Untidy sites

[bjphillips]

While I understand the saying you get what you pay for I still think that some certificated site owners need to tidy up a bit.When we book into a cheaper site that usually only has the bare essentials such as water,toilet empty point & maybe a hookup its because its all we require.Some resemble something like a scrapyard rather than a campsite.Ive just driven out of a booked site that I booked for a couple of nights,there was busted wooden pallets,scrap farm machinery,rotten caravans, piles of rubbish & cables draped across the field to different caravans.I gather the C&C club claim to inspect all sites but I wonder what exactly they consider before granting the certificate.A recent certificated site I had booked into for a few nights had about 10 permanent caravans on it then a group of about 30 motorcyclists arrived for a long weekend all using just 2 toilets & 2 showers.I didnt see anybody ever clean out the 2 washing up sinks after letting them just drain away leaving a mess in the sink afterwards.I feel better now Ive got that off me chest!!!!! >:-( 8o| :D >:-)

[Dave Newell]

Hi BJ, I would suggest reporting these sites to the relevant club so that they can take relevant action. Although the sites have been inspected it doesn't mean the site owner will keep it in the condition it was in when it was inspected. D.

[David Dwight]

I know of a CC CL that is on a Gipsy site. David

[Mel B]

Good suggestions Dave, but in my opinion they don't do anything about it. We stayed on a site on the west side of the country a few years ago, when we got there we were directed to a very cramped paddock area where there were already at least 15 caravans/motorhomes ... and it was supposed to be a CC CL!l There was a nice little area further along which already had 5 'CC' vans in it but unfortunately that was just for the lucky ones. As there was no where else to stay for the night within a reasonable distance we stayed and paid for the pitch being told by the 'resident helper' that we didn't have to pay for the electric if we didn't want it. The following night all hell broke loose - the owner wanted us to pay for the electric we hadn't used and was extremely obnoxious, he eventually climbed into our 'van and wouldn't get out, frightening our elderly dog in the process, eventually he rang the Police because he said we refused to leave ... we did want to leave but couldn't as he was still standing in the van and we couldn't get back in! The little 'helper' was cowering in his caravan and wouldn't come out to explain. We eventually got the owner out of the 'van and left, waiting at the entrance for the Police, they took ages to come and were bl**dy useless in the end, they knew what he was like as they'd had similar instances before but wouldn't do anything. Even though he was a CC CL site the CC didn't want to know, in fact they were more interested in taking his side if anything, even though we told them that other members had also been booked onto the CC bit only to end up on the other bit instead. They weren't interested or concerned in the fact that, quite apart from his attitude and treatment of us, he was taking business away from other CLs in the area. In our experience the CC have been totally useless when you need their help when sites are not what they should be. The CLs are supposed to be inspected, but by who, and when? Probably when they are first set-up but after that, don't hold your breath! The only reasons we stay in the CC is that we get free night vouchers from using the Frizzell credit card which come in handy for using at expensive times of the year when you need a main site (such as the Christmas period), and the vast majority of the CL sites are great - well priced and in some beautiful locations. We recently stayed on a lovely little small-holding site whilst on the way down to Bristol, it was just a couple of miles off the motorway and consisted of a level field with some nice views of the surrounding farmland, with sheep, geese and horses in fields nearby, and hens in a pen within the field. The sheep and geese were fascinated with the dogs, and kept wandering over to the edge of their field to look at them, the dogs duly peered back!! The dogs were able to potter around and have a run about without any problems (they are well behaved) and we had a lovely night's rest - all for £3.00!!! It was lovely and just what we wanted - only basic facilities, and peace and quiet. However, whether we will continue to remain as members of the CC is uncertain, as we now take most of our holiday time abroad we may re-consider our membership of the CC when it's next up for renewal as the main sites are getting very expensive and we can always sell the vouchers on eBay!!!

[smifee]

i have already left the CC but sometimes use C&CC CS sites. i always ring from a short distance away & ask if i can look at the site. they never say no and i don't commit until i've had a good look around. if i don't like it i move on. mel b - get the nationwide building society cards if you go abroad a lot. mike

[Mel B]

smifee Nationwide cards? What's the benefit please. Mel B