Hard standing booking trial
When we arriived here at CC Sutton-on-Sea one of the wardens was chatting to me whilst OH had gone to book us in. The warden asked if we were booked on grass or hard standing. I did not know but said that if the option was available I had probably booked
hard standing.
He went on to say that the option was being removed next year. It may well be that the CC has decided not to continue with the optoion. Anybody heard or read anything??
Comments
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It would be a shame if the option was removed.
We prefer a grass pitch in summer but hard standings in winter. I bet many do.
Sometimes I really do not understand the CC. What is difficult about making both options available and why can the C&CC do it seemingly without any issue yet the CC cannot?
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The problem, if any, with the ability to book hard standing is their lack on some CC sites. Because we tour moving every 5 days we arrive on ste close to mid day. With no booking of hard standings I can always get one on the majority of sites. If the hard
standings were bookable and I tried to book a couple of weeks ahead I suspect that there might be none available. For some this would mean they went elsewhere. Possibly me too if rain were forecast.0 -
It can be vital to have HS in a front wheel drive MH, especially in winter.
We used to carry several of the yellow grip mats and have "walked the MH" on and off grass pitches many tmes in the past.
Easier now we are back to a caravan and Land Rover but you can still get stuck if all 4 tyres fill up with mud and if all 4 wheels just spin. You are going nowhere.
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We prefer a grass pitch in summer but hard standings in winter. I bet many do.
Do not the CC close grass pitches in the winter anyway? For winter vanners it's 'would you like HS or HS'
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I suspect the problem is when we get wet weather at the beginning and end of the season. Whilst we much prefer hardstanding, I am prepared to risk grass with a caravan. If we ever change to a MH I don't think I would be prepared to risk it, so if no service pitches were available, would look elsewhere.
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The inability to book hardstandings is a big issue for me. Other organisations seem to cope with the complexities.
As a late arriver I frequently used to end up on grass pitches so I only use all HS sites or club sites in winter nowadays
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In my opinion, it should be first come first served whether caravan or motor home. I don't think that hard standings should be reserved exclusively for motor homes.
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and why can the C&CC do it seemingly without any issue yet the CC cannot?
It's not always plain-sailing at C&CC. Sometimes, if you only want to book for 1 or 2 nights, the system will ONLY offer you a grass/non-electric pitch ....whereas if you want to stay longer it will offer you other pitch types. (This is due to 'occupancy
optimisation' ....not due to what is actually available)0 -
In my opinion, it should be first come first served whether caravan or motor home. I don't think that hard standings should be reserved exclusively for motor homes.
A few years ago a warden said to me when I booked in that he would be happier if I took a grass pitch. I took hard standing as my hapiness was just as important.
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We seem to be drifting away from the original question, what is going on? It really is time the Club reported on the trial. If I could get to our local question and answer session next weekend I would ask but cannot make it. Unless someone comes up with an answer,I will put it down for one to ask at the NEC if I manage to get there
peedee
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I believe that the outcome of the trial would be exactly what most of us knew it would be. If you give people the choice of hardstanding or grass, then the majority will go for hardtanding.
When the hardstandings run out, people will not book. Previously they might have taken the chance on getting the hardstanding and booked anyway.
So this experiment will be quietly faded away, with no comment from the CC.
Instead, what it should have told them them is - get more hardstandings installed!
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and why can the C&CC do it seemingly without any issue yet the CC cannot?
It's not always plain-sailing at C&CC. Sometimes, if you only want to book for 1 or 2 nights, the system will ONLY offer you a grass/non-electric pitch ....whereas if you want to stay longer it will offer you other pitch types. (This is due to 'occupancy optimisation' ....not due to what is actually available)
I don't book. If they don't want me I just go somewhere else. I ring the night before and ask what is available.
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Getting back to the OP, since we have had responses from staff about when bookings for next year open, it would seem only reasonable to expect them to know if the HS trial is continuing or being abandoned.
Perhaps Rochelle might follow this up?
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It would be a shame if the option was removed.
We prefer a grass pitch in summer but hard standings in winter. I bet many do.
Sometimes I really do not understand the CC. What is difficult about making both options available and why can the C&CC do it seemingly without any issue yet the CC cannot?
agreed, i thought the 'trial' was (effectively) to rubber stamp a desired process throughout the network....
obviously not.
it would be interesting to read the club's conclusions on the 'exhaustive' trial and see how they came to them....
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I agree Tammygirl. And I am not prepared to take grass with the caravan so that a motorhome can have my hard standing
...but you dont have to....
you either book what you want (the system we thought we were going to get) or you partake in first come first served, which is what we have now....
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I agree Tammygirl. And I am not prepared to take grass with the caravan so that a motorhome can have my hard standing
...but you dont have to....
you either book what you want (the system we thought we were going to get) or you partake in first come first served, which is what we have now....
Except when the wardens on some sites take it upon themselves to save certain pitches for some people.
Bladon Chains - we were told to go on grass to allow twin axles and m/h's to use hardstandings.
York Rowntree - numerous pitches were reserved for 'larger units' but were then used by peoplke with the same size caravan as our single axle.
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I agree Tammygirl. And I am not prepared to take grass with the caravan so that a motorhome can have my hard standing
...but you dont have to....
you either book what you want (the system we thought we were going to get) or you partake in first come first served, which is what we have now....
Except when the wardens on some sites take it upon themselves to save certain pitches for some people.
Bladon Chains - we were told to go on grass to allow twin axles and m/h's to use hardstandings.
York Rowntree - numerous pitches were reserved for 'larger units' but were then used by peoplke with the same size caravan as our single axle.
IAN ...Considering in your opinion how expensive sites are ,you seem to be useing an awfuvlvl lot , have you come into some money?
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Getting back to the OP, since we have had responses from staff about when bookings for next year open, it would seem only reasonable to expect them to know if the HS trial is continuing or being abandoned.
Perhaps Rochelle might follow this up?
Yes, she may do it '"Shortly"......
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Bladon Chains was several years ago, JVB
..I can remember being "advised " by a warden that we would need to move from our pitch in a couple of days, as they had taken a booking for a large RV and would only fit on the pitch we were on ,it was a few years ago and we did not move ,the RV "fitted "elsewhere
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I agree Tammygirl. And I am not prepared to take grass with the caravan so that a motorhome can have my hard standing
as a former caravanner I wouldn't expect anyone to, that's why I would much prefer to be able to book a H/S in the first place. At least then everyone knows what they can expect when they get to site, rather than the lottery we have have at the moment. One
of the main reasons that we don't spend much time on CC sites from April to October is that we don't arrive at 12 midday and the lottery of what pitch type. Winter is another matter as the grass are taken out so H/S is all you will get.0
