Pitch Markers & Caravan Location
Does the Caravan Club have a clear and consistent way of indicating where owners should park their caravans?
The reason for asking is that on some sites we've been told to centre our caravan with the pitch marker and the car goes one side and awning the other.
We arrived at Chester Fairoaks yesterday and applied the same logic, erected our awning & whilst watching the TV a sudden tap on the window by the warden. 'Can we move our car off the grass' we were told that we had parked our caravan incorrectly and it should have been to the right of the marker. Too late to move our caravan as awning all erected so we now have to leave our car in car park, not a problem if theres space. Warden also said that someone else had located their caravan correctly but the previous owner had moved the sign!
So my question, is the way the club instructs owners where to locate their caravan Ok, or does it need a rethink? Instead of using the pitch sign as a guide why not just say caravan centre, awning one side, car the other, car not on grass. If the signs are to be used I suggest that they include an image of the caravan and an arrow showing preferred location.
Comments
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Every Club site that I have visited the Warden at the time of booking in tells me how to pitch regarding the marker, whether I want to hear it or not. I'm certain there are variations but for me it has always been the offside corner to the marker, leaving room or the vehicle one side and awning/canopy the other.
Some markers do not leave 'good' space for cars and it can be tight, but to park perhaps half on/half off the grass would make me think perhaps I have plonked the van in the wrong place.
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I'm surprised the warden didn't make things clear when you checked in, DPH. On any CC site we've used we've always had it explained to us (even when we say we've been to the site, sometimes many times, before). On most modern HS pitches, depending whether you reverse in or nose in, it's corner to the peg, far on off side and awning on door side. At some sites, I'm thinking of Cirencester in particular, some of the pitches are too narrow to allow for this and the car has to be parked in front of the van. But again, it's always been explained at check in.
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Many of the site plans (downloadable in advance of visit) seem to show the pitching arrangements which in the majority of cases is as EasyT pointed out. Most receptions I have been in usually have a plan of pitching arrangements stuck to the desk, some even have a model car and caravan. There may be some sites which differ from the regular arrangements but that should be explained on arrival. One Club site we visite in Scotland had a number in the ground at both back and front of the pitch so you had to park centrally on the pitch but that is unusual.
David
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I wonder if the OP had previously come across different arrangements on afilliated sites as all CC sites have the same pitching alignment as has been described. Can the model on the reception desk Ieave any doubt in the mind?
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DPH The Warden staff should have instructed you as to the correct method of pitching at the time you booked in. They should have drawn your attention to the models of the car and caravan which they are supposed to display in the office.
That you were not told this, is an omission on their part.
It is normally the offside rear of the caravan next to the marker peg. Or if you prefer to face in the opposite direction, the nearside front of the caravan next to the marker peg. The awning on one side of your van and the car on the other.
Cheers..........................K
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K,
Just FYI, if there is a model caravan etc on display it is done voluntarily by the warden, there is no instruction from above to do so, nor is there to give instructions on pitching, It's done using that phrase you love to berate "wardens discretion".
On club owned sites it has been the requirement to park your outfit either offside rear or nearside front to the marker for the last four years. As the op is not a new member he shouldn't need to be reminded of parking on our sites as it's sort of commomn knowledge by now.
JK
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Our retired warden friends have always said, when you give any form of "advise" to members when they are booking in on a site, 99% is not taken in and even if they are given a site leaflet it is not usually looked at, as they will be back in the office asking where most of information written in the leaflet is,
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You are all correct......the site plan and the CC web site have a very clear diagram showing you exactly how to pitch.
It shows car/ caravan / awning (looking from the front of the pitch) regardless of where your caravan door is.
So glad that we are all in agreement.
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Perhaps we should set that to music.
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no, never seen an awning on the non door side
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To Quote BMBonanza from a thread in 2013.
Apologies if this is duplicating anyone else's thread - I couldnt find the one that mentioned Littlehampton and nose in being mandatory but this is the reply the club have sent to my email asking why you had to pitch nose in at this site if you are a continental layout....
''Thank you for your email regarding the pitching layout we have now adopted on Club Sites across the network, in particular at Littlehampton Caravan Club Site.
I can confirm that on directly owned Caravan Club Sites the ruling accepts outfits either being pitched nose in or reversed on. With a network spread across The UK it takes a little time for our regional managers to work with the sites to do a proper assessment and ensure we get it right for members. I understand the Regional Manager will be visiting Littlehampton this week and will ensure this will be the case on your next visit''
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I believe that the position of the van to the peg as described above is standard across the network (affiliated sites aside). The issue for some come when placing car and awning correctly. On some of the less 'regimented' and more informal sites sometimes the cars goes in front on a few pitches. Sometimes the pitch is parallel to the road. All you need to do is follow the advice given and recognise the need for the odd exception. I think it's more management of site mind than wardens discretion in these instances.
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We have, on the odd occasion, where a caravan has an awning on both sides, using one as a storage area. Probably not on a CC site though.
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I am so glad they have gone with parking offisde of caravan to the marker - or front near side if going nose in. Some years ago I stopped at the site near Scotch Corner on the A66 - and was told to put nearside caravan rear to marker - as a solo driver I suggested it wouldn't be the easiest thing for me to do - and the Warden had the cheek to give me the caravan handling booklet! I wasn't amused after a long journey.
I suspect it's easier for couples too judging by some of the bizarre directions I see being offered sometimes! I do see a lot of very efficient couples too of course. 0
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