The Use of second holiday homes / Caravan parks

Most sites amenities are closed anyway but surely you can use your caravan as still paying site fees. The park is open as there are NHS staff in Dunoon staying there so why cant people be trusted to observe the social distancing rules and be allowed to travel to their caravan? I've been home 6 weeks now and rest assured I have no contact with anyone, my partner not even working. Why cant we travel an hour to be in a more relaxed space which will undoubtedly help us both mentally as well.

Please don't lock the thread like others admin!!

Mick

Why the contribution is important

Can safely adhere to social distancing, no contact with other members of public.
Improvement on my own mental health having being stuck indoors for 6 weeks.

by mickm1 on May 05, 2020 at 02:57PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.0
Based on: 37 votes

Comments

  • Posted by deerhoundchris May 05, 2020 at 17:52

    There is a need soon to be able to at least check on second homes.
  • Posted by AlexMD May 06, 2020 at 07:50

    Should never have been closed down in the first place.
  • Posted by Robert866 May 06, 2020 at 12:02

    Where a site has touring pitches Motorhomes and Caravans should be allowed as well. Shared facilities could remain closed since modern campers and caravans have perfectly adequate facilities on board. Social distancing could be easily enforced.
  • Posted by macphek May 06, 2020 at 13:38

    You are just as much a risk in a 2nd Home as in your primary residence. A 2nd home or Caravan needs regular visits for it to be maintained properly or damp may start, and gardens become a mess. This is really needed in my view and is minimal risk.
  • Posted by DarrenRedfern May 06, 2020 at 13:43

    I agree totally. Static Caravans, touring vans and motorhomes have to keep far apart due to current fire regulations there would be little need additional measures for social distancing. Most modern units have their own toilets and showers, and therefore there would be little need to use any shared facilities. Indeed this type of holiday would be far safer than any other type of accommodation as everyone would be in their own box and using their own facilities.
  • Posted by Ginakeenan May 06, 2020 at 17:40

    I disagree strongly with this. We had a second home owner tried to isolate here on our island. They had the virus and had to be taken off the island. If this person had spread it it could have been catastrophic to our elderly and vulnerable population. So no . No second home owners!!!
  • Posted by Ken2022 May 08, 2020 at 08:35

    No, another cash first, virus and locals second, just another selfish excuse that risks spreading the virus.
  • Posted by Fiona1 May 08, 2020 at 09:38

    People should be allowed to use their own second homes once lockdown starts to ease as long as they are adhering to the social distancing. They pay for the home and need to be able to check the house is still in order and not falling into disrepair. Second home owners also contribute to the local economy alot of which is usually seasonal and as a shop owner I would like to see second home owners be able to return to the village. I do not agree with them letting their homes out etc but see no reason for them not to return to their own second homes.
  • Posted by Johnh May 08, 2020 at 10:01

    This needs to be carefully done and certainly shared facilities need to remain closed.

    Whenever, as here, I read lots of comments from rural or island residents saying "stay away so we don't get sick" I always detect the subtext of "go spread it instead within the crowded cities and overwhelmed city hospitals where we would expect people to die of disease.... but do send your city cash in bailing out our rural tourist industry please".

    Of course we should reduce the spread but reducing population density in cities is part of that too. Time to think of a more nuanced way to permit some use of caravans etc without too much risk.
  • Posted by JohnMcCulloch May 08, 2020 at 10:11

    I think at this time static caravan owners should be able to go to site to check caravan. I left my van just before lockdown and left fridge on. Things require to be checked. Also we are still paying local authority charges to Fife Council. Should they not be refunded to us as we are not being able to go to our van.
  • Posted by Pinkb27 May 08, 2020 at 10:58

    I totally agree with some of the above. We have a seasonal pitch and would like to be able to at least go and check our van and/or use it and would be more than happy to use our own facilities and stick to social distancing.
  • Posted by erdabrown May 08, 2020 at 14:55

    If you camp or have a camper van or a second home it is likely that this is to benefit your mental health and that being "stuck" and constrained is likely to be affecting your mental health badly. People should be trusted to safely socially distance when in camp sites or other communities - we are not stupid - Not everyone can keep their sanity being forced to live like timid, frightened mice.
  • Posted by NadineH May 08, 2020 at 15:19

    There is a conflict between the ease of social distancing in a second home/ mobile home and the potential pressure on local services should you become ill, apart from the risk of importing COVID to the area when you make the move. Travel may seem harmless and low risk for an individual but scaled up this is one of the things which increases spread of the virus. We can't just assess the risk to ourselves.
    There is however a concern about insurance cover which often states that properties should not be empty for more than 60 days.
    On the whole, despite my personal interest in wanting to visit my second home, I think this restriction should not be a priority for lifting early on. It might be linked to phased lifting of travel restrictions.
  • Posted by user1234 May 08, 2020 at 17:09

    I believe people should be permitted to stay in their own private static caravan. In my situation my caravan is much more isolated than my home and I come into much less contact with other people there than I do in my house. It is totally self contained so I would not have to use communal shower or toilet blocks. It is also within 20 miles of my home so I would still be using the same main supermarket than if I were at home and also the same hospital should I fall ill so would put no more strain on the local area than if I was at home. This would help greatly with the mental ability to cope with an extended lockdown.
  • Posted by C5tuk May 09, 2020 at 16:09

    No reason why this wouldn't work, caravans wither tourers or static on seasonal pitches already have there own facilities and are spaced out, would be easy to Social distance
  • Posted by Kensim9 May 11, 2020 at 13:26

    In many cases getting close to Government causing loss of insurance cover if 2nd home, the or new home, and but residence sale postponed due lockdown. Are Scottish Government then responsible for insurance cover & damages and failure of sales?
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