Concern over caravan park standards

A catalogue of concerns with caravan parks in north Norfolk has been uncovered by a year-long investigation.New licensing conditions are now being considered by the district council for all the 170 sites it regulates in an attempt to ensure they come up to scratch.

A catalogue of concerns with caravan parks in north Norfolk has been uncovered by a year-long investigation.

New licensing conditions are now being considered by the district council for all the 170 sites it regulates in an attempt to ensure they come up to scratch.

In the first major inspection of caravan sites for several years, environmental health officers from North Norfolk District Council found a range of problems including fire fighting equipment in poor condition, battery operated fire alarms not working and fire emergency action plans not in place.

Their report says: “Whilst standards prevailing were generally satisfactory, some action is needed in several sites.”

It lists nearly five pages of problems. Among other issues highlighted were washrooms where power points were too close to water sources, sites where worn or damaged play equipment remained in use and several instances of unprotected ponds and sewage tanks.

Inspectors also cited problems with fridges in poor condition, drainage and oil tank inadequacies and a lack of safe storage for gas bottles, including one incident where 1000kg of LPG was stored in a toilet block corridor.

Almost all of the sites did not have an understanding of the water quality checks and lifeguarding requirements needed for swimming pools.

The report, which will go before the council's licensing and appeals committee on April 21, concludes: “The majority of sites were working towards achieving model standards. But many were in need of some help and guidance, especially on the physical health and safety issues and documentation such as risk assessments.”

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