Pitch allocation at Rowntree

And I say again, Rochelle......why would increasing the spacing between pitches, to allow more awning pitches, suddenly make them too short (front to back) for a twin axle caravan?

Look forward to your explanation, Rochelle......

The minimum spacing between rear  corners of vans in that situation is supposed to be 3m, so often not possible to go right back to a hedge that runs behind/between rows of pitches.

A possibility I would think if space is tight?

Even if the spacing allowed, you could not have gone right back against a hedge with the two vans we have owned, both have had the steady winders at the back. I don't know if any vans are any different. Our current van also has the toilet access on the back.

...Note who is not understanding things

We have had concerns with our t/a van at Rowntree on the old centre pitches where the back of the van has been almost up against the hedge but more of a concern was the tow hitch being right up to the road..

peter.

...That info will not be accepted by "someone"

We have had concerns with our t/a van at Rowntree on the old centre pitches where the back of the van has been almost up against the hedge but more of a concern was the tow hitch being right up to the road..

peter.

It is true, Peter that some of the pitches on one side of the central rows are slightly shorter than the other side......but a twin will definitely fit on them, as you have found.

I agree that it might not be ideal, but is certainly manageable, as you found

But I still don't think that some members should be given priority over others. First come, first served.

Write your comments here...if the wardens know that larger units are due to arrive it Makes sense that they save a pitch that the unit can fit on, if not they would not be able to stay, on pitch 4 the back of my single axle van was up against the bushes and the hitch was very close to the road. A large motorhome or TA  would not have fit on it hence others were reserved. 

Makes absolute sense, having read this thread with interest, I can't understand what the issue is? At the warden's discretion, they are deeming some pitches unsuitable for large units. Exactly the same thing happens at Bladon Chains where on arrival you are told by the wardens not to park on certain pitches as they are too small for your unit. So you find a pitch that IS big enough. There's no point arguing that all pitches are suitable for large units, the wardens think otherwise and they are the one's who are paid to manage the sites. It's their decision. You could argue that another colour coded peg would solve the issue, but then you would be comdeming a pitch for long units only, regardless of the number of long units arriving on site on any given day. So, it has to be down to the wardens to manage, they are the ones that can see on the CC system how many long units are due to arrive at there site and then juggle that number with the pitches available/already taken. I've never been to Rowntree so can't comment on that site in particular, but it's not the only site on the network with pitches that are possibly to short for an 8m + unit. I for one am not best pleased if the only pitch left available means I have to crawl through a hedge to wind the rear jacks down, just to avoid the hitch being on the road, when on another side of the site, a tiny two berth is on a pitch with room for another van the same size in front of it. On sites I've been to, Bladon Chains being one, I think the wardens manage this issue well, with a hint of common sense you might say.

But Ian I saw coned off pitches for larger units when I was there last year - previous wardens. 

I often wonder how much notice is needed for this. Do they just cone off the biggest pitch on the day of arrival and this is why smaller vans end up on big pitches?

The thing is, some of the complaints are coming from owners of large units / twin axles. They are saying that they were forced to select from only a couple of pitches and that their allocated pitch was very small......and smaller units were free to take larger pitches nearby.

Barmy!

Ian .Thats a change from your stance yesterday both the posts from Jayess and I noted wardens pitching vans in the last 3yrs, although you did not seem to agree,or that some pitches were/are to small for TAs 

I now get the distinct impression that the odd couple of folk, would wish every site to be an exact carbon copy, a clone, of each other. All having identically sized, fits all pitches. Maybe this is modelled on some commercial site which the poster finds particularly endearing to themselves and their own specific needs. Not only that, I also think that if this uniformity of dream could ever be achieved, they would wish for an equally identical set of rules, regulations, guidelines and operational procedures be applied to all.

Thankfully, in the real world, like the sites we visit, they have a wide variety of pitches. Also, we members too may have a few similarities but equally, many differences. We all possibly exhibit and require very differing needs and requirements, we are not all the same. One hard and fast set of rules engineered and applied across all sites would, in my opinion, be very detrimental to our pastime. It would only serving to narrow the satisfaction of the wide customer base and also inhibit the management of those individual site specific attributes. You can't please everyone all the time and you can't legislate for every wish or need. I for one enjoy that uniqueness that individual sites bring. I'm all for choice and diversity and to commit all to the same identical model layout and operational procedures, not that I believe that is possible, would, to a very large degree, eliminate choice, variety and ultimately, experience and enjoyment for many if not all of us! Long live variety, differences and choice!

You put your point across very well. It would be very dull if all sites were like Centeniary  Indeed the site network is very diverse and with that lies a great deal of appeal. Many sites are a lot older than others and are located in many varying locations, from city centres to disused airfields. Whilst our caravan buying habits have changed over the years with many more larger vans now on the roads, it can't be expected for the sites we enjoy to adapt in the same way. Whilst I posted above how infuriating it can be to arrive on a site and for me to struggle to get my 8m TA on a small pitch, with a little thinking, I can understand why it happens. I wouldn't want to see the club sites dramatically change to a one design fits all either. Many would lose their endearing charm and with that their popularity. It is very easy to slam the club if something doesn't suit your own personal preferences and desires, especially on a forum like this, but , in the grand scheme of things, the club is trying to appeal to a very wide ranging set of members, all with different expectations. 

With all this agonising over jumbo vans it makes me glad my 4 berth is 4.7m.  What you lot do with another 3 metres of space is a bit beyond me unless you are accommodating the next generation of CC'ers.

It's a matter of choice, the same could be said of a couple living in a 4 bedroom house when a 1 bedroom flat would suffice. My car has 5 seats, I've driven it once in the last four years with a passenger on the back seat, does this mean I should trade in
for a two seater sports car? Of course it doesn't. I caravan with only my other half and two dogs, all year round and on average 16 times a year. I choose to have a 8m TA becuase I love caravanning and like the additional space I can afford. We're all different. 

I know the attraction of Rowntree Park is its proximity to the city, but are there not several alternatives in the area for anyone anxious about not getting just the right pitch? And an excellent Park & Ride from several points outside the city?

We use Rowntree for its proximity to the city and if you have a dog just turn right out of the site and just go for miles(as long as you are aware of the river),turn left and you are in the city centre  in ten minutes, and even a nice bus service  to Whitby
via the North Yorks Moors ,,,Beechwood is ok but smallish dog walk, and transport needed for P&R , local bus is over busy road,

But aren't you a bit restricted in the city itself with dogs? You can't take them up on the walls and many of the attractions are not at all dog friendly? Yes, the river walk is great but you can get on to it from several other points. 

Not knocking Rowntree, BTW, we've never stayed there, used Beechwood Grange last time we went.