This is really scary. On our way out today we came across this rally at Little Witley village hall in Worcestershire. I don't think it is the local CC centre, but whoever was the marshal deserves to have their knuckles rapped hard. I would hate to think of the consequences is a fire had broken out as we could count approximately 12 caravans and motorhomes on the land surrounding the hall. The area is probably less than an acre all together! The hall is on the side of a hill and clearly visible if you use Earth google. Hopefully no one from this forum is on that rally!
I really cannot see what all the fuss is about I,d much rather be pitched with this lot than be stuck on a commercial site with a load of clueless clowns in tents burning whatever on home made fire pits !
Not how i'd want to be spending my weekend but I daresay those there are quite happy with the layout, what should you expect in a village hall carpark.
Quote: Originally posted by kate w on 03/3/2013
Not how i'd want to be spending my weekend but I daresay those there are quite happy with the layout, what should you expect in a village hall carpark.
If you were a newby attending a rally for the first time and you arrived to find you were being squeezed in, rather than turn around and return home you probably would park.
I am just very surprised that the marshals who are C & CC members allowed such close spacing and that there are exemptions to fire safety for rallies.
I wonder if they insisted on a bucket of water in front of the caravan?
You quite often on limited sized village hall car parks get this tight parking however there is evidently ample room to evacuate by foot, with next to no risk to life. We also don’t know if all included in the photos actually camped at the function.
What is very unusual is for somebody not in any way involved to take on the duty of coming round photographing things. This was from selected angles, ensuring they also identify the vehicle registrations of the people involved and the location. Then what I find unbelievably to go on and publish those photographs on more than one internet public access forum.
Surely anyone that felt things were so dangerous would immediately explain their concerns to those involve? Did that happen, we are not told? Or as the tone implies was it a case of sneaking away to hit the keyboard anonymously informing the world.
We can only hope the OPs intentions were well meaning even though with out doubt the method chosen subjects those involved to a humiliatingly intrustive public exposure that is in my view on the facts given totally unjustified.
I for one hope those involved really enjoyed themselves.
Well the OP is not exactly new to the forum. If this were their one and only post, JTQU then maybe you would have a point. I wonder if this could have been a rally that the OP was booked in on and rather than stay they decided to take a few photos after falling out with the organisers and post them online.
I can't say I have ever seen rallies quite as packed in as that, but have been on a few that are close to it.
Rallies are not exempt from the fire regulations that are imposed on other sites, but they are sometimes taken with a pinch of salt since they are unenforcable on a weekend rally. By the time the fire officer is informed and gets onto the scene, and action is taken the rally is over and every one has departed.
We live in a village not far away and pass the hall on a regular basis. There have been rallies there previously, but we have never seen it this crowded and IMHO it is very overcrowded for that venue.
We stopped at the entrance and only took the two photographs. We were considering going on rallies this year which is why it was of interest to us. It definitely has helped us make up our minds about rallying!
Can't say it would be my cup of tea but then I suppose that if you are into 'Vicars and Tarts' then anything goes!
We once had a similar rally at our children's primary school - they payed a nominal hire fee. Loads of motor homes and the odd caravan crammed in to the school play ground. The biggest problem caused was the lifting of manhole covers to empty their waste down, without permission.
------------- Ollie
2016
Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup
While agreeing not best to post identifying pictures, Ian does have a valid point, not least your insurance and the Hall's would most likely be invalidated in the event of an 'accident'
There are clear rules laid down by DEFRA regarding distances apart and that is 20 feet between vans, at the least to prevent fire spreading too quickly or heaven forbid, to help minimise the collateral damage of an explosion.
To say nothing of a bit of privacy!
If you think that meet was close for low flammability sided caravans and Motorhomes. One wonder how the tented Glastonbury and the Isle of Wight festivals, and Silverstone get sanctioned year after year if such separation “rules” are actually mandatory for temporary meets?
This was an out of season Village hall event, entertainment and food in the hall. Most are green field events some with halls/ barns some without. So hare are a few other rallies to look at.
Jubellee last year
ducks in the fire bucket Carnforth
Due to last years weather, you will have to take my word for it the dark blue smudge is the sea.
This one just to show tents welcome, that's us passed the caravan.
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