Online Booking System - choice of pitches
Comments
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If it's the site I think it is ! ! , it's a cracking all grass pitches site well run & a credit to the wardens who run it .
We were there last summer we had our fair share of rain over the fortnight we were there & the ground remained rock solid , we tend to use grass in the summer unless the site visited doesn't have them .
I personally think the choice of grass pitches on sites, when available are far more user friendly than H/S , but that's our choice & everyone to their own .😇
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In September 2015 we stayed several nights on a grass pitch at Godrevy, they only have grass pitches.
It was not that wet while we were there, but had been previously, the pitches were very wet considering they have sand below.
Unfettered use of awning groundsheets had killed the grass, so there was a lot of bare mud, it was not a good experience.
Just getting onto our pitch we made several ruts, the mover was struggling as the ground was so wet.
Presumably the Club are not permitted to install HSs there?
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Oh dear. I do hope the club doesn't make the sites all hard standing. Camping is camping, not car parking. If people have vehicles which are unsuitable for camping then they shouldn't go camping, especially when weather conditions render them incapable. We tow a caravan with a front wheel drive car, and it has limited traction especially when the outfit is loaded to around 3500kgs. We chose where and when we go.
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We chose where and when we go.
Presumably around the weather......?
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Does anybody like a soggy, waterlogged pitch?
Whether MH or caravan, or indeed tent, who wants these soggy grass pitches?
They may be nice when not soggy and waterlogged, but you cannot rely on that.
We could have say 10% of pitches as grass for those who wish it, but only if the surface is bookable.
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I think you are right, EasyT.
I suspect that I am like many caravaners and motothomers. Grass pitches are fine when it's dry (and has been dry for some time) and sunny.
But when it rains heavy, I want a hardstanding.
I'm sure that the grass lovers are exactly the same......they will join the race for hardstandings when it's wet.
But the difference is that I (and I suspect the majority) live in the real world and realise that we often get wet weather. So realistically, hardstandings are the only option in this country.
I just wish that the Club would realise this (perhaps if more of their management had ever owned or even seen a caravan or motorhome it would help) and would get on with installing more hardstandings (and converting those old, narrow ones to a proper width) instead of frittering millions away on a new logo.
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If the club get on and concrete the whole site the grass can go and there will be even more pitching space, and no more pegs will get quietly moved because they will be steel cemented into the concrete. White lines will delineate the pitches and the concrete between pitches can have yellow hatching. Drains would be located there too so that no campers get their feet wet. The first couple of rows of pitches near the facilities block can have wheel chairs stencilled on them. Trees will be banished so that the rain water never drips on anyone, and the affluent amongst us can book a full enclosed pitch with a roof and lockable door.
Campers? I don't think so.
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I don't go camping. I have a caravan which I use as accommodation when I'm on holiday.
I used to go camping when I had a tent. It's not something I'm keen to repeat.
The other club and most commercial sites can manage to let people choose the type of pitch they want. That is why they get my business during summer months and this club does not. We are all different
If club sites were all grass I'd never have joined. Not being able to book a HS after the cancellation of the trial is making it unlikely that we'll renew.
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We don't mind a grass pitch if the summer has been a dry one (that happens sometimes) and the land under foot is not sodden...but by preference we like a hardstanding. Yes it would be nice to be able to book a pitch in advance, but I guess if they don't ask for a deposit, that people would book up the good ones and then not turn up therefore blocking the better pitches that other people would like. We have three dogs (terriers) so we always try to be away from where people may have to pass close to the caravan if possible, as they have been known to bark at passers by - although they are quickly 'shussed' if they do. Just my two pennyworth.
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Whilst it would be nice to book surface type, for us booking a specific pitch would not generally be advantageous. It is normally several years between visits to most sites, that is if we ever visit them again. It is unlikely I would remember which were our preferred pitches, unless I took notes. Also depending on time of year, tree growth in say seven years, what was your preferred pitch last time, may have changed.
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......I'm still listening, and still agree with the majority here. If members were 'confused' by the trial, then the Club has to take responsibility for this in not making it clear to all members. I don't recall a letter being sent out to members, although it was in the magazine. Although there are only a relatively small number of members posting in this thread, one has to assume that proportionally it is representative of the Club.
Nearly all of the points raised in this thread I brought up when I made my short presentation on the subject of booking specific surface type pitches at Caravan Club Council. I didn't advocate getting rid of grass pitches, as I know some prefer them, but giving folk the opportunity of choosing the type of pitch at the time of booking. I would like to think that my presentation helped convince the Club to roll out the trial.
Like the majority of those who have posted on here, I was disappointed in the outcome of the trial, but like many, not surprised. I don't believe I given a particularly robust set of reasons for the trial being discontinued. In fact, I can't really remember the reasons now, off hand without looking it up - the rather vague results were published in the magazine.
My guess is that it will rear it's head again sometime in the future, especially if the increase in the number of motorhomes on site means that the larger motorhomes are treated in a different way to caravanners. If this begins to happen on a large scale, then I can see this causing some friction. Rochelle made a comment about this in another thread.
In the meantime, I will be using CAMC Serviced pitches and hardstandings only sites in season (together with non-CAMC sites, where you can have the option), and CAMC sites out of season when I am absolutely certain that grass pitches are not used - I always check with the wardens before booking.
David
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In the meantime, I will be using CAMC Serviced pitches and hardstandings only sites in season (together with non-CAMC sites, where you can have the option), and CAMC sites out of season when I am absolutely certain that grass pitches are not used - I always check with the wardens before booking.
I have never in the last 10 years been forced onto grass on a CC site although there have been two attempts by wardens. If/When that does happen David I shall do similar.
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We had no choice when we went to Chester Fairoaks - a while ago now. It was a nightmare. They were ringing up people and telling them not to come, and we were all curtain 'twitching' eyeing up the next hardstanding that became available so that we could move. I remember helping to move caravans with the awning already errected. You unpeg the awning, get someone on each leg, lift and then keep pace with the caravan as it was towed by the car. Everyone was doing it. I'm sure I've got some photos somewhere.... LOL
David
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Nearly all of the points raised in this thread I brought up when I made my short presentation on the subject of booking specific surface type pitches at Caravan Club Council. I didn't advocate getting rid of grass pitches, as I know some prefer them, but giving folk the opportunity of choosing the type of pitch at the time of booking. I would like to think that my presentation helped convince the Club to roll out the trial.
David
Can you tell us more about how your proposals were received by the people in the room? I do think the ending of the trial was short sighted. In fact I am not sure there should have been a trial they should have done it for all sites for a complete season and then reviewed. It seems a major part of the decision to end the trial was the hassel the wardens were getting because some members were confused. Had it been network wide it was less likely to be confusing. The C&CC booking page is not the best in the world but it comes up with a simple choice of what pitches are available to book for your dates. You tick the box and away you go. What that system does take away is the availability to see what is generally available although I am sure that could be provided as well.
David
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Well if the fact that a member of the club council doesn't use club sites if there's a chance of ending up on grass hasn't persuaded them then what will?
Luckily for me there are plenty of alternative pitch providers who are so keen to get my money that they let me book what I want rather than what someone else thinks I should be happy with
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To be honest David, Council Meetings are a little less formal now to as they were. At that time and on this subject there was little reaction from the floor as the Club were aware of the nature of my request ie to be able to book specific pitch types, and they had an immediate response worked out saying that is was the intention to trial the idea by using a limited number of sites. I agree with the rest of your comments.
I think the issue of site staff 'possibly' reserving hardstandings for 'the heavier units' could mean that the issue will be revisited in the future especially if it becomes a more widespread practice. This has the potential of happening with the increasing number of motorhome owners on the network.
I don't often use C&CC sites, and when I do I tend to ring up. We only regularly use one C&CC site, for our Mayday bank holiday excursion with friends. As it's fairly local to us I go up and book in person - and I book our meal at the local pub at the same time.
David
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I think the issue of site staff 'possibly' reserving hardstandings for 'the heavier units' could mean that the issue will be revisited in the future especially if it becomes a more widespread practice.
That would be one thing that would restrict my usage of club sites to those that were all hard standing or say 90% so. It would then possibly halve my usage of club sites
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I'm quite happy to share my bookings around because of the 'hardstanding' issue. I generally use CAMC sites less than 25% of the time, I reckon. Last year our usage of Club sites was small because we went 'across the water' (or rather under the Sea! !) for 7 weeks.
David
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And how will that make a difference. On many sites if you book a month ahead you are likely to have a choice of grass or grass as the hardstandings will have booked up. If you are happy to use grass and are booking early you may as well book for hard in case it rains as you should have no trouble changing for grass when you arrive, or a few days ahead, if the weather is good
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