Disabled pitches

hugofotie

How do others feel when like myself book a disabled pitch, although I'm very grateful that I am near the facilities I do wish they had a better outlook than toilets & bins. It wouldn't take much too plant a few bushes or trees to hide the facilities from view . We do love our time with the club but a better outlook would improve not just our caravan holidays but everyone else's .Quite a few disabled pitches seem to be not as nice as the main pitches.

Moderator Comment - Moved from the Story Section

SteveL

This should really have been posted in the UK sites discussion section. Perhaps it can be moved by a mod.

However, whilst those alongside  could be screened, often pitches opposite are allocated. We have just come back from Hawes, there are several pitches the other side of the road facing the facilities. It would be difficult to screen those.

Cornersteady

I didn't know, or I may have missed it, that the club had disabled pitches as such? They have pitches that can be 'reserved' for disabled campers in advance but none actually marked as such? 

SteveL

I have seen disabled markers on pitches at Chapel lane. Although they aren’t identified as such on the site plan, so may get moved about. Other sites just seem to put a cone on one with convenient access, when required.

Cornersteady

Yes I thought they were just placed on as needed.

DavidKlyne

As I understand it Club sites don't per se have disabled pitches but a pitch near the facilities can be requested at time of booking if you have a disability. The site staff will then do their best to reserve a pitch near to the facilities. It depends on the nature of the disability (I don't wish to know) but could you be a bit further away from the toilet block but near enough not for it to be a disadvantage to you? That would at least open up a few more options. Some toilet blocks seem to be miles from some pitches but one say 50 metres from the block give you a better outlook? I remember we were on a serviced pitch at White Water Park and that was opposite the toilet block but the pitch was surprisingly large and hedged which gave a degree of greater privacy. 

David

Tinwheeler

Having once become embroiled in a heated situation where a stick waving member really lost it because a warden had forgotten to put a disabled marker out on the pitch we subsequently occupied, I can confirm that at FM disabled markers are/were placed on the pitch as needed.

Actually, if I needed a disabled pitch, I think I’d be happy to be near the facilities irrespective of the outlook.

KjellNN

As I understand it, very few sites have permanent disabled pitches, if you request to be close to the facilities a warden will place a marker on what he/she considers to be a suitable pitch.

However........there is no obligation to use that pitch if you would prefer a different one.  Just be sure to remove the marker if the site is busy, and let the warden know immediately.

 Most  wardens will point out that you can use a different pitch if you wish.

brue

I think there are some sites (hills involved) where disabled pitches are marked, Berwick and Hillhead come to mind. We had to pitch within a few metres of a facilities block not long ago, it was busy and unpleasant with lights blazing all night etc. Some pitches just aren't very good for anyone, disabled or not. 

Tammygirl

I have to agree that some pitches don't have the best outlook. 

If we have to take a pitch near the block or near bins etc. I would just turn the van around and pitch the other way.

We've done that a few times now, it works for us as we don't use an awning.

brue

Yes, a good idea if it's possible. We were stuck so  pulled the front blinds over and blotted out the view! Luckily not there for long,  otherwise we would have attempted a change of pitch.

As we didn't need the facilities it was just our bad luck.

JVB66

Since OH has become very less mobile, we have been very grateful of any pitch the site staff can make available to us ,that may allow me to assist her to the disabled facilities without to much difficulty.,

Most sites do not have any pitches for the specific use of those with mobility problems

 The staff will try to get us and others in our situation as close a possible, 

With it seems our fairly recent disability it has also been noticed by us the amount of others who need to be close to the disabled room ,or the assisted ,facility's in the main part of the building 

 we have noted when at the last three sites on this tour, the site staff have needed to cone of several pitches after requests from members for a pitch near the facilities for the less mobile?

Ps.  we try to look at the site plan and ask on arrival if there are any pitches near by ,

We are at West Ayton site and did not realise that one of the toilet blocks did not have a separate full disabled room until we were at the site, and I forgot to ask, as the site showed  quite a few pitches

When we were set up  I still had not noticed ,only when I went to advise of our pitch number did the staff member advise, 

But as OH has a buggy (still quite poorly )it is not to much of a problem getting to the other toilet block, but it seems the pitch we are on is quite popular with regulars as the staff advised that we were lucky to get it as every one seems to ask if it is available

JVB66

I have just been advised that some who ask for a pitch near the facilities, do not want to be identified as disabled ,? hence it seems just a cone is placed on the pitch, instead of a disabled pitch sign

mickysf

My understanding is that the wardens will allocate an available pitch as close to the facilities on the morning of a disabled persons arrival. Of course said member can still choose an alternative like the rest of us.