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We just spent the weekend at the C&CC site at West Runton. They warned us before we booked that they only had sloping pitches left, the flat ones had gone to the motorvans and the huge number of tents on the site. We were near to the childrens play area and lost our kids for part of the time but gained 6 or 7 more at other times. I spent just about all day on Sunday (after the thunderstorm had cleared!) playing frisby/ball games/bomerang with the kids but then so did most of the other campers on site. It was a great weekend, no hassles, very friendly and helpful staff and this site is now my sons favorite!!!

The dog stayed on his lead outside the unit (the unit includes the awning) but that is stipulated in the rules so I don't have a problem with that. in fact the dog was a big draw for some of the kids.

I've only met one horrible warden in the C&CC and that was years ago. The only way to change things is to complain. If you are in the C&CC why not write to the magazine to find out if anyone else has had similar experiences.

Julian

At the risk of really putting the cat among the pigeons, I'm going to defend the rules.

Balls and kites can cause serious damage to tents and caravans, so they are not allowed on many smaller sites to protect people's property (not all people will be responsible about where they allow their children to play with such toys, so the rules have to cover everybody).  As for bubbles - they are DISASTER when mixed with canvas and are certainly not something that should ever be played with on a camp-site - the bubbles are made using a detergent, which will destroy the waterproof qualities of canvas on contact - therefore, NO BUBBLES!  As for the sand - was the sand actually a designated sand-pit (which the warden may have judged to be water-logged and therefore dangerous) or was it just a pile of sand - sand supplied to help with water-logged sites is dirty, sharp builders' sand, not the clean, soft play sand that is put in sand pits, and is in no way safe to play in. 

As for which pitch you are given - wardens know their sites - the flat pitches could well have been water-logged, or may be saved for motor-homes (imagine getting one of those stuck on a sloping pitch, even if you could get it level) and tents.  Sites are rarely perfect, and wardens have to place units where they feel is the best place for them, given the conditions of the site and the types of units that use it.

Rules are made to protect your safety and property, the safety and property of others and to ensure that everybody can have the restful break they are entitled to - I like the C&CC rules, and they are one of the reasons I will continue to use C&CC sites and Meets.  I have daughter, and I camp with many people with children of all ages, and we have never found the rules meant our children could not enjoy their time camping.

Quote: Originally posted by Scampi on 03/05/2005

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At the risk of really putting the cat among the pigeons, I'm going to defend the rules.

Balls and kites can cause serious damage to tents and caravans, so they are not allowed on many smaller sites to protect people's property (not all people will be responsible about where they allow their children to play with such toys, so the rules have to cover everybody).  As for bubbles - they are DISASTER when mixed with canvas and are certainly not something that should ever be played with on a camp-site - the bubbles are made using a detergent, which will destroy the waterproof qualities of canvas on contact - therefore, NO BUBBLES!  As for the sand - was the sand actually a designated sand-pit (which the warden may have judged to be water-logged and therefore dangerous) or was it just a pile of sand - sand supplied to help with water-logged sites is dirty, sharp builders' sand, not the clean, soft play sand that is put in sand pits, and is in no way safe to play in. 

As for which pitch you are given - wardens know their sites - the flat pitches could well have been water-logged, or may be saved for motor-homes (imagine getting one of those stuck on a sloping pitch, even if you could get it level) and tents.  Sites are rarely perfect, and wardens have to place units where they feel is the best place for them, given the conditions of the site and the types of units that use it.

Rules are made to protect your safety and property, the safety and property of others and to ensure that everybody can have the restful break they are entitled to - I like the C&CC rules, and they are one of the reasons I will continue to use C&CC sites and Meets.  I have daughter, and I camp with many people with children of all ages, and we have never found the rules meant our children could not enjoy their time camping.

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Yes, I agree with this line of reasoning. Most rules are there for a good reason, not just a whim. And the C&CC rules are pretty much the same for all their sites, yes?

And a trailer tent can cope with a sloping pitch far better than a caravan or motorhome. Sometimes it`s even usefull....I remember the merry little stream running though the centre of our tent on one pitch, while the folk on the flat were completely flooded. We were almost completely dry apart from the stream...we just stepped over it.

I don`t see that the C&CC can be held responsible for the weather....shame! I wish they could give guaranteed sunshine!

The only thing I think they should have listened to sympethetically is the request to be moved so as not to be next to the main road because of small kids. However it`s the sort of thing that only happens to a family once...because next time, you remember to ask/tell the warden about the kids.

I agree with all that Scampi has said. I stayed on the Cannock Chase site last year and found the wardens friendly & helpful (of course the wardens may have changed now).

The Rules are there for everyone's benefit as Scampi says. It is not a big site and many of the pitches are sloping, some more than others. There is no room on site for an area for ball games and I certainly wouldn't want kids playing ball around the units (as seems to be allowed on some commercial sites), this is not only a Club site rule but is also in the rules of many good commercial sites. A lot of damage can be caused to tents, caravans, cars etc by errant footbals kicked by over enthusiatic youngsters.

Kite flying is a definite no-no because the site is in a hollow in the middle of a forest and the kites would easily be caught in the trees, I think there may be overhead power cables as well.

Yes, the cockerel is very noisy, but he's not the fault of the campsite as he lives next door so there's not really a lot the site can do about it. It was certainly not the first time I have been woken by a cockerel when camping and I'm sure it won't be the last!