Ain't happy.

[602]

Hi

I've just got back from a few days in the Midlands. Quite a nice site, but.......

On arriving, the site was almost empty. But the warden put us on a pitch adjacent to an occupied pitch. So two "crowded" customers. Nobody between us and the toilet block, which was 100 yards away.

Water in the kitchen sinks was red hot. Until Saturday morning, by which time the site was crowded. Water in sink was just about luke warm. I complained to warden and was told this was because everybody was using the showers. Ah .... my fault for timing my chores wrong.

Instructions were to place our caravan with the hitch directly above the marker. Markers were about 9 paces apart, say 30ft. We didn't have an awning, so parked our car on nearside of the caravan. Ideal, as there were frequent heavy showers, and short distance to run to the car. Come the arrival of the hordes, warden told us to park car on other side of van. Further to run, and our neighbour then gets a good view of our towcar. What is the convention for awnings and parking?

I also noted that the gap between rows of vans was about 10ft, back of van to back of van.

My wife had words with a lad on a bike who rode past out door at relatively high speed. And while I was washing the dishes, a young oriental girl placed her box of dishes on my draining board, pushing my crockery to one side. No harm done, but it seemed an interesting attitude.

Am I turning into a miserable old git?

602

 

[Heethers]

602 was it a CC site, C&CC site or a private one.

NigelH

 

[602]

Hi NGH,

Private site. I think it cost us about

 

[Dustydog]

602

It's always best to check UK Campsites first.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[Pamela_374424154]

We've noticed lots of inconsiderate campers this year. We are on a seasonal pitch and the owner keeps telling us of problems, even down to making sure you take your televisionaerial in each weekend as several have 'disappeared'. It never used to be like this so I blame the recession as lots of new campers who don't understand the rules and just want their kids to go away for the day but have no thought for others. OIf another football or cricket ball careers across my pitch whilst I have 2 toddler grandchildren there I may have to confiscate it and be branded as whatever.

 

[David.O]

Pamela

We have seen quite a change in our visitors this year to our CL. I put them into 2 groups first are caravaner's who know how to behave and what to do .then there are those who have a caravan

belong to the club, and we are there to serve them.Luckily we have few of the latter but they seem to be spreading??

David from Suffolk

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hi 602,

I am one for championing the rights of consumers in the face of what can sometimes seem unreasonable behaviour on the part of companies of their officers/representatives. It is of course every consumers right to expect goods and services to to match the description and be fit for service, and the same applies when purchasing the use of space on a caravan site.

With the exception of the statutory regulations concerning health and safety at work (which are applicable to a commercial caravan site) electrical, water and fuel supplies being stored or supplied on site, there are no statutory regulations for the spacing of caravans, or where tow cars can be parked(unless the planners stated so in planning application). These issues are entirely at the discretion of the site owner, and they can enforce them if the wish. your acceptance of these conditions is is part of the contract you have entered by applying and being accepted on site.

If these issues concern you then you have every right to enquire about them before you agree to stay, but once you have agreed to stay you are bound by them. You may of course comment about them to the owners, they are more likely to listen if and comments are made in a constructive manner.

Issues related to privacy in the ablutions blocks, again you should check these before hand, and make sure they are fit for your purpose.

The hot water issue may be questionable, but again it depends on what the the terms of supply are, The fact is that that hot water was available, albeit a limited amount, The owners would not be breaking any Trades descriptions issues is all the said was hot water was available, where it would be questionable if they said available 24 hours a day at 40 degrees or above.

The actions of other campers are only the concern of the site owner if they break any site rules, or their activities are criminal or legally negligent.

There are often two sides to every story so - perhaps your crockery was taking up more space than it should have been on the wash stand? -

As for being a m.o.g. - language that I will never use, but no - you are simply finding out that life is moving on and leaning us old ones behind, don't be a m.o.g. just become a grumpy old man like me.

 

[602]

Hi John L,

Thanks for reply. I must admit surprise that there are no rules about spacing between vans. Maybe the authorities are saving that for a quiet period?

One problem with turning into a MOG is that, once you are upset, it becomes easy to find other things to be upset about.

As for the washing up, there were two sinks, each with a flat surface one side, and a draining board the other side. I carried my dishes to the sink in one of those collapsible boxes, put it on the flat surface. Plastic bowl in sink. Wash one item in bowl, rinse in cold water, place on draining board. Repeat. Up comes the little oriental girl, dumps her transport box on MY draining board, pushing my dishes to one side. My eyebrows were a litle raised, but no more than that. I tried to tell her that there was no hot water, and she looked at me as though I was some sort of pervert. Maybe she didn't speak English? I then watched her spread her breakfast around the plates with her fingers under the cold tap. Hmmmm, maybe she has never washed dishes before? Eventually Mum arrived, didn't do a much better job. Perhaps the servants were left at home? She also looked suspicious when I told her about the lack of hot water. Oh well, not my problem. And not the site manager's problem ..... unless there is a sudden health problem, and the finger gets pointed at the site.

I later chatted to another camper, who said that "We won't come here again!" Which is a pity, cos it should have been a nice little site, and I think the warden was trying ..... just in the wrong directions.

602 (MOG)

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

Hi John L,

Thanks for reply. I must admit surprise that there are no rules about spacing between vans. Maybe the authorities are saving that for a quiet period?

One problem with turning into a MOG is that, once you are upset, it becomes easy to find other things to be upset about.

As for the washing up, there were two sinks, each with a flat surface one side, and a draining board the other side. I carried my dishes to the sink in one of those collapsible boxes, put it on the flat surface. Plastic bowl in sink. Wash one item in bowl, rinse in cold water, place on draining board. Repeat. Up comes the little oriental girl, dumps her transport box on MY draining board, pushing my dishes to one side. My eyebrows were a litle raised, but no more than that. I tried to tell her that there was no hot water, and she looked at me as though I was some sort of pervert. Maybe she didn't speak English? I then watched her spread her breakfast around the plates with her fingers under the cold tap. Hmmmm, maybe she has never washed dishes before? Eventually Mum arrived, didn't do a much better job. Perhaps the servants were left at home? She also looked suspicious when I told her about the lack of hot water. Oh well, not my problem. And not the site manager's problem ..... unless there is a sudden health problem, and the finger gets pointed at the site.

I later chatted to another camper, who said that "We won't come here again!" Which is a pity, cos it should have been a nice little site, and I think the warden was trying ..... just in the wrong directions.

602 (MOG)

602, i fully undestand where your coming from after having an appauling experiance at a site in somerset recently. i now vowed to only ever used CC sites or CL's ever again. You get what you pay off in my experience. I dont mind paying cc prices because there a lot cheaper than your usual ramp camp or commercial site.

i think you should rejoin the CC again.

jo-anne

 

[hgv dave]

hi 602

whats wrong with being a MOG.........you have earned the right to be a MOG,so stuff em all lol

hgv dave......fellow member of the MOG society

 

[Guest]

As an official member of the MOG society all I can say is 'welcome' There are many of us out there.

How many times have you visited a site and seen all the ptiches are empty. YOu get directed to one of the less attractive and on requesting a move to a better one, get the reply, 'they are all booked up'. You stay for anything up to 14 days and not a soul appears on the good pitches.

The other annoying thing is on CC sites you are told to find a pitch and report back with the number. The site is full and you have no idea where to start looking as the wardens do not feel any inclination to point you towards the vacant ones. You drive around, find a spot and grab it in case there is nothing else. You set up camp and then find a better pitch further round. Grrr!!!

As for spacing we visited a large site in Holland this week and many of the awnings were literally touching the next one. This is a very popular site recommended by the CC and C&CC and is well equipped, but in the event of a fire, run like H..l.

 

[Gareth111278]

I think you MOGs would enjoy Certificated Locations! We have VERY few poblems on any CL. [we also try very hard not to cause any!]

It is a little anoying to be told the best pitches are taken but if you visit a CL regularly you can ask for a favorite spot i suppose.

Re. 'Find your own pitch' We had to do it at Sethorns in the New Forest & got the best spot on the site. We only realised this a couple of days later as no cars ever drove passed our pitch! Come packing up day though someone knew they wanted out spot & sat and glared at us from 10.30 am as we packed our gear up. So much for no admission before 12.00!!!

 

[Parksy]

The main job requirement to become a forum moderator is to be a fully paid up member of the M.O.G. society.

Like others I enjoy the peace and tranquillity of small certified sites but the one thing that always starts me off muttering is that the site can be empty when we pitch but another caravan usually arrives and instead of pitching at the other end of the site as I would they always end up practically next door.

Is it the herding instinct that makes 'caravannus sociali' behave in this manner?

 

[Angela3]

The main job requirement to become a forum moderator is to be a fully paid up member of the M.O.G. society.

Like others I enjoy the peace and tranquillity of small certified sites but the one thing that always starts me off muttering is that the site can be empty when we pitch but another caravan usually arrives and instead of pitching at the other end of the site as I would they always end up practically next door.

Is it the herding instinct that makes 'caravannus sociali' behave in this manner?

Wow! and there we were thinking we were the only ones with these thoughts!!

The parking up close thing is amazing! we stayed on a lovely 2 ACRE c.l., went out for a couple of hours, came back and lo and behold parked right next to us-6 metres away at the most, was another caravan!! We couldn't believe it and we had gone right to the far end of the c.l.!

last week we stayed on a C.C. site-lovely and peaceful,didn't see one child, then on our second day another caravan sets up directly opposite us with 3 children, they then unfolded bikes, footballs,prams,cricket and boules-we gave up in amazement then!!!

At least we now know it's not just us!!

 

[Guest]

There is a 'herding instinct' but it also applies to the site owners, or wardens. If they get everyone at one part, then it is easier to manage the site. Saves having to open the 2nd Loo Block for example.

However, if you have any choice over pitch allocation then follow this single advice. Never pitch next to a tent with Dutch children in it. After 3 separate occasions I am feeling an expert on the subject. Talk about noisy and singing nursery rhymes at 6.30 am is not my idea of fun. The Dutch in Holland are fine, but outside, they go nuts.