Premium pitch / pup tent
Hello all,
We are staying on a premium pitch at West Ayton. We put up a small pup tent on the pitch and told by a warden this evening we have to move it onto the gravel or take it down. the tent isn’t suitable for gravel, it’s a small trekking tent
We paid for extra for the space so we could put up a small tent. The pitch has a BBQ stand and space for a table (there is no table) The pitches are separated by beech hedges. I don’t understand what the problem is if we put up a pup tent on the grass on the confines of our pitch. We haven’t put the awning up. The grass pitches are still open and awnings are allowed on them.
I have read the rules, I can’t see what the problem is.
Comments
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It’ll probably be a spacing thing. While your pup tent is allowed on any pitch, it might be that by pitching it on the grass area, you could be encroaching into the fire break area.
Only the warden will be able to tell you for sure.
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If you had booked a grass pitch then clearly, if you pitched the tent correctly with the fire breaks then all would have been well. Unfortunately much of the grass surrounding hard standings will fall foul of this as they are not part of the pitch. The gravel itself of course will be fine for pitching a pup tent but you will need a protective groundsheet and possibly foam tiles. Hope this helps.
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Depending on which premium pitch you were on, several of which back onto woodland and where you put the tent, it may not be a spacing thing. Although the grass pitches were in use, I don’t believe that means you can automatically use the grass about your HS pitch. Generally I believe everything should be contained within the gravel area. Although I have known pup tents be permitted on the grass behind at Cirencester. Perhaps, if you had asked…….
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I think its wise to check with the site beforehand if you think that there may be a grey area. For example, we have taken 2 cars with us on occasion. One site said it was ok so long as it fitted on the pitch, another said it had to stay in the car park. We've had the same conversation about visitors cars. A quick phonecall is all it takes
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Sometimes its what we don’t always immediately comprehend that makes the difference so yes, ask, not that they will change the rules but they may be able to help if circumstances allow. For instance, we booked a hard standing, it was suggested that we could put the pup tent on the grass behind as there were no pitches beyond this . We were asked to keep it immediately behind (not to the sides) and to move the tent onto the pitch during the day so the grass didn’t suffer (we were there for a week) and the staff could cut the grass and hedge behind if needed. Sorted, it’s good to talk, but don’t expect to get your own way every time!
That phone call may not help because it may just be down to the specific pitch you choose on arrival.2 -
JT Camper, It just strikes me as a shame that the happy, relaxed, informal camping /caravanning I enjoyed all my life has changed so much .
And that now the Club has formalised things so much - dividing those who have Premium pitches from those who don’t - and enforcing rules of where one can or cannot put up a pup tent for the children.
Things have indeed become formalised regimented, rule bound and sanitised to a degree. I myself left Club sites when they started to leave me so I hope you will find a happier situation somewhere else next time.
Good wishes.
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Sometimes we should be careful of what we wish for, I’m afraid that ‘we’ are responsible for much of what we now have to endure. Be this through the selfishness of others or the need to protect ourselves from the stupidity of the few. That idyllic past we once enjoyed has long gone unfortunately, and it’s most probably ‘our’ own fault. I too wish for happier situations and times!
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Then the other " problems" have been caused by a much more need by some members/campers having to be '"cacooned" to save themselves from themselves,and it was bad enough before we retired, from dealing with the public, and people watching today the saying "they are amongst us," is ever more noticeable today
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The rules are quite clear on (pup) tents:
6. Using awnings, tents or other items
a. On pitches with awning space guests can erect an awning, however, should guests' awnings be wider than 2.5 metres and the awning pitch be unable to accommodate the size of this, the guest will be unable to erect their awning. Guests may also put up a tent for extra sleeping accommodation, or a specially designed toilet or cooking tent, provided the main outfit is occupied, but please keep them within the designated pitch area.
I assume therefore that the gravel area is the designated pitch area as defined by the warden.
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Just to note for the record that most posting are supportive of the club David and/or say this has happened before on other club sites.
It is all to do with the spacing required for stopping the spread of fire and surely no one can disagree with that. In the photo it is clear at least to me by roughly looking at the scale that pitching a tent on the grass area would be breaching the spacing requirements. Imagine an outfit catching fire (and it has happened on club sites and just see what happens to neighbouring outfits never mind a tent) the tent could easily catch fire too and not give enough time for the person inside to get out. Why anyone would support putting someone's life at risk is beyond me? As you said upthread buy some form of foam cushioning or airbed. But as said in that thread, it's the club's rules and I'll add if one doesn't like them then find a site where spacing isn't an issue.
btw I'm an avid reader of CT and I have not seen this sort of warden interaction being reported almost on a weekly basis?
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It’s quite clear that pitching anything on the grass on that pitch will encroach into the fire gap. I can’t see any dispute with that.
Whether the pitch is deserving of the title 'premium' is something only the individual can decide and is not really the issue.
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Not seen that picture but I have posted below a picture of a premium pitch at Morn Hill.
David
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Is it not possible to discuss points relevant without making such defensive antagonist retorts to the options of others. Contributions to discussion should be helpful, hopefully my comment here will help restore a useful and balanced consideration of possibilities. After all it is all about firebreaks and safety!
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No, the OP does say its a bbq, but I suppose the point is that a pup tent left there for the duration is a combustable risk whereas BBQ's are typically supervised.
The real point is that what you can and can't do is at the discretion of the wardens, and a simple phonecall beforehand would have solved the problem
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I think you're right, what the club is saying is that yes you can use the grass strips but there should be no sleeping there?
That's not to say you can't have a nap mid afternoon on them but I suppose a tent is an enclosed space?
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I think I'd be more worried about a BBQ in close proximity to me than a pup tent. Unless perhaps the occupant was given to chain smoking in bed.
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It has a picnic bench... well it had space for one but no bench as they hadn't arrived and a brick BBQ stand for disposable BBQs. The pitches are about 20 meters across. Apart from the thing above they are just pitches with water and drainage.
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