New Site Booking System
Comments
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So far, we have only one booking for next year, and that is on a fully hard standing site, but for the rest of our bookings, due to the lack of clarity on how bookings made under the old system will be handled, booking with the other club is becoming an even more attractive option!
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Yes there are several sites where that could be a problem. Apart from Looe, Seacroft and Centenary Park spring to mind. I suppose one interesting side issue of the new system might be that the Club see a greater reluctance for members to book grass pitches when they know they have a choice? If that leaves sites half empty it will put pressure on the Club to convert more grass pitches to hardstandings where that is allowed?
David
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Within reason it does , but that is down to the time folks want to arrive at the site . At present you turn up and can clearly see what is or isn't available. Under the proposed scheme early bookers won't be afforded any option. But you can bet the powers that be won't offer you a SP at a normal HS price .
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I would prefer to see those who've booked under the old system being offered the chance to re-book under the new system before it goes live. I suspect there might be quite a few cancellations at that point too but it might ease the situation for all.
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Without having given any details to members at this time, we are in the dark, but will any HSs at all be allocated to previous bookings, unless of course existing bookings exceed the number of HSs on a site?
I just hope the Club has spent enough on this new system for decent software so that as you suggested the number of a pitch type available on any date can easily be seen when trying to book.
Putting a tour together is going to become more tricky......not only will unavailable weekend days be a problem, so will your preferred pitch surface not being available for a day in the middle of your required dates!
On sites where there is a fairly high percentage of grass pitches, I can foresee having to book a long way ahead if you require a HS and particular dates.
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The flexibility of the existing system was the main reason for joining the club, the new system will cripple the club sites with grass and hardstandings, due to the unpredictable weather we have if having to choose a pitch type most people will book a hardstanding when others go to book and there's only grass many will not book especially members that are aware of the large number of awful grass pitches there are on the network, whereas before you booked a standard pitch and took a chance, this will also be a problem when one or two nighters book a hardstanding someone who wants the week wont bother.
My experience of private sites is not good but I will have another look next year.
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As I see it the main problems could arise if your stay includes a weekend. You might be arriving on a Wednesday or Thursday and there are ample HS pitches for all, but if the Friday or Saturday have been booked under the new system, resulting from cancellations of speculative bookings, there won’t be one available for those days. Therefore you will only have the option of grass.
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Yes,I suspect that will be the inevitable result sadly. Depends on how many folks like us can cope with grass, as it may well be that the grass pitches will provide that bit of spare capacity that allows spontaneous touring for those who can cope and only want/ need the odd night.
I’m not that familiar with the Club Site network to be honest, beyond the Sites that we have used, so not sure how many mixed surface sites there are. You had to be very wary on the grass at Rosedale Abbey last time we were there, but Club put in some HS pitches a few years ago. We have used Marazion loads of times, and whilst we have never had problems, we know others who have. The grass pitches at Warwick Racecourse were out of use once when we were there, so probably has issues.It strikes me that those with big Motorhomes are going to have to rebook to be honest, or risk not getting a HS and end up getting stuck. Folks might need to go more prepared this year unless bookings are altered. Ditto big vans pulled by non 4x4 vehicles.
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Clearly though you assume that everyone wants a hardstanding. I can assure you that is definitely not the case.
JK
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due to the unpredictable weather we have if having to choose a pitch type most people will book a hardstanding when others go to book and there's only grass many will not book
it may well be that the grass pitches will provide that bit of spare capacity that allows spontaneous touring for those who can cope and only want/ need the odd night.
Exactly my thinking, it may well leave pitches available for those who chance a booking being available when the weather forecast is fine.
peedee
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Unfortunately the club could not survive on chance bookings and the odd nights away it needs to cater for all types I believe it does at the moment we all have the same chance of arriving and getting a choice of hardstandings or grass and if your preferred is not available you can move if you wish when one becomes available with the new system there is no flexibility.
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Having witnessed the scramble when a HS became vacant on a site in SW England last June, it seemed to me that HS was certainly the surface of choice there.
I think being willing to " risk ending up on grass" is a very different matter from actually booking a grass pitch.
After a very muddy few days in September on an all grass site a few years back, I would certainly never book a grass pitch again! The weather in UK is just far too unpredictable.
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Kjell wrote....'not only will unavailable weekend days be a problem, so will your preferred pitch surface not being available for a day in the middle of your required dates!"
Under this circumstance, might this mean folk spending part of a break on each surface...even swapping to and fro....?
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TTDA writes...."it may well be that the grass pitches will provide that bit of spare capacity that allows spontaneous touring for those who can cope and only want/ need the odd night."
with a little investment (reinforced grass...) perhaps these pitches could be used exactly as you mention, but offered (via an extra pitch type) as a cheap, max two night offering for (say) £15 a night all in.
this would encourage tourers (no awnings etc) to take these up and keep more of the HS stock (at full price) for those who want them.
if this takes the pressure off the system a little, the club could then decide (based on take up) whether to continue and keep a number of said type while they convert some of remaining grass to HS.
I'm guessing it only takes a few one/two nighters bang in the middle of a weekend to cause quite a ripple...if 'encouraged' to use a 'reinforced grass' pitch where they won't get stuck but aren't paying for the full club offering it might alleviate the issue some are already envisioning.
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Another problem I can see with the new system with grass pitches especially towards the end of the peak period ,will the system ,reduce what is available, or allow as now site staff to reduce pitches, when they become so worn out they are unusable or will the last few arrivals just have to accept them?
Those of us who have used club sites frequently, are usually aware of the type of ground types on sites we. have booked as not all sites with grass pitches apart from very worn are prone to get soft and muddy
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JV, I'm guessing the club would like to sell grass pitches for as long as they can..'reinforcing' (a few of) them might turn them into an all year round offering where even winter tourers in MH, can spend a couple of nights without fear of getting stuck, again leaving the HS stock for those taking a longer break and reducing the possibility of 'pitch type swapping' mid break.
the remaining grass stock can be rested for next season or be evaluated for full blown redevelopment depending on the clubs intention for that specific site.
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I have never understood why reinforced grass pitches were not provided. Won't solve everything but much more environmentally friendly than hardstanding that, if laid properly 😉, shed water into the drains very quickly. With shorter heavier rain showers I suspect hardstanding will be discouraged by planning authories.
Tarmacadam or similar of front gardens is discouraged by our council now.
Developments on the booking system and types will be interesting, I do hope there are sufficient caravanners and motorhomers in the club administration who have first hand knowledge of requirements by members. I won't be holding my breath though, those of us on the coalface were always accused of not wanting change - when things went pear-shaped after a 'silly' improvements acknowkedgement was not forthcoming 🤔
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When talking to some site staff in areas that give on site experiance work to head office staff, they do not hold out much hope in that respect
It was posted on CT recently that staff at HO had told a poster that Rallies were not run this time of year as it was too cold?
A member asked HO what time they could arrive at a site in Sussex was told they could use the LNA as all sites had one?,the site in question did not
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..and so would many others...I was just highlighting a potential effect of the changeover period of running two differently made bookings..
perhaps the club can 'see' uncompleted booking sessions ....I certainly had an email from a company enquiring as to why I hadn't purchased ....if they can see folk decline to book under the above conditions, they may well realise something needs changing.
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I wonder if the new whizz-bang system might allow pitches to be booked on the basis of "I don't care about the pitch type".
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It's body armour time 😁. Why don't the club put back the new booking scheme to the beginning of 2023, and for one year only revert back to the mad one day event of old . At least that way there would be no overlap of schemes .??. Just a thought.
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Steady on Nav😂 It doesn’t do to introduce too much choice you know. Starts to resemble a “woofers and tweeters” sketch of many moons ago!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvswW6M7bMo
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Bakers2
Reinforced pitches are not the answer. They usually end up looking awful and bereft of the commodity you are trying to preserve, ie grass!!! We used a C&CC site with such pitches and there was hardly a blade of grass to be seen, just a lot of mud encased in the plastic mesh. Whether they would work better if there were restrictions in their use I don't know. However given the club want to sell as many pitch nights as possible I somehow doubt that would happen. I think we really have to accept that if you want an all season robust pitch with minimum maintenance it really has to be a gravel surface. Some won't like that but it seems the majority do and that will be confirmed once the new booking system is up and running.
David
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I would certainly prefer that BB, if a HS wasn’t available when booking in advance. It would have to be non awning though. The thing that puts me off grass even if firm, is the horrible dead grass / muddy patch, where multiple awnings have been sited. A particular issue towards the end of the grass season.
Although from my personal point of view the CAMC have shot themselves very firmly in the foot. Unless the other club change their policy in relation to age related discount, they are most definitely going to be the new default when looking for a convenient site.
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