Ability to chose hardstanding pitches on all sites

We are currently on the lowest pitch on Marazion Club Site. We chose it, because it’s big, on its own, and you can pitch sideways, so levelling up is easy compared with a lot of the other pitches. Despite heavy rain overnight, the grass pitch is still very firm, except for just one small area. This area is a result of inefficient drainage in place on the Site road. Everything runs down hill, and collects in front of this pitch. It then finds a route out, into thr woodland behind our pitch. All that is required is a simply culvert and drain pipe to take water underground, rather than over the pitch. Given that the Club have had this Site for decades, possibly at least 40 years, it’s had plenty of time to put a simple, and not that expensive solution (ask a farmer) in to make the roadway around Site better for all. As it is, all vehicles are having to take a dip on the way out. The Club would rather lose this lovely little Site than spend much money on it☹️

You've already said that so not sure you're repeating it?

But I don't think it can be. The dead area caused by awnings will be about 2m or more sideways? This means that the peg would have to be moved by that much and that would in most cases, if not all, compromise the 6m spacing? As you said before the pitch could be taken out but that is loss of income.

Much easier to just have a HS.

Any club site that is leased (as marazion) normally needs contact with the owner before most works are cattied out, does anybody  know if this has not been done in an attempt to improve drainage

I have been using Club sites for the past 40 years and over that time have seen developments to enhance my stay on site. First it was the general availability of electricity to pitches. For many years now we have seen the increasing introduction of hardstanding pitches. From the Club's perspective, although initially more expensive, they provided a relatively maintenance  free surface which can be used over a much longer season. Perhaps those of you that gravitate towards campsites with predominately grass pitches don't realise how popular hardstanding pitches are with the general membership? The hardstanding pitches are always the first to be used. I think there is also a bit of a myth about hardstandings being crammed in. On the few sites I have used with all grass pitches I always feel I am much closer to the person next to me, perhaps its an illusion but that is how it feels to me. 

On a personal note I have no wish to feel grass under my feet. Much prefer a solid clean surface. Particularly when it comes to packing everything away if its wet on leaving day I know I won't be treading in muck because of wet grass. To me a hardstanding pitch meets all my requirements. I know I won't get stuck if the weather is bad, I like the clean surface and I am perfectly happy to sit in my chair on a gravel surface. There seem to be quite a few like me in the Club, perhaps a majority?

David

On many sites that have areas of grass that  inconsiderate use of groundsheets has caused damage ,the site staff will have knowledge of when and how pitches can be adjusted to cater for such scenarios 

Ours is big, max legal body length for towing with a pretty standard 4x4, the weight is 1900kg max.  I think more than 2000 kg would be very rare.  

Still would not wish to use a grass pitch in UK!

You also have to consider the weight of the towcar if it is also on grass

David, of course there will be preferences throughout the membership, and it may well be that more prefer HS to grass, I don't know.

however, as TDDA suggest, the 'improvements' you report don't necessarily make for a nicer environment especially when club sites don't provide private space beyond the gravel for folk to sit...

many posters on here love the CL style, and while some places are introducing a firm surface to attract MH during the off season, the general ambiance of the CL is likely to remain.

and this is the issue with the Club 'formula'....chippings everywhere...

the Club has received much criticism for creating 'car park' sites and the inevitable move to HS (more chippings) can't help but support this feeling.

I agree, i don't like (very) wet pitches and am happy to take a HS during the late season and NY when we are touring here, but IMHO it would be a sad day if every pitch in the network were a rectangle of gravel/chippings.

The club needs to be able to balance (in whatever ratio) the requirements of all campers, whose who like HS and those who like grass....those who like grass sometimes and who wish to move to HS in the off season....and this is the juggling feat it needs to manage successfully...

And not at the expense of delivering unfit grass pitches to paying customers, which means reducing these as the season moves...

The point about moving a peg on a grass pitch to take the overworn under-awning grass out of service simple requires the moving of all the pegs in the row so that the 6m safety spacing is still maintained.

It does seem odd to be asked to pitch my caravan on a hard standing when it won't be moved for a fortnight when the tow vehicle that is in and out all day is sited in grass > mud.

I recall being told by the warden not to tow my caravan off a grass area because the ground had become soft, and that he would tow everyone there off with his tractor (was years ago as they are not allowed to now).  Tractor got stuck with first caravan! My Land Rover didn't.

the Club has received much criticism for creating 'car park' sites and the inevitable move to HS (more chippings) can't help but support this feeling

Really? Where is this much criticism and where has it been received though?

If you're talking about it being 'received' on CT then that is hardly much compared to all users of sites, perhaps a few posters saying so about the 'car park' (ten maybe - maybe less?) and of course as most club sites do have this pattern and there certainly much more criticism about sites being full/not getting pitch so many must like it as they keep on using it?

Again much criticism about the increase of HS? Where? On here there appears, even on this thread (only one fully against, one says its less attractive and one who want's to go barefoot - the last two hardly criticisms?) very little and most/rest in favor, and so much so the thread is about booking one? Has there ever been a thread about the difficulty of booking/getting a grass pitch? I can't recall one?

Where else have you seen this much criticism? On others forums? Again aS well  don't see that much? Complaints to head office?