Pitch allocation

It is all down to 'warden's discretion' In reality this basically means if a warden wants to allocate pitches, or anything else, they just use this as their 'reason'.  

The club's current policy is not to allocate pitches, or allow pitches to be saved for friends/family arriving later, but like other rules the warden can override it if they want to - for example if they happen to have friends or family visiting, or the club bigwigs are dropping by.

Which site was it?
 

I suspect it was a refusal to reserve/allocate a pitch which is the norm.

Presumably the unit which went on to the desired pitch arrived before said member's friends? In which case, it's nothing out of the ordinary - pitch reservation isn't allowed. Like pitching to the peg, we all know exactly what the situation is if we choose
to go to a CC site.

If you look at the site leaflet it clearly states that they allocate pitches at this site so, if we do our research before going, we would know this before arriving. This is unusual and having never been I cannot speculate as to why this is but I am willing to accept that there could be a good reason, just don't know what it is.

It would probably be easier if the CC actually said why - it wouldnt cost them anything to say ''Pitches on this site are allocated because....''

Also if pitches are allocated surely the warden could have allocated two together so that friends/family could pitch together? 

I am very much in favour of non allocated pitches - you choose from what is available on your arrival.

I did witness a justified exception recently on a club site. We noticed in the morning as we left for our days walk a reserved sign on a pitch near to us and close by the toilet block - a caravan was pitched on it at dusk when we returned.

The next morning we observed an elderly lady being escorted around various pitches looking at the pitch number and outfits in the vicinity.....then an elderly gentleman rushed along from the direction of the toilet block area and  with what looked like a
relieved expression appeared to thank the person escorting the lady and then gently took over and took her back to the caravan on the reserved pitch.

That was a thought provoking incident.

 

Also if pitches are allocated surely the warden could have allocated two together so that friends/family could pitch together? 

...that would go against the capital principle of first come first choose! After all, those one night ferry pitchers, even though limited to those allocated pitches, still can choose from those few allocated for this purpose. Seems fair to me and a sensible management of possible disruption on site at all possible hours due to ferry timetables.

 

...if your pitches are allocated, you don't choose, do you?...

...even if you are 'first come'

 

If there are lets say five 'ferriers' expected that day then if you are the first of these then you should have the pick of all those designated for that purpose?

Sensible I would think for these to be managed day by day rather than just devote at the start of the season a certain number of specific pitches for that purpose. Afterall, it could be none one day and many the next!

Yes, David nailed it I reckon. Guess many who use it understand this need and, call it what you will, wardens' discretion or management, in such site specific circumstances.