stewartwebr
LIFE MEMBER
- Jun 6, 2010
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- 36 years and 16 motorhomes
We attended the Lonach Highland Games at the weekend, what an amazing experience. The event was amazing watching the marchers return after their March all dressed in clan tartan and some keeping a tradition that has been done by their family for generations.
We opted to stay on the campsite and booked the site closest to the games field. There was a map on the booking site with numbered pitches and you could select a suitable pitch by number on booking. We selected a suitable pitch for the size of our Motorhome and noted the area marked on the plan, “wet area not suitable for camping” on arriving we were told that the ground had dried out and they had created more pitches as some campers who have been coming for years wanted on the nearer field. We were told we were too big for the booked pitch. This was due to more pitches being added to the site and I quickly realised that the pitch we were now being allocated was in the area marked on the plan as “wet area not suitable for campers”. I had a look at the pitch and it was so severely churned up by tractor wheels and was sloppy when standing on the grass. I was not prepared to camp there, and although disappointed we would rather leave than risk being stuck as the forecast was heavy rain. The lady tried to assure us there were lots of heavy tractors that would get us off. When we politely said we would rather just leave we were offered a pitch on another field 1/2 mile up the road. We walked up and tested the ground and it was perfect so we pitched up and all was good. The field was pegged out to allow for 6m spacing between units. We went in the middle rather than on one side as our door is on the foreign side. When the next van next to us arrived his door was on the same side as ours and he was with friends and opted to go nearer his friends van than he needed too. This made it look like we had more space than others. As the fields started to fill and people were waiting to get pitched which confused me as a pitch was allocated on booking (although ours was changed to the other field) I could see the Steward and a crowd around her pointing at my van. I went out to see what the issue was. She said pitches were tight so I needed to move over to allow a van to slide in between us. I reminded her of the Scottish Government recommendation of 6m between units for fire spread protection. I also explained that we would like to sit outside if the weather permitted and that I had booked a pitch the same as others who had squeezed a car, caravan, awning and a tent on numerous pitches. I was told I was being awkward and she had moved heaven and earth to get us on a pitch and she hoped we would not come back next year….The friendly society…..
On the Saturday evening we could see smoke coming from a caravan further up the field about 9 units along from us. I had a walk up to investigate, and was shocked to see 4 people dancing on the roof of a caravan and a fire burning outside between the two caravans. More and more youths arrived, some of them had collected the traffic signs from the roadside and were now piling them on the fire, the fire is getting bigger. An hour later things got out of control where the furnishings of one caravan was placed on the fire and a gang started ripping the windows off the caravan. I witnessed the door, one side window and rooflight being ripped off. The rooflight was thrown in the river. The young couple next door with two babies hitched their caravan onto their car at around 10.30pm and left to a torrent of abuse and bottles towards their caravan, where they went at 10.30pm I don’t know. Another 2 units left as the Police arrived. I was seriously concerned given the fire, lack of respect for distancing and general atmosphere. We too decided to leave but was advised by the Police that road diversions were in place and not really suitable for our vehicle so we stayed, but it was a sleepless night. I posted a comment on the Lonach Games FB page but it was removed and told the situation is being investigated by Police Scotland. I think the Steward got her wish and we won’t be back next year.
I have written a report and sent to the games committee but can’t help to think they are desperately trying to pretend all was well.
We opted to stay on the campsite and booked the site closest to the games field. There was a map on the booking site with numbered pitches and you could select a suitable pitch by number on booking. We selected a suitable pitch for the size of our Motorhome and noted the area marked on the plan, “wet area not suitable for camping” on arriving we were told that the ground had dried out and they had created more pitches as some campers who have been coming for years wanted on the nearer field. We were told we were too big for the booked pitch. This was due to more pitches being added to the site and I quickly realised that the pitch we were now being allocated was in the area marked on the plan as “wet area not suitable for campers”. I had a look at the pitch and it was so severely churned up by tractor wheels and was sloppy when standing on the grass. I was not prepared to camp there, and although disappointed we would rather leave than risk being stuck as the forecast was heavy rain. The lady tried to assure us there were lots of heavy tractors that would get us off. When we politely said we would rather just leave we were offered a pitch on another field 1/2 mile up the road. We walked up and tested the ground and it was perfect so we pitched up and all was good. The field was pegged out to allow for 6m spacing between units. We went in the middle rather than on one side as our door is on the foreign side. When the next van next to us arrived his door was on the same side as ours and he was with friends and opted to go nearer his friends van than he needed too. This made it look like we had more space than others. As the fields started to fill and people were waiting to get pitched which confused me as a pitch was allocated on booking (although ours was changed to the other field) I could see the Steward and a crowd around her pointing at my van. I went out to see what the issue was. She said pitches were tight so I needed to move over to allow a van to slide in between us. I reminded her of the Scottish Government recommendation of 6m between units for fire spread protection. I also explained that we would like to sit outside if the weather permitted and that I had booked a pitch the same as others who had squeezed a car, caravan, awning and a tent on numerous pitches. I was told I was being awkward and she had moved heaven and earth to get us on a pitch and she hoped we would not come back next year….The friendly society…..
On the Saturday evening we could see smoke coming from a caravan further up the field about 9 units along from us. I had a walk up to investigate, and was shocked to see 4 people dancing on the roof of a caravan and a fire burning outside between the two caravans. More and more youths arrived, some of them had collected the traffic signs from the roadside and were now piling them on the fire, the fire is getting bigger. An hour later things got out of control where the furnishings of one caravan was placed on the fire and a gang started ripping the windows off the caravan. I witnessed the door, one side window and rooflight being ripped off. The rooflight was thrown in the river. The young couple next door with two babies hitched their caravan onto their car at around 10.30pm and left to a torrent of abuse and bottles towards their caravan, where they went at 10.30pm I don’t know. Another 2 units left as the Police arrived. I was seriously concerned given the fire, lack of respect for distancing and general atmosphere. We too decided to leave but was advised by the Police that road diversions were in place and not really suitable for our vehicle so we stayed, but it was a sleepless night. I posted a comment on the Lonach Games FB page but it was removed and told the situation is being investigated by Police Scotland. I think the Steward got her wish and we won’t be back next year.
I have written a report and sent to the games committee but can’t help to think they are desperately trying to pretend all was well.
