Are all C&CC wardens like this?

[RickStevens]

Just took an alernative route home from work today for a change, and noticed a sign for a caravan park that I had not seen before.

Thought I'd take a quick diversion and have a look, its quite close to home and I thought it could be a good site for a quick weekend break.

After a couple of miles up country lanes I found it, it was a C&CC listed site in the middle of nowhere.

As I was turning around to leave, an old guy on a disabled scooter came up the pathway and waved me down.

He asked if I was looking for him, no introduction or anything. I explained to him that I had just seen the sign, and wanted a quick look etc etc, only to be told, "well I dont like nosey parkers!" Fine attitude I thought and left.

Did I do something wrong here? or is that the general attitude to expect from what I assume was the site warden.

Incidentally we are not members of C&CC which is why I didnt stay around, we joined CC this year (as we are newbies) then thought we would try C&CC next year.

If thats what I can expect, don't think I'll bother!

Rick

 

[Parksy]

The site is probably a C&CC certified site and the owner is not a C&CC warden but quite possibly the owner of the land on which the site stands.

I use mainly certified sites and my experience so far has been that the owners of these sites have been polite and welcoming.

This old man is an exception by the look of things and is not typical but looking at things from his point of view his land is private, you were looking round unannounced and uninvited so you could have been anyone really. You were not towing a caravan or intending to camp there at the time, perhaps it might have been better to telephone first to ask permission.

I have to say that if I arrived on a certified site with the caravan intending to stay and the owner was rude I'd leave immediately, stay elsewhere and report the incident to the C&CC.

 

[RickStevens]

The site is probably a C&CC certified site and the owner is not a C&CC warden but quite possibly the owner of the land on which the site stands.

I use mainly certified sites and my experience so far has been that the owners of these sites have been polite and welcoming.

This old man is an exception by the look of things and is not typical but looking at things from his point of view his land is private, you were looking round unannounced and uninvited so you could have been anyone really. You were not towing a caravan or intending to camp there at the time, perhaps it might have been better to telephone first to ask permission.

I have to say that if I arrived on a certified site with the caravan intending to stay and the owner was rude I'd leave immediately, stay elsewhere and report the incident to the C&CC.

Fair comment Parksy, I understand where you're coming from but like I said in my original post, I just spotted a sign for a caravan site as I was passing by, I didnt even know it existed, I didnt think about calling them when I got home.

I cant say as I overly intruded upon the site either. The entrance was just off the public road/track, I only pulled in far enough to be able to turn round.

Glad to hear that not all owners are like that

 

[Parksy]

Fair comment Parksy, I understand where you're coming from but like I said in my original post, I just spotted a sign for a caravan site as I was passing by, I didnt even know it existed, I didnt think about calling them when I got home.

I cant say as I overly intruded upon the site either. The entrance was just off the public road/track, I only pulled in far enough to be able to turn round.

Glad to hear that not all owners are like that

Don't let the old curmudgeon put you off Richard. Quiet 5 van sites offer an inexpensive way to sample delightful countryside away from the beaten track.

If your caravan was pitched on this site and you went out to the shops or for a walk you might be glad of an old human rottweiler to scare the bad guys away from your caravan or from doing a recce of the site for unlawful purposes ;0)

 

[Auvergne]

Richard, go back and let the tyres down on his scooter, miserable old s*d!

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Val - be careful on what you say - a blind man in Pembroke now has a criminal record for telling the police that he intended to let the tyres down on any parked vehicle blocking the pavement. He only intimated that was what he was going to do and ended up the worse off.

 

[Surfer]

One very good reason why we will never join the "unfriendly" club. One year with them was more than enough. Even tried a rally with the local DA and it was one of the most off putting experiences we have ever had. Avoid this club with a very long barge pole!

 

[Guest]

I feel you are being very unfair to the C&CC.

Firstly, as far as I am aware they do not employ wardens on motorised scooters so the site mentioned was probably a CS site. As with the CC these types of sites are offered as an alternative and are registered, but not necessarily approved by the Clubs in question. They in turn rely on feedback from emebers to decided whether a CL/CS should remain on the books. Check the website and see what comments are listed for the CS site and see if others have similar views.

Ian,

I also tried a DA for a short time but soon recognised it was not for me. However, I accept others thoroughly enjoy them. I actually have found that I have formed my own 'DA' if you wish by meeting people on sites and getting to know them. We even meet again in the following year, so fun but no commitment.

All I can conclude is you had a bad experience regretably, but you should not allow that to cloud your judgement indefinitely. Many people on this Forum are happy members of the 'Friendly Club', and you can at least get on their sites at weekends.

 

[chillidave]

He may have been working undercover for a rival caravan site .Hum you never know!

 

[Surfer]

"Club', and you can at least get on their sites at weekends."

Hmmm! I wonder why.

Sorry could not resist that!

 

[Parksy]

One very good reason why we will never join the "unfriendly" club. One year with them was more than enough. Even tried a rally with the local DA and it was one of the most off putting experiences we have ever had. Avoid this club with a very long barge pole!

Perhaps you might have tried a different d.a.

We rallied with one which was overrun with very noisy unruly children which almost put us off.

We now rally with either one of two d.a's which are more to our taste

 

[Guest]

The reason 'why' is that they have members who are willing to put their money where their mouth is and confirm bookings. If I wish to visit any establishment and they ask for a deposit then I am usually willing to pay. After all, it comes off the total bill at the end of my stay, so no extra charge. On the positve side I know I have a booking and have entered some form of Contract with the establishment. They then know I am a bona fide customer and give me the respect that requires. This year I have not spent a single night on CC sites although have been a member for over 30 years. As thye have had full sites they possibly do not care, but time will tell. I have however used the C&CC mainly because they offered me the dates I wished and not 6-10 months notice being required, and all the sites were excellent. If I have to start planning weekends in 2011 by next year, then I go elsewhere. Life is not that organised.

 

[Guest]

The reason 'why' is that they have members who are willing to put their money where their mouth is and confirm bookings. If I wish to visit any establishment and they ask for a deposit then I am usually willing to pay. After all, it comes off the total bill at the end of my stay, so no extra charge. On the positve side I know I have a booking and have entered some form of Contract with the establishment. They then know I am a bona fide customer and give me the respect that requires. This year I have not spent a single night on CC sites although have been a member for over 30 years. As thye have had full sites they possibly do not care, but time will tell. I have however used the C&CC mainly because they offered me the dates I wished and not 6-10 months notice being required, and all the sites were excellent. If I have to start planning weekends in 2011 by next year, then I go elsewhere. Life is not that organised.

Sorry about the 'double hit' slow computer tonight.

 

[John_miller]

If it was a C&CC Listed Site, then it has nothing to do with the C&CC! Any caravan site can pay to be listed in the C&CC Big Sites Book and that is all it means - it is listed. C&CC make it clear that they don't inspect these sites although I suspect they might be interested to hear from anybody who has a bad experience at a Listed Site. I'm a member of both clubs and find that there are good and bad site managers in both, just as there are good and bad at commercial sites.

John M

 

[JTQ]

If you had been looking around the site without first seeking and asking permission then I am not surprised the owner or guardian would ask if you were "looking for him".

Not every ones intentions are innocent and we would prefer a site where they check who is about; after all we go off site and would like to feel our vans is safe there.

 

[Soozeeg]

JTQ, that's exactly what I would have said. Surely it's only polite to ask permission first to have a look around someone's property? How does the owner know who you are or what you're doing otherwise? Admittedly, the guy could have been a bit politer, but you can hardly blame him for being a bit annoyed at finding an unannounced stranger wandering around his place - who may have been taking an unhealthy interest in the caravans there for all he knew.

We frequently look around other camp sites when we're staying somewhere on holiday, but would never dream of doing it without speaking to the owners/wardens first.

 

[Zafiral]

I have visited a couple of C&CC sites (and plenty of others too) when I was in the area as seeing for yourself is always better than looking at a sites own promotional material, it has saved us from a few un-namable shockers.

I have always firstly gone to the site office and have never had an issue.

 

[Zafiral]

BTW if the site is signed from a couple of miles away it will not be a CS / CL.

 

[RickStevens]

JTQ, that's exactly what I would have said. Surely it's only polite to ask permission first to have a look around someone's property? How does the owner know who you are or what you're doing otherwise? Admittedly, the guy could have been a bit politer, but you can hardly blame him for being a bit annoyed at finding an unannounced stranger wandering around his place - who may have been taking an unhealthy interest in the caravans there for all he knew.

We frequently look around other camp sites when we're staying somewhere on holiday, but would never dream of doing it without speaking to the owners/wardens first.

please note my earlier post, I didnt get as far as wondering around the site , I only just pulled off the road far enough to turn my car around, and he pounced on me!

 

[JTQ]

please note my earlier post, I didnt get as far as wondering around the site , I only just pulled off the road far enough to turn my car around, and he pounced on me!

Okay; we had not understood that; hence the phrasing of my opening sentence.

 

[Rodone]

Got a feeling that this site is just north of Ashbourne ?? I had a similiar experience when it was a commercial site some 5 or 6 years ago. The old guy on the scooter was very rude, had little road sense, and I suspect able bodied but lazy!!

 

[emmerson2]

Got a feeling that this site is just north of Ashbourne ?? I had a similiar experience when it was a commercial site some 5 or 6 years ago. The old guy on the scooter was very rude, had little road sense, and I suspect able bodied but lazy!!

Excuse me butting in, but electric scooters are NOT "disabled scooters" They can be bought and used by anyone, they simply make life easier, as does driving a car rather than walking.

Rant over.

 

[Thorpedo]

Richard

Had a similar experience at a C&CC site near Modbury in Devon a couple of weeks ago.

Looking for the CC site nearby but when I came accross a C&CC site I thought I take a look.

Drove in (not towing)peered into reception but no one there, opened in 15 mins. so we drove around the site, Then I spotted the Warden watching us from behind a closed awming, no attempt to come out and be freindly so we just drove away. So much for the Friendly club. Bad day at the office perhaps.

3 mins later found the CC site at Broad Park, What a difference, Warden opened reception, gave us a map all with a laugh and a smile.

Very nice site by the way.

As they say, 'Nothing stranger than folk' It takes all sorts I suppose.

 

[DomDom]

This post was deleted because of the insulting and inflammatory statements that it contained.

Parksy ( Moderator)

 

[Guest]

Thorpedo,

Have stayed on both the sites you mentioned and found them both to be good. I actually preferred the C&CC one as it was across the road from the pub while the CC was too long a walk on a very narrow road. However facilities at both were clean and good. The CC site 'scored' for providing a delivery service to the van from the chippie.