Pitch allocation on 12th April.
Just had phonecall from wardens asking for advance payment at Bridlington club site for arrival on the 12th April. Fair enough, as this smooths the arrival process. Then she tells me what time are you arriving and we are allocating arrival slots. Hmm. Ok..good idea to avoid queues at the barrier etc ? I Agree arrival at 11am traffic permitting. Next question , which side of site do you want to be on? Why? I ask. Because we are allocating you a pitch.
Now I begin to question why this is necessary, "So everyone is not fighting over same pitches " I'm told.
Cannot see reasoning in this if the allocated arrival slots are controlling the entry to site so presumably not everyone will be arriving and driving round at once racing for the best pitches ???
Then told , "if you have issue with the allocated pitch then let us know and we might be able to change it". How the heck this system is going to smooth arrivals I can't figure out. Gonna be lots of folks unhappy to be put in the worst pitches when what might be deemed better pitches remain vacant for tomorrow's arrivals. Everyone's needs on a pitch differ too, families may need the playground near , elderly or disabled might need the water points nearby. Those with dogs may want to be nearer dog walk etc. The ability to chose your pitch is one of best things about CMC . If it's being done to reduce office visits (where you normally tell them your chosen pitch) then it might back fire as guests instead will come back to office complaining they want to change pitch, causing more congestion on the site roads.
I appreciate the need to keep the staff and guests safe with a smooth arrivals system but this pitch allocation has potential to cause bad feeling and spoil someone's long awaited holiday experience. Is this happening at other sites or just Brid?
Comments
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I imagine its happening on every site, especially those that are pretty much fully booked? At least you are being asked if you have any preferences which I assume they will try and meet as best they can. Given that most people will arrive within a two to three hour window that equates to anywhere between 20 to 40 units and hour so for one day only it would make sense to allocate pitches to avoid congestion on site. I don't suppose the first day of a season tends to be like this in normal times but people seem to be so keen to get away at the get go it demands a different approach?
David
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you can please some of the people all of the time etc etc .....
I'll poke my head above the parapet & even suggest that more pitches should be allocated to HELP prevent small outfits/VW campers from sitting in the middle of a huge awning pitch while large outfits try to squeeze onto tiny pitches. Discuss!!! 🙄🙄
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Smaller pitches for smaller prices, bigger pitches for bigger prices... Discuss !!!
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Last year & this year thousands of people have died of covid 19 virus, no doubt some of our club membership included.
And this sort of childish selfish behaviour regards that you maybe allocated a pitch on your arrival is seen as some unfortunate unimaginable event.
Some members will have to get over it.... or you won't want to continue to go to club sites.
The Camping & Caravan club have been allocating pitches for years.... what's the problem... at least some of us are still around to go and use them.... allocated or not .
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It beats me why some folk cannot simply accept that this is not situation normal. Special arrangements are in place to cope with the hordes determined to hit the sites on April 12th. It is for everyone's benefit and if some don't like it, well, it's tough luck. Just be glad you're going to a site of your choice.
PS. It's not too late to cancel so someone else can take up the booking.
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They always look pretty much the same to my untutored eye.
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If it was me, I'd be looking at the site plan and asking for possible pitches...it's a one off situation mainly due to the opening day rush. I seem to remember last time round that people could choose a pitch over the phone when asked?
As said, we're lucky to be going anywhere this year!
edit one of the reasons for this busy opening day allocation is covid secure measures, you'll be given everything you need when you arrive, inc key fobs for the security gates etc to save trips to the office etc.
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Had my call from Wirral site this morning and was told which pitch had been allocated and where it was. It isn’t one we would have chosen in normal circumstances as it’s by the side of the path to the toilet block but as the block is closed and these are unusual circumstances that’s fine by me.
Just happy to get away
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As I posted on another thread yesterday, we've been allocated a pitch at Englethwaite Hall. The warden did ask whether or not we had any preference as to which part of the site we would like to be on.
Like AnnB, even if we'd been allocated a pitch that we wouldn't normally have chosen, we're just happy to be able to get away!
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I think some folks need to take a reality check and be damn grateful that they can get away. I am utterly convinced this pandemic has passed a lot of folks by, unless it’s to gripe about trivia. ☹️
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If it is the same arrangements as last year when cork popped out of the bottle,and eveyone wanted to be the first to arrive on an empty site at 0900 as this year after the lockdown, (except those sites "shielding?)the first day only, sites were allocating pitches with a time slot to try to alleviate clogging up the site,
From the second day it was as normal for arrivals on most sites
Ps also on arrival you will need to use your Test and Trace or fill in a log with details of who is in the party
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The CCC were brilliant last year with their pre payment on arrival day and they have always allocated pitches. I certainly felt much safer and happier on their sites as much less inside interaction needed
If they have already asked your preference for pitch then surely that should go along way in trying to get people on pitches they are happy with
We love sunshine pitches far away from the play area but as we mostly arrive on site late Friday afternoon we are often left with a much less than perfect pitch, often we move Saturday morning when a better pitch becomes available
I for one will not complain this year on pitch choice I am just so happy to still be alive and able to get out in our motorhome again and see some new sites
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We had a different experience with C&CC, last year we chose our pitches on all the sites we visited and arrival was very easy, all payments taken in advance, just someone to guide you round wherevever you wanted to go according to the pitch type booked. It was a much easier system to operate, some of the facilities were closed so much the same this year except all the facilities will be out of action. They also reduced the numbers on sites so we had more space. Braithwaite Fold was brilliant, double spacing, peace and quiet, lots of room to spare.
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The ccc it seems depends on the site managers and how busy the site is at the time if pitches are allocated as with the cc some sites have to allocate pitches but there is normally the option of not taking it if somewhere else is available
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What do they need to explain other that it's to ease arrival on opening day, Harry?
As for refunds in the event of cancellation, I’m sure they will be forthcoming but only the club can confirm that.
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Evening
Last summer after lockdown 1 the same system was used for opening day on July 2nd. The site I was on then had 140 arrivals that day. Out of that number only ONE person wasn't happy with their allocated pitch and they moved to their preference the next day. Also of interest is 115 of those arrival approved of the system and were more than happy when they arrived.
For us it made a very stressful first day run very smoothly. Pitch choice on arrival is one of the great things with our club but please don't forget we're still in different times.
JK
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Evening harryb
If unfortunately for whatever reason you don't get to site after prepayment a full refund will be given. That can also happen if you arrive on site, book in and pay your fees and for whatever reason you're not happy, again a full refund will be given. Hope this helps.
Don't forget the only reason prepayment is happening is to keep you and more importantly me safe.
JK
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TW
The only news we have on what's happening is from the OP. This web site is the news outlet from the club to members and it should be they who make an official detailed announcement.
This then leads onto your second sentence, "only the club can confirm that".
A website gives information to clarify doubt. The club are not doing that in my opinion.
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Surely it’s better to contact those affected by the special arrangements for 12th April (as they did with my booking yesterday).
I didn’t pay in advance because we were waiting confirmation from the hospital about a discharge date for my 90 year old mother in law and arranged to ring the site today if we could still go.
Unfortunately for us they can’t get the carers back in place until Monday so have phoned the site to cancel our booking (it was only 2 nights anyway) and they can now contact someone on their waiting list.
I had been told that had we paid and then cancelled a refund would be made.
Will have to sit in the Motorhome and pretend now and look forward to Southport next weekend instead.
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Interesting to read everyone's reply even if went a little off topic with pitch pricing ;-)
Like everyone here, I appreciated the club's Covid secure systems last year and understood totally, the need for everyone to conform to the sensible measures that were imposed.
Please don't get me wrong I'm totally happy with advance payment (although they say It wont apply to me as I'm paying with vouchers)
and the eminently sensible number controlled timed arrival slots are a great idea to help stop the inevitable queues and bottle necks at the barrier on arrival,
my only issue with the hard to understand reasoning of pitch allocation, or perhaps I'm being a bit dim. I fail to see that if numbers arriving are staggered and controlled ( as opposed to a free for all) why there should be a fight for pitches? (which is what I was told was the problem) if the reason for it is that they have to give you pitch numbered keys or barrier fobs and don't want you to return to the office to collect them after choosing your own pitch then that might make more sense ( but I was not told this as the reason. )
What I perhaps didn't make clear in my OP is that we were not asked for preferences about pitch allocation , except for; did I want the new or old side of the site?. No asking about any disabilities that might require nearness to water points or any other reasonable requests for a particular pitch preference. We have been told your pitch number will be pulled out of a bucket ...and that's that.
Hoping everyone has a happy getaway whenever you choose to travel . Stay safe and live a little x
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I really don’t feel there was anything further you announce, Harry. We've been told what's happening and I don’t think we need to puck over the whys and wherefores.
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That's not the impression I got, as there were plenty of empty pitch when they showed it at lunchtime and this evening.
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