Standards at Clumber Park Site

Stewartwebr
Stewartwebr Forum Participant Posts: 171
edited June 2016 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Having spent 5 days at Clumber Park a few weeks back we were disappointed to find a severe drop in standards at this lovely site. I have never seen a CC site looking so overgrown and unkempt. In the 5 days we were there the only time we saw a warden was
during the daily bin cleaning round. This site is in an amazing location with large amount of grounds to be maintained, but that is reflected in the amount of wardens. I posted a review on my return and have just looked back at the review and I have never
seen so many negative comments before.

I really dont care that the facilities are old and a little run down, provided they are kept clean. The ones here are not despite being closed for 1 1/2 hours each morning.

Do the club review the reviews left by members and take action? I know reviews are very subjective, however, in this case with so many members commenting on the same issues will they act upon them?

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Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,155 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #2

    Perhaps a complaint to the Sites Dept at CC is in order, Stewart.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2016 #3

    We were there over the bank holiday and fully agree with the above,we have been to this lovely site several times,and were really suprised just how unkept it was,this visit compared to previose times

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,436 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #4

    I believe the comments book is inspected by the manager for that site. If I found a site not up to the usual high standards I would send off an email to HQ, hopefully on the staff members will pick this up on here as well and respond?

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,155 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #5

    Good thought, Corners. The Staff Champions always say we should contact them.

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #6

    I've flagged it up to the Sites Team so, hopefully, somebody will investigate.

    photo 78301b06-7bdd-45fe-8ae2-d4d2cae14135_zpssi5htrez.jpg

  • JD6620
    JD6620 Forum Participant Posts: 202
    100 Comments
    edited June 2016 #7

    We had planned to visit there in a few weeks but decided against it.  Glad we did now.  A couple of weeks ago we were at Bladon Chains site and although the facilites were a little tired there, the site was immaculate, so it can be done.

  • PITCHTOCLOSE
    PITCHTOCLOSE Forum Participant Posts: 658
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    edited June 2016 #8

    Reflection on the members not the wardens, some of the club membership leave a lot to be desired.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2016 #9

    Reflection on the members not the wardens, some of the club membership leave a lot to be desired.

    Write your comments here...A?

    Reflection on the members not the wardens, some of the club membership leave a lot to be desired.

    ...Yet again a post  without substance 

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
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    edited June 2016 #10

    Presumably the OP had the manners to have a word with the wardens about the situation before broadcasting it on a public forum?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2016 #11

    When we were there OH got a we are "busy this week" from one of staff when aproached about a problem

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #12

     some of the club membership leave a lot to be desired.

    What some club members [or paying visitors - who knows?]  leave is definitely NOT to be desired.

  • David2115
    David2115 Club Member Posts: 548 ✭
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    edited June 2016 #13

    Reflection on the members not the wardens, some of the club membership leave a lot to be desired.

    Write your comments here...what an odd thing to say !

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2016 #14

    I'm a little confused here......are some people saying that members should point out to the site staff that they haven't cut the grass etc.

    Surely they would know??

  • Stewartwebr
    Stewartwebr Forum Participant Posts: 171
    edited June 2016 #15

    Reflection on the members not the wardens,

    You may need to expand on your comments slightly. I'm at a loss as to why the length of the grass and the overall maintenance of the site is a reflection of members and not the wardens. My understanding  is paying members go to sites to relax and enjoy their pastime and as such members through site fees and membership pay the wardens to perform their duties of maintaining a high standard as set by the CC head office. Clearly this is not currently happening at Clumber Park hence my post which was posted after I had a discussion with the warden who told me everyone had an opinion on what the required standards are and an e-mail to CC head office expressing my concerns, concerns which appear to be widely recognised by a number of current users of this site.

     

     

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,079 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #16

    Clumber is around 15 miles from us. Our weather this year since Christmas has been either very wet or very warm. Combine these two and you have the perfect growing conditions for grass, shrubs and weeds of every kind nature could devise! 

    Talking to a number of Wardens since last year, the Club have had to cut back on some staffing and some routines. Perhaps this combined with the above goes someway to explaining why the grass remains a tad longer, or a few more weeds go untreated. It may
    be that the Wardens are having to prioritise, and are putting cleaning and bin emptying etc... Above grounds maintenance? just a thought? No harm in passing your observations onto HQ though. It could in fact assist the Wardens to get more help.

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited June 2016 #17

    WE are continually being told on this forum that the wardens know best what rules apply to their particular site and what rules should be followed.. 

    It is therefore down to that  "Wardens Discretion"  what work is done and what is not done on that site. 

    There is only one person to blame if the site is not up to CC standard. -- The Warden in charge ..

    K Cool

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,079 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #18

    If you can hang on a while for a reply K, I will get back to you. Need to consult with someone who talks and thinks more sense..... like my dog for instance!Wink

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2016 #19

    Rather harsh, TtDA......are you saying, that the warden isn't respnsible for the site?

     

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,079 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #20

    Not totally. Club employs Area Managers, and will have work schedules in place for what tasks are required at what frequency. They have possibly got someone reading the reviews as well. All this adds up to more than the Wardens with responsibility for each
    site, although the day to day running of the site will be down to the Warden team. If there are issues, depending upon what they are, it may take more than the Wardens to resolve them. 

    The recent reviews make interesting reading. If I was reading them as an AM, I think I would be doing a bit of site visiting, wandering around, talking to visitors, talking to Wardens. Rather ironic this thread actually, we had a stop there in park itself
    for a break on way home, said to my OH, perhaps we ought to have a couple of days when prices drop a bit. Do a bit of cycling, revisit walled garden etc..... But no, site has too many issues for us.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2016 #21

    Exactly, TtDA.

    All we are talking about here is cutting the grass and cleaning the bogs.........if they haven't got time to do that (despite closing tbe toilets for 1.5 hours, apparantly) what exactly are they spending their time doing?

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #22

    "Bogs" ! , toilets Ian, toilets,  standards you knowWink

  • tivano
    tivano Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited June 2016 #23

    wardens what wardens did not see them only for a short time nice job if you can get the work

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,079 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #24

    I haven't visited the site, or stayed, so I cannot comment on the standards. I don't doubt all of the comments left on the reviews, nor do I think that it is entirely fair to blame the Wardens without knowing what their work load is, and I have no idea of
    what the staffing commitment will be. Given it's location, it's proximity to large urban catchment area, and hazarding a guess that it is a very busy Club Site, it will not be a cake walk for any member of staff! 

    If I was a visitor, and didn't think much of what I found or expected, then I would probably ask the Wardens about it, get some background, and if still not satisfied take it up with the Club, but on a personal level. Armed with proper information, backed
    up with some photographs, then I would expect answers. 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2016 #25

    We moved on from Clumber Park to Ferry Meadows last week a much bigger site and bigger toilet blocks and the difference in standards was like chalk and cheese,

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,079 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #26

    wardens what wardens did not see them only for a short time nice job if you can get the work

    After paying at reception, we seldom notice Wardens on sites, unless they are continually mowing around us! We spend most of our time off sites, enjoying ourselves. 

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,079 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #27

    I am not doubting anyone's word that things were not right at Clumber, but moaning on here is unlikely to get a response from the Club. Go via the complaints procedure, that is what it is there for! That way, trusting you get an answer, your issues might
    be resolved and things will improve hopefully for future visitors! If it doesn't, then don't go back, or hassle HQ until they get sick of you!

  • tivano
    tivano Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited June 2016 #28

    iam the same going off enjoying ourselves but when we come back after 8/9 hours still no grass cut

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2016 #29

    I haven't visited the site, or stayed, so I cannot comment on the standards. I don't doubt all of the comments left on the reviews, nor do I think that it is entirely fair to blame the Wardens without knowing what their work load is, and I have no idea of
    what the staffing commitment will be. Given it's location, it's proximity to large urban catchment area, and hazarding a guess that it is a very busy Club Site, it will not be a cake walk for any member of staff! 

    If I was a visitor, and didn't think much of what I found or expected, then I would probably ask the Wardens about it, get some background, and if still not satisfied take it up with the Club, but on a personal level. Armed with proper information, backed
    up with some photographs, then I would expect answers. 

    However busy the site is, it still only takes one person in reception. The other three (at least) can devote their time to the other tasks.

    The bins still only get emptied once per day and the toilets only get cleaned once a day.....however busy the site is.

    What's left to do? Cut the grass.......

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,079 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #30

    If it was a problem for me, then I would

    1. Have a polite word with the Wardens, explaining the difficulty.

    2. If no joy, then contact the Club via the complaints procedure, and let them know what if anything has been done/ discussed, and actions taken. Include a photo, to illustrate the issue, and let them know what you expect to be done.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2016 #31

    Writing to the CC will only elicit a standard response.......we will look into this and will reply within a month or so.

    Then a standard follow-up letter (if you're lucky) saying thank you for your comments and we will take whatever action we can be bothered with, provided it doesn't interfere with our easy existence....or words to that effect. Pointless.

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