There's always at least one!!

nelliethehooker
nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,657 ✭✭✭
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edited May 2016 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Have just left the CC's Stamford Site today at 11:30.and by then 2 vans had arrived, one at 11:10.Surprised Why must some members think
that the advertised arrival time does not apply to them? Yell

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  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,404 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #2

    Were they allowed on site, Nellie? I really think this is one area where the CC needs a rethink. I don't know what access to Stamford is like but I know of many CC sites where access is directly of a major road with no difficult at all. Where that is the
    case I find it hard to understand why they maintain such a rigid arrival/departure policy.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited May 2016 #3

    Why do some think that the advertised departure time doesn't apply to them?

  • groovy cleaner
    groovy cleaner Forum Participant Posts: 208
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    edited May 2016 #4

    cos most vans are driven by men and men think that rules are made to be broken ,that;s why they can't drive at 5mph but the reason could be depends how far the person travelled ,they could have allowed themselves plenty of time in case of problems and got
    there early ,the rule is frustrating to me as I sometimes go to sites that are only an hour away so have to sit at home twiddling my thumbs till 11 am so I not break the rule ,I'm going to Poolsbrook in the morning it's only an hour away but as it;s a country
    park with free car park I can go in there first ,clumber on the other hand is owned by the NT so is expensive to park just for an hour or so !!!

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,657 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #5

    Were they allowed on site, Nellie? I really think this is one area where the CC needs a rethink. I don't know what access to Stamford is like but I know of many CC sites where access is directly of a major road with no difficult at all. Where that is the
    case I find it hard to understand why they maintain such a rigid arrival/departure policy.

    Not only was the first one allowed on the site but there was a pitch reserved for him!!Surprised The second one was at the office as
    we were heading out, but it would appear that he was booking in. The site is at the end of a 3/4 ml narrowish lane with a few passing places, only a couple of which are opposite each other, so not the easiest stretch of road for two units to pass each other.

  • Waffler
    Waffler Forum Participant Posts: 149
    edited May 2016 #6

    This really interesting.  A number of sites I use have narrow access roads and if people don't adhere to the rules the it leads to difficulty. On one occasion I met a member coming in at 1030 and he expected me to reverse out of his way!!! The other club
    has a 1p.m. arrival time. This is because of access and also to give staff at least an hour to maintain the pitch. 2 years ago I saw a couple arrive at 1100 and were told to go away. Quite right -rules are rules.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585
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    edited May 2016 #7

    The answer or at least a partial one is to do as Camping in the Forrest do and charge extra for early arrivals. Not only does it discourage early arrivals but for those who ignore it they have agreed to help improve the clubs profitability.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,657 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #8

    The answer or at least a partial one is to do as Camping in the Forrest do and charge extra for early arrivals. Not only does it discourage early arrivals but for those who ignore it they have agreed to help improve the clubs profitability.

    The C&CC tried it a few years ago but it did not appear to do any good, as some willingly pay the extra just to get in before everyone else. I would also suspect that it caused a lot of extra hassle & abuse for the site managers/wardens. They have stopped
    doing it now.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #9

    Why does other people's arrival time at a site upset Club members so? I go to a hotel and never notice what time other people arrive. Some get there before me and some afterwards. It's no concern of mine.  

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #10

    Why does other people's arrival time at a site upset Club members so? I go to a hotel and never notice what time other people arrive. Some get there before me and some afterwards. It's no concern of mine. 

    The main difference being they do not make it difficult for leavers on any narrow approach road,

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #11

    In a hotel one can book a specific room, in which case one can arrive at any time and it is available.  The alternative scrabble to get a decent pitch is quite unseemly - but part of the quaint tradition we are forced to maintain.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #12

    I think that even with a perfectly good access road some Club members would still get upset about other people's arrival time. They would still watch it, check it and criticise it. It's what they do. 

  • David2115
    David2115 Club Member Posts: 548
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    edited May 2016 #13

    Who cares. Was there room for them ?  If so what's the problem 

  • Grumblewagon
    Grumblewagon Forum Participant Posts: 246
    edited May 2016 #14

    What about caravanners who may wish to go out for the day in their car?  Should they be restricted to the same time slots for departures and arrivals?

  • groovy cleaner
    groovy cleaner Forum Participant Posts: 208
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    edited May 2016 #15

    I tend to agree somewhat that places where there are not narrow approaches it would be nice ,it,s now 9.15 I'm up packed and ready for the off and as it's a nice day I do not want to sit here bored out of my head waiting till 11am to go to the place I'm
    going ,this rule has made me go to places where I know I can park nearby so I can get there early ,do it at Burrs too when I go there as it's down the M62 from here arrive at the country park early and walk into Bury first of course if it's raining when I
    go can't do this so have to sit here twiddling my thumbs ,I know the club has to have rules but I find it infuriating always has done but aint nothing I can do !!!

  • David2115
    David2115 Club Member Posts: 548
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    edited May 2016 #16

    I agree, a Saturday morning wasted be use you can't go on an empty pitch 

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,404 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #17

    I think that even with a perfectly good access road some Club members would still get upset about other people's arrival time. They would still watch it, check it and criticise it. It's what they do. 

    You're probably correct, but the reason they get so upset at the moment is because the club has this rigid arrival/departure system. I agree where there is difficult access there is a reason for this. But I can think of a number of sites we've used in the
    past (Broadway, Moreton in Marsh, Putts Corner to name 3) where access is directly of a major road and even with say 4 or 5 units arriving at the same time, the arrival area is large enough to accommodate them. Where that's the case I can't personally see
    any reason for having to wait for the midday scramble. In a way early arrivals penalise themselves because they probably have a more limited choice of pitches. But, of course, to compensate for that they have the rest of the day to start enjoying their break. Happy

  • johnathome
    johnathome Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited May 2016 #18

    Okay I can see both sides of this debate, but the point is the rate charged is for a 24 hr period of stay from 12.00 or 13.00 till the same the next day as a maximum.

    if you arrive at 09.00 then would you be prepared to leave by 09.00 the following day. The result would be arrival and departing chaos, that's why set times are specified whether we like it or not.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,404 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #19

    Well, to be honest, I'm not sure about your first point, John. I agree that the rules are what they are and we stick to them until and unless they change.

    But I have to say I think there'd actually be less chaos than at present where multiple numbers of vans arrive as close to 12 as possible and then leave it till as close to 12 as possible to leave. Surely spreading out arrivals and departures ( where the
    are no access issues) would ease this?

  • johnathome
    johnathome Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited May 2016 #20

    moulesy I agree that you get the 12.00 rush, but this is caused by people trying to choose the best available pitch within the time frame of the site arrival period.

    I usually arrive mid afternoon and find on busy sites that my choice of pitch is either already made by the warden or very limited, hence the 12.00 rush.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,404 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #21

    John, if we could, we'd arrive earlier, say 10 ish at most sites we use ( on CLs it's rarely a problem!). But it's nothing to do with grabbing the best pitch; indeed, we'd accept that we'd probably have less choice anyway. It's more to do with making the
    most of the first day of our break. That'd be one less 12 o'clock arrival straight away! Wink

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #22

    The answer or at least a partial one is to do as Camping in the Forrest do and charge extra for early arrivals. Not only does it discourage early arrivals but for those who ignore it they have agreed to help improve the clubs profitability.

    The C&CC tried it a few years ago but it did not appear to do any good, as some willingly pay the extra just to get in before everyone else. I would also suspect that it caused a lot of extra hassle & abuse for the site managers/wardens. They have stopped
    doing it now.

    If the purpose was to discourage early arrival, then the additional fee wasn't sufficiently punitive to influence behaviour. If early arrivals were charged £30, no ifs or buts, it would focus the mind wonderfully. Not that I'm in any way suggesting there
    should be a rigid time, merely the method to ensure it's complied with. Like a number of others, where access is not an issue flexibility could be the norm.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #23

    No ifs, no buts, no extra charges. Let's have a lot more Club sites running like the one at Edinburgh - arrivals from 9 a.m. If they can do it then so can others. 

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited May 2016 #24

    The first day of our touring holiday involves travel to a different area of the country. We generally leave home just after 10 am and by the time we have travelled to our first site, it is well into late afternoon. This includes a break for lunch.

    So we would never be in the "arriving too early" category. 

    The only people who would be in that category are those who only holiday around their own county and don't tour anywhere else. 

    CoolWink

     

     

  • LEdwards2
    LEdwards2 Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited May 2016 #25

    How would the any-time arrival policy work for wardens? It seems to me that the current system which enables wardens to organise their time so that the vast majority of arrivals are met with an open reception desk for welcoming, booking in, offering advice
    and information etc etc is just fine. I feel that wardens should have a 'feel' for who is on the site and where they are pitched, and should not be expected to be continually catching up with new arrivals. 

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,404 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #26

    The first day of our touring holiday involves travel to a different area of the country. We generally leave home just after 10 am and by the time we have travelled to our first site, it is well into late afternoon. This includes a break for lunch.

    So we would never be in the "arriving too early" category. 

    The only people who would be in that category are those who only holiday around their own county and don't tour anywhere else. 

    CoolWink

     

     

    But try widening your thinking, K. When we travel, say from Wiltshire to the Lake District ( or even north of the border!) we'll break the journey and stop at a CL for a couple of nights on the way. That way we see another different area of the country. 

    Personally, I don't like towing for 4 or 5 hours just to arrive at my eventual destination tired to start with. So, for us, a couple of nights on a CL and then an early start to arrive early at our main site would be ideal.But that's just our way of doing
    things - other approaches are, of course, available! Happy

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,404 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #27

    No ifs, no buts, no extra charges. Let's have a lot more Club sites running like the one at Edinburgh - arrivals from 9 a.m. If they can do it then so can others. 

    +1 Happy

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #28

    How would the any-time arrival policy work for wardens? It seems to me that the current system which enables wardens to organise their time so that the vast majority of arrivals are met with an open reception desk for welcoming, booking in, offering advice
    and information etc etc is just fine. I feel that wardens should have a 'feel' for who is on the site and where they are pitched, and should not be expected to be continually catching up with new arrivals. 

    Sites are not run for the convenience of wardens - or at least they shouldn't be.  As I said earlier,  the staff at Edinburgh Club site cope very well with arrivals from 9a.m. and there are many other sites with multiple wardens where things could run in
    the same way. But change in this Club proceeds at the pace of a snail. 

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited May 2016 #29
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  • AlanAlde53
    AlanAlde53 Forum Participant Posts: 27
    edited May 2016 #30

    We arrived on-site this morning at 10.15am, a very nice relaxed welcome just the way it should

    Oh sorry just realised it is for UK sites only, don't worry one day they will see the light 

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #31

    No ifs, no buts, no extra charges. Let's have a lot more Club sites running like the one at Edinburgh - arrivals from 9 a.m. If they can do it then so can others. 

    Presumably Edinburgh have found the system works for them. However, they do have a very easy approach and a large area where they could stack vans if a pitch is not available. Also on our stays at Edinburgh people do seem to be on the move from an early hour, thus freeing up spaces. Unfortunately I can point to a lot of sites where the above is not the case. Access is narrow and there is little or no room for vans to wait for a pitch and folk leave closer to 12:00 than 9:00. Clearly if the system was extended it would have to be very selective.