Service Pitches

Dear Caravan Club,

We have been enjoying my retirement by spending many extended stays on club sites, usually the bigger ones. While this has been most enjoyable, we have noticed something that is a cause of irritation to both us and many other members that we have spoken with on the subject. This is the usual inability to obtain a service pitch on site. Although we book most of our stays via the online facility, (in the main many months in advance) which we find most convenient, we never seem to be able to obtain a service pitch. We have just returned from a 21-night stay at Hunters Moon, from 26-12-16 to 16-01-17. We did try and book a service pitch way back June 2016, but with no luck. So, we settled for a standard pitch. Imagine our surprise, when by the 3-01-17, 98% of the service pitches had been vacated, and they remained empty all bar the odd member popping on for the odd night until we departed the site on the 16th of January. In the case of Hunters Moon, every service pitch has already been booked out for the 2017 Christmas Break, this before the 5th of January. (we know this as we have already booked our stay for the 2017 Christmas break with the warden whilst on site) Now we fully accept that each member has the right to book the nights that they desire. However, it is quite clear that the present system is being grossly unfair to a great number of members whose desire to have an extended stay on such a pitch, but can never get one. It appears that the club are more than willing to allow these premium pitches to be booked out for very short periods, at a severe cost to both other members and more importantly, club finances. Surely a more logical approach should be adopted? Why does the club not restrict the booking of such pitches to say 30% of short term stays, 30% for one to two week stays and the remaining 30% for those wishing to use the 21-night maximum stay? The club could, if this is not found to be a workable proposition, greatly increase the number of service pitches on each site, this would alleviate some of the problem. But if the present system stays in place, then it’s quite clear that an even greater number of service pitches would perhaps sit idle, costing all concerned both money and inconvenience. Many feel, that with some constraints put in place, the club will have a greater number of contented members, while enjoying a greater revenue stream. With all this new found extra income, perhaps the club would put in place some dog washing facilities on each site, hot and cold water please!

Tony Gardham 

Moderator Comment

This has been moved from the story section as its unlikely to reach the intended audience in that place. As an individual complaint it should have perhaps been sent direct to the Club via post or e-mail to the Sites Department.