28. Range and quality of lighting (Exterior)

Note: the qualifier for 5 star grade: Park lighting appropriate to the park and safety.

To ensure this requirement is met consideration is given to whether lighting is appropriate to the environment, while being sufficient to ensure the customer''s sense of safety and security.

The extent and quality of lighting provided on the exterior of buildings, to roads and walkways will be assessed in relation to the type, size and location of the park. Some parks may be in areas already well lit by street lighting which shines on to the park. The exterior of buildings in public use should always be well lit. 

Consideration is given to the individual or child walking to or from a caravan holiday home in the dark. If parks are fairly open with few trees, less lighting may be required than if there are a lot of trees and bushes creating dark areas. The tendency is toward people becoming more nervous about unlit areas. 

Lighting on paths and roads does not have to be high or obstructive. 

Bollard type lighting or lights on electric hook-ups may be sufficient if they provide enough illumination for caravaners walking back to their accommodation at night to be able to do so with a feeling of safety. On some parks the lighting may not be immediately obvious. 

It is a minimum standards requirement that all toilet and washing facilities be lit externally during the hours of darkness. Parks which do not comply will not normally be graded.

Consideration will also be given to a park owner''s conservation policy to avoid "light pollution" through the use of screened, timed, movement sensitive, down lighting of parks and roads.

Positive Aspects:
Lighting on the exterior of buildings which is sufficient to illuminate the immediate surrounding area.

Steps and ramps which are suitably lit.

Fittings which are well maintained.

A style of lighting appropriate to the park. For example: on a large multi-facility park, overhead street lighting may well be considered most suitable, whereas in more rural parks low level lighting may be more appropriate.

Negative Aspects:
Fittings or bulbs which are broken or missing.

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29. Range and quality of signs and signposting

The range and quality of all signs, notices and/or instructions both internally and externally, excluding the entrance sign and signs on Fire Points, will be assessed under this item.

Positive Aspects:
Professionally produced signs

Uniformity of signs reflecting a corporate image.

Directional signs appropriate to the size and type of park.

Signs which are well maintained.

Negative Aspects:
Signs which are unclear or difficult to find.

Signs that would indicate the use of a facility which are missing from a building.

If it is difficult to find facilities because of lack of directional signs.

Signs that are poorly written, faded, flaking or peeling.

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30. Quality of fire points

The provision of fire-fighting equipment on parks is mandatory although the type and range may vary. Therefore the Quality Advisor will assume that the type of equipment provided and its location satisfy the local Fire Officer''s requirements. However, where possible, equipment will be checked to see that it is in good working order.

It has recently become apparent that more and more parks are only required by the Local Authority to provide a fire hydrant. Where only a fire hydrant is supplied, there is no way an outbreak of fire can be tackled until the arrival of specialist equipment. The park would not be denied a grading, but the Quality Advisor will refer the situation back to the Tourist Board.

Positive Aspects:
Highly visible fire points.

Points which are well maintained and painted although they need not necessarily be painted red.

If equipment locked in cupboards or cabinets allows swift access.

Extinguishers or extinguisher boxes which are secured on posts or walls are fixed firmly and securely

Hoses which are tidily wound on reels.

Equipment and/or reels which have some protection from the elements.

Some effort has been made to make the facility as attractive as possible.

Negative Aspects:
Where the keys for the equipment are held at reception and to gain access in an emergency, one would have to go there.

Fire action instructions not clearly displayed together with the location of nearest telephone.

Equipment which is rusty and has leaks or holes or is otherwise poorly maintained.

Hoses, stirrup-pumps, shovels, brooms or other items of fire fighting equipment which are damaged, broken or fail to work smoothly and efficiently.

If any equipment is broken, missing or found to be in need of repair or replacement, the matter will be drawn to the attention of the park operator/manager at the time and noted on the Assessment form.

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31. Range and quality of refuse disposal facilities

The provision of adequate facilities for refuse disposal is a minimum standards requirement. Parks also have to comply with the requirements of the local Environmental Health Officer so it would be assumed that the quantity, type and location of the holding or gathering containers satisfy this requirement.

These may range from individual duVisitScotlandins beside each pitch, groups of bins stationed throughout the park, mini-skips, wheelie bins or the issuing of rubbish collecting bags to customers and either having them collected or providing a collection point to which they are taken.

Positive Aspects:
Wheelie bins, skips or mini skips which are of good quality and are provided with lids.

DuVisitScotlandins or containers which are placed within some form of enclosure or 
compound. 

DuVisitScotlandins provided to each individual caravan holiday home/pitch provide a very useful facility and these will not be penalised provided the provision is made in such a way that it does not detract from the overall appearance of the park.

Enclosure/compound with a sound washable base.

Bin/container areas which are well concealed.

Stored refuse which has protection from animals and birds.

Where some effort to make compounds/enclosures as attractive as possible has been made.

Where issued refuse bags are collected daily from pitch or tent.

Where the park provides general litter bins around the park.

Negative Aspects:
Untidy poorly maintained enclosures

Free-standing bins clearly visible (when not provided for each individual caravan holiday home/pitch) detracting visually from the tidiness of the park.

Unscreened mesh type bins or containers

Enclosures or compounds which are difficult to use, e.g. mounting high steps to dispose of rubbish.

Issued rubbish bags left for collection at points around the park without protection or screening.

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32. Road surfaces

Includes entrance road and roads around the park. Does not include defined car parking areas either beside facilities or caravan holiday homes; these will be assessed under item 4, ''Ground Maintenance'' in the Atmosphere and Ambience section.

The quality and maintenance of roads, including the entrance road, are important.

In some cases the entrance road to the park may be across another person''s land, or be shared with other properties. Its upkeep may not necessarily be the responsibility of the park and allowances would be made for this. If the Quality Advisor is in doubt, clarification will be sought with the park operator / manager.

The style of road should be appropriate to the size and type of park and although it is not necessary for them to be surfaced with concrete or tarmac, they should be firm and free from potholes.

Some parks simply lay down two tracks for the vehicle wheels and leave the area between. This is perfectly acceptable and would be marked for its quality in exactly the same way as other roads

Positive Aspects:
Roads which are firm and free from potholes.

Kerbs or edges which are clearly defined. Kerbs are not a mandatory requirement. Rather the essential aspect to gain maximum marks is that the edges should be neat and tidily presented.

Speed humps should be well defined and clearly indicated.

Where the surface finish of all the roads is compatible e.g. all the main roads on the park may be tarmac, whilst the minor roads gravel. This may be seen to blend. However, if some of the main roads are tarmac, others gravel and the same applied to the minor roads this would not be of the same quality.

Where a consistent grade of gravel or tarmac has been used throughout.

Where the provided roads are appropriate to the size/and type of park. A large multi-facility park will probably require large fairly wide roads whilst smaller narrower roads may be perfectly adequate for quieter country parks.

Negative Aspects:
Weedy roads

Surfaces which have deteriorated considerably in bad weather.

Poorly defined edges, rutted and bumpy areas at the start or finish of roads.

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33. Public telephones

Note: the qualifier for 5 star grade: 24 hour access to a public telephone.

This refers to public telephones provided and maintained by the park or by a telephone company but within the park. It does not apply to public telephones outside the park boundary. 

Local emergency numbers for doctors, hospital, dentist and vet etc. should be displayed beside public telephones. Some parks display these in reception areas or in packs of information provided to the customer, but they must also be displayed beside the telephone for ease of access in the event of an emergency. It is not sufficient that the operator / manager assumes that all customers know how to dial 999 in an emergency. In other countries, different emergency numbers are used therefore visitors from overseas may not be aware. 

The name and address of the park should also be clearly displayed by the public telephone. Park operators should be conscious of the importance of this and of the need to display emergency numbers beside the telephone. 

Where a telephone company will not allow the information to be placed in the box, a board adjacent to the telephone could be arranged.

Public telephones may be either coin or card operated. In the case of card phones, cards should be readily available from the park during reasonable hours. 999 can be dialled on card phones without using a card. 

Positive Aspects:
The facility is clean and well maintained including the handset mouthpiece.

Telephone in its own box, room or similar which is covered and affords privacy.

The facility is well lit and with shelf and/or seat provided.

Directories and/or code books must be supplied or easily available. A copy of Yellow Pages may be very useful to visitors to the area.

Negative Aspects:
The Quality Advisor will check that the facility works, by lifting the receiver. If any are found to be out of order the owner/manager will be notified who may not be aware of this.

If the telephone is not available for 24 hours a day. (Note the 5 Star requirement).

No emergency numbers or the address of the park is not displayed.

Notices which are unclear, faded or very small. In an emergency, people who may normally rely on reading glasses may not have them to hand.

Equipment including box, canopy etc. which is damaged, broken or has long term graffiti.

The telephone has little or no protection from the elements i.e. has a canopy but open on all sides.

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34. Quality of equipment for hire

This section covers all equipment for hire. It includes items which might be hired for use in the hire caravan holiday home such as cots or high chairs as well as bicycles, pedal cars, deck chairs etc. which could be used on or off the park.

Includes equipment which is given on loan i.e. without extra charge. Some parks will have a hire centre, while others will deal with these items from reception. 

This section does not include smaller items of sports equipment such as golf putters, roller skates or tennis racks etc. which will be assessed as part of recreation. 

The Quality Advisor will ask to see the equipment if it is not instantly evident, check if there are appropriate arrangements, and if there any undue restrictions on availability.

Positive Aspects:
Well-maintained cots and high chairs. 

Well maintained equipment in sound condition.

Negative Aspects:
Where there would appear to be any signs of undue wear and tear.

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35. Range and display of tourist information

Whatever size or type of park, a range of tourist and local information should always be available. 

The location of tourist information does not really matter so long as everyone has easy access to it and is able to browse. For example, a launderette, restaurant or shop could be a very suitable location. 

Where the only provision of information is in an area or facility which has limited opening hours this is taken into account and marked down. For maximum marks, the information should be able to be accessed from at least 8.00 am till 9.00 pm each day. 

Some parks provide individual packs which are given out on arrival or placed in caravans. The Quality Advisor will ask to see a pack and enquire if the pack is given to tourers as well as hirers of caravan holiday homes, and other accommodation.

Positive Aspects:
A wide range of information available, presented in an attractive and helpful way. Maps of the area indicating locations can be very helpful.

Personal input into the information e.g. the recommendation of the operator or distances and driving times to various attractions.

Ample information on local events, surgery times, church services, early closing, restaurants, shops etc.

Negative Aspects:
Information which is out of date, poorly or untidily displayed

Information in an area which makes access to it difficult or restricted e.g. ladies toilet or adults only bar.

Where nearly all the information relates to the park activities or company/park promotions. 

Where the information looks dusty and old or well used looking.

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36. Picnic tables and barbecues

Purpose built barbecue facilities provided by parks for general use by customers would be assessed under this item. 

This does not include barbecues used solely by the park management to provide food beside a swimming pool or similar location which are assessed with the facility i.e. ''Clubs, Bars, Restaurants & Takeaways''. 

Areas set aside for customers to use their own barbecues e.g. a corner of the park, beach etc. would also not be included unless there is some form of barbecue base and possibly seating provided by the park.

Tables and chairs on a patio area outside the club or bar will be assessed in that section but any which are situated in other areas of the park would be assessed here. This does not include tables and chairs which are for hire used by the customers staying in caravan holiday homes or touring caravans. These would be assessed as part of the ''Equipment for Hire''.

Positive Aspects:
Barbecue equipment or tables/chairs in unspecified areas around the park are clean, well constructed and well maintained.

Where barbecues are provided there is also seating available.

Picnic tables which are sturdy and well maintained.

Negative Aspects:
Where the locations of barbecues are considered to be close to other caravaners who may be disturbed by smoke or noise.

Any picnic tables showing undue signs of wear and tear will be brought to the park operator''s attention including any which are broken, have protruding nails or bolts and could cause injury. 

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37. Public toilets
 
Any toilet facilities provided for use by the general public will be assessed. These are more often found where Local Authority parks are part of a larger public park or in similar other public places.

In some cases, parks which are situated close to a beach have provided toilets and/or shower facilities for the convenience of their customers using the beach. These facilities should be assessed under this item if they are provided solely for this purpose and are not the main toilet and washing facilities for the park.

All the facilities under this section must be under the control and maintenance of the park management.

Positive Aspects:
A good degree of cleanliness with overall attention to detail.

A well maintained facility which is adequately lit.

Negative Aspects:
If adequate hand drying facilities are not available.

If some form of sanitary disposal is not available in the Ladies.

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