60 day pop-up Camspite - The Slade

Wed 9 Jul, 22:45 (last edited on Thu 10 Jul, 16:49)

Evening all,

Thank-you for your replies on my post about the pop-up campsite in our field - I hear and appreciate your concerns and comments.

My apologies some feel earlier notification would’ve been better - with its temporary nature, no WODC objection and legalities adhered to it didn’t spring to me that there would be issue enough to warrant earlier advance notification than I planned for - again, sorry if I overlooked this.

I cannot undo that - but I hope you can understand that, like many I work multiple jobs usually 7 days a week and cannot converse or disprove claims all day - so, I trust this response will be a suitable conclusion.

I believe that my planning and carefulness has been quite majorly overlooked by some of the comments - I’m personally very familiar with WODC policy through my family’s local business - there has been no objection to my notification and below is direct quotation from WODC planner Rebekah Orris confirming this to me on email when I ensured the site met all requirements from as early as June 2024:

“In terms of the information you have provided, it would be considered permitted development to use the land as a recreational campsite for not more than 60 days in any calendar year. There is a limit of not more than 50 pitches. There is provision for temporary structures which are necessary for the use of the recreational campsite, these must also be removed after 60 days. You must provide on-site toilet and waste disposal facilities.

Before carrying out the above use of land in each calendar year you must submit to the Council written notification including the following information:

A site plan;

Details of toilet and waste disposal facilities and their proposed location;

The dates on which the site will be in use throughout that calendar year.

For reference the above requirements are laid out in Schedule 3, Part 4, Class BC of the Town and Country (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (amended).”

End of quote.

I have of course, provided all information they required and have met all requirements- along with a solid third-party public liability insurance policy - which should go without saying! Austin if you’d like my certification I’d be happy to provide personally.

I trust that settles the issue of legality.

Regarding fire risk, I have been taking this seriously into account - rules have been updated on both booking sites and will be sent to all campers before arrival and reiterated on signage on site - BBQ’s are only allowed if safely raised, monitored always and safely extinguished. Thank-you Paul J for your suggestion too, I will also be supplying safe ash bucket for any BBQ use, along with buckets by the water. Furthermore, campfires are not permitted - this again has been amended and will be clearly relayed - the only permitted use will be the safely raised and small iron fire pit I have provided. I hope this settles any concern and demonstrates my equal concern and caution.

Regarding wildlife and noise - a noise curfew will be given to all campers 11pm-9am which is more generous than Government night noise recommendation - I will be pinning a reminder of the legal Db levels acceptable to the fence outside the site to prevent any inappropriate complaint - if Db levels are recorded exceeding this from inside your property at the times listed of course, flag this. For those concerns of wildlife disruption, the field is cut for hay each year / often grazed etc and with campers instructed to stick to mowed areas strictly - there is next to no wildlife set to be disturbed - a lot less than the introduction of permanent structures such as housing etc. which stand on said former field and are gladly enjoyed!

I appreciate access concerns - I have reduced capacity from 50 (this was simply the legal allowance) as of course, I want a good experience for all and was planning on capping it at a comfortable amount once I had welcomed some customers. In regards to The Slade, we own the access in question and similarly to my fire and noise rules - speed limits and extra caution warning on both The Slade and the junction will be sent before every arrival. I want to ensure that whether it’s believed or not, I want this to be a simple and small temporary campsite - not hoards of people loading in like suspected by some.

Finally, in the coming days CCTV will be installed on the entrance gate - only authorised customers are permitted on this private land - this will be regularly checked and enforced.

I know many will agree that encouraging regenerative, young local small businesses in rural communities is vital - especially with our ageing population and the financial odds stacked against younger generations in remaining anywhere near The Cotswolds! 

Thanks for your understanding and I hope you will be happy to share this little slice of our amazing area with a small amount of rule adhering campers for 60 days only - Sept 8th it will be closed.

Some lighthearted responses to other queries:

Sandy F - I appreciate you may not think it is ‘spectacular scenery’ hope you can take solace in the fact you never have to book!

Katie E - there is no pricing matching your claims of £70/per night - please correct me if I’m wrong but I appreciate your concern for my financial success

Johan P - whilst I have no ongoing control over google reviews 2/3 reviews were by supporting friends after they camped a night as a trial - sorry if this was misleading in any way and I will ensure suitable punishment for them.

Best wishes