Moving a caravan from storage

[brenflys777]

Looking for anyone who might be able to help point me to an official answer.... if there is one.

My caravan was in winter storage in Cornwall, I’m in Shropshire. I emailed/called the site before Easter asking what the costs would be for further storage as we couldn’t collect. I didn’t get any response. I received an email from the site yesterday saying that they are going to be charging £36 per week storage from when the site should have opened until it does open. This means after 8 weeks they’ll have charged me more than the costs up here for a years storage.

I would like to drive down, collect the caravan, pay up before the cost escalates even further, then drive back to Shropshire. All in the same day, no stopover.

Can I do this without getting a Covid fine? I’ve tried local Police 101 who won’t answer Covid regulation queries, they just refer you to government website. I’ve tried twitter queries of local & D&C police with no response. I’ve tried C&CC email but had no response.

Any helpful suggestions?

[Mr Pointy]

No-one will give you a definative answer as to what will actually happen. Weigh up the cost of the fine against the cost of leaving it stored there & make a decision.

[magpie215]

Given that its

A not essential travel
B its not travel for exercise

You are probably risking a fine.

Risk Vs reward...is it cheaper to take a fine over further storage costs?

[jfdi]

I can't see that you'd be breaking any of the current laws (guidelines possibly but not laws). Expect to be pulled over with the caravan in tow but explain the situation and you should be okay in my opinion.

[mikal83]

Just do it. If plod stops you tell them why and then to feck off

[jfdi]

magpie215 said:

Given that its

A not essential travel
B its not travel for exercise

You are probably risking a fine.

Risk Vs reward...is it cheaper to take a fine over further storage costs?

You are allowed to travel to buy non-essential items such as to the Garden centre, okay he's not buying just collecting in this instance but i can't see the difference and would be challenging any fine issued. We are allowed out!

[mikal83]

jfdi said:

magpie215 said:

Given that its

A not essential travel
B its not travel for exercise

You are probably risking a fine.

Risk Vs reward...is it cheaper to take a fine over further storage costs?

You are allowed to travel to buy non-essential items such as to the Garden centre, okay he's not buying just collecting in this instance but i can't see the difference and would be challenging any fine issued. We are allowed out!

This. Ignore the doom merchants above, just go and get it.

[Eric Mc]

Go and get it. There is no LAW prohibiting travel.

And who says there isn't exercise involved anyway? Physically manhandling a caravan is quite exercising.

[Oil Trash]

No helpful, comment on the question but I think I know where you are normally based

from a campsite neighbour

[ColinM50]

Can you do an Irish accent? And have you got any dawgs? No problem then

[brenflys777]

Oil Trash said:

No helpful, comment on the question but I think I know where you are normally based

from a campsite neighbour

Small world! Looking at your garage, I think you’re right!

It’s a lovely site, it’s obviously difficult times for any small business, but a post dated invoice and open ended ongoing charge doesn’t fit with my expectations or my recent 50% pay cut!

[brenflys777]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Having failed to get any official clarification from the Police, I think this, a copy of the email and wearing my ex-Plod T-shirt might be enough to show it’s a reasonably essential journey, to a reasonable person... hopefully.

[Davel]

You'd like to think that any reasonable BiB would use discretion if stopped, unless you take a couple of weeks winding back down the country lanes...

[Chrisgr31]

How much does the site charge for winter storage? How much is it to normally store it there during the summer?

[brenflys777]

Chrisgr31 said:

How much does the site charge for winter storage? How much is it to normally store it there during the summer?

The site charges £250 for winter storage (mid Oct-Easter ~£14pw), when the site is open and you want to leave the caravan off pitch I believe they charged £35pw during the Summer, although we’ve never stored it there then, we’ve either taken a seasonal pitch or brought it home.

So not being able to collect it over the last 6 weeks will have cost £216 already, another 6 weeks before the site might be open will be the same again, whilst a full years storage near home is £285.

I understand it’s a business decision for the site owners how much they charge for a closed site in the current circumstances, but I can’t afford to pay extra for storage if at all avoidable. Whether the owners were charging 100 times the going rate or just 3 times more probably wouldn’t affect the legalities of my driving to collect and transport it though. Would it be more or less essential travel if the charge was lower or I was wealthier? I was hoping there would be a more official answer!

[bristolracer]

Have you tried any other local storage places?
Perhaps moving it to a nearby dedicated local storage may be easier?

[Chozza]

How much would a caravan mover charge to pick it up for you and deliver it ?
( isnt there someone on here that does this ? )

They obviously can't work from home , moving caravans is their job .. therefore they are allowed ( or even expected ) to be working

[brenflys777]

Both good alternatives, I’ve looked at other storage options but availability is an issue, the movers option is quite expensive because we’re such a distance away but definitely safest re possible fines. I would rather check the van before it’s moved though and unfortunately cost is a big factor at the moment.

[LeadFarmer]

Tow it back t night time so the locals in Cornwall can't throw bricks at you as you drive past. They will think you are a tourist visiting their county.

[brenflys777]

LeadFarmer said:

Tow it back t night time so the locals in Cornwall can't throw bricks at you as you drive past. They will think you are a tourist visiting their county.

Good point! Got to be a daylight run so might be worth a couple of signs in the windows.... now what to write