Hardstanding or Grass Pitches

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  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #62

    Same for me too with non awning and awning pitches if not all booked out! I guess I'm one of those for flexibility, where possible!

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2019 #63

    By 'eck fella, up early?

     

    I have been helping moving a friend with Parkinsons and sever mobility problems to an apartment in an Extra Care home facility. Busy stripping wardrobes etc, working with removal guys, and firm moving his electrically operated bed etc. So after a hectic day finishing at 7.30pm I did not wind down for bed until 1pm. Woke at 4.45pm, scotch and back to bed as much more to do tomorrow. His carers don't come in until Monday but I had a 6' seat from a previous caravan and a friend is sleeping in the apartment Friday, Saturday and Sunday to help out with his needs. I closed our singles, then social group last November after over 20 years but we still have at least a 9 friends when in need available even though now less able wink 

    Back to work tomorrow finishing off at old home and more! What's for tea Saturday? F and C I suspect!

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #64

    if, on arrival, any 'stock type' is still available on screen, I see no issue in the customer changing their mind....

    surely, accommodating the customer's wishes (yes, including changing their mind) is a key element of any warden's remit....hardly 'excellent customer service', just something I would normally expect any site office staff to do for me...

    on long term Continental sites, there is much pitch swapping to glean maximum sunshine, minimum wind etc....office staff just click a couple of buttons to transfer the booking to another pitch...

    ...and if a particular type isn't available, there is usually a waiting list and you'll be contacted when the change becomes possible....excellent customer servicewink

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2019 #65

    Oh, I'm sorry. Mea Culpa! For a moment I thought the thread was about the CC rather than continental sites.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #66


    "If on arrival, any 'stock type' is still available on screen, I see no issue in the customer changing their mind....

    surely, accommodating the customer's wishes (yes, including changing their mind) is a key element of any warden's remit....hardly 'excellent customer service', just something I would normally expect any site office staff to do for me..."

     

    Where ever possible I'd agree. Though on my experience abroad specific pitches can be pre-booked on sites I've used. This has meant some empty pitches aren't always available to you on arrival as the booked pitch holder is turning up later in the week. This suits the longer term stayers, just different system I'd guess for both different type of campers and sites.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #67

    it is about CC sites.....and I commented thus...about changing bookings if stock were available...

    however, asking a warden to change a pitch booking to take such advantage shouldn't be regarded as anything 'special'...

    surely, its part of their job to do this and give 'excellent customer service'....

    i could easily have said that I'd expect no less from any other site (uk or Europe) office staff.....as I'm 'there' now, i see this happen all the time.

    folk change their minds and pitches....it matters not where it happens but my point is that it isn't something 'special'....

    David seemed to think it was something the warden had 'gone out of their way' to do.....

    i disagree, that's all.....mea culpa?wink

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #68

    David seemed to think it was something the warden had 'gone out of their way' to do.....

    I was thinking aloud so to speak wondering whether I had made the right decision booking a serviced pitch. It was the warden that suggested I downgrade my booking, it wasn't asked for so in my book that is excellent service. 

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #69

    If surface booking is ever made available. I doubt that there will be more than one or two that want to switch from grass to hardstanding, as only the grass stalwarts will book them, therefore it should not reduce available choice to any degree.

    In the other direction. If the weather is wet the hardstanding will be popular and few will opt to change to grass. If dry there will be a greater take up.

    If booking well in the future I would think most folks default setting would be hardstanding, particularly early / late in the season. Given the vagaries of our weather, why risk being cancelled when there is every chance you can change your mind on arrival.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #70

    I guess too that a warden asking on arrival if you really intend to put up an awning on that booked awning type is a good thing. Then they can suggest you can pick from either if you are not doing so. You would just have to let them know which you've picked which is as we already do!

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2019 #71

    If booking well in the future I would think most folks default setting would be hardstanding, particularly early / late in the season. Given the vagaries of our weather, why risk being cancelled when there is every chance you can change your mind on arrival.
     

    Exactly

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582
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    edited February 2019 #72

    I tend to agree that most people would go for the hardstanding. If you look at caravans and motorhomes on C&CC sites this appears to be the case.

    I do believe the cl;ub do reduce the winter availability on many sites in the Winter season to just the hardstandings where this is feasible. I have seen all grass pitches being out of use at that time but possibly some sites do not have enough hardstandings to do this.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2019 #73

    I guess too that a warden asking on arrival if you really intend to put up an awning on that booked awning type is a good thing.

    Not really from my point of view as in good weather I may want to use the awning area for table and chairs etc. In bad weather to park car to offload shopping

  • rayjsj
    rayjsj Forum Participant Posts: 930
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    edited February 2019 #74

    My reply to the Warden would be 'I might, it depends on the weather'

    i like to be able to roll out my awning especially if it starts raining, and  i like the space to be able to do that. Some non- awning pitches can be a bit small for a roll out awning. Hence I always book Awning pitches.Far simpler.  I have also found that there are more Awning pitches with hard standing bases. I check the site plans before booking.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #75

    There you go then, more choice and some of those non awning pitches are in what some would call prime spots. Being a motorhomers we've Never been on one where our roll out canopy has not fitted. It just takes the spot where the car would often go. 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2019 #76

    The only "stipulation"we have noted from on site staff that if you have a roll out/wind out canopy and on a non awning pitch is that it is retracted at night and when not in attendance at the LV

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #77

    Not heard that one but I understand you can't put sides on as that turns it into an awning. Can't see the logic of winding in at night mind, we do that anyway as I can't sleep if the wind gets up and it's associated flapping.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2019 #78

    It is to keep the stipulated fire gap when not in "attendance "

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,149 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #79

    JV, the fire gap has to remain the same whether in attendance or not.

    The only words I’ve ever seen on the subject of roll out canopies on non-awning pitches is that they may not be able to be fully extended in order to maintain the required safety gap. 

    I’ve never heard of having to roll canopies in at night on any type of pitch and certainly never seen a warden going around checking before bedtime! Perhaps your mates do it differently but, if rolling it in was required, we’d see it in the site rules for sure.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited February 2019 #80

    Yup, the rule is very important-

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2019 #81

    The fire gap as "advised"is available when in attendance, and why would the warden need to "check at night "are you saying that "members" would abuse a concession they had been given by site staffsurprised

    Ps in case you had not been following the posts ,it is non awning pitches that we are posting aboutwink

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #82

    I didn't know that winding a MH canopy out on a non awning pitch (and maintaining fire gaps) was a 'concession'.....

    its been debated many times and HO have responded (more than once) to confirm that this is the position.....and some would even tell over enthusiastic 'site staff' so if necessary....wink

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,149 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #83

    Re-read my post. I referred to non-awning pitches. 

    You’ve just contradicted yourself by saying the fire gap is when in attendance. Earlier you wanted canopies wound in to maintain the gap when not in attendance. 

    And, as BB said, it is not a concession. 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2019 #84

    Rules as noted can only be applied fully if the cercumstances permits surprisedhence a warden as in all real jobs must have discretion wink

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #85

    As long as that 3m is maintained it matters not if in attendance or not does it? In some instances you may not be able to wind out to fullest extent mind as I've seen some very wide ones. On an aside, the dealer of our first MH told me years ago that it was unadvisable to wind the canopy out much beyond the patterning on it, that means keeping about thirty cm of material remaining on the cassette. He gave me a reason but I'll need to drag it up from my memory. May take awhile!wink

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2019 #86

    You can read into it what you think was said but can see no contradictionsundecided as some non awning pitches it would "invade "the fire gap"by leaving a wind out awning out(hence a wardens concession/discretion wink

     

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,149 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #87

    No, I don’t suppose you can or you’d not have written it. 

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #88

    In all my working life rules have had to evolve to take into consideration the changes in the 'world' made upon them. Sometimes the written rule has taken some time to catch up and what can take even longer is that universal understanding by all of those amended rules. Seems we are no different.

    Now back to OP and a quick question, are there any non awning grass pitches?

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,064 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #89

    We roll our canopy out on both awning and none awning pitches, never had any contradictions from on site staff. It’s where we would park a car if we were towing. 🤔

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited February 2019 #90

    I’m willing to bet our JV is fluent in Klingon👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻😎

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #91

    The only potential complication I had once was when the place for the car was on the opposite side. This was due to the positioning of the row of pitches behind. I guess there will always be instances which complicate the understanding.