindsey.gov.uk
  • Clearly this situation needs to be managed (government guidance permitting) between 29th March and 12th April and we encourage all sites to plan ahead to ensure site security is maintained during this period and to provide this advice and guidance to all of their caravan owners.

Update February 2021

Information and FAQs for site operators and individuals seeking to remain on sites on a holiday basis and a place of residence Icon for pdf Holiday Caravan Park Closures February 2021 [144.64KB]

Holiday Caravan Park Operators - Letter Icon for pdf Holiday Caravan Park Operators Letter Feb 2021 [464.79KB]

 

Update January 2021​​​​​​

Holiday Caravan Sites and COVID19

 

As part of the response to National lock down (Stay at Home) from January 4, 2021, caravan parks are to close whilst a holiday caravan site is within its permitted open season.

If a site is in its closed season / due to close, it should close and remain closed until the next season starts.

Guidance on accommodation such as caravan parks can be found here
 

Any site operators wishing to remain open over the winter period are advised to email for further advice.

We are aware that upon closure of holiday caravan sites, some households may not have an alternative residence available to them, or may be affected by travel and other restrictions necessitated by the pandemic. If you are affected by this situation and do not have anywhere else to go, please contact our Housing Hub on 01507 601111 or email. We strongly advise that you check the details of your licence agreement and that you have this to hand when you call us. The team will discuss your individual circumstances with you and will advise and assist you to make alternative accommodation arrangements for your household. Depending on your circumstances this may include:

  • Supporting you to identify alternative housing options in the local area
  • Supporting you to identify interim accommodation arrangements with family or friends where appropriate, or in temporary accommodation
  • Supporting you to make a homeless application to the local authority area in which you have a local connection

For more information click here and some frequently asked questions relating to holiday accommodation caravan sites,click here 

 

Reopening Advice (when necessary)

You will find a range of information to support you with this on this web page and it is important that you continue to refer to the Government Guidance for the sector to guide your Covid secure risk assessments and re-opening plans.

We recognise that there are instances where there are localised outbreak management requirements in place in other areas which recommend that people stay at home as much as they can, and advise against all but essential travel to, from and within those areas; in those instances there may be an impact on your sector for people who were planning to travel to the area.

We advise that you:

  • Continue to refer to Government guidance

  • Regularly check on the .gov website for areas subject to localised lockdowns

  • Review your risk assessments accordingly

  • Consider the steps you could take to support customers affected by local lockdown restrictions to rebook alternative dates

 

Advice and Guidance for re-opening your caravan park:

Please be advised that if you are a small site (usually 5 vans or less) these sites are not licensed by ourselves. We do however regulate these sites for health and safety under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. These sites are largely self-regulated in terms of their standards and are usually affiliated to one of the following organisations:

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