Why not standardise check in & depart times?

TB22
TB22 Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited August 2021 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

I'm sure this has been posted before but isn't it about time the Club standardise check in time.. and introduced a standard process . Its so frustrating that sites seem to have a multitude of arrival and depart times . Surely anyone leaving can get off pitch by 11am at the latest . Thus leaving a clear hour for narrow approach roads etc . All new  arrivals then know mid-day is a fixed time no matter what site you choose. This makes most difference to those on first day as the extra hour for pitching  is nice to have .  Wardens can open and close toilet blocks etc to suit the site and the staff . Why is that not possible ?

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  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #2

    Most people prefer to be tucked up in bed.

    Have you not read the info in the picture?😂😂😂

  • TB22
    TB22 Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited August 2021 #3

    12 MID DAY then . 

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #4

    Isn't there a standardised time already. It is certainly for almost all sites departures by 12:00? and earliest arrivals either 12:00 or 13:00. 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #5

    There certainly is, Corners, just as you posted.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #6

    Welcome to CT TB22. You've raised a valid point, maybe a moderator will spot your post and move it to the discussions area. smile

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #7

    All the booking information and arrival and departure times are in the information of each site and some are also a requirement of the  landlord in the lease for the site

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #8

    Standard times for all sites, as with the C&CC, would make things more obvious. At the moment there is scope for misunderstanding, both intentional and accidental. Until covid most sites that did not have access problems were leave by 12, arrive after 12. For operational reasons many of those were changed to leave by 12, arrive after 1pm.  

    Personally I don’t think leaving by 11, arrive after 12 would go down well with many weekenders and the club if it standardised is more likely to go down the C&CC route. When we had a caravan I would have been dead against 1 pm arrivals, now we have a MH and set up takes no time, I don’t have a problem with it. This opinion might not be universal though, as many MH seem to erect substantial awnings, which takes a fair bit of time.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #9

    It does not matter what times are made standard on most sites,  as I posted some have local problems and others have times that are in the lease from the landlord

    Here at FM it has been as many sites at this time. 1300 arrivals, but they still arrive and block Ham Lane before 1200. 

    When the staff question those that arrive early very few have a valid? excuse and have not read their booking acknowledgement  which gives the earliest arrival time? and they cannot be turned away as no where to turn without affecting other traffic and get most upset when on ly (if noticed)getting past the first barrier and having to wait 

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #10

    For every person who wants to arrive earlier, there will be someone else who wants to stay on Site longer. Club is never going to please everyone, although a bit of standardisation might help. You do have to check times for each Site nowadays.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #11

    There already is  if space available, an opportunity after speaking to site staff to stay later than the normal departure times , up to 1600?

    Where as arriving early on most sites can and will disrupt the essential  maintainance required before  the next arrivals

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #12

    Good to know this still happens JV, we have done it a few times down the years if a Site hasn’t been busy. Tend to be up and out now with MH, and we arrive a lot later, so the arrival/departure circus passes us by usually. 

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #13

    I honestly don’t see the logic in that if a site has an access problem. Surely the whole reason for out by 12, arrivals after 1 pm is to avoid meeting a caravan leaving as you arrive. I suppose they could allow it for MH’s where there would be less of an issue, but that would be discriminatory.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #14

    It up to each site manager to say yes or no, as they would know the limitations of what can be allowed with as you say access problems, but it is like all things late deps are in the site rules for all to note but not necessarily on all sites, to paradey  EMcool

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited August 2021 #15

    An hour differential between departure and arrivals predicates extremely long and narrow access lanes even at 5mph.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #16

    And that is why as I said each site manager knows what the site is able to achieve hence Black Knowl 1130dep 1300arrivaland even a board on the entrance lane advising not to arrive before 1300

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited August 2021 #17

    The actual (behavioural) process is more like....

    some leave early and these pitches are available early.

    some arrive early and would love to make use of these vacant pitches.

    some leave later.

    some arrive later and take up the slack left by late(er) leavers.

    other than sites with really poor access, the above is how most of the sites that we've used over there work...

    if there's a spare pitch, why would an owner ask you to hang around for hours, you'd go somewhere else, up the road.

    ah, yes.....it might not be the 'best' pitch.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #18

    When I book a pitch, I agree to abide by the terms and conditions, which includes earliest arrival times. It might not be the same as other sites, in this country or abroad, but it’s what I’ve agreed to. Why folk have such a problem accepting that is beyond me. 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #19

    As usual "Over There" which is a different scenario to the UK, is mentioned to try to make a useless point as far as the UK is concerned yell

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited August 2021 #20

    Steve, the OP mooted 'getting off' by 11. I'm just saying that it's not even necessary (provided that access isn't any issues) to have 'everyone' off beforehand so that 'everyone' can come on...

    there is a natural flow of leavers from early doors till the last minute...thats life...

    I think the OP is advocating better use of pitch time, I'm just saying it isn't that difficult to achieve.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited August 2021 #21

    John, I'm on a uk commercial site now... The earliest arrival on the email was 14:00. Hopeless.

    so I phoned and said I wanted to arrive earlier...the receptionist said that all departures were off by 11:00 so I could come any time after that!!

    not Europe, just filling empty pitches....

    i don't know why sensible processes for other places are deemed not workable in the UK.

    what is it about us in the uk that can't even be bothered to learn from how other places (or other sites) manages things differently/better?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #22

    And this commercial site is ? Just to see what the comparison issmile but then the post I replied to was not refering to UK sites as you well knowundecided

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #23

    +1.

    As always no one is forced to use any club site if they consider such arrival and departures times and how they operate to be too onerous. If they do choose other site. But then many other sites have similar, and sometimes worse, set times. It is not just a club thing.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #24

    what is it about us in the uk that can't even be bothered to learn from how other places (or other sites) manages things differently/better?

    BB, in my view it is one of two things.

    Either Arrogance or Fear.

    Arrogance that "we" know best or Fear that maybe we don't.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #25

     better  as defined by who though BB?

     

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2021 #26
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #27

    When  organisations as big as both the UK clubs there has to be a standard as far as is possible m that is hopefully at least,  acceptable to the majority of their site users, , but as every one who posts on here anyway, should know there will always be those who think the world should revolve around their own selfish  requirements

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #28

    "I'm on a uk commercial site now... The earliest arrival on the email was 14:00. Hopeless.

    so I phoned and said I wanted to arrive earlier...the receptionist said that all departures were off by 11:00 so I could come any time after that!!"

    Ooh, you little devil,  BB. That's the second time, then, that you've booked at a UK commercial site,  knowing full well their t&c and then expected "special" treatment.  surprised

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited August 2021 #29

    Standardised? No. It’s got to be horses for courses. For a site that generally runs at below capacity who cares what times folks arrive? However, if it’s full or close to full much of the time (like most CMC sites) then it’s got to be managed somehow. That said…an observation. I’m absolutely not an early riser and get really annoyed by folks starting to break camp at 7am and making a hell of a lot of noise in the process. Seems to be plenty of them well gone by 9am before I emerge so waiting until 2pm probably OTT in many places?

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #30

    I don't have any "selfish requirements" JVB. I'll turn up after the appointed time, no problem. Plus I'll happily turn up at any time when touring abroad if that is allowed. I take the "When in Rome" route everytime.

    However I do agree with BB if he is suggesting the CAMC is slow to take on board other ways of doing things. It seems that most things are done to a set template regardless of whether another idea has merit.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2021 #31

    The "over there" as has often been said is so different in respect of many things, and it seems staffing levels are what allows much of what drives the way sites work and also some larger commercial sites over here, 

     It seems as my post earlier ,that big site operators as both the clubs over here,, need some standardisation with an attempt to get all sites "singing from the same song sheet " where possible which should then be understood by all the membership which has to be tweaked  in places, to take in the anomalies of the difference in sites and the area/access needed