77 Club Code of Conduct / Rally Rules

 

Introduction

It is the duty of all members to make themselves aware of the aforementioned codes and to act in accordance with this code of conduct at all times. Failure to comply may result in membership being withdrawn.

The Rally Officer is responsible for the overall conduct of any 77 Club rally and for ensuring the members in attendance comply with this code of conduct. They will also ensure that all members are aware of the Countryside Code, the Caravan & Camping Code, the Coastal Code and the Marine Conservation Society.

If the Rally Officer is not in attendance and/or leaves the site during a rally, they must ensure that their duties are allocated to another member of the committee. Where there is no committee member in attendance, these duties can fall onto any fully subscribed/paid member of the club.

 

Rally Venues

The 77 Club will take reasonable steps to satisfy themselves that Rally sites are not subject to any of the following;

• A relevant order under paragraph 13 of the First Schedule to the 1960 Act (exemptions provided by certificates from a site on the grounds of health, safety and local amenity)

• An article 4 direction under Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning Order 1995 (where a local authority is concerned about the appropriateness of caravanning/camping activity on a particular site)

• Has had planning permission refused or been subject to enforcement action

The 77 Club will seek the agreement of the Local Authority before meeting on land adjacent to sites for which planning permission has been granted. The club will agree to move from and avoid any site to which the local authority maintains a valid objection.

The 77 Club will not meet on sites adjacent to certified locations/sites unless the proposed site is clearly differentiated and the risk of interference with local people and other users is minimal.

The Booking Secretary will endeavour to ensure that no venues are over-used and will carefully consider before booking successive rallies on the same land.

The 77 Club will use every endeavour not to camp on any site for more than 42 consecutive days or 60 days in any 12 consecutive months. The club will also endeavour not to camp on any site being used for camping by other exempted organisations if, by doing so, the use of this site would be taken over these limits. This will help avoid overuse of sites, particularly in popular areas.

 

Rally Access

The 77 Club Committee will ensure that access to rallies is suitable for the number and likely size of units attending the rally. They will ensure that arrival and departure of units are arranged to minimise disruption to other road users/local residents and is compliant with any site-specific guidance.  As such, start and finish times will be announced by the committee prior to the commencement of each Rally. Members must ensure they adhere to these times and must not arrive early to rallies unless this has been agreed with the committee. 

In the unlikely event where a venue has limited space to meet these needs, the committee reserves the right to limit/cap the number of attendees and/or refuse additional structures such as awnings/gazebos. The Booking Secretary will endeavour to avoid this as far as possible when making bookings.

The speed of all vehicles is restricted to 5mph on all rally sites.

The use of vehicles on rally sites should be kept to a minimum, particularly when the ground is wet.

Holders of provisional licences are not permitted to drive on a rally site.

Visitors are not permitted to drive onto the main rally site (where units are located). They are restricted to designated visitor parking areas.  All visitors must be reported to the Rally Officer, sign the visitor book and, where appropriate, pay the relevant fees.

 

Siting

PLEASE NOTE: A “Unit” denotes any caravan, tent, motorhome, campervan or trailer tent, with or without an awning, occupied by one family. A pitch allows one unit and one vehicle only. This vehicle must belong to the unit and not a visitor.

The 77 Club will take reasonable steps to ensure that the siting of units does not unduly interfere with the activities of local people, their privacy or their enjoyment of their property. They will also ensure that the siting of units does not interfere with the enjoyment by others of the landscape, natural beauty or nature conservation value of the area, particularly in areas designated for their landscape or wildlife qualities.

For health and safety purposes emergency vehicles must be able to gain access to any unit on the site. Therefore at least 6 metres is required between all adjacent units. 3m out of the 6m must be clear space and should not be blocked at anytime by pup tents, awnings or vehicles.

Where a Rally is being attended by both caravans/motorhomes and tents they must be sited entirely separate from each other for health & safety reasons. However, this does not necessarily mean segregated. If the layout of the rally field does not allow for separate lines of tents, it is permissible to continue a line of caravans/motor homes with a line of tents, but, they must be sited together in a block and not interspersed. Trailer tents are classified as tents and must be sited accordingly. Children’s “pup-tents” may be erected alongside the parents’ unit and should be considered as part of the unit for spacing purposes. It is recommended that there is at least 6 metres between any rows of caravans and tents.

The Rally Officer will direct members in siting their units. Members must adhere to these directions.

Members may be allowed to save one pitch on arrival but this will remain at the discretion of the Rally Officer and/or 77 Club Committee.

 

Nuisance

Local people should be able to able to carry out their normal activities whilst rallies are in progress and the 77 Club Committee will ensure disturbance is kept to a minimum and will investigate and deal with any causes of complaints.

All members should show respect for the landowner’s property and the surrounding area and take care not to damage the site or surrounding locality (trees, fences, farm buildings, equipment, stock etc)

Pets must be kept under control at all times and are not allowed in halls or gazebos. All dogs must be kept on leads (max. 10ft long) at all times and exercised away from communal areas so as not to spoil the site or play areas and/or cause nuisance or disturbance to local residents or animals. Any mess should be collected and disposed of appropriately.

Noise levels need to consider the comfort of those in attendance as well as those who live or work nearby. Noise must be kept to a minimum between 11pm and 8am.  

There is to be no smoking inside halls or gazebos.

All games must be played well away from units. The Rally Officer will identify an open space suitable for the playing of games to avoid any intrusion upon, danger or annoyance to others on or around the site.  Catapults and air guns are not permitted.

Parents are responsible for their children at all times. It is their responsibility to ensure that they behave in accordance with the code of conduct and are appropriately supervised at all times.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE WITH REGARDS TO THE USE OF GENERATORS

The 77 Club do not have an issue with members using generators at rallies but there must be consideration for their use to minimise disturbance. For example, if you wish to use your microwave or hairdryer then only run the generator for the time needed. Please refrain from using them during the hours of 11pm and 8am.

Should there be an extenuating circumstance that occurs which may require generator use outside of this guidance (e.g. battery failure) please consult the Rally Officer immediately. They will assess the situation and advise/support accordingly.

 

Complaints Procedure

Members who wish to raise complaints at a rally must direct them to the Rally Officer who will deal with them as effectively and discretely as possible. If they are unavailable then please contact the Club Chair Person.

Members who wish to make complaints outside a Rally or about the club in general must put these in writing to the Club Chair Person.

 

Safety

Open fires and barbeques should not be held without the specific permission of the Rally Officer. If permission is given, they must be sited on open ground and away from all units, vehicles and related structures.

All members should carry a fire extinguisher approved to British Standards Institute and/or Fire Officer’s Certificate standards and be aware of how to use them.

All Members are strongly encouraged to carry a first aid kit.

 

Toilets

All members/units must have access to their own chemical toilet facilities at all times.

When using toilets in halls, all children under the age of 12 years old must be accompanied by an appropriate adult at all times.

 

Waste Disposal

The Booking Secretary and Rally Officer are responsible for ensuring appropriate arrangements are in place with regards to waste disposal at rallies. Should there be any doubt about the disposal of waste then the 77 Club Committee will seek guidance from the local authority.

The Rally Officer will indicate the location of disposal points and give refuse instructions at each Rally.

All members must ensure that any rubbish is either taken home with them or disposed of in accordance with onsite arrangements with the rally site owner/occupier as directed by the Rally Officer.

Members are required to act responsibly when disposing of the contents of chemical toilets and waste water containers and take full account of the need to safeguard water supplies and protect rivers and streams from pollution.

Members must ensure that waste water pipes are connected to a suitable waste container at all times.

Onsite disposal of the contents of chemical toilets or waste water must not be allowed to foul the ground except at designated disposal points.

It is the responsibility of all members to keep the whole rally site clear of rubbish and to ensure they do not litter.

When leaving a rally, members are responsible for inspecting their pitch to ensure it has been left clear of rubbish or other items e.g. tent pegs.

The Rally Officer and/or the last remaining committee or club member will ensure the rally site is clear before leaving.

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