Booking ahead is unfair at some sites

We also stay one or two nights on more than one site to our final destination if a long distance

Ditto.

Anything more than 2 nights is a long stay😀

So that’s down to 99.98 % now😂

I believe that the term "speculative" can be a little unfair.   Yes there will be people who do book pitches speculatively but you would have to look into why they do it.   I have booked a period in Black Knowl for next year on the basis that I want to go there at a specific time.   It is a long way from the middle of Scotland but I know if I don't get booked in as soon as the site becomes bookable I won't get a pitch in the dates I need.  I have no idea if something will crop up that prevents me from taking the booking as it did this year.   Does that make me "one of those people"?   There is a problem with pitch availability.   It's caused by more members than there are pitches and this has been made considerably worse since last year with more members coming on board.   Yes, deposits are good for CAMC cash flow, but not for the membership trying to get a pitch.   I've been a member for forty years and liked the flexibility of the booking system but to change to a deposit system is going to cause a fair degree of complexity.   And, by the way, I have never in forty years been asked by anyone for feedback.

I’ve said before that all bookings have you be considered speculative as, even with the best will in the world, none of us can know for sure that we will be in a position o take up that booking. Illness or mechanical breakdown, for example, can strike any of us at any time.

I agree with your post, Net, but the deed is all but done. 

I see Chatsworth is filling up nicely for December 2022...less than 5 pitches available  on some dates....

I would expect that sites in areas that are very popular  will fill up quite quickly ,for Xmas and New Year those  that have grass and hardstand pitches will not have the grass pitches in use so will have less pitches

Don't be too hasty with the "grass pitches out of use" jv. 

JK

That will also, if the site has more pitches ,mean add staff for the site capacity. As you know winter site staff manning is reduced when grass pitches ,reduce the site availability ,

And also you will know that Xmas and New year are classed as "peak periods"

The staff shortages that have been a problem all this year and has resulted in several, sites having to close  will have to be addressed 

I have been a member for more years than I care to state.

My wife and I are fortunate to be able to have several holidays a year, with a prefered stay of ten nights. This is proving very difficult, if not impossible, over recent years on club sites.

We tried for five years to get a stay on the Bristol site for instance.

The Club needs to bring in a deposit system and also a prefered pitch number option.

We can stay at one of our favourite sites in Shropshire, a long tug from the New Forest, but can always get a ten night stay on a favourite pitch number.

The larger Club sites should keep a few slots available for members wanting a stay of  seven nights plus, with deposit forfeited if cancelled within four weeks of arrival. 

I am not having a go at Motorhome members, but finding sites with all weekends booked is now becoming the norm.