Pilot Scheme

brue
brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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edited September 2022 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Does anyone know if a review for Warwick Race Course is correct about a Pilot Scheme for positioning vans. This referred to all vans being sited with doors facing away from each other meaning some vans had to be positioned looking into hedges etc. We had the same suggestion made to us at a site in Devon but it wasn't enforced however I wasn't happy with the idea at all. We have a British style van with the door on the passenger side.

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  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #2

    Brue

    I seem to recall this been mentioned before, although not confirmed. As we always use an insulated front cover the view is not so important to us but that is by the by as I can see that some would much prefer the view looking out, for example, over the sea. Personally I would prefer not to be parked door to door with my neighbour.  Whether its worthy of a new rule I am not so sure? 

    David

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #3

    There’s nothing on the Warwick Racecourse Site webpage, nor is it mentioned on any of the other “advice” pages. From memory, outfits are parked facing all directions on the apron area at Warwick, with the more traditional pitches away from the rails. We have certainly seen some outfits facing onto track, away from track, and actually alongside the track. Never stopped on grass pitches or those at back, so 🤷‍♀️

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #4

    Thanks both, we know the site well, I read a fairly recent review which mentioned a Pilot Scheme on the site and wondered (after a similar request was made to us at another site) if something was afoot?!

    Personally we prefer the present system even if it means occasionally facing someone's door.

    On two C&CC THS sites this year all the vans were lined up facing different ways so that doors weren't facing each other however we all had lots of space. Most of us used windbreaks. No one ended up looking at a brick wall!

    Sincerely hope this isn't going to happen on sites. We're visiting Warwick later so will no doubt hear more if this is actually being trialled. A mystery until we hear more?

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #5

    Oh I hope not brue. 

    I don't mind mind if we are door to door, what's more important to me, is to have the rear of the van at the back of the pitch as this is where we sleep. Its usually quieter that way round as I try to get a pitch backing onto a hedge or something like that. If we had to go in the other way round it would mean we would be sleeping with our heads at the road side frown I'm a light sleeper so folk walking past emptying their water/toilet etc. would disturb me.

  • Hja
    Hja Club Member Posts: 851 ✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #6

    Additionally, most pitches are not flat. Sometimes we prefer to nose in because it can mean being level without ramps.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #7

    I think I've just lost a post again but if TG doesn't mind I'll use her post to report and ask the question directly about the pilot scheme, if it's correct or not. Thanks. smile

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #8

    Its probably the main reason we would go in nose first on a pitch rather than reversing in, but it doesn't happen often.

    David

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2022 #9

    Which is not helped when the majority of sevel based LVs have a nose down stance in the first place

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #10

    That's fine with me brue 🙂

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2022 #11

    Surely it depends which way the pitch is sloping? Some seem to be low on the road side and some high on the road side..

    one's 'nose' would instinctively know which way a pitch sloped and, therefore, the easiest way to be level without ramps.

    however, all things being equal, we prefer to have our door on the sunny side and not facing next door's van door.

    not always possible to get all these things but, in order it might be....

    don't face neighbour (Euro van so need to consider this)

    face the sun 

    easy levelling (would use blocks if required in order to satisfy first two points)

    also, depends on where we are, how long we are staying etc.

  • Rowena
    Rowena Administrator, Club Member Posts: 160 admin
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    edited September 2022 #12

    Hi everyone,

    I just wanted to assure you the changes have nothing to do with door positions and members can still go front or back in, as they can with any other Club campsite. There is no Club rule that prevents doors looking into other doors.

    The trial in place at Warwick is a reposition of the pitch marker and in turn, the way in which items are placed on a pitch.

    This has been largely driven by ensuring that all campsite users - be them caravans or motorhomes - can make the most effective use of their pitch and in recognition of awnings becoming ever wider, particularly for those outfits that do not have a tow-car.

    In the traditional layout, motorhomes in particular, will have the first 1/3 of their pitch (as looking at the pitch from the roadside) not being fully utilised, this simple but effective change addresses those issues.

    Further information on pitching is provided on the site plan: Warwick-Racecourse Site Plan

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #13

    Rowena

    Thanks for the information. I have often said on here that I would prefer pitches to be laid out that way as it just gives that bit more distance from the neighbour. Others have not always agreed! For us, and it is just my opinion, with just the motorhome and no other vehicle, it would make sense. Clearly not something that is going to be employed more widely, at least not yet.

    David

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2022 #14

    So another coloured peg for motor caravan pitching,which with the latest two peg system  will really confuse some

    By Rowenas post and update it sounds as though the site staff are just as confused if the review was correct

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2022 #15

    Thanks Ro, on sites in 'other places' vans are usually allowed to place their van anywhere on the pitch to maximise space, especially with MH, as you say.

    if this flexibility can be achieved while still satisfying space regulations then that has to be a good thing.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #16

    Thanks for the prompt reply Rowena, much appreciated. I wonder why the reviewer I quoted mentioned doors not being allowed to be opposite each other? Hope the system is now working well! smile

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #17

    Having looked at the link that Rowena gave, the layout for caravan would be fine as long as you don't want to go nose in if there is a view (like at Berwick Seaview) would we then be allowed to turn the whole outfit around the other way and reposition the caravan to the right of the pitch?

    Same again with MHs, if we were to reverse in that would be fine as all the space would be to the right of the van as you look at it, this would mean even on a non awning pitch you could deploy the canopy.

    However if you want/need to go nose in could we position the MH to the extreme right of the pitch?

     

  • Freedom a whitebox
    Freedom a whitebox Club Member Posts: 296 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #18

     Not about Warwick site.

    Interestingly, on two previous sites I’ve recently stopped at, (Cirencester & Carsington water, i was encouraged to park offside rear of van to peg. When asked about nose in (as I don’t want to sit looking out at the road and prefer to pick the best view), i was told “to consider your neighbours as they might complain”. ( word for word on both sites - is this new training?) Really?

    Will members have to ask the pitches either side if they feel that that they are suitable to park in the vacant pitch or have to move on.

    Funny that the instruction leaflet still showed either way is acceptable.

     

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #19

    It sort of raises more questions than it answers.

    Caravan - awning - car won’t please quite a few.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #20

    According to Rowena, we can still pitch rear in or nose in so it’s strange that wardens are suddenly implying nose in isn't the way to do it. Brue, too had a similar experience.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #21

    Yes but if we do go nose in it would have to be at the right of the pitch not the left. The problem with this is that on some sites it could put your caravan to close to the neighbouring caravan if they were to park to the left of their pitch. 

    As you say it raises more issues than solves them. 

    IMO better to leave car/MH where it is in the middle, this then isn't a 'space' problem. 

  • Arch
    Arch Forum Participant Posts: 347
    edited September 2022 #22

    I certainly wouldn't be pleased it even looks ridiculous on the plan with the car bang up against the front of the awning, perhaps I've missed the point, what  is the point and who benefits.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #23

    I agree with you and feel the need to ask if this is a well thought out plan? Answers on a postcard to EGH.

    Perhaps the club will note comments made in this thread🤷🏻‍♂️

  • Arch
    Arch Forum Participant Posts: 347
    edited September 2022 #24

    Does anyone in HO who dreams up these schemes actually ever go caravanning 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2022 #25

    Very few if I have been advised correctly ,but then an answer that seems to trip off the tongue  of site staff if asked. about strange ideas, it seems is " it is what the members have asked for?"

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #26

    That's interesting to hear as this was suggested to me at Steamer Quay "consider your neighbours etc." this has never been suggested to me before on arrival. It turned out that the first available good pitch had two motorhomes either side facing each other so whichever way we pitched we'd be looking at someone! It slightly spoilt the arrival procedure as we felt constrained by the suggestion.

    I am very pleased Rowena repsonded, I'm hoping this is site specific as many other sites have pitches which present different issues and an overall scheme just won't work but where has this "facing door suggestion" come from?! I'm not keen on receiving more rules on arrival it's offputting and not customer friendly.

    Have they consullted the membership or is this site led?

    I agree with TGs comments.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #27

    If the originator does go camping then they have not noticed that most trailer caravans, and a goodly number of motor caravans, have water supply and waste containers on the non-awning side of the van - and when pitches are not level fore and aft often an amount of piping of some kind. 

    Not a problem when one's own vehicle is parked adjacent but there is no guarantee that others on the ajoining pitch will be carefull passing close, not to mention opening a vehicle door and banging it against the caravan!

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #28

    This begs the queston about changing the rules and not letting the membership know even if it's a so called "pilot scheme"? Confusion reigns.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #29

    Try Stratford on Avon racecourse instead. - just down the road and has fewer rules.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #30

    Euror. Well maybe but Warwick is convenient for seeing our family. Thanks for the tip if seeing the family wasn't more important. smile

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #31

    With the peg in the left hand corner of the pitch, as illustrated in the site plan in the link, vans with a UK side door would have to reverse in and Continental would have to drive in to get the maximum use of the space? If you pitched the other way you would almost be stepping out onto the next door pitch, or at least the divide between the two pitches. Perhaps that is what the wardens meant but was perhaps misunderstood?

    David