Not happy about the atitude of site wardens
Our visit to Gowerton over the bank holiday was being looked forward to both by ourselves and our sons family the grandchildren looking forward to it even more . The site was was booked on the 12th of February our daughter in law rang asking if it will be possible to get two pitches together NO PROBLEM came the reply who is first in just save the place next to and enjoy your stay, We arrived first only to be told that is not the Caravan and Motorhome Clubs policy to reserve a plot , when I pointed out the message on my phone they denied it all and said it would not be any of us here . You always maintain this is the family friendly club but the Gowerton wardens let the club down . Where has the give and take gone .
Ken Davies Cheshire
Moderator Comment - Moved from the Story Section to Discussions
Comment from the Community Manager:
As confirmed by other members on this discussion, you are not able to reserve pitches on Club Sites. Once you arrive on site, you can take your pick of the available pitches for the pitch type you have booked. Please see the Sites Directory and Handbook, page 670 'Entering the Site' in the Club Site Rules for more information on this.
As such, I am very sorry to hear you were advised incorrect information prior to your stay. Please can you email UKSitesBookingService@camc.com with information on who your daughter in law spoke to and we will investigate to ensure this does not happen again.
I hope you were still able to have a lovely time at Gowerton and enjoy your holiday together.
Comments
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I'm very surprised to read this. It has been stated several times that pitches together cannot be reserved, best to aim to arrive together if that is what you want, particularly at busy times like Bank Holidays. I'm a bit confused though about whether the message was on your phone or your daughter in law's? Was the message a text or voice message? It would be very interesting to know the outcome.
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…ditto…
I suspect a big misunderstanding somewhere along the way.
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yes often been said that a pitch cannot be reserved in this way and like M I'm interested in who your daughter in law rang? Was it the site or head office?
To be fair to the wardens they are only following the club's rules and nothing to do with being child friendly
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Ken
Did you actually mean this to be posted as a site review? If so you need to go to the webpage for the Gowerton site and follow the link, top right.
To my knowledge the Club have never allowed pitches to be reserved in advance ( except in the case of a pitch being needed for disabled access near to the toilet block or perhaps and overlarge outfit but the actual place would be decided by the site staff not the member). Obviously on arrival if there are two pitches free side by side there is no issue in family/friends pitching next or across from each other.The Club have always worked on a first come first served basis which is deemed to be fair to the majority of members. If in future you want pitches next to each other it's best to orchestrate your arrival at the same time.
David
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I wouldn’t think this would constitute an actual site review, David, as it tells us nothing about the site itself.
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Gowerton didn't open until over a month after the 12th February telephone call. Were the Wardens on site over a month before opening, to take phone calls?
According to the site webpage - Open dates:15 Mar 2019 - 04 Nov 2019
Somewhat unfair of the OP to publicly have a go at the wardens without clarifying who left the message.
The roolz are clear in respect of choice of pitch.
Perhaps in future the OP should park a car and bicycles on an empty neighbouring pitch, put a travel blanket over the pith marker, hang a 45 year and club council pendant in their front window and hope yer mates reserve a pitch for you, just like we encountered at Baltic Wharf at Easter. You just don't know what to expect on a CAMC site these days, be prepared.
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You are not allowed to 'save' adjoining or any other pitches for folk who arent actually present onsite With their unit. As a member you should have been aware of the rules. In saying that I have often seen caravan owners parking their car on an adjoining pitch to save it until a friend arrives later.....this trick has, so far never affected me personally, BUT if it was decided that we wanted that pitch, then we would have it, if necessary by blocking the car in until it was moved. Mind you, continued relations with the temporary neighbor would be fraught afterwards.....please dont do it.
So, not the Wardens who were just following the rules.
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Consider it a plus. The grandchildren will have benefitted from the extra walking between parents and GP on site😁
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A couple of years ago I booked a large family holiday with a well know chalet company ,I asked if we could have two chalets next to each other , of course you can was the answer ,how differently holiday company's operate
we don't go with friends in the motorhome,so it's never a problem on club sites
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Our club has always been first come, first choose. Never ever been able to reserve pitches for others following later. It's not your pitch until the wheels of your unit are on it! Sound like a misunderstanding somewhere.
However, now, thanks to staff on site, you know the way it is for the future. My advice is for the party members to tip up at site together then there is a good chance of pitching together.
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Is there 2 pairs of wardens?
Here on site that's the case, perhaps the OP spoke to a more understanding warden who was then off duty on arrival.
On commercial sites for years I would book a pair of adjoining pitches, one year I booked 4, they just put cones out.
Why would booking adjoining pitches be a problem if it's going to give people the holiday they desire?
Seems such a simple thing to do.
One of my bucket list items is for my grown up children and only grandchild to go on holiday together, I feel really sorry for the OP,.
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You’re asking the wrong folk that question, W&M. Micky has explained the reasoning.
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I doubt one of the Warden’s had decided to interpret such a well known policy differently.
If it’s any consolation, we had two rooms booked in a very swish hotel in London last week. Almost £300 per room. One was on the third floor, the other was on the ninth. It didn’t impact on our stay in any way, we still had a great time. Although being London, the views were poor and the six lifts were constantly full of foreigners...........🤣
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Well its rather silly, the only way you can gain a simple thing is to work out a get round.
It really is appalling, especially when you consider we where at Sandringham in February and cones had been place on several pitches. I dont know the reason, but it could have been for pre advised reservations, after all a warden had to physically do this, so why not for the fully understandable reason of a family holiday?
Truly appalling.
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Did you ask the wardens about the cones?
Think about it logically and you'll realise that, at busy times, reserving adjoining pitches could mean one of the pitches standing empty for a night or two before the remaining occupant leaves so that two pitches are then available for the incoming party. It might be you who can’t book those nights even though a pitch stands empty. Now that would be appalling and I can imagine your posts already.😋
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I'm not sure why you'd say it's "silly" or "appalling", though I can see why the OP might find it frustrating. This was, after all, a bank holiday so, presumably the site would have been busy. First come, first served is fair to all members.
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No not really.
The top end was closed fully,
The bottom right was occupied with I think 2 pitches had cones.
Nothing obvious as to why, I thought large outfits due, then that was only because a fifth wheeler was on one of the pitches, well pitch and rear grass.
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The Club actually operates a very logical policy in terms of how busy some of its sites are, and the turnover of visitors. Any introduction of booking specific pitches on busy sites might mean that some pitches are not taken up. Logic applied to turning up at the same time seems the easiest method of getting pitches adjacent. Not guaranteed, but then if it’s so vital maybe using a CL might be easier?
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It's not fair to all as the op can testify, and it also promotes a scramble for pitches, a discussion on another thread re safety springs directly to mind.
I'm on site now, Norfolk below Lowestoft, cant remember the name, there is plenty of room for improvement, so just because a thing has been happening for years doesnt make it appropriate today.
I would genuinely be disappointed if I couldn't spend a holiday with my children and grand child, pitching adjacent to friends is fantastic, experienced this for many happy years.
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There are all sorts of totally understandable reasons why a few pitches could be coned off but it won't be for folk arriving later to be pitched next to friends I am pretty sure of that given the historic practices in the club.
Another possibility was that the pitches were planned for maintenance. If someone went on them then that could preclude them being worked on for a possible 21 days if not coned.
We guess of course but some will suggest what best fits their argument mind.
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So it was only two pitches, not several, and you didn’t bother to ask the reason of the warden but think it will make a good point here to back up ‘silly’ and ‘appalling’. 😆
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No. Again.
The fact is a Warden had placed cones on pitches, so a practice within their capabilities and that of the booking system.
Now why not use that capability for a positive benefit?
And why would I ask why?, None of my business I was just pointing out how cones are used under a circumstance.
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what is truly appalling is that someone gets a better treatment than me, or anyone else and has a pitch reserved by them (not the wardens) just because they have a family coming later.
I understand disabled access but I mean wow, being separated by a few pitches, what a hardship?
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No, just because the OP didn't get what they wanted it doesn't mean it's not fair. And if certain pitches were reserved surely the scramble for remaining pitches would be even worse? The system works very well for the vast majority of members who understand and accept it. If it could be shown that changing the system would improve matters I'd go along with you but there's no evidence it would is there?
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Ah, but the OP wasn’t interested in fair to all as he was asking for special treatment. This club treats everyone equally and surely no one wants inequality.
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