An Experience at Seacroft - Sequal & Policy!

On the 20th November last year I posted on the forum details of an encountered I had experienced at Seacroft due to an up and coming Rally. The item attracted some seventy-two contributors until closed two days after the original posting by Rochelle as she deemed it a ‘complaint’. Since this time I have had a series of exchanges with the Regional Manager and for those perhaps interested in the outcome and for a definitive position if they too encounter a similar situation, a Policy Statement of pitch availability at sites were Rally’s are taking place or are or due to take place. I have copied and pasted the original post to avoid scrolling through some twenty odd pages plus to find the original posting and as a reminder to what was involved.

Original post:-

I had a nine night stay booked for the Seacroft site commencing 13th November. Currently booked into the Sandringham site for the same period. Reason, on arrival yesterday at Seacroft, a site I had not visited before, a warm welcome given and an expression of hope you enjoy your stay, access and timings to facilities explained, £170.10 paid and all was going well. Well until we were advised of a week-end rally. Still no issues until a site pitch plan was produced and we were informed a number of pitches had been reserved. Forty-six in fact. Our 'choice' was three pitches; not now such a rosy start as the site had considerable numbers of empty pitches. Disappointed at this but viewed and looked at each pitch. In my view the 'choice' of pitches can best be described as rubbish and were I would suggest the worst on the site. During my membership I have never moved from a pitch and certainly never felt forced into a situation of moving onto another site.

Although the wardens were understanding when I complained and did try to help by offering a service pitch (without charge) as we were having friends join us the following day and the 'accommodation' offered would not be extended we felt thoroughly let down by this situation. Our friends would have been in the same position as ourselves and they were staying longer.

I cannot reserve a pitch and would NOT expect to over any other member, but it seems some members attending the rally have more equality than others. Their 'reserved' pitches were in a prime position on the site. I find it totally unacceptable that such a large number of prime pitches are block off (two nights occupancy at discounted rates verses nine fully paid), and to be told it is because they all are friends and like to pitch awnings next to each other and that their 'activities' could carry on late and be inconvenient to others, plus is done to avoid any intimidation to non rally attenders, again leads to the question of are they not subject to the general rule of respect and consideration for others. What is the difference of a site full in peak season and a rally. If the Club want to keep them corralled, open up the nearby other Cromer site! I hope the decision taken was not done to impress the Chairman who I understand was attending! 

They are there for two nights, me nine. Clear discrimination.

To add salt into the wound, on being told we were left with no alternative than to move on, I was deducted the sum of£18.90 as a 'late cancellation' fee. A bit rich when I had been on the site for less than an hour and used no facilities. The financial positioned worsened in that the fees for Sandringham are a further £10.80 over that for Seacroft. Plus I had already driven 148 miles and then required to travel a further forty. I was spitting blood.

To take out forty-six pitches out of the sites one hundred and eleven discounted by a further thirty three service pitches is plainly wrong when it comes to any consideration being given to ordinary members. The wardens were extremely clear that they were under instruction from Fawlty Towers to host this rally and were embarrassed and beset with difficulties by this decision, including having to put back into use twenty-one grass pitches!

Ever wondered too why Reviews on individual sites are generally so glowing? Well the answer is that if they are not 'liked' they are taken down and a suggestion made to raise it as a 'complaint'. No help given in referring the issue directly to the appropriate department. Necessary to make a further submission!

A very, very disappointed and disillusion, for the time being, discriminated against 'member'!!

Ps - Three days later phone rang and a 'retrospective' refund of the £18.90 given.

Caravan Club response:-

“The Wardens at Seacroft had been fully aware of the rally for some time as it was planned well in advance and therefore should have posed no issue for them. However, as they were new to this particular site, they were unaware of how this should have been handled and the way we manage the rallies, effectively there is no requirement to cordon off an area for the rally participants. In this instance the Wardens took it upon themselves to try to meet the requirements of everyone meaning than an issue was created.

Ultimately the area should not have been reserved for the rally meaning that you, and everybody else, would have the freedom to choose from any available pitches, there were more than enough pitches made available to comfortably accommodate both the rally and touring members without affecting anyone’s stay. In the past, we have run many rallies at Seacroft, both small and larger ones without any issue for the touring members or for the rally attendees. 

With regard to notifying members of a rally taking place on a site, this would not be feasible as we do not advise members prior to them arriving on a site of the occupancy level.

There is a learning to be gained as a result of your experience in that The Club should ensure all site staff are comfortable with dealing with a busy site, whether or not a rally is taking place, and there should be understanding that all vacant pitches be made available for members to choose from.”

So, there you have it; we are all equal!!

Bernard in Tring