Posted on 25/11/2021 11:54
The Club have released more details of the new Booking System here
There are still finer details still to be arrived but the link (thanks Harry) sets out how the new system will work.
I have closed the previous thread on when we will get details of the new booking system and opened this one to allow comments specifically on the new system rather than discussing what they might be.
David
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Posted on 28/11/2021 16:35 by young thomasKjell 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....?
Posted on 28/11/2021 17:08 by Bakers2I 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 🤔
Posted on 28/11/2021 17:19
When talking to some site staff in areas that give on site experiance work to head office staff, they do not hold out much hope in that respect
It was posted on CT recently that staff at HO had told a poster that Rallies were not run this time of year as it was too cold?
A member asked HO what time they could arrive at a site in Sussex was told they could use the LNA as all sites had one?,the site in question did not
Posted on 28/11/2021 16:48 by young thomasTTDA 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.
Posted on 28/11/2021 17:23 by KjellNNHow are these reinforced grass pitches constructed these days?
We used one way back in 2008 and it was lethal when wet as very slippery, presumably things have improved since then.
Posted on 28/11/2021 17:17 by KjellNNMaybe if you use a MH......but as a caravanner, I would just go elsewhere.
Posted on 28/11/2021 17:44
..and so would many others...I was just highlighting a potential effect of the changeover period of running two differently made bookings..
perhaps the club can 'see' uncompleted booking sessions ....I certainly had an email from a company enquiring as to why I hadn't purchased ....if they can see folk decline to book under the above conditions, they may well realise something needs changing.
Posted on 28/11/2021 18:45
It's body armour time 😁. Why don't the club put back the new booking scheme to the beginning of 2023, and for one year only revert back to the mad one day event of old . At least that way there would be no overlap of schemes .??. Just a thought.
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Posted on 28/11/2021 18:16 by NavigateurI wonder if the new whizz-bang system might allow pitches to be booked on the basis of "I don't care about the pitch type".
Posted on 28/11/2021 18:55
Steady on Nav😂 It doesn’t do to introduce too much choice you know. Starts to resemble a “woofers and tweeters” sketch of many moons ago!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvswW6M7bMo
Posted on 28/11/2021 17:08 by Bakers2I 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 🤔
Posted on 28/11/2021 20:00
Bakers2
Reinforced pitches are not the answer. They usually end up looking awful and bereft of the commodity you are trying to preserve, ie grass!!! We used a C&CC site with such pitches and there was hardly a blade of grass to be seen, just a lot of mud encased in the plastic mesh. Whether they would work better if there were restrictions in their use I don't know. However given the club want to sell as many pitch nights as possible I somehow doubt that would happen. I think we really have to accept that if you want an all season robust pitch with minimum maintenance it really has to be a gravel surface. Some won't like that but it seems the majority do and that will be confirmed once the new booking system is up and running.
David
DavidKlyne
Motorhomer from Buckinghamshire