Rallies over 30 in number still illegal?

[Jim]

I had an email yesterday from the MCC. Asking all their members to write to their MP. Its a good idea, maybe we should too.

Dear Fellow Club Member

The introduction of the lockdown measures as a response to the Covid 19 emergency stopped our main club activity of regular rallies and meets dead in its tracks in Mid-March.

Three months on we are now seeing a gradual easing of the restrictions. However, we have been unable to obtain any official advice on when our rallying activities may be able to restart.



There are many people out there who after cherry picking through the various and often contradictory Guidance Notes, are voicing opinions via social media etc. that we can hold rallies, others that we can’t.



If we were to hold a rally and get the situation wrong, we put our Exemption Certificate in jeopardy.



Without the Certificate, the Club cannot operate and would fold.



We cannot therefore do anything that endangers that certificate.



The clearance to hold a rally can only come from Government, whether this is the National Government for England, or the appropriate devolved Government for Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales.



We need to maintain and increase the pressure on Government to produce specific guidelines and a timetable to enable us as a club and for that matter other clubs to restart our rally programmes.



I ask therefore that you as individual members contact your appropriate Member of Parliament and/or Member of a devolved Government asking for clear guidelines and a timetable.

The suggested wording is below.



“Dear _____________

My name is ____________________ and my post code is ________________

I write to you as my Member of Parliament to ask you to seek clear guidance from the government on when I can resume my hobby of attending gatherings, in my motorhome, of friends and fellow members of The Motor Caravanners’ Club.



The opening up of Campsites is a step in the right direction, but as a club we hold rallies, which entails a number of motorhomes meeting in various locations, such as fields, sports clubs, school grounds etc.

It is these rallies I seek guidance on.

Thanking you in advance”

You can find details on who your representative is via a google search such as

“Who is my member of parliament” or equivalent for a devolved government.

With best wishes and my thanks for your support and help
Fellow Club Member]

The introduction of the lockdown measures as a response to the Covid 19 emergency stopped our main club activity of regular rallies and meets dead in its tracks in Mid-March.

Three months on we are now seeing a gradual easing of the restrictions. However, we have been unable to obtain any official advice on when our rallying activities may be able to restart.

There are many people out there who after cherry picking through the various and often contradictory Guidance Notes, are voicing opinions via social media etc. that we can hold rallies, others that we can’t.

If we were to hold a rally and get the situation wrong, we put our Exemption Certificate in jeopardy.

Without the Certificate, the Club cannot operate and would fold.

We cannot therefore do anything that endangers that certificate.

The clearance to hold a rally can only come from Government, whether this is the National Government for England, or the appropriate devolved Government for Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales.

We need to maintain and increase the pressure on Government to produce specific guidelines and a timetable to enable us as a club and for that matter other clubs to restart our rally programmes.

I ask therefore that you as individual members contact your appropriate Member of Parliament and/or Member of a devolved Government asking for clear guidelines and a timetable.

The suggested wording is below.

“Dear _____________

My name is ____________________ and my post code is ________________

I write to you as my Member of Parliament to ask you to seek clear guidance from the government on when I can resume my hobby of attending gatherings, in my motorhome, of friends and fellow members of The Motor Caravanners’ Club.

The opening up of Campsites is a step in the right direction, but as a club we hold rallies, which entails a number of motorhomes meeting in various locations, such as fields, sports clubs, school grounds etc.

It is these rallies I seek guidance on.

Thanking you in advance”

You can find details on who your representative is via a google search such as

“Who is my member of parliament” or equivalent for a devolved government.

With best wishes and my thanks for your support and help
[/QUOTE

 

[canopus]

If they’re illegal Jim, how would you describe the meet currently taking place at Stratford Racecourse?

 

[Jim]

Broken Link Removed

 

[canopus]

I had the same email yesterday re writing to your MP.
MCC are always belt and bracers plus a bit of string just in case. They are paranoid about losing their Exemption Certificate, and rightly so.

 

[Jim]

I had the same email yesterday re writing to your MP.

I wrote to mine, for what good it will do. But I don't think they will make such gatherings legal till the same time they allow concerts, sports events etc to happen.

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[canopus]

Wrote to mine when we were stuck in Morocco. As much use as a chocolate fire guard, as was Jeremy Vine, and as for the British Consul in Rabat.

 

[The Coops]

Just use an A, B and C etc system of areas to camp, max of 30 vans in each use a bit if white tape to define area one way in one way out and appoint a site *captain* for each separate gathering, problem solved , or is that too easy?

 

[Jim]

Just use an A, B and C etc system of areas to camp, max of 30 vans in each use a bit if white tape to define area one way in one way out and appoint a site *captain* for each separate gathering, problem solved , or is that too easy?

AFAIK Stratford is being run like a campsite, you book a pitch as an individual and turn up.

 

[Jim]

Wrote to mine when we were stuck in Morocco. As much use as a chocolate fire guard, as was Jeremy Vine.

Yes just reading that in Simon;s Morrocco Good Idea at the time mag article

 

[The Coops]

AFAIK Stratford is being run like a campsite, you book a pitch as an individual and turn up.

Down to the organisers then, is it a corporate event and who would carry the can I wonder if prosecuted?

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[dryad]

I wrote to mine, for what good it will do. But I don't think they will make such gatherings legal till the same time they allow concerts, sports events etc to happen.

well, they're allowing outdoor theatre to go ahead, so.............
(the minack in cornwall)

.

 

[Jim]

Down to the organisers then, is it a corporate event and who would carry the can I wonder if prosecuted?

If everyone were issued a BLM banner to raise if the police turn up they will of course allow the illegal gathering

 

[The Coops]

Or they could all be picking mushrooms while down on one knee!

 

[scousebird]

We are going to a THS in August, we have to pre-book and pre-pay. It is being treated as a campsite and there will be no social gatherings.

 

[canopus]

It only takes one jobsworth or a house owner whose property backs on to the racecourse, to put the mokkers on the proceedings.

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[34127]

Writing to your MP could have a negative impact. If a lot of people do this then the government may have concerns that there could be a large number of gatherings all over the country.

 

[Jim]

It only takes one jobsworth or a house owner whose property backs on to the racecourse, to put the mokkers on the proceedings.

One of the guys who lives in the flats that overlook the racecourse hates motorhomers. That's on account of haganap 's singing


I sent the organisers of the event a link to the official guidance/law on gatherings of more than 30. But as we are all aware, much of the guidance is clear as mud and open to interpretation. Clearly the racecourse and the organisers interpret it to be OK.

 

[PeteH]

I think the issue has to do with a perception that the vast majority of those attending such events, will be of the same "mentality" as those who crowded Bournemouth beach a few weekends ago?. I`m waiting for the spike that is likely following the opening of pubs and restaurants. Especially where the "modern parenting" philosophy of allowing the kids (super spreaders) to run riot in public places is concerned.

At the moment, I am more that happy with the compromise of using quiet 5 van sites, just for the break from the same vista day in and out.

If everyone were issued a BLM banner to raise if the police turn up they will of course allow the illegal gathering

Cynical, but IMV, more truth than is good for the upholding of the rule of law. I am of the opinion, that a good lawyer could drive a very large R-V through the loophole(s) in the current rulings.

 

[jongood]

Everyone threw up their hands about the beach photos and the various other gatherings but many weeks on where are the spikes? Mostly in meat processing plants. This is not behaving as they thought it would IMHO

 

[Jim]

We are going to a THS in August, we have to pre-book and pre-pay. It is being treated as a campsite and there will be no social gatherings.

Yes, I think that is how the Stratford racecourse is playing it.

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[Jim]

Everyone threw up their hands about the beach photos and the various other gatherings but many weeks on where are the spikes? Mostly in meat processing plants. This is not behaving as they thought it would IMHO

The lack of spike is really encouraging. That meat packaging outbreak was more to do with cramped shared accommodation and transport into work than meat.

 

[jongood]

The lack of spike is really encouraging. That meat packaging outbreak was more to do with cramped shared accommodation and transport into work than meat.

is the latest theory?

 

[Jim]

is the latest theory?

And the most plausible, These lads, mostly from Poland live in cramped shared accommodation around these slaughter houses if one gets it they are all getting it.

 

[sueandjohn]

If everyone were issued a BLM banner to raise if the police turn up they will of course allow the illegal gathering

 

[jongood]

And the most plausible, These lads, mostly from Poland live in cramped shared accommodation around these slaughter houses if one gets it they are all getting it.

I've been to rowan foods in Wrexham many times, its not a slaughterhouse, its a modern processing factory with locals there as well. Its also in Wales that locked down for longer.

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[Devon Sue]

There's more than 30 units on this campsite, are we alleged to be a gathering?

 

[icantremember]

If everyone were issued a BLM banner to raise if the police turn up they will of course allow the illegal gathering

Good idea, but don't tell plod it means Brits Love Motorhoming.

 

[DBK]

I had an email yesterday from the MCC. Asking all their members to write to their MP. Its a good idea, maybe we should too.

I don't think we should ask. Campsites are allowed to open and a rally is just a temporary campsite. I don't know what, or even if, guidance has been issued to campsites but if any has, covering distances between pitches or outfits etc, that's all that needs to be followed. I'm staying at a site tomorrow and if I get the opportunity I'll ask them if they've received anything.

 

[Jim]

There's more than 30 units on this campsite, are we alleged to be a gathering?

There are 130 on the campsite next door to me at the moment

 

[Mikeco]

There are 130 on the campsite next door to me at the moment

How many have you got Jim, setting off soon so hopefully you have me booked in.

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