Misrepresenting sites online

pontardawe replied on 12/07/2023 11:55

Posted on 12/07/2023 11:55

We visited Putts Corner site 2nd week of July 2023 , have visited this site for 13 years it has always been a 4 star site with reviews to match but this year on entering the site the difference shocked us , it looked completely neglected, we usually get greeted by happy, helpful staff but this time we were greeted by a disgruntled warden who said your too early and don’t go wandering. After setting up I had a wonder round and where the site was usually full of flowers it now has overgrown hedges with brambles and nettles everywhere, the grass is seldom cut and in places very long encouraging Ticks, we were told that the club had brought in “no mow May” but this was July and the idea was to attract wildlife, I don’t know if someone in management has realised but this site is surrounded by fields, trees and obviously wildlife, when I spoke to other visitors most had the similar view to us, one who’s wife was disabled said it’s scruffy and was only going to stay overnight. Near the main bottom toilet block look what appears to be an old Wi-Fi pole has broken at its base , is leaning dangerously and is being held up by a piece of rebar and tied with a lifting sling.

The biggest problem is the site is being misrepresented on line the star rating and site photos are old , it no longer looks as per photos and recent reviews rarely give a high star rating but the club is still charging 4 star rates, I checked other club sites on line and found other sites with a no mow policy so I just can’t get my head around it, if you went to a 4 or 5 star hotel would you expect the exterior and gardens of the building to look pristine or a scruffy mess, it doesn’t make sense. We’ve decided that if this is the club’s policy from now on we don’t want to carry on being members and will cancel at the end of the season, there’s plenty of options like pitchup.com And of course the decision’s like “no mow May” has been taken by the club without taking a feeling of the members .   Don Sykes

 

Moderator Comment - Don, this is really a subject for either a review or the discussion area. As its in more general terms about the site I will move it to discussions. 

Wherenext replied on 13/07/2023 20:17

Posted on 13/07/2023 12:27 by Takethedogalong

I think “moderation” and control might be the issue here micky🤔 Photo of next doors garden, the whole large plot looks like this, it’s strangling all the other plants, crawling over walls, coming through fencing, etc…. Totally out of control.

Posted on 13/07/2023 20:17

You have my sympathy Ttda but I'm really sorry to say that one of our neighbours makes yours look beautifully manicured.

Like yourself we are constantly fighting a losing battle and the other neighbour is taking lessons from him.

It's beginning to get too much for the 1½ of us.

DavidKlyne replied on 13/07/2023 20:25

Posted on 13/07/2023 17:59 by

For us the  sound of lawnmowers always has a particular CAMC site connotation even though we are rarely on one wink 

Have to agree with DK  hedge marked (or even just shrubs) are  much to be preferred  and don't need to create too much extra work. A small site we are very fond of has its pitches delaminated in this way and the lady owner manages all ground work herself.

Posted on 13/07/2023 20:25

The only thing against my suggestion is that the Club might use it as an excuse to charge an extra fiver for the privilege like to do for so called Premium Pitches which have hedgeswink

David

Takethedogalong replied on 13/07/2023 21:00

Posted on 13/07/2023 21:00

The only time I have really complained about something on a Club Site was because of lawn mowing. Two weeks solid of being mown round at every breakfast nearly drove us mad at Marazion one year, an absolute obsession. It really was a “boys with big toys” situation, no females involved. We took ourselves off to look at a CL nearby and spent the next thirteen years staying there instead. 

Woe betide the Wardens if anything is perceived to be out of place. It’s camping Jim, but not as we know (or like) it. Having watched one individual hand sweeping the grass various times per day, (again at Marazion) you do have to wonder why such folks choose to be out in the countryside at all. 🤷‍♀️ Sometimes the entertainment antics are worth the pitch fee alone!

 

Moderator comment: Text slightly edited. 

JollyKernow replied on 13/07/2023 21:44

Posted on 13/07/2023 21:44

"woe betide the wardens if anything is perceived to be out of place". It's not like that in my world Ttda. I remember that warden at 3ways, sometimes it only takes minutes to get the measure of peopleundecided. Long retired now thankfully. Strange though apart from the paddock area the grass at Marazion didn't really grow that much, all those monterey pines sucking up the moisture. Funny, we had a couple that would sweep the grass outside their van 3 times a day at Godrevy, they even put in a complaint because we allowed the rabbits to run too freely!

JK

Takethedogalong replied on 14/07/2023 11:27

Posted on 14/07/2023 11:27

Very sandy as well JK. My woe be tide bit was in sympathy with staff, I think some folks expect far too much in terms of pristine grounds maintenance from what are essentially camp sites. Clean, safe, tidy is good. Super manicured all the time is expecting too much.

I am guessing it might be same couple, moved to Godrevy. 😁 Have to admit, it was an amusing watch, particularly after drinks with friends. We used to go across to Marazion regular to meet up with holiday friends. 

We used to go up to Carradale in Autumn, not with vans but took all cabins up there. Along with our three terriers, family also took another few dogs, a small army of ferrets and quite a few licensed guns. It was close season for caravan site, and I have never seen so many rabbits in all my life. It wasn’t for OH and me, but each evening there was a culling of those with myxi. Family were friends with owners, kept a boat up there. It’s a great location, we had some fun times up there, and beautiful scenery.

mickysf replied on 14/07/2023 11:42

Posted on 13/07/2023 17:59 by

For us the  sound of lawnmowers always has a particular CAMC site connotation even though we are rarely on one wink 

Have to agree with DK  hedge marked (or even just shrubs) are  much to be preferred  and don't need to create too much extra work. A small site we are very fond of has its pitches delaminated in this way and the lady owner manages all ground work herself.

Posted on 14/07/2023 11:42

And let’s not forget the ‘No Cut Hedge’ campaign which greatly helps nesting birds during the breeding season. Good to see the farmers around us have adopted this practise.👍

young thomas replied on 14/07/2023 13:14

Posted on 14/07/2023 13:14

Micky, do you actually drive a car or ride a bike?....or even try to navigate footpaths?

living in rural Somerset we have many hedges....the overgrown ones alongside roads force walkers off paths and into the traffic, forces cars to share the 'non existent' centre lane....even the larger the roads have seemingly morphed from two (small lanes) into one...

On some paths, Cyclists and pedestrians are supposed to share a carriageway....impossible as the creeping hedge (and verge) has taken it over...and don't get hit by the hedge as you cycle, it'll cause you serious damage....

some paths had a line in the centre for bikes and people to share evenly...over the years the centre line seems to have mysteriously moved several feet towards the hedge...as if by magic.

oh....and accessing the local public footpaths.....I now know why folk carry machetes with them....

our patch of countryside has acres and acres of 'support for wildlife'...there's no reason to give over every other inch of infrastructure as well....

Common sense and reasonable control....both sadly lacking....

still, the rates should go down for this pathetic effort at 'council services'...👎

Arch replied on 14/07/2023 13:46

Posted on 14/07/2023 13:46

Our council gave up on cutting hedges and grass years ago exclaiming the need for cost savings now they have the no mow and environmental card to play next it will be not repairing pot holes is good for the the environment as it will deter driving, I live in the countryside surrounded by fields and woodland  I  am far from ashamed that I have a well managed garden with an abundance of shrubs, perennials and flowers it's full of bees and other pollinators it is also visited by a large variety of birds I also have a cut lawn that is used for relaxation and leisure I would not in any circumstances not mow or weed and let the garden go to pot, because thats what it is a garden so when I go away I want to be on a well kept and managed site not an uncontrolled plot of land that claims to help wildlife.

KjellNN replied on 14/07/2023 15:03

Posted on 14/07/2023 15:03

Not long back from a 5 week tour in England, with all the warm weather in June we found many road signs were totally overgrown, and vegetation encroaching on the roads, even A roads.  Other road signs in some places were so filthy or faded that they were barely readable.

Yes, we have sat nav, but when unfamiliar with an area it is good to have the road signs as confirmation.    And STOP and GIVE WAY signs  really do need to be visible.

near Malvern Hills Club Campsite Member photo by Andrew Cole

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