Pitch Type
Were looking to call at Brecon Beacons on Fri 23. Looked at late availability and find 28 pitches. Closer inspection shows they are super pitches. All standard ones gone. Will the club leave these empty whilst I go to a commercial site? Have no need for serviced pitch and would not use drains etc.so will not pay the premium. Is this a common occurrence where service pitches are mostly empty and members turned away?
Comments
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It could be even stranger than it seems. When we were at Brecon a few years ago, they were not able to let all the pitches. Something to do with planning. So unless they have sorted this, they could well have standard pitches available.
Of course if they let those in preference to the service pitches, they will not make so much money.
Just checked, could still be the case, as site plan shows pitches numbered up to 179, but site page only 140 pitches available.
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But the pitches may not be empty by 23rd. There are none available this weekend.
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As someone who uses service pitches whenever possible it's usually the service pitches that go first. I think it's just that weekend (and this site) as this weekend shows full on service and non service as Freelander says.
But yes the club doesn't let pitches go cheaper for service and non service pitches, (sort of stand by fares?) if they are not taken up. At this time of year onwards sites start getting full anyway.
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We also book a service pitch when ever possible and think it well worth the money. However, for those that don't want them, they are being forced into paying extra if they want a pitch.
The site has 140 pitches, 106 hardstanding. 130 of which are touring pitches and 10 tents. The site plan shows 179 pitches. At this time of year it is unlikely all of the grass pitches are out of service, so potentially it leaves 39 pitches which they cannot let. That being the case, from what the OP says, they must be letting service in preference to standard.
From a commercial point of view this of course makes sense. However, the word club is still in the title and surely, where possible, they should be providing what members require. I agree with CS they don't let pitches go cheaper, but if they have some of the cheaper pitches and are not letting them, that is a totally different matter.
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Turned away ! ! really the choice is yours , there are pitch types available to you , the decision to go elseware is yours .....no one else's
👍
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I do wonder if service pitches will make up the majority of pitches in the future? The extended section at Cromer of 25 pitches consists of all service pitches and the day we arrived people were having difficulty finding a reasonably level pitch from what was left. As a motorhomer I don't really need a service pitch so in future could be forced to spend money I would prefer not to?
David
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I often wonder if (had Ct been around) similar comments were made when EHU was installed on every pitch?
Were the service pitches taken all taken David?
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considering the club has just conducted a rebrand (expensive) to show everyone how inclusive it is and how aware it is of all members' needs, it comes as a surprise that it should be converting so many pitches into (expensive) serviced pitches.
do the newly 'recognised' (and fast expanding) MH members cry out to be able to pitch (expensively) on one of these delights?
no, in general, theyre more likely to be looking for a smaller (less expensive) pitch (no huge towcar and perhaps no awning) and if only staying for a short time the (less expensive) option of not making use of EHU.
as David suggests, is this really the way the fastest growing section of the club wants it to move.
compare this to the snail's pace 'upgrade program' of MHSPs, a 20 year timeframe for completion
while i can see the desire for caravanners to take up the (expensive) option of serviced pitches, to avoid the daily water ritual, wont this regeneration of pitches leave many MHers with little choice but to pay for something they're not interested in and, of course, this drives up the cost to everybody who takes an SP because its all thats left....
as Fish says in the OP, the club would be definitely be turning him (and me) away (at booking time or at arrival time) if there were only SP left.
yes, EHU became all the rage, with vans fitted with many modern electricsl gadgets, but progress has occurred (as ever) and most vans can run quite happily without the need for (expensive) EHU.
a smart move by the club making it inclusive and charging an 'appropriate' usage fee, no opting out for the increasing number who are not reliant on it.
i fear the same will happen with SP, where a portion of the membership will lap it up (expensively) while others will have to put up or shut up.
i guess a number wont 'put up' and will go elsewhere.....as Fish suggests.
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On most of the club sites we visit the service pitches are well used even if the pitches are not in particularly nice spots. It would be good if there was an opt out option . We paid a lot more for a service pitch recently (C&CC) as no others were available on a site we wanted, in the end we enjoyed being connected up for a change but would not be regular users.
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while i can see the desire for caravanners to take up the (expensive) option of serviced pitches, to avoid the daily water ritual, wont this regeneration of pitches leave many MHers with little choice but to pay for something they're not interested in and, of course, this drives up the cost to everybody who takes an SP because its all thats left....
Not just Motorhomes, BB but we don't use service pitches either and don't want to thank you very much. Funnily enough if I turn up at a CL where they only have service pitches available they don't charge me extra for not using it as intended. If they did they would probably lose a customer which they realise.
Anyway I thought the club was going to be ready for every type of customer!
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Hello Everyone!
I have spoken to our estates team regarding this and will try and clear up some of your points.
Regarding pitches at Brecon Becons as SteveL suggested we only have a certain amount of pitches which are available to book due to planning permission, the other pitches have been taken out of action.
These are Grass pitches as they tend to be less popular.
As someone asked why can we not open up these pitches when some of the service pitches are available (this being rare, though it does happen) the reason for this is simply because the other pitches have been completely taken out of action meaning that any electric has been switched off for this section of the site or it doesn't have the facility in the first place.Generally the service Pitches are booked fairly quickly, on the odd occasion they are available we wouldn't reduce the fees because the facilities could still be used and quite often they may remain empty for a day or two and then someone may take it for the remaining period, or even on the same day for late arrivals without a booking!
We will always offer a wide range of pitches for all of our tourers, we currently offer less service pitches and wouldn't be looking at making these the majority.
We do have a number or sites which are Economy meaning that you are self sufficient as we are aware that there are members who also enjoy this without the amenities of an electric pitch or service pitch.Lastly we wouldn't turn anyone away unless we are full, if there are service pitches available you are more than welcome to have one of these pitches, alternatively give us a call at head office and we would be more than willing to look for a site close by weather its another main site or a CL site we can usually find you something.
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Let's not turn this into another caravan v MH argument eh?
Only once, in all our years of using club sites have we booked a service pitch - that was at Lakeside as we'd been given a hint about the views. We didn't use the water hook up and have no intention of doing so whilst fit enough to continue caravanning. Filling an aquaroll once a day is no problem!
If the club does aim to increase the number of service pitches to the point where we were unable to book a standard pitch we'd just look elsewhere.
Mind you, maybe the club have been listening to all those posts praising independent sites with their serviced pitches!
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I don't deny they are popular and well used and I am all in favour of a good mix of pitches but hopefully not at the exclusion of those that just want a standard hardstanding pitch. My point was on that particular site there was a quite major extension (and very nice it looks too) but the Club made a decision to only add further service pitches rather than a mix of pitch types which lessens the choice available. My concern is that if all future upgrades to Club sites follow the same pattern members will be forced into paying an extra nightly fee if that is the only way they can get on a particular site. On the point of whether they were well used, yes they were as was the rest of the site. There was the odd time when non service pitches were full that there was the odd one or two empty serviced pitches.
David
PS I do remember when not all pitches had EHU, in fact our first caravan did not have electrics.
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It would have to be a very good reason for me to book a site that only had service pitches left, I don't need them and I'm not prepared to pay for them. Even with a caravan we didn't use them, as mentioned earlier they are not always in the best place anyway. I would much rather see a reduction in the price of a non awning pitch, but I guess that's not going to happen.
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WN, while i did use MH in my first sentence, i did then refer to 'everybody' meaning ALL those MEMBERS who were left with Hobson's Choice of pich types.
my 'generalisation' came from my own experience of the way i see folk using services and the comments earlier in the thread, some suggesting that it would be something they didnt need (motorhomers) and those that said they would book one wherever possible (caravanners).
while this is only a tiny sample, it is a trend that is borne out by my own experiences...
you, im glad to see, are a vanner after my own heart
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During 2 recent stays on Club sites we noticed the low take up rate on the serviced pitches.
While the majority of standard pitches were taken up the most serviced pitches we saw in use was 3!
Unless your severely disabled I just don't see the point of them & they are certainly not worth the extra expense!
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OK green question coming up you've been warned!
Why are there pitches created, with one assumes costs attached, when planning permission hasn't been given for them?
Is this akin to large supermarkets putting in a certain floor size, which is approved, only to increase the floor area?
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I don't know the answer B2 but it was like it when we were there 3 years ago. At that time some of the empty pitches were hardstanding, because they had a sign explaining it was down to planning, if you saw empty HS's when the site flagged as full. Perhaps they hoped to get it changed. The fact they have now targeted the grass pitches and even withdrawn power, suggests they were unsuccessful. I'm glad I prefer a HS pitch.😀 Odd that on the pictures of Brecon on the website, so many pitches look like they are grass.
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I note the the member of staff acknowledged that "grass pitches were less popular" well I never
maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel after all
Is it possible that one day we may see a reduction in the cost of these pitches or maybe a booking system that let's you choose 1 -
From what I read as comments on CT lots of service pitches are booked to guarantee a hard standing. Personally I wouldn't pay the extra. If there is no hardstanding available and extremely damp conditions, I'd ask for service pitch with no additional charge and if refused I'd use grass and not worry about the consequences of a motorhome on damp or wet grass. That is not meant to sound selfish but I'm sure it would cost more to put a grass pitch back into use than let someone off of the service charge in those circumstances!
I too would like to see a lesser charge for non awning.
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Surely your last paragraph is a matter of opinion, not a statement of fact. In my opinion, and I am not in any way disabled, just getting old ☹️, they are well worth the money. We have also found the take up to be high. For instance I have just booked some time at Bridlington in October. Every day is available on a standard pitch, however there is already non availabilty on some dates for a serviced pitch.
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David, i agree that there should be a variety of all pitch types at all sites.
why should a member have to go to an 'Economy' site to be able to pitch on a non-EHU pitch, why arent there (just) a few of these on each site?
that way, all members can choose their preferred pitch type, with the appropriate price amendment, of course
i also agree with TG and Bakers that awning/non-awning pitches should carry a price differential, perhaps decrease/increase each type by (say) £1.50 giving a £3 difference....not as much as a SP premium but reflecting the real and perceived difference in the two types.
Steve...Bridlington in October? perhaps, as Bakers suggests, folk are hedging their bets and trying to ensure a HS pitch but, as the Club copped out of making this an option, members have only the SP route (and associated extra income) to be sure.....nice work of you can get it..
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I agree entirely, I've been using them since we first tried one in 2001 and to me they are well worth the money. Its not so much the 'chore' of getting and emptying water but the fact that not worrying about when it runs out or 'rationing' washing up/showers. And yes in my experience they do go before non service pitches. It's also what I'm used to at home.
It's funny though how there was a series of threads complaining that people were booking service pitches and not using them as service pitches (and yes there were plenty of non service pitches) so I guess the demand is there.
However each to their own and it's their choice to spend or not to spend.
At the moment service pitches are in the minority and on sites I’ve been to its probably 20% max (more like 10% and below on many sites) are service pitches so I don’t think people are being forced to use them.
I really do think that more and more pitches will become service pitches and once it reaches a certain threshold then yes have a payment for using them.
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Steve...Bridlington in October? perhaps, as Bakers suggests, folk are hedging their bets and trying to ensure a HS pitch but, as the Club copped out of making this an option, members have only the SP route (and associated extra income) to be sure.....nice work of you can get it..
All pitches are hardstanding at Bridlington BB, so your theory doesn't quite fit there? Its the same at Melrose, Teeside and Troutbeck where all pitches are hardstanding yet the service pitches go first. Maybe they are just more popular and people are willing to pay without the club enforcing them to pay as you suggest?
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I noticed last year at Brecon that there were tent pitches on the grass nearest to the big enclosed play field. Opposite was a pleasant grass van pitch area. These two areas were nice because they were well away from the road noise at the other end of the site. If the weather is good it's a pity these aren't in use.
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Brue, again agreed....a nice dry, firm grass pitch is so much nicer than a 'chippings' area....IMHO, of course.
with the earlier response from 'on high' re the electric being fully turned off, arent these exactly the right type of budget pitches that could (should) be introduced in the summer season.....
however, with a 'planning restriction' capping total pitch numbers, its hardly likely that they are going to put up a few grass pitches with a non-ehu rate in lieu of other, more expensive, offerings.
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Corners, i bow to your more intimate knowledge of Club sites. ive been in the area but not stayed at the club site.
however, its fair to say that we do have many members saying that they do book a SP when all they really want is a HS, some of whom don't use the SP hook ups, which leads to the occasional post wondering whats going on...
strange that folk will pay £4-£5 (or whatever the daily cost is) for a SP (purely to ensure a HS) yet would probably be mortified to see the club introduce a price (cheaper) differential between grass and HS, or awning non-awning.
still, as you say, its their money.
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You see I don't see it as strange that people will pay to ensure a HS. There are those who like grass (real caravanning as you might say) but not me and others like the ones you describe. If I had to choose between a HS and service it would be HS.
Soon grass will be a thing of the past (IMHO) If the club wants to introduce prices differences for awning/non awning pitches (but not awnings per se) then that's fine but can't really agree as the stuff you're really paying for, staff, showers, MH points, electrics, will cost the same.
Also, again IMHO. there is hardly any demand for non EHU pitches even from MH. I can't say I've seen all MH but most have EHU connected on club sites (remember all the complaints about leaving the cable plugged in when off site?)
As I said my vote is to have all pitches serviced but apply a charge to use them.
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so, why not have all pitches EHU but only charge when its used?
this is exactly my point.
any vanner (caravan or MH) will hook up if its already been paid for, why would i use my gas to run my fridge if the club have already charged me a 'fee' in my inclusive price?
however, if that 'fee' (£3-£4) were not payable, I'd use my own gas (far cheaper) and solar...
like you, i think all members should be presented with a full choice of pitch types at all sites, the ratio of such to reflect demand...
so, mostly HS, some grass with some of these non-ehu as summer is a good time for firm grass and plenty of sunshine...
a number HS converted to be fully serviced
and a decent MHSP.
so, i agree, choice is key, but reflecting that of all types of member.
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