Proportion of Serviced v Standard Pitches
Comments
-
As we have seen in our travels round Scotland this year.
0 -
Sorry I haven't been here on CT since just after 9am this (or rather yesterday) morning, so I have not had chance to read through all the posts since page 10! Just to comment on one or two points made by Mickyf on pg 10.
I think the issue of not being able to choose a pitch when you get to a site works both ways. If you want a hardstanding and when you arrive they are all taken then similarly, you are forced to take grass. Personally I think everyone should have the opportunity to change pitch type on arrival should there be one of the required pitch types available that has not been booked. One could always do this before hand by either using the website or ringing the site for a availability before setting out. If you want grass, perhaps an idea would be to book a hardstanding and swap to grass on arrival, should there be this pitch type not pre-booked? Just a suggestion, especially as the majority of folk do prefer hardstandings (according to a recent Facebook poll)?
Of recent years, I heard that the Club has noticed a levelling out of bookings throughout the year. I do wonder if not being able to book a pitch type is a contributory factor? I would never book a Club site in the main season because of not being able to book a hardstanding pitch, unless I can book at Serviced pitch, which apart from a couple of known sites, guarantees a hardstanding. I tend to book Club sites out of season when I know (and have checked) that grass pitches are not in use. In the main season I will book a non-Club site where I can choose when I book. I think I'm not the only one who does this, and therefore contributes towards this 'levelling out'.
I do think, should the Club ever decide to allow pitch types to be booked, that Serviced pitches may not be used as much. After saying that, as we have got used to booking Serviced pitches on Club sites, we have found that we actually quite like them....
David
0 -
The fact is you can book a serviced pitch, which is fine. We can't book other types of pitch and some are very varied in quality, there's nothing worse than being offered mud for the same price as gravel! However both DK and myself who've stayed at Cayton Bay noted that the majority of service pitches remained unused out of the main holiday season (later, pressure on pitches will mean some having to pay more as there are few standard pitches available at Cayton.) To me this means that the more expensive serviced pitches will have to be taken whether wanted or not.
1 -
To me this means that the more expensive serviced pitches will have to be taken whether wanted or not.
sorry but that doesn't make sense? Firstly it assumes that people must stay at Cayton Bay no matter what for some reason? Secondly, surely if you (one) doesn't want something you don't take it? Other sites are available?
0 -
...but one might 'want' to stay at this site, for whatever reason, in which case the lack of provision of standard pitches may have the effect of driving the price up (significantly) for some...
yes, one could choose to go elsewhere (that time honoured CT maxim) but the point has been made by two observant posters that all the SP weren't sold before the rest of the pitches and had to be taken up as that was all that was then available...
perhaps the club will have a slightly different SP ratio in mind as the site moves forward....
I certainly agree, no one is forced to stay on CC sites and prices are made plain enough at booking, but surely it's part of the clubs brief to ensure the supply meets the true demand.
1 -
As far as Cayton Bay is concerned, there is certainly no shortage of alternatives in that area. If the club wants to compete I should imagine it would look urgently at redressing the balance of pitche types in the redesign and updating of the site as they have done, from what I've been reading, at Bingham Grange.
0 -
OK, here's a reality check. We wanted to stay near Cayton with our M/H as we wanted to be on the coast but not too close to Scarborough. We're hoping to look at the fossils in Cayton Bay, look at the Star Carr area, be on a bus route and have shops and pubs within walking distance. Oh good the club has bought a site there so we'll try it.
Well it wasn't quite what we were expecting, but we tried it and saw a lot of empty serviced pitches. Had we realised that a service pitch was better than having a very limited choice of other pitches and no motor home service point and 10 amps (no one was quite sure who would get 16 amps!) we would have paid the extra.
But in future I'll be interested to hear what the site offers after refurbishment and whether the predominantly and more expensive empty serviced pitches are removed?
0 -
well thanks for your reply, I'm not sure what a reality check is and I'm not sure how your reply clarifies anything for me regarding your previous statement about wanting one or not.
It would appear you did want one?
The site is obviously sub standard as club site goes which may explain why it is so under used, and maybe why it was sold? But why remove them? SP are proving extremely popular and sell out before non service pitches on other sites and sometimes even have more occupancy than non SP. I suppose a 60/40 % split is about right.
0 -
A reality check Corners is, in our case, we have used the site, we chose to use it, the serviced pitches were very underused (they certainly hadn't sold out) and we wondered, along with the OP whether the club will alter the proportion of pitch types in the refurbishment or not? That's all I wish to say. Maybe you will visit this site at some point and see for yourself? I'm sure it will be a popular site, the east coast of Yorks holds attractions for many holiday makers.
1 -
Yes indeed done the Bridlington and Scarborough sites many times. I think I'll wait till the site is up to standard before a visit though.
0 -
I would think they will need to reduce the number of pitches if the pitches are on the small side, which, as they indicate your car has to be across the front of your van, it looks like they are.
So probably a complete revamp and re-organisation of pitch lay out, more standard pitches, with awning, and fewer serviced pitches, as that seems to be what the demand is for.
After all that, it will no doubt be an expensive site to use, even without adding the SP premium. Knaresborough comes to mind, we have used it twice several years back, but well out of our price bracket these days.
Where a site has serviced pitches, most sites only seem have 10-15 max and they do get booked up, but where there are higher numbers the take up is often much lower. A couple of years back we were at Ramslade and all the serviced pitches in the 2 rows opposite us were empty the whole time we were there.
1 -
Kj
You are more than certainly correct that the Club will reduce the number of pitches, at least on the main site. The previous owners built pitches that were far too close together to meet Club Standards, that is why there are so many non awning serviced pitches which I believe is unusual . If Burrs Park is anything to go by it seems the Club are aiming for a ratio of a third serviced and two thirds standard. Obviously that will vary from site to site but it seems unlikely the Club are aiming for a higher percentage of serviced pitches. But as with all things who knows how the demands of campers will develop in coming years and the demands and requirements of us pensioners might not be at the forefront of those developments?
David
0 -
As caravanning pensioner, I do like a serviced pitch, but with rising pitch prices and the current £3.90 SP premium, we are now ruling out SPs and the more expensive Club sites, especially as we often find CLs with serviced pitches at very reasonable prices.
The one time when I would possibly be willing to pay the SP premium would be if we were away in winter, as venturing out to showers, or to fetch water and empty waste in pouring rain is not pleasant!
However we do not usually take the van out after late October or before late March, so those occasions would be few.
0 -
Just returned from Cayton, as you say a huge site, most of the "old" pitches did not appeal so we opted for the Laurels where the pitches are much larger, all serviced and with TV connection if required. Total cost £299 for 10 nights. I will always use service pitches if available and wish every sites had them. I suspect long term there will always be a number of seasonal pitches in The Laurels which has a new fence and gate round it. I hope they include some storage which would make it very attractive to me.
1 -
It will be interesting to see what they do with "The Laurels" section, I don't mean in terms of refurbishment as apart from tarmac roads and a new/updated toilet block there does not seem much that needs to be done? You may be right about seasonal pitches but I had heard the the Club had had a rethink on that score, after all we are supposed to be a touring Club! There are already some seasonal use left from the previous owners I understand. I wonder if the will use some of the space for posh pods? After all there is plenty of room. Storage does seem to be an option as there are pockets of land unused at the moment. No idea how much the Club paid for the site but clearly they will want to extract every penny from their investment!
David
1 -
I'm not sure how relevant the "caravanning pensioner" remark is, Kj - must cover a huge number of us - but I agree that many CLs are providing serviced pitches at a very competitive price! Many of them also offer a toilet and shower which is ideal for us as our on board shower has never been used in 10 years (apart from testing at its annual service!)
1 -
Seems cheap?
0 -
Apparently the plan was to close it towards the end of the year but one of the wardens I was speaking to said they had no definitive information that it would close then to allow work to start. It will be a pretty big job so perhaps they have run into some difficulties before submitting planning permission?
David
0 -
Just a thought! Would the planning be dealt with by N.Yorks or by Scarbough Council which I thought dealt with the East coast from Filey upto Whitby.
0 -
Not been to Cayton but it sounds to be a bit like Troutbeck was when the Club first acquired it, lots of semi- permanent fully serviced pitches (many pitches with statics in place). Having a Motorhome now I dont need a service pitch, but can see the advantage for caravanners, and £3.00 doesnt seem a lot to not have to lug water about all the time. Hope, like Troutbeck it settles to be a good popular Club site.
0 -
Re DSB's suggestion, I wholeheartedly concur that the club should consider making all types of pitch bookable, subject only to availability at the time of booking.
If you book then you (or 'one' as mentioned above) can be sure of what you will be getting.
So that's a G+ EHU, G+ EHU with an awning, HS or FS pitches .
Simple choice from 4 options.
Why doesn't this club take members views on board?
3 -
It is such a simple proposition and it defies logic as to why the Club don't actually allow booking of pitch types. The other Club seem to manage perfectly well with being able to book pitch type. Maybe it will be in the promised changes to the booking system?
David
1
