Club's serviced pitches
Having just been on the CC's Durham site, it would appear that serviced pitches are not as popular as some posters on here would have us believe by there constant demanding for the club to install more. Over the 4 nights we were there not a single one was
occupied, although there were between 12 and 19 units on site.
Comments
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To be fair that is not a very scientific survey. The observations on one site over 4 nights in December does not really tell you anything.
Whenever I have been on a club site this year all the serviced pitches have been full all the time. Similarly when trying to book pitches this year I have struggled to find serviced pitches for the times that I wanted.
So my observations are very different but equally unscientific!
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We have never had a service pitch on a CC site, but have been on sites which offer a tap as well as EHU and whilst it was nice to have water close to hand and just top up the tank with a hose instead of OH carrying some over. I'm not sure I would pay for
the priviledge on CC - but at present we are both fit and healthy (despite a cold at the mo
) so I wouldn't say never. But it is interesting to note how many you reckon there were and no takers.0 -
I was at Durham in early November, on a serviced pitch, and I must admit they were being little used then. Only two occupied I think for most of the time I was there.
But as Simon says the serviced pitches are always more difficult to get during the season in my experience. The Durham thing is purely anecdotal and hardly enough to reach the conclusion that the OP does.
I like serviced pitches and am happy to pay the extra in many, but not all, cases.
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I wonder if it might be that those who prefer the convenience of serviced pitches are also prone to be the ones who prefer, on the whole, not to venture out in the winter. It seems to me that this would make some logical sense; however, I am not saying it's
true - just speculating that it sounds plausible.It would be interesting to know the CC stats on use of service pitches in winter. Does it vary from the summer pro rata?
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I think it was so cold last year when we were up at Durham that few of the taps were working! Serviced or unserviced!
A lot busier
than last year Nellie, I think we were one of half a dozen!0 -
Another thing to consider with Durham is that it will get a lot of short stay transit traffic because of its location. We would always normally book a service pitch if available. However, next May at Troutbeck because we are only stopping two nights I don't
think it is worth setting up on a service pitch, so have booked a standard.0 -
Even the Honeypot sites have pitches available next Friday & Saturday, and the following Saturday& Sunday.
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Another thing to consider with Durham is that it will get a lot of short stay transit traffic because of its location. We would always normally book a service pitch if available. However, next May at Troutbeck because we are only stopping two nights I don't
think it is worth setting up on a service pitch, so have booked a standard.Good choice anyway, Steve. We've been to Troutbeck several times and the serviced pitches are in a separate section with little in the way of views. The pitches at the bottom of the site are far better!
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I assume they must be worthwhile as the new extension at Seacroft of 23 pitches are all serviced.
David
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Serviced pitches will be most attractive to caravanners. Motorhomers do not need to carry water or waste because they have tanks.
I’d certainly not prefer a serviced pitch. I’d much rather further investment to be in the creation of additional pitches rather than the enhancement of existing ones.
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Perhaps the Club is looking at income stream as these pitches have quite a hefty additionl fee per night.
David
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I'm happy to pay for a serviced pitch for a longer stay e.g 5 nights or longer. Alternatively, I will pay for a serviced pitch if I want a hardstanding as all but a very small handful are hardstandings. The O.P. (by Nellie) states that Serviced pitches were not in use during off season. This is the time of year when most sites don't allow the use of grass pitches - therefore you are guaranteed a hardstanding. If it were main season, I wonder how many serviced pitches would be in use because of the desire to book a hardstanding?
David
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A Very valid point David. At present the booking of service pitches is a mix of those wanting the extra facilities and those wanting to know they will get a hardstanding pitch and willing to pay a premium for it.
in season I have seen many on service pitches that have not "hooked up" to water and waste.
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So perhaps an interesting question is that if people are booking serviced pitches to make sure they get a hardstanding does that skew the figures on the popularity of serviced pitches. I suppose the truth will out as we move towards being able to book ordinary
hardstanding pitches?David
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There is absolutely no reason for the CC sites not to be all hard standing if that is what the customers want.
Also there should be serviced pitches for the elderly, disabled and those with mobility problems.
The CC need to think outside the box and cater for their main customers.
Leave the grass pitches to the C&CC sites and CLs..
K
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There is absolutely no reason for the CC sites not to be all hard standing if that is what the customers want.
Also there should be serviced pitches for the elderly, disabled and those with mobility problems.
The CC need to think outside the box and cater for their main customers.
Leave the grass pitches to the C&CC sites and CLs..
K
Write your comments here...there is that all important 'if', really not sure at all who those main customers are!
That's life, we are all different, wish for, hope for, like, need different things. We ought not to assume we all want the same or want to be the same. Also, many business pride themselves on catering for the diverse customer base. I like the variety offered and diverse make up of us members. Afterall, we are all caravaners in the true meaning of the word.
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There are members who complain that threr are not enough pitches on the network now and the more hardstanding /serviced pitches are installed will mean less pitches ,as the space needed for two hardstands is about the same as three grass, so the more installed
the less overall,and i know from conversations the cc is trying to find more sites in areas that are thin on the ground or need more0 -
I have the view that serviced pitches address the caravan side of the market. A market that I think is in decline. What will happen when the wealthy pensioners that use them have disappeared?
As a (heavy) motorhomer, I’m keen to find (level) hard standings but I’m self-sufficient and don’t tend to stop for long in any one place. So, rather than ‘full facilities’, I’m content with a simple secure spot for the night.
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There are members who complain that threr are not enough pitches on the network now and the more hardstanding /serviced pitches are installed will mean less pitches ,as the space needed for two hardstands is about the same as three grass, so the more installed
the less overall,and i know from conversations the cc is trying to find more sites in areas that are thin on the ground or need moreMore pitches is not necessarily an advantage if they are unusable due to the weather and the fact a 3.5 tonne motor van might get bogged down.
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It is possible that the serviced pitches are not being used this time of year because when booking one may have considered below freezing temperatures, We got caught out while staying on one a few winters ago .
We use our caravan all year round and if not freezing outside we would opt for a serviced pitch if available.
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There are members who complain that threr are not enough pitches on the network now and the more hardstanding /serviced pitches are installed will mean less pitches ,as the space needed for two hardstands is about the same as three grass, so the more installed the less overall,and i know from conversations the cc is trying to find more sites in areas that are thin on the ground or need more
More pitches is not necessarily an advantage if they are unusable due to the weather and the fact a 3.5 tonne motor van might get bogged down.
...But that is only on "some" sites as i do not think that sites on the whole are prone to "soft"pitches,and i think that more pitches are better than the odd stuck m/v,and what i hear that is normally because of the way it was driven
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There are members who complain that threr are not enough pitches on the network now and the more hardstanding /serviced pitches are installed will mean less pitches ,as the space needed for two hardstands is about the same as three grass, so the more installed
the less overall,and i know from conversations the cc is trying to find more sites in areas that are thin on the ground or need moreI would also disagree that you would get 3 grass for every 2 hardstanding. If you want room to be able to move the peg to minimise damage from awning groundsheets, I don't think this would be the case.
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There are members who complain that threr are not enough pitches on the network now and the more hardstanding /serviced pitches are installed will mean less pitches ,as the space needed for two hardstands is about the same as three grass, so the more installed the less overall,and i know from conversations the cc is trying to find more sites in areas that are thin on the ground or need more
I would also disagree that you would get 3 grass for every 2 hardstanding. If you want room to be able to move the peg to minimise damage from awning groundsheets, I don't think this would be the case.
Write your comments here...
There are members who complain that threr are not enough pitches on the network now and the more hardstanding /serviced pitches are installed will mean less pitches ,as the space needed for two hardstands is about the same as three grass, so the more installed the less overall,and i know from conversations the cc is trying to find more sites in areas that are thin on the ground or need more
I would also disagree that you would get 3 grass for every 2 hardstanding. If you want room to be able to move the peg to minimise damage from awning groundsheets, I don't think this would be the case.
...I can assure you that is the case ,from several horses mouths,as damage is after,prolonged use normally, so all pitches except in a few very popular holiday sites, grass are available without damage most of the season
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As a (heavy) motorhomer, ....
Is that you or the motorhome that's heavy?
Write your comments here...Bit of both,truth be told, our motor home is 3850 kg unladen, and upto 4250kg loaded, so,a bit heavier than the average caravan,although not longer. The drive is unfortunately (modern design) through the front wheels, most of the weight is over the back wheels !! On a grass pitch, that has seen a bit of rain, a guaranteed recipe for getting bogged down, the drivers skill will not come into it. Always a hard standing for me, if a warden tries to direct me to a grass pitch, I tell him that he is the one risking a destroyed pitch.His choice. Not interested in serviced pitches though, our infrastructure is already built in.Just need a hard standing.
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