Association Rules

CLASSIFICATION OF A MEMBER UNIT

For the purposes of the BL Exemption Certificate that we all rally under the classification of a unit is as follows:

Two adult members and children aged 17 years and under, staying in the member caravan, frame tent or camper.

One pup tent pitched alongside the main unit for the use of children only is included within the definition of a unit.


VISITORS

Any adults wishing to stay in another member’s unit overnight on any rally must be paid up members of the BL Association and have the approval of the host club. Rally Marshals must be informed of their presence on the rally and a fee may be chargeable. There should be no adult guests on a commercial site unless negotiated and agreed through the host club, in which case additional charges maybe made by the site owners.

Remember: If you book a rally and then find that you cannot attend, please cancel with the host club as soon as possible


DISABLED

If you are disabled and require to be sited nearer to facilities on sites could you please mention the fact on your booking-in slip or telephone the Club concerned. They will be more than willing to oblige if at all possible.


ASSOCIATION SITE RULES

All members undertake on joining the Association to observe the following Association Code, which incorporates inter alia the ‘Camping and Caravan Code’ and the ‘Country Code ’, when using Association Caravan and Camping sites (‘Sites’).


(a) Only caravans towed by members’ cars and camping equipment for use of Association members will be allowed on sites.


(b) Weekend rallies start at 5pm on the Friday unless arranged otherwise by the host club. This is for compliance with the BL Exemption Certificate and insurance conditions.


(c) The member’s current BL disc must be displayed on the towing vehicle’s windscreen.


(d) On arrival members must report to the appropriate site Marshals for pitching instructions.


(e) Caravans and tents must be pitched in positions indicated by site Marshals so as to allow no less than twenty feet minimum spacing between units. See 20ft Rule Guide. Pup tents (used by children) continue to be allowed to be placed alongside the parents caravan unit and should be considered as part of the unit for spacing purposes. Tents used as a member’s main unit (tent and vehicle) must not be randomly sited between caravans but must be placed either on the end of rows of caravans or in their own separate but adjacent rows.


(f) Sites must be kept clear of spare equipment and nothing other than waste water and fresh water receptacles or gas cylinders must be stored under caravans or around tents. Sites must be left clean and tidy on the striking of tents and the removal of caravans from sites.


(g) Properly constructed toilet tents may be erected on sites.


(h) Contents of chemical closets must not be disposed of except by emptying them at disposal points provided or in accordance with the instructions of Marshals. Chemical toilets must not be flushed out or filled at drinking water taps.


(i) To avoid possible damage to sewage purification works, members may only use formaldehyde based fluids; under no circumstances may coal tar phenol or caustic based fluids be used.


(j) Buckets or other suitable receptacles used for waste water must not be allowed to overflow and must be emptied at disposal points provided. No filter soak away waste water disposers are allowed.


(k) All waste paper and other solid refuse must be taken home or disposed of in accordance with on-site arrangements. The Marshals should be satisfied that appropriate arrangements are in place. Waste paper and other solid refuse must not be deposited in the chemical disposal pit.


(l) The Marshals should ensure that the site is clear of litter after the meeting.


(m) Fires must not be lit on the site without the permission of the Marshal.


(n) Members are always expected to act with consideration for others on the site and for neighbouring residents, in particular by driving slowly and avoiding loud radios and other music equipment, loud television sets, generators or any other noise at an hour when it would annoy others, normally accepted as 11pm. Local people should be able to carry on their normal activities when meetings are in progress, and disturbance should be minimised. Complaints should be treated seriously and steps taken to investigate and deal with the causes of complaints.


(o) Care should be taken not to damage the site or surrounding locality. Trees, fences, buildings, equipment and stock should be respected.


(p) Domestic pets must be kept on leads not exceeding ten feet, when on the site, and Marshals are authorised to ask any animal owner to leave sites if their pets become a nuisance. All animals must be kept under proper control at all times, and any accidents cleaned up immediately.


(q) Speed of vehicles must not exceed 5 miles per hour on sites. This includes bicycles, etc.


(r) Authority for the conduct of sites is vested in Marshals and co-Marshals. Marshals will be furnished with a copy of site rules.


(s) No learner driver will be allowed to drive on any site.


(t) Bows and Arrows, Catapults, Metal Detectors and Firearms are not permitted on the rally field. Kite flying and ball games liable to cause damage must not be played in the immediate vicinity of caravans or tents.


(u) The use of children’s powered cars, trikes etc. is not allowed on the rally field, except where their use is as an aid to a disabled person.


(v) It is strongly recommended that club members’ caravans and tents are equipped with a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit.


(w) No naked lights or cooking stoves to be used in tents belonging to the Youth Section or child’s pup tent.


(x) Personal generators may be used at the discretion and ruling of individual clubs.


(y) Rally bookings will not be accepted before 15th January.


(z) Persons in breach of these rules will be reported by Marshals to the appropriate club committees and disciplinary action may be taken.


The Association will not accept liability for any accident, loss or damage to persons or property occupying any part of the site, however caused.


DISTANCE BETWEEN CARAVANS - THE 20FT RULE

The DOE has many rules and codes relating to the control of caravans in the countryside. The spacing of vans is only one element of these but is probably the most complicated area. The required distance between caravans/tents on a site is dependent on several factors, too numerous to list here. In order to keep these complications out of our hobby and make things easy for all concerned, by British Leyland Camping and Caravan Association introduced the 20ft rule, which encompasses all of the DOE requirements, whatever the circumstances. The same rule has been adopted by most other caravan clubs and it satisfies most insurance companies.

20Ft Rule

THE 20FT RULE, AS ILLUSTRATED, IS FOR YOUR COMFORT AND SAFETY AND MUST BE OBEYED.


Please note:

  • All caravans must be parked in the same direction
  • Awnings are not to be facing each other
  • Cars are to be parked on offside of caravan (see illustration)
  • The only exception to these rulings are continental caravans with door on opposite side. In this case the caravan may be sited the opposite way, if  possible, or the same way but with extra space allowed over the 20 feet minimum rule to allow for the car.

WINDBREAKS AND CANOPIES

After a number of unfortunate incidents where a fire, having started in one van, has spread to a second, new guidelines have been issued by the insurance companies and adopted by the caravan clubs, to reduce the risk of such incidents in the future.


Windbreaks should not be used to link two units together thereby creating a fire bridge across the 20ft firebreak. Similarly canopies should not be erected between 2 unites. Both of the above create a serious fire risk and could invalidate your insurance cover.


The use of windbreaks to protect a barbecue or a social gathering outside a unit is acceptable, providing site access is not obstructed, the gap between units is not reduced by more than approximately 50% and that any windbreaks extending into the 20ft between units are removed after use.


PLEASE REMEMBER:

  • Cheques cannot be accepted on the rally field. Only cash payments please
  • Only one pup-tent per caravan, max size 6'x8" sleeping area with minimum porch entrance. If larger, permission must be obtained from host club.
  • Children are the responsibility of their parents and must be supervised.
  • Own toilets required on all rallies unless otherwise stated.
  • Anyone arriving on site before Marshals must be prepared to move if necessary.
  • Campers/motorised caravans if accompanied by a frame tent or tourer caravan, will be sited as two united and charged as such.
  • The use of metal detectors on the rally field is forbidden without the written permission of the site owner, which must be shown to the Rally Marshals on request.
  • Please always complete a rally slip in full when booking a rally. This will allow the host club to contact you about any changes to or cancellations of the rally.