The supply of serviced pitches
Some thoughts on the provision of serviced pitches which on those sites that have them seem to be desirable to some.
I would not generally want one personally as I generally stay 5 nights and move on. I would likely fill aquaroll once and empty waste once on a facility site. The best part of £20 for that fill and empty would be daft in my case. I do appreciate that there are those that need the service. Not sure what percentage of pitches should be serviced. If their were (say) 100 pitches on a site ad 30 were grass and 30 were serviced then that is 60% of the pitches that would not suit me and many others at almost £4 a night extra. That means my choice of pitch is vastly reduced.Provision of more is a bit of a bit of a dilemma I reckon as long as there is that additional charge. If that charge was not there or was too low people would doubtless think 'might as well have a serviced pitch even if we don't really need it'. Then it would be back to square one.
Comments
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We prefer serviced grass pitches in the dry season!!
But the CC / camc wotever it's called, doesn't provide them. So much for being pioneering adventurers with a young family that the rebrand wants to attract, even though we changed from a MH after 9 years to a caravan with all the bells and whistles and the capability to go sans aqua roll and waste master. Seems exclusive to us!!
Where available we use a serviced pitch. On commercial sites in peak family holiday times where the fees are less and there is not such a penalty addition for using a serviced pitch
A long way to go go this new journey
Understanding contemporary family adventurers who use mobile residences throughout the year would be a good starting point, but with fuddy duddies voting mates in, little hope of that. 0 -
Yes there is what I consider to be a hefty premium for a CC serviced pitch however as discussed I think this is necessary if those that really need one are to stand a chance. I have had serviced pitches on some commercial sites where the charge is included as all pitches are serviced.
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You need to consider "want", not just "need"
I am fit so do not NEED a serviced pitch, but OH is disabled and prefers to use our excellent on board shower, so at 74 I do not really want to be hauling all that water.
We WANT a serviced pitch when we can afford one, so I think there should be more than now as they do book up quickly.
Abroad, if I dare mention the word, often all pitches are serviced at no extra cost, so we make full use of them, unlike the locals who may have a waste hose connected, but otherwise come out occasionally to fill a kettle.
That's fine, each to their own, they prefer to use site facilities as possibly their on board facilities are not as good as ours.
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I only ever use serviced pitches, which reduces the number of sites that I can stay on. Not that it worries me as there are many commercial sites offering much better facilities than the camc.
Apart from the convenience of having water and waste on the pitch, I much prefer hard standing pitches, and serviced and hard standing tend to go hand in hand.
Without a meaningful survey of members it is going to be very difficult to come up with an optimum percentage for serviced pitches. Having said that many more serviced pitches are being developed, at the cost of grass pitches, no doubt so that the sites opening dates can be extended.
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I don't need one, I don't particularly want one but, on sites where they are free, we have used them.
A good pitch location is more important to us than even the provision of a free serviced pitch.
It does make me smile when, for cost and logistics, serviced pitches are frequently adjacent to the facilities and quite often in the worst location.
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I always use them if its possible to book and get one. Makes staying away so much easier. So personally I wouldn't mind if all sites were service pitches only (and hardstanding too) but I realise that's my personal preference and others like non service pitches (or perhaps don't want/see the point of paying extra and some even like that messy green stuff called grass - I assume these people have grass drives at home too?) so the club should cater for these fellow campers too.
Having said that they do seem to very popular as it's difficult to get one if you don't book early enough. Is that because they are fewer of them or would more people use them if there were more? I think 50% service pitches?
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I think people book a service pitch to almost guarantee a hardstand,does not worry us where we go as long as we get a pitch on the site we want to book for ,even when we had motor caravans if the ground was a bit soft we just put down planks of wood for the front wheels to rest on ,never tore up a pitch or needed help to get off
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When booking sites I usually find the service pitches tend to be booked up first so the demand for them looks to exceed the supply. They cost more to install and maintain so a premium is needed and it is a matter of personal opinion if the cost can be justified but it does seem clear that more would be appreciated by members.
What proportion may depend on the use of individual sites but the cost of installation probably means more would only be feasible where other works are being carries out.
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I always book serviced if available as the family just use loads of water. If not available then the kids have an additional job to do. Good for their souls I say!!
They always seem to book up first so demand always seems to vastly outstrip supply
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Different strokes David
When a site has 'facilities' we will use to wash and shower. Washing up usually in the 'van. As we generally stay 5 nights we are never in danger of running out. We keep the drains clear by running off the hot water tank to waste via kitchen sink at end of stay. If we are on a serviced pitch I never hook up. Might use the tap for water to wash front of van or car windows.
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This is the main problem.......we should not have to book a serviced pitch just to ensure we get a hard standing.
It seems that many members do just that, whether they actually want a serviced pitch or not, thus denying those who really do want (or need) a aerviced pitch, the ability to book one.
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We want a hardstanding so we book a serviced pitch. This is what we used to do. However, we have found that we quite like them so book them now anyway when we can. I won't book a CC site pitch unless I can guarantee a hardstanding 100%, but for us, now, it's a little more than that.
David
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If building a new site from scratch I think all pitches should be fully serviced as at the time it would cost very little as a percentage of overall costs. Hook up was once looked upon as an extra but is now considered essential and normal and I think serviced pitches will go the same way
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Ican see where you are going but if like us, we still like a bit of exercise then there has to be a lower charge if not wanting the facility,,but then how could that be "policed" to stop as when electricity was an add charge, being as then abused by some?
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Certainly that is the opportunity to provide a site with such facilities. The problem would be the pricing structure as there wouldn't be a separate charge for the serviced element which might make the site seem expensive. Unlike there is on sites with a mix of pitches and an additional charge.
David
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I think yes certainly but with the option to opt out?
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