Arrival Times
Comments
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So it seems queuing and denial of access can happen anywhere. Rules or closure, it amounts to much the same thing to the person arriving.🤷🏻♂️
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If you apply logic, there has to be a given arrival and departure guidance for Club Sites, merely because unlike some of the really big commercial and dare I say overseas sites, it’s not uncommon for Club Sites to be “full” at some point or other during the year.
Only sites that have a spare capacity of pitches can reasonably allow access and departures without times. Otherwise, you will get arrivals and departures queuing around the Site roads, instead of outside the Site itself, one waiting to get on, while the other is snarled up trying to get out.
Two of the worst Club Site arrivals and departure fiascos we have been embroiled in were ata) YRP, some plonker decided to hitch his van up to his tow car on the Site road and then proceeded to finish packing stuff away and doing his very fastidious checks, thereby everything ground to a halt as he got more and more flustered with folks waiting for him to get sorted. We were part of the merry go round trying to get to the very badly sited MH empty point, which further added to the fun.
b) Old Hartley. In and out at 12 noon is/was the rule, but early arrivers totally blocked the one vehicle wide approach road, and no one could get out. I physically stood in front of one outfit to stop him inching forward, so that we could get through the gate and take to the grass. Such was the desperation to get booked in and race to that magical “pitch of pitches”.
Club has to have some sort of guidance for Members, as common sense and manners cannot be guaranteed. 😂
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I was summarising what I read in the posts, David. The clue is in my words "so it seems". 👍🏻
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Some of the overseas sites are vast though, 2000+ pitches? Some Club Sites are only 100 pitches, and very popular (Baltic Wharf, YRP, Old Hartley for example) Even the larger Club Sites quite frequently are full, so a timed system is the only option. Finite number of pitches v infinite number of users = booking control required. It’s how things like sports centres, swimming pools, sports grounds operate. It also means they can maximise income and visitor numbers, and not have resources (in this example, pitches) unused.
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The big commercial site we were (before covid)always using for a "meet up" was a strict 11.00dep and 1400arr times
When we were at this clubs site at Sandringham i was walking Rosa past the ccc site 1300 strict arr time ,there was a queue all along the access road and on to one of the estate roads, just site side of the gate was a lone lady in a motor caravan and she said it had taken 30mins to get to where was walking Rosa the only way to let her out was for myself and Rosa to stand in front of the arrivals until others moved towards the office to let her get out
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Yes, CLs are very accommodating on the whole. We often travel late, and might need a late arrival in Summer, post the 8pm deadline of the Club. Many CLs have been happy enough to let us arrive quietly very late with prior agreement.
It’s a bit different touring with a MH or camper. You don’t need to get to a site to unhitch and get set up before you can do most things, so there’s no urgency to get to a site as early as possible to make the most of that first day.1 -
And therein lies the nub of the matter Ttda.
The "club" is still massively geared toward the Caravan member and hasn't really embraced the way the Motorhome member wishes to tour plus there are still a few newer M/H owners who were previous caravanners and want a "nice pitch" to enhance their stay so are still locked into arriving earlier than a seasoned M/Homer like yourselves desire. Not saying that this applies to everyone in their respective pigeonholes but whilst the club continues with their M.O. then arrival times will always be a contentious issue.
Maybe time to start a non contentious thread, say about the club starting some Aire type sites for Motorhomers?😱😁
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I think not. Financial penalty is unenforceable and people will simply about turn and go elsewhere. The most that could be done is withdrawing membership and that can be overcome with a little ingenuity.
C&CC tried levying a charge for a while then abandoned the idea.
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Oo, you are naughty😂
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The simple answer would be to close the Office until the correct arrival time? Often the site reception is closed mid morning because wardens are cleaning the toilets. I wonder if the early arrivers do it all the time, having to sit in their car for over an hour might change their behaviour!!!!
David
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If the CAMC had an "aire" adjacent to the entrance there would be space that could be utilised at busy times, as motorhomers using such facilities generally 'leave early and arrive late'.
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That's fine but how are you going to get the correct arrivers past the early ones who are blocking access and who's going to police the queue noting times of arrival? I foresee massive arguments.
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It seems motor caravan owners are in two camps
Those who want the best pitches on sites and are in the earliest possible arrivals queue, and then stay put, probably ex caravaners but without the versatility of have other transport now
And those who spend all day visiting places on the way to a night stop, and arrive before 2000hrs then wonder why there is so little selection of pitches
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We must be in the minority we always arrive mid afternoon and find a vacant pitch without doing ten laps of the site. I am not interested in 'best' pitches or 'wish we were there' pitches, maybe sun or shade will sway us but I'm not going to let 'pitch worries' spoil my days out , and certainly won't be sitting outside in the evening with steam coming out of my ears because them across the road are where I wanted to be.
I find it so easy to be a happy camper
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And those who spend all day visiting places on the way to a night stop, and arrive before 2000hrs then wonder why there is so little selection of pitches
In those circumstances I would not be staying on a full fat site but would be looking for something much much cheaper or perhaps an economy pitch.
I think the only satisfactory answer is to charge early arrivals for the extra day. The C&CC tried that but I have no idea why they scrapped it. Does anyone know the reason it didn't work? Did people start arriving at all hours in the morning and thought it worth paying for the extra day?
peedee
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No, there are more than 2 camps. For instance, there are those with a more content and accepting attitude similar to Meth's, and those with a bit more intelligence than the ones you describe and disparage.
I so can't wait for you to rejoin the ranks of MH-ers.🤪
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"I think the only satisfactory answer is to charge early arrivals for the extra day. The C&CC tried that but I have no idea why they scrapped it. Does anyone know the reason it didn't work? Did people start arriving at all hours in the morning and thought it worth paying for the extra day?"
as the OP said so eloquently
"and even knocking on our window to ask if we are leaving whilst we are still eating breakfast, unbelievable! Yes they were greated with a loud B OFF."
dont often use any club sites, but imo a lot of what is talked about here can be put down to how sites are managed, e.g. club sites normally have 2-4 wardens who are responsible for 99 % of site management, whereas on lots of commercial sites here and overthere their are dedicated teams for e.g. reception, cleaning, maintenance , meet and greet, so reception is open 0800 - 2000 hrs in many cases, so departures and arrivals can be managed much more easily.
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The closed office approach seems to work with the C&CC, I've rarely seen one open until 1pm, they have set office opening times unless very busy.
However you can officially roll up at CAMC Edinburgh and Coniston for an early arrival so that works too.
Ref the OP. Trewethett Farm might also be a place to offer early arrivals, not everyone will get there early, many have to leave early for long journeys home and it might take the pressure off.
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Its Monday and at this time there is a queue of Seven motor caravans waiting to use service point on this side of site so I expect similar on East side
Ps a new Defleffs has gone out this morning, and according to another member I was talking to when filling my top up cans with water the owner was letting ever y one know that he had just paid £172.000 for it
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looking forward to the CLs booked for the end of May and in June 
