Unruly travellers on site
Has Alderstead heath site near Redhill got a problem with the traveller community as we are booked in for a week in early September
Comment from Community Manager
As an inclusive organisation, and bearing in mind the law on these matters, the Club do not discriminate against any particular individuals or groups and membership is open to all. With the size of membership that we enjoy, which helps fund the facilities everyone benefits from, diversity across our membership is inevitable. Any unwelcome behaviour from members or guests is always handled appropriately and where necessary, suitable follow up action is taken.
If you have any concerns about an upcoming stay please feel free to contact the campsite directly or the Club. Many thanks and we hope you have a wonderful holiday.
Comments
-
I have seen reviews of travellers on that site and others, Black Horse Farm was another. What you have to be a little bit careful of is assuming that it happens all the time which clearly it doesn't. Reviews and posts on Social Media are just short snapshots in time. We know it happens but not how frequently. When we travelled in France it was not unusual to have Travellers share municipal sites with you.
David
0 -
During a visit to Alderstead Heath travellers occupied the late arrivals car park-that’s the bad news.
However this was app 10 years ago and during our many stays it happened just the once and was sorted quickly.
No, I wouldn’t want it again but, as a comparison, we all know what a pain Dover can be but still thousands travel via there.
0 -
Evening
My T's & C's of employment go into great detail about discrimination. With that in mind and having experienced a very diverse membership in my 13 years with the club (long may it continue) I think peoples perception of the "travelling community" are slightly blinkered. We have many paid up members from that community that just use our sites like we all do with no real issues. There's always the exception but that could be said of any member having an off day .
Don't get mixed up with outfits turning up en mass of an evening unannounced and making an unwelcome camp and causing distress. I've also had that experience which I hope to never repeat.
JK
4 -
Hi, we were due to stay here for in July and cancelled because of the issues you are concerned about. The site we went to instead was managed by a Warden who used to look after Alderstead and he confirmed just how much of a problem it is but obviously having to keep to the strict CAMC rules on inclusion/diversity. His personal opinion (when not in uniform) was to possibly consider somewhere else from April to October. I know it’s a big site but it’s never full and you can even get serviced pitches at short notice so that in itself says something in my opinion. Please note that I am very tolerant of all but I’m very careful of whom I want spend my hard earned holiday away from work with.
2 -
We stayed at Alderstead heath site last year and encountered the same problems as most other reviews and left early
I had always wanted to to Chartwell which after our visit and the great helpful staff there , we went home instead of our booked stay
0 -
I think you’re forgetting there’s a strong element of law in the discrimination terms, Wedgy.
Also to be "woke" is to be anti discrimination, mainly anti racism, so to knock woke is to admit to favouring racism, ageism, sexism etc - not a good place to be.
1 -
I must change my prescription and purchase some of your rose tinted spectacles, as for The Law we all know what animal is representative of that.
Personally I am not anti any of the isms mentioned however things have gone to the extreme with tiny minority groups now having the upper hand and dictating to the majority.
I for one would not venture anywhere near the Travelling Community and in my experience the feeling is mutual.
7 -
What exactly is the problem? I have shared several campsites in France with British / Irish “travellers” and with French market traders and with immigrant itinerant grape and fruit pickers - and there were no problems.
0 -
"…..the feeling is mutual."
That says they would not venture anywhere near you, Wedgy, so you have nothing to worry about.
I do not have rose tinted spectacles at all but was attempting to point out the wrongs both morally and legally of discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, gender etc.
By saying you are not anti those 'isms', you are admitting to being discriminatory. That’s sad.
1 -
Don't get mixed up with outfits turning up en mass of an evening unannouncDon't get mixed up with outfits turning up en mass of an evening unannounced and making an unwelcome camp and causing distress. I've also had that experience which I hope to never repeat.ed and making an unwelcome camp and causing distress. I've also had that experience which I hope to never repeat.
At least they arrive after 1pm
0 -
immigrant itinerant grape and fruit pickers
Some of these are students, earning money to fund their degrees. Very friendly, liked practicing their English. No problem at all, unless you count the dodgy electrical connections on the cooking devices they used.😀
0 -
There are new(2022) laws governing the Police powers to arrest & imprison. These are the very laws a groups on CT were clamouring to encourage others to sign up to in the hope of getting the new law stopped-go figure eh?
0 -
I have had 3 instances of 'travellers' in the past 5 years:
Maribor, Slovenia. On the day I phoned ahead to ensure there was room for us and the reply I got was "Are you bringing your friends with you?". Of course I didn't understand what he meant until deeper into the conversation he told me his site was forcibly taken over by 'English' travellers, the police were called and forcibly evicted on the spot.
Toulouse, France. Irish travellers arrived as pitch neighbours, we were surrounded by them. Kept themselves to themselves but friendly and no problems.
White Water Park, Middlesbrough in June of this year. Polish travellers arrived in convoy of 5 caravans, pulled up at the barrier, two teenage kids got out and forcibly lifted the barrier letting themselves and the others in. Pitched between pitches and not interested in the peg. Police were called and about 4 cars and a van turned up within minutes, result was after about an hour they were forced to 'unpitch' because the sites CCTV proved assault to a Warden. They were given the option of leaving immediately or the two teenagers involved would be arrested, they left.
Even the friendly ones in Toulouse gave us an uncomfortable feeling, so given the option I don't want to be around them. I cancelled Alderstead Heath 2 years ago because of travellers mentioned in reviews, and stayed at Highams farm CL near Biggin Hill as the alternative.
0 -
We, brother in motorhome and us in our van, at a lovely remote site in Czech Republic and owners were reluctant to let us in. They had trouble with a group of 11 Irish traveller vans. The site was trying to close for the winter and the travellers wouldn’t leave. No calling the police, straight to the Army who arrived in some force. The travellers were forced to pack up then clean up the whole of the campsite and we’re then escorted to the Czech border. The site in Bohemia was lovely
0 -
Thanks, Wedgy. It’s such a shame your earlier post created the opposite view.
1
