When you flick through the glossy brochure, don't we all assume that the campsite we are staying on has been checked, and is safe and secure?
If there was any potential danger - would you expect to be told by the Camping Company?
Answer appears to be no.
Last year we stayed at a French campsite, via a UK holiday company (a big one). The valley the campsite was in suffered catastrophic flooding, with 25 deaths in the area, and some people (Wikipedia says 14) who disappeared never to be seen again. Along with other families, we and our 2 kids (4, 2 years) we were airlifted to safety by helicopter after several hours overnight on the roof of a building.
The father of one family I spoke to (who was on a different nearby campsite) only awoke when their baby started crying because water had risen to the level of the cot, and he had to break the glass of a caravan and climb on to the roof of the caravan, staying there with the family for several hours until rescue. Happily as far as I am aware everyone escaped from our campsite without serious injury, and I am not aware of any deaths from the site.
I wrote to the UK company pointing out a few Health and Safety issues, and they were pretty dismissive. I was then surprised to see the same company featuring the same campsite in their next brochures - and no mention of any flooding risk. Now I appreciate that the flooding was not their fault, BUT it would seem only fair to put in the brochure "Please note this site has been subjected to flooding, probably won't happen again......." at the very least.
This week I have been told the campsite has, again, flooded (luckily out of season). I am unable to verify if this is true, but it would not surprise me.
There will probably be Mumsnetters who will book to go to this campsite next Summer. Personally I would never go there again. I also feel anyone who is thinking of going should be warned about the flooding risk.
I'm not naming and shaming for two reasons: Firstly the obvious legal one, and secondly, because I would strongly suggest that anyone booking a camping holiday anywhere should ask two questions:
- Have there ever been any significant injuries or deaths at this campsite, and also specifically
- Has this campsite ever flooded?
(I'd also remember that the idyllic river in the brochure can easily transform in to your worst nightmare in a storm....)
I wish everyone happy safe holidays in 2012.
GDIT.
p.s. I guess people may be curious to know more, so googling "campsite flooding frejus" will fill you in!