Motorhome facilities and rules

jb99 replied on 16/09/2021 12:05

Posted on 16/09/2021 12:05

We've just returned from a tour of mid and south Wales in our motorhome.  We stayed at a number different locations: pubs, public car parks, private camp sites and one night at the C&MC site in St Davids.  We have paid our membership fees for many years, but in practice we haven't stayed on a Club site very often, and not since the name change and rebranding.  So we expected great improvements for motorhomes. 

We arrived rather early, but were warmly welcomed by the lady on reception who unexpectedly checked us in before the official time. 

I was rather confused by the parking rules, but looked at the way adjacent vehicles were arranged and tried to imitate them.  Since our motorhome is less than 2.5m wide, versus a car/caravan/awning measuring maybe 7m, it was easy to maintain the 6m separation from our neighbours.  However, apparently I had picked the wrong corner to go next to the white post.  This was explained to me that evening, but since we were leaving the next morning the very friendly warden said not to bother moving.  Fine, I'll be more careful if we visit again.

The next morning, there was a queue of motorhomes at the only grey waste point, so we decided that, as we only had a small amount of waste we would empty the toilet cassette at the service point then just fill up with fresh water and leave.  So, I pulled up next to the adjacent service point and attached my hose connector to the threaded tap.  Shortly after, a  different warden who was maintaining the grass, came along and said that motorhomes weren't allowed to use the service points and indeed there was a notice that said this that I hadn't seen.  He said that this was because filling a motorhome takes a lot of time so other people would have to wait.  I asked why I had to wait rather than other members and although a 100 litre motorhome tank will obviously take longer than a 50 litre rolling caravan tank, there were three other service points on the site.  No! Jobsworth was adamant and claimed that it was a health and safety risk (which is hard to understand). 

According to various comments on Facebook, these is just a couple of many petty rule enforcement incidents that are alienating motorhome owners.  I really think that if the Club wants to encourage this massively increasing sector of the market, they need to learn the differences between motorhomes and towed caravans.

So, the rebranding was clearly just a marketing exercise and we will have to seriously consider whether to renew our membership next year.

JVB66 replied on 19/09/2021 14:41

Posted on 19/09/2021 13:01 by viatorem

It is a crowded perception agreed, maybe the modern outfits are taking up a greater acreage over the last 25 yrs or so.

Posted on 19/09/2021 14:41

When our friends ran a non facility site there were nearly 70 pitches ,i looked to stay there this year it was full on the dates i needed but noticed it now has less than sixty pitchessurprised

JVB66 replied on 19/09/2021 14:59

Posted on 19/09/2021 08:08 by viatorem

We visited some friends on the St Agnes beacon club site last week, firstly I was surprised at the level of occupancy for this time of year and  secondly the apparent number of pitches had increased since we last visited. It looked like a pack em in approach. I may be wrong but I didn't notice any extra facilities. In the past this site was rarely fully booked even in peak season due to the lack of a toilet block, a sign of staycation and changing demands possibly. 

Posted on 19/09/2021 14:59

I think this year many have noticed sites being more "crowded?" than in the past with the mis conception that there are more pitches ,when it is that more pitches are being used on some sites than in the past would not have been so full, especially out of the peak periods,

The sites that have been bought or a new lease has been granted, if needed are upgraded as soon as the local LA has passed the plans and any NIMBYs have been satisfied? 

Takethedogalong replied on 19/09/2021 21:24

Posted on 19/09/2021 09:01 by JollyKernow

Morning

Always amuses me peoples perception of increased pitch numbers on sites. Just for information, St.Agnes has lost 4 pitches, Marazion 2 pitches and Godrevy 1 pitch in the last year. There's been no increase in numbers in the 12 years I've been with the club in the south west.

Service point only sites have been rammed this year. I hope the club take this on board for future reference. This last fortnight we've been full with mainly motorhomes, the grass has stood up well.

JK

Posted on 19/09/2021 21:24

Twelve years doesn’t take you back far enough to be honest JK. There seems to be a lot less room for each outfit at Marazion than there was pre Millenium. Mind, nowadays some of the outfits are a whole lot larger than they used to be. Did you recognise my post a couple of weeks ago that showed a photo of the nice little Lake that pitch 23 enjoys when it rains? 😂

Its still one of the nicest Club Sites on the network as far as we are concerned.👍

peedee replied on 20/09/2021 08:05

Posted on 20/09/2021 08:05

I am intrigued as to why there has been a reduction of pitiches JK. What has caused this, surely not fire regs which have been in place some times?

peedee

viatorem replied on 21/09/2021 08:35

Posted on 20/09/2021 08:05 by peedee

I am intrigued as to why there has been a reduction of pitiches JK. What has caused this, surely not fire regs which have been in place some times?

peedee

Posted on 21/09/2021 08:35

I would speculate at StAgnes some of the  smaller alcoves may no longer be suitable for current larger outfits. 

JVB66 replied on 21/09/2021 08:45

Posted on 20/09/2021 08:05 by peedee

I am intrigued as to why there has been a reduction of pitiches JK. What has caused this, surely not fire regs which have been in place some times?

peedee

Posted on 21/09/2021 08:45

If hardstands have been installed ,it normally envolves 3 grass pitches =2 hardstands 

Tinwheeler replied on 21/09/2021 08:46

Posted on 21/09/2021 08:46

Whilst not wishing to dispute JK's statement, I know new pitches had been created at Marazion when we last visited (2018?) which definitely made the site feel cramped. If those extra pitches have been removed, it can only be a good thing.

Tinwheeler replied on 21/09/2021 08:50

Posted on 21/09/2021 08:45 by JVB66

If hardstands have been installed ,it normally envolves 3 grass pitches =2 hardstands 

Posted on 21/09/2021 08:50

The 3 sites referred to by JK are all grass.

Navigateur replied on 21/09/2021 12:56

Posted on 21/09/2021 12:56

 My guesses for the "where did the pitches go" competion are:-

1. Pitch(s) need to accomodate additional assistant wardens' outfit.

2. Better vehicle access to something - such as to pump out sewage.

3. Unable to trim protected overhanging trees.

young thomas replied on 21/09/2021 19:07

Posted on 21/09/2021 08:45 by JVB66

If hardstands have been installed ,it normally envolves 3 grass pitches =2 hardstands 

Posted on 21/09/2021 19:07

Can you explain this, if the spacing needs to be the same why would you lose every third pitch?

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