New Site Booking System

Clearly though you assume that everyone wants a hardstanding. I can assure you that is definitely not the case.

JK

due to the unpredictable weather we have if having to choose a pitch type most people will book a hardstanding when others go to book and there's only grass many will not book

it may well be that the grass pitches will provide that bit of spare capacity that allows spontaneous touring for those who can cope and only want/ need the odd night.

Exactly my thinking, it may well leave pitches available for those who chance a booking being available when the weather forecast is fine.

peedee

Unfortunately the club could not survive on chance bookings and the odd nights away it needs to cater for all types I believe it does at the moment we all have the same chance of arriving and getting a choice of hardstandings or grass and if your preferred is not available you can move if you wish when one becomes available with the new system there is no flexibility.

Having witnessed the scramble when a HS became  vacant on a site in SW England last June, it seemed to me that HS was certainly  the surface of choice there.

I think being willing to " risk ending up on grass" is a very different matter from actually booking a grass pitch.

After a very muddy few days in September on an all grass site a few years back, I would certainly never book a grass pitch again!   The weather in UK is just far too unpredictable.

Kjell wrote....'not only will unavailable weekend days be a problem, so will your preferred pitch surface not being available for a day in the middle of your required dates!" 

Under this circumstance, might this mean folk spending part of a break on each surface...even swapping to and fro....?

TTDA writes...."it may well be that the grass pitches will provide that bit of spare capacity that allows spontaneous touring for those who can cope and only want/ need the odd night."

with a little investment (reinforced grass...) perhaps these pitches could be used exactly as you mention, but offered (via an extra pitch type) as a cheap, max two night offering for (say) £15 a night all in.

this would encourage tourers (no awnings etc) to take these up and keep more of the HS stock (at full price) for those who want them.

if this takes the pressure off the system a little, the club could then decide (based on take up) whether to continue and keep a number of said type while they convert some of remaining grass to HS.

I'm guessing it only takes a few one/two nighters bang in the middle of a weekend to cause quite a ripple...if 'encouraged' to use a 'reinforced grass' pitch where they won't get stuck but aren't paying for the full club offering it might alleviate the issue some are already envisioning.

Another problem I can see with the new system with grass pitches especially towards the end of the peak period    ,will the system ,reduce what is available,   or allow as now site staff to reduce pitches, when they become so worn out they are unusable or will the last few arrivals just have to accept them?

Those of us who have used club sites frequently, are usually aware of the type of ground types on sites we. have booked as not all sites with grass pitches apart from very worn are prone to get soft and muddy 

JV, I'm guessing the club would like to sell grass pitches for as long as they can..'reinforcing' (a few of) them might turn them into an all year round offering where even winter tourers in MH, can spend a couple of nights without fear of getting stuck, again leaving the HS stock for those taking a longer break and reducing the possibility of 'pitch type swapping' mid break.

the remaining grass stock can be rested for next season or be evaluated for full blown redevelopment depending on the clubs intention for that specific site.

I have never understood why reinforced grass pitches were not provided.  Won't solve everything but much more environmentally friendly than hardstanding that, if laid properly 😉, shed water into the drains very quickly. With shorter heavier rain showers I suspect hardstanding will be discouraged by planning authories. 

Tarmacadam or similar of front gardens is discouraged by our council now.

Developments on the booking system and types will be interesting, I do hope there are sufficient caravanners and motorhomers in the club administration who have first hand knowledge of requirements by members. I won't be holding my breath though, those of us on the coalface were always accused of not wanting change - when things went pear-shaped after a 'silly' improvements acknowkedgement was not forthcoming 🤔

I do not think there will be such a perceived problem once the system is free standing, ,it is just while both systems are running side by side