Reserving Pitches on CC Sites

[Phillips333]

Just wondered if anyone out there have experienced the same as us.

Just returned from 10 days at CC Site, and noticed that some pitches (always hard standing) had a sign saying "Pitch out of Use". Even though we had seen other vans and motor homes on these pitches earlier in the day. Didn't think to much of it at first, but noticed this happening more and more, as the grass pitches became muddier and muddier due to the bad weather.

However a few hours later, the "Pitch out of Use" sign would be removed and a van or caravan would go on there.

As I say, this happened on more than one occassion, and I must be honest, I felt very sorry for some of the young families turning up on site, and not being allowed on these hard standing pitches.

Be interested on your comments on this one, as it seems to me that these pitches were being reserved for either friends of the wardens or regulars to that site. One couple I spoke to who did this actully informed me they go to that site every year!!!

Tracy

 

[kenneth_374315528]

Yes I have noticed this on quite a few sites. You are quite right about the wardens keeping pitches for friends but some of the time they are keeping pitches near to reception for Relief Wardens. Ken

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Sometimes this happens if the pitch is close to the shower block. I believe those who are handicapped can ask for a pitch to be reserved close to them although I haven't seen anything written down officially. I had the same thing happen to me at Berwick-on-Tweed.

I wasn't too pleased because I'd set up when I noticed a piece of drain pipe over the pitch marker. On the other side of the pipe was the words

NOT

IN

USE

I then started to hitch up again to move when another outfit arrived. In my haste not to keep them waiting I tore a ligament behind my patella which left me limping and in pain for 9 months. By the time the hospital sent for me to have keyhole surgery to repair it it had repaired itself so I didn't bother.

What I do know is it was me who was doing the limping and not the one that the pitch had been saved for.

 

[MJC]

I had this happen when I went to a CC site in the Lakes. It was a few pitches in good spots. Anyway when I enquired I was told it was a rally!! That's peculiar seeing as these pitches were dotted about. Anyway after 2 nights of them being empty, when the pitch was occupied I asked - and guess what - it was a single family, no rally. After being stuck next to the toilet disposal point I was a bit perturbed to say the least. Also on this site I was told "You can not go down there its for larger vans" Ok - some of the pitches are for larger vans - but there were empty normal pitches. These wardens can spoil your (precious) spare time. They are little Hitlers and they do NOT follow the rules. After 2 weeks away on CC sites - the 12 o clock rule is bumkum. A warden even told a German couple next to us in a Motor Home to turn it round otherwise there would be CHAOS! But she did not see fit to tell any of the other MH people to change. Pathetic, small minded but can really spoil a week or weekend. I have cancelled my next weekend in the Lakes - its not worth the upset. You're wound up before you get ther thinking what else are they going to do to spoil it. Phew TGIF.

 

[trickydicky]

Weve just come back from a CC site and exactly the same thing was happening.When we arrived the warden said you can pitch where you like but not on several hardstandings which had cones on them. It appeared that they had been reserved for someone.Later in the day these pitches were filled.

I thought all members had equal status,obviously not.

 

[Chris_374413356]

Next year I'm going to book every weekend on every site like some of our delightful CC members, and then cancel at the last minute.

At least I may be able to get on at a weekend.

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

i agree with you all. i dont really book weekends now love to go to roundtree but i know i wont ever be able to because of the weekenders. im just gonna book hillhead every school holiday because we love that site and i would never get board of it or the area. if i win the lottery im moving down there lol.

jo

 

[EmmaM]

This kind of action is intolerable and not the behaviour of CC Wardens.

Has anyone contacted the Caravan Club about this or had an official response. As a fully subscribed member of the CC for many years I would not expect preferential treatment over other members and likewise them to me.

An official CC view response would be useful here, so when it happens again, we know what to say or approach the situation.

I agree it does and can ruin what is valuable spare time and well earned holidays.

Emma

 

[trucker]

I dont know if the CC are serious about complaints.

I made a complaint about arrival times On Tuesday via E Mail and I have not even had a response of " were looking into this for you"

Dont hold you breath

Kevin H

 

[Andy_5039963]

I think the camping and caravan club are worse,they often take you to pitch .

The site at Kingsbury lovely site the warden was like a little hitler she gave me serious lecture when my puppy escaped un beknown to me and wouldnt let me take it back to the van until I fetched a lead .

Two day later she took her own dog in the site office with no lead into a no dogs allowed zone .

the wardens can spoil a holiday.

 

[Auvergne]

We made a formal written compaint to the C&CC last Tuesday, not even a holding reply!

AS a matter of interest, we have noticed the reservation of pitches on a CC site as well - there were a few pitches reserved by placing relaxer chairs on the pitch - interestingly they all matched! Think it was the wardens looking after certain folk........

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

I made a written formal complaint to the C&CC last year, and received a response within their timescales. I can't say it was favourable, but at least I received an apology - no problems at all! :O)

 

[EmmaM]

Given the correspondance to date recieved by forum members from the Caravan Club. Has any statement been made to this practice. Is it acceptable?

I think if this happns members should first address the Wardens and then if necassary telephone the CC with an aim to get a response whilst still on site.

Given the club is for the benefit of members.....other club associations appear more favourable.

As you can see this topic has somewhat touched a nerve with me....I dont like the idea of people being ripped off, told lies or persons in a position or trust and responsibilty abusing their privilege.

Em

 

[joeby]

we stayed at the CC called ogafau at pumsaint in wales a few years ago ,and there was a pitch with road cones on for 2 days , allthough it did not affect me , i did email the caravan club about it , the answer was we dont own it it belongs to the National Trust , and thats another reason why i dont believe in paying up front for a pitch , why should you pay a deposit on something you may not like or you have never seen

 

[Heethers]

Been watching this thread, are we getting mixed up with motor homes, they sometimes leave bollards, chairs recliners if they don't have the motor home sign, if not l am sure it is against one of the rules to save pitches for others as the CC runs on first come first served basis.

On another note joined the C&CC last week to give me more access to more sites, l have heard in some cases they escort you to a pitch which they have picked out, is this true, if so it would put a dampener on joining as we like to pick our own pitch.

NigelH

 

[AndyR]

Yes, on every C&CC site I've been to, they escort you to a pitch which they have chosen for you. We've never had any objections the pitches we've been given, but it would be interesting to see whether it was possible to choose your own.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Following on my post from above, where that was annoying, I've only seen this happen a couple of times. I've never let it get to me because I don't intend spoiling my time away. In regarding to the question from NGH, I was in the C&CC for one year and in that time used five of their sites. In every instance we were taken to our allocated pitch by the warden, on various forms of transport, and told where to site the van.

With the C.C. this has happened twice, both times at managed private sites, Doldowlod and Bath Chew Valley.

 

[Heethers]

Thanks Andy, not a happy bunny, wouldn't have joined if l had known this.

I like to pick my own pitch after all l am the one paying, we have two small Yorkshire Terries wouldn't like to be in the centre pitches like to be on the outside so has to keep the dogs quiet, we will give it ago if we find that we are told where to go and what we can and can't do then we will cancel membership next year.

l know you have to have some guidelines but to be told you will pitch here when their maybe better pitches empty then l don't feel l am getting value for money out of the club.

Anyone else feels this way or am l one on my own.

NigelH

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

It was the main reason I was only in the C&CC for only 12 months although the not too friendly wardens came a close second.

With dogs I like to pitch near the dog walk, first thing in a morning they are bursting.

 

[Heethers]

The only time l have seen CC wardens escort members to pitches was at West Ayton a few years ago when their was a bad accident on the A64, the weather was horrendous but the wardens stayed at their posts until every van that was booked in was safely pitched.

This took place in heavy wind and rain the last one being pitched up at 9-45pm in the middle of September so you can imagine what it was like.

This l can accept, but to be told to where to pitch to me is not acceptable, l will ask if l can choose a pitch before they escort me if not then the C&CC can kiss goodbye to my membership next year.

I maybe overreacting maybe when we arrive next Saturday everything will fine.

NigelH

 

[MagsAlan]

We are members of both clubs but tend to use the C & CC. Personally,we dont mind being 'allocated' a pitch, generally, the wardens will offer two or three different pitches, or ask if we want to be near to the toilet blocks etc.

The last site we went to, the wardens said they had put us next door to them because the opposite end of the site was where the playground was and they thought we might prefer not to be amongst all the kids. At the time we arrived, there were no children to be seen and had we been left to our own devices, we may have chosen to pitch at that end of the site as that was also where the toilet block was. Not that we object to children, but a walk around the site later on revealed a very busy and noisy area that just wasn't apparent in the middle of the afternoon.

We have only stayed on one CC site and i must say we felt a bit like a fish out of water being sent to find our own pitch and then report back as to where we were and collect the toilet block key.

We were only there 2 nights on a stop over, so perhaps not long enough to get a proper feel for it but the general feeling was that it felt more regimented than C & CC sites and if I dare say it, a bit 'snobby'. When i commented to the warden about the nice perfume in the reception office, she said it was her practice to spray after smokers and people with bad breath had been in!!!!! (I fumbled in my bag to hide the ciggies and find the polos)

At least if you are shown to a pitch, you can ask things such as which way is south (for the sat dish) or which way the sun moves if that is important to you.

NGH im sure when you get to Scarborough, if you dont like where the wardens suggest, that you will be able to choose somewhere more to your liking. From memory, when we went last summer, they asked us whether we wanted to be around the edges or in the middle or something like that. We were complete novices at the time, it being only the second time out in the van and we were happy to let them decide for us, now with a little more experience, we might be a bit more choosy, although there was nothing wrong with where we ended up.

It really is a case of paying your money and taking your choice. We know if we go to a CC site, we'll have to find our own pitch and thats a price we are willing to pay if we want to go to a particular area and the C & CC either dont have a site there or are full. It really makes no difference to us.

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

NGH, the C&CC do escort you to a pitch, but, they will ask you if it is OK, if you're not happy, then they will find you another one.

Alongside the CC, we have been members of the C&CC for a good few years, and have never had any bother with their pitch allocation system. On alot of sites the pitches are not marked, and left to their own devices, you will always get some plonker who wants to share your pitch!! Lol

 

[Heethers]

Mags/Alan and Wendy thank you for your reply, l feel much better now that you assure me we can ask if we don't like the pitch to try another, we tend to like the outside near the dog walk.

l am not bothered with the children as l remember when my daughter was young how she enjoyed playing with kids on site, wont tell you how old she is or it will give my age away, one clue the last time we caravanned with her was in 1985 she was 6 or 7.

Then she anchored for the pools of Spain.

Once again thank you all for your help will let you know how we got on in couple of weeks time.

NigelH

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

NGH, if you book a C&CC site online, on the booking form there is a box for "any special requests" - you can then specify your requirements e.g. to be near the dog walk. Never had any problems! :O)

 

[Alan Partridge]

Nigel, we use both clubs and I think it's 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. Arrivng late at a CC site at busy times you will have very little choice anyway, and only the least attractive pitches will be left. We have used a lot of C&CC sites and have always had a satsfactory experience. It's true that they are often quite specific about how they would like you to pitch on the contiguous grass areas, but that is invariably to maintain separation and of course it also prevents your neighbours getting too close to you. We have an "odd" outfit (door on the wrong side, awning makes us wider than we are long) and we have often arranged to pitch sideways on or the opposite way round - we have never been refused a sensible request.

Even CC sites will sometimes have to organise pitch allocation where there are different sized pitches, or they will reserve hardstandings for motorhomes when the grass pitches are soft (as we experienced at Blackmore CC).

We have recently used Lower Wensleydale CC, where the many of the pitches are very small - we didn't have a problem, but a bit of allocation would actually have been helpful; all but one of the small number of large hardstandings were occupied by solitary motorhomes, with no car or awning to accommodate, while some caravanners with awnings were really struggling to find big enough pitches - but that's how it goes.

Last week at Ravenglass C&CC, where many of the pitches are small and oddly shaped, we were allocated a pitch - it was clear when we sited the 'van that we would be not able to pitch our Khyam awning without the guy lines being very close to a footpath, and we were offered two alternatives without any fuss. The empty pitch we would have chosen was kept back for a 26' caravan, which was fair enough - the wardens were doing their level best to make it all work, and were very pleasant and helpful.

Both systems work, and we have rarely been unhappy with a pitch - in fact, the worst I can recall was actually at Blackmore CC. We had to take one of the last three very sloping grass pitches next to the roadway, where not one but two other members thought we would like to watch them stop and empty their dogs as they walked by - not something I want to see when I'm sitting out eating, nor the bagging up operation which they seemed to think made it OK!