[Talk-GB] Static caravan or chalet? Possible language issue?

[James Derrick]

Hi,

A couple of Haven "holiday park" resorts have been re-tagged from 
`tourism=caravan_site` to `tourism=chalet` with a specific note which 
makes me wonder if there is a language issue around the meaning of 
`caravan` and `caravan_site` in Europe verses the UK?

I've added a changeset note asking for the logic behind the change, and 
inviting the mapper to discuss with the UK community as their history 
seems to contain a lot of caravan site changes across Europe.


Operators like Havon and Parkdean Resorts rent out static caravans on 
both weekly and multi-year contracts.

The sites have only service blocks as permanent buildings with the 
customer "dwellings" all static caravans with wheels. These caravans are 
moved every few years as pitch rentals are updated and owners move their 
leased / owned caravans (a friend used to drive the tractors to perform 
these moves). Services are bottled gas, WLAN, and plug-in electricity to 
allow these moves.


The sites in NE England are tagged as tourism=caravan_site which fits as 
the "dwellings" are all static caravans with wheels. I can see a 
confusion as not all sites allow touring caravans or motor homes (i.e. 
customers who travel and bring their own kit, rather than lease/hire a 
caravan with bed linen), so extra tagging might be useful:

caravans = no        (no touring caravans - a few have some facilities)
tents = no        (no tent camping - a few have some facilities)
motorhome_stopover = no    (no motorhomes = RVs - a few have some 
facilities, not like European "aires")
static_caravans = only        (where caravans/ tents/ motorhome_stopover 
= no)
permanent_camping = only    (where caravans/ tents/ motorhome_stopover = no)

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:tourism=caravan_site


These locations don't have permanent customer buildings, so the 
tourism=chalet which has been added doesn't fit my understanding:

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:tourism=chalet


*Could this be a cultural / language issue with the perception of 
"caravans" != "static_caravans" ?*

Do you think a chalet is a permanent building?

*What do you think is best in the UK context please?*


I've seen some sites (e.g. around Midlands canals) with permanent 
residents living in static_caravans, but the Parkdean / Haven locations 
don't have residential planning permission (10 months max occupation 
with complete mandatory Winter closures) so aren't 
residential=trailer_park .

A very few sites have "log cabins" (e.g. a corner of Haggerston Castle 
way 905745175), which seen to be semi-permanent structures from 
static_caravan manufacturers screwed together on foundations - but even 
then, these seem to be more cabins=yes in the UK context, rather than 
tourism=chalet as these are only semi-permanent. Basically, larger, more 
expensive static_caravans with the wheels and sub-frame unscrewed!

Happy Mapping,


James
-- 
James Derrick
     lists at jamesderrick.org, Cramlington, England
     I wouldn't be a volunteer if you paid me...
     https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/James%20Derrick
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