Serviced pitches on Club Sites
Having been a Club Member for more years than I care to remember, my wife and I are now coming to that time in life, when unfortunately, age and illness are catching up to us, and we now find that it essential part of our caravaning, to be able to pitch on a Servioce Pitch, ( days of drgging the Aqua Roll are now past ).
I find it totally amazing, the extreme difficulty I have in finding club sites that have Serviced Pitches. For the much vaunted number of pitches the club goes on about, the total number of Serviced pitches is miniscule, . It would be nice for the sake of the shall we say, more " Senior " members of the club if more thought was given to having a percentage of Serviced Pitches on the club sites, particularly in the more popular area of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Herefordshire and the likes.
Robbie. H
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It would be nice for the sake of the shall we say, more " Senior " members of the club if more thought was given to having a percentage of Serviced Pitches on the club sites,
The club does have a reasonable percentage of service pitches ( some would say too high a percentage) at many club sites.
The club does seem to recognise there popularity, in that they are installing them as part of most site refurbishments. Although in the case of Cirencester they were installed during a winter closure, not as part of a wider upgrade.
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On a fairly recent trip to Burrs Country Park site in Bury, I was dismayed to find so many former 'standard pitches with awning' now 'upgraded' to serviced pitches, thus depriving me of the choice of several pitches having booked a standard pitch with awning.
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Robbie, if it helps, there is a list of sites with serviced pitches here -
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It would be nice for the sake of the shall we say, more " Senior " members of the club if more thought was given to having a percentage of Serviced Pitches on the club sites, particularly in the more popular area of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Herefordshire and the likes.
Not sure about what you class as more popular! I stay on a site for 5 nights and move on. Presently have mobility problems but choose an appropriate pitch. I don't want to pay an extra £20 for my 5 night stay just for one fill of the aquaroll.
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But whose loss is the greatest?
You can still go to site, whereas the OP is suggesting they cant.
As a members club surely we must think of the collective?
I wouldn't mind, and dont re disabled pitches, having pitch choice reduced, being happy in the knowledge that others less able can persue what I can.
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I sort of understand what Jill means but she and anyone else who booked a standard pitch will surely have a bigger choice of pitches than someone who had booked a serviced pitch. Burrs does have a lot of serviced pitches but they are outnumbered by standard pitches 2:1.
It's good that there is something for everyone.
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What would help would be the ability to search for serviced pitches within the club site.
This has been asked for on numerous occasions but nothing has happened!
Why can you search for a hardstanding pitch, a motor home friendly pitch and fishing close by but not a serviced pitch?
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Come on Simon, can't you do your own bit of research?
Tinwheeler, above, has supplied you with a link to the list of club sites with serviced pitches. How much trouble is it to download the list and pour over it to your heart's content.
Perhaps the reason why there is no search facility is that there are so relatively few members that want it.
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Robbie
I think the Club is committed to providing serviced pitches but you have to remember on quite a few Club sites which are leased they are not completely free agents with how much they can change what is on a site.
I am not sure what the ratio should be but around 25% of pitches would be about right. As mentioned at Burrs it is near a third, quite a few empty during the week but all taken at weekends! At least that was the case during our last visit. You could always try Cayton Village where about 80% of pitches are serviced although I imagine that figure will be downgraded when they do the refurbishment.
David
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"I am not sure what the ratio should be but around 25% of pitches would be about right"
Surely that's only your opinion David. I'm sure that well over a 1/4th of the members are not will to pay the additional cost of a service pitch. I think that including such a large number would just be a way of compelling some that want to be on a particular site to use them just so that they get a pitch.
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On the SP sites I've used they usually 'average' about 20% of pitches.
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Troutbeck in the Northern Lakes has 'Loads' of fully serviced pitches ( they used to be static pitches) as the infrastructure was already in place. But I think pushing for more in Gloucestershire area etc., where NEW infrastructure would have to be laid, is a big ask, and not something that every member would want or need. As a Motorhome owner , Serviced Pitches are not even considered by me, As I have onboard water tanks for fresh and waste. Don't begrudge 'some' on any site, but not too many, as they push the price up. I am a Senior too.
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I stayed on a site where the service pitches had been adapted for Motorhomes.
The pitch drain had a huge hose connected to a receptacle which you placed under the MH.
Good idea.
Club should look into it.
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Just a reminder. There is a list of sites with serviced pitches HERE. Do let me know if you find any inaccuracies or information that needs any update by posting on this thread (or any of the historical 'Serviced Pitches threads' or by emailing me (information on my profile). The original list may be a little out of date now, but I know some still find it useful.
David
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......also, for those who like to use serviced pitches, there are a range of products available to help caravanners. Recently, I have been impressed by the range of goods produced by Colapz - HERE - especially the Mini Fresh Kit (tiny alternative to a large aquaroll and 'ball cock' system, and the flexible waste pipe alternative.
I know that the company also have a 40 litre collapsible fresh water container and a 40 litre waste water container in the developmental stages.
David
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I used their waste hose kit on a CL serviced pitch a couple of weeks ago and it was brilliant. Easy to pack away and store and so simple to get exactly the right length, depending on how far away from the drain you were. Bit expensive for what it is, I suppose - but I was pleased with it.
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I can’t understand why people have such a problem with the amount of service pitches. I like a service pitch if one is available. I accept that I have to pay a premium for that privilege although I think it’s a bit steep. But then if it wasn’t then they would be taken up by members that may just have wanted the view instead of the facilities of the pitch.
I use the facilities on my caravan and not the ones on site, but I don’t expect a discount because of that, nor would I complain about the cost of upgrade to the Motorhome waste points as I don’t have a use for them.
I like this club and think that it is switched on for the needs of its members as a whole for the enjoyment on our chosen pastime.
You just can’t please everyone.
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I use the facilities on my caravan and not the ones on site, but I don’t expect a discount because of that, nor would I complain about the cost of upgrade to the Motorhome waste points as I don’t have a use for them.
We don't generally use the caravan shower on a site with facilities. For those that choose to use their own shower then I can see the value of a hook up. For us, however, one aquaroll will last our 5 nights on a pitch easily.
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They certainly seem popular at Cirencester (Gloucestershire). Installed over a winter break in an area where new infrastructure had to be laid, but close to existing facilities. We spent a lot of time there last year, as we had a seasonal pitch and they always seemed well subscribed, although plenty of standard pitches were available. If you check availability for August / September you will see only one day fully booked for standard pitches but 13 for service pitches. The percentage works out at 8% when the grass is in use 12% at other times.
Moreton in Marsh (also Gloucestershire ) would benifit from some, preferably as part of a refurbishment.
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why does a MH need a 'receptacle' underneath it on a serviced pitch?
surely, the idea of a serviced pitch (for MH or caravans) is that you don't need extra containers and the waste water can run directly (via a pipe) into the drain.
however, as Ray suggests, many MHers don't need SP at all as their tanks are large enough to support them for several days without the need to top up fresh water or to dump grey water, other than on the way off site.
£3.90 a night for something not used adds nearly £28 to a weeks camping on top of prices that get much airtime on CT.
for caravanners staying many days, I can see the convenience (we often use them abroad where they regularly come as 'standard') of not constantly refilling and disposing of grey waste, but where you have your own water storage (fresh and grey) the daily water ritual isnt part of MH life.
we just had ten days on a CL and only refilled once (at a convenient tap) despite having a shower each every day, so with showers in site, we would not require any water over 10 days or more (longer than we would ever be in a club site) why would we consider a premium charge for something we wouldn't make use of.
i think the ratio of SP pitches is something the club needs to get right...
caravanners like them (as I mentioned above) but they're not as attractive for MHers and with the rising MH population, why increase the number of service pitches?
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wow, expensive? a bit of vacuum cleaner hose.....£50.
mine came on a roll for peanuts...
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Our site here there are 34 SP out of 111 and they have been in constant use the whole time (nearly three weeks now).
Interestingly enough (like on other club sites) they appear to be very popular with motor homes, in fact in our first week there was a few days when MH outnumbered caravans on them, it varies but now it's about 40/60 split, perhaps that's why the increase in SP?
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caravanners like them (as I mentioned above) but they're not as attractive for MHers and with the rising MH population, why increase the number of service pitches?
I am not so sure about the attractiveness to motorhomes. On most sites I have no idea of where serviced pitches are as I come back after a day out or leave a site for a day out. On the CC Southport however I do. We stay 15 nights in December and drive past the service pitch location on the way off site. Maybe it is the time of year, I have no idea, but the service pitches seem very popular with motorhomes with as many MHs as caravans if not more.
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Not vacuum cleaner hose BB. Packs away really small and no snake to fight when extended. Found ours really useful when dumping in one of the ridiculously sited (lidded) MH service points. The waste kit is reasonably expensive but well worth the money.
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Lovely to be back in the UK for a while to join the fray...
As I have said in a previous post...I personally think that all pitches on club owned sites should be serviced with a flat fee across those sites of £40 pn for unit plus 2. An additional per night charge for extra adult, children a nominal 50p (they are after all the clubs prospective members)...£3.50 for the first dog with a £2 charge for every subsequent dog (They do have facilities provided for them, ie dog walk / bins/ new shower bays.. so a charge is fair to other non dog owning members)..
I will now don my tin hat..
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caravanners like them (as I mentioned above) but they're not as attractive for MHers and with the rising MH population, why increase the number of service pitches?
Those service pitches I mentioned above at Cirencester BB, were generally 50 / 50 MH to Caravans. That was also through the week, when plenty of standard pitches were available and at times when the grass was closed, so no risk of a non hardstanding.
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Steve, it looks exactly like the expanding hose on our Dyson....if it expands, that's useful, but I have a short length of this that came with the van and screws onto the waste outlet...perfect for directing water into those manholes you mention.
like my fresh hose, I have two sections of waste hose which can be used seperately or together for longer runs which fit onto the factory supplied piece....my snakes aren't too bad to tame
the Colapz stuff looks well made but....£50.....really?
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perhaps they're staying a decent while, say a week or more....but even with some of the small tanks in some vans, it would only require one trip to the tap to refill the van mid stay...
so, for a week, £28 is blooming expensive to turn it on once and fill the van up, even dearer than Wessex Water...
perhaps it seem 'better value' to put in a dribble every day at £3.90?
i wouldn't pay £4 for a couple of sink fulls of water every day...when it's included with every other pitch.
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