Cancellations

The reason some sites are closed is down to the local Council planning policies and not C.C.I would also think that the pitch cost would be quite high to cover the cost of heating the van and for some the awning. I would love to be out on the van over the winter but the thought of towing home on snow and ice frightens me.

We started caravanning in 1972, we never used to book anything, right up till we sold the caravan in 1983, but these days it is very different.

We don't bother going away in winter, unless it is for something special,  days are short, weather poor, plus, and these are the main reasons,  we need some time to catch up on things at home, spend time with the family, pursue other hobbies, plan our future trips, etc.

Could never fit in going to work these days!

I don't think there are enough caravanners/MHers who wish to be away in winter to make it economic to keep all the sites open all year.

Even if a Club site is closed, most of the time there will be other sites available for the hardier amongst us.

We started caravanning in 1972, we never used to book anything, right up till we sold the caravan in 1983, but these days it is very different.

We don't bother going away in winter, unless it is for something special,  days are short, weather poor, plus, and these are the main reasons,  we need some time to catch up on things at home, spend time with the family, pursue other hobbies, plan our future trips, etc.

Could never fit in going to work these days!

I don't think there are enough caravanners/MHers who wish to be away in winter to make it economic to keep all the sites open all year.

Even if a Club site is closed, most of the time there will be other sites available for the hardier amongst us.

Write your comments here...I also have heard it said, KjellNN, that many caravanners put their caravan to bed for the winter. However, judging by the number pitches around us that are occupied, here on the Brighton Caravan Club site, it's hard to believe that there aren't enough winter caravanners to keep sites open all year. Both the next door pitches to us are occupied. On one side there's a caravan and on the other side there's a motorhome. So if so many pitches are being filled on the all year sites, surely there's a case for more club sites to stay open all year?

I don't think you can realistically extend your observations to encompass all sites.  Brighton is a popular destination, temperatures are more likely to be higher on the south coast, and London is not far away.  SE England is densely populated.

Many sites further north or in more remote areas have pretty low occupancy rates over winter.  I would think that the weather is a big factor.

As you have found, only Brighton and Gatwick are open on the CC network in the area at present, so if you want a CC site you have little choice. This will push up occupancy and give a false impression of demand.

Unless the sites that are open are totally full, it is difficult to make a good case for opening more in the area at this time of year.There are also planning restrictions to take into account.

How many commercial sites in the area find it profitable to be open at the moment I wonder?

With the weather we have had here in the last few months, we would not really want to be away in the van.

Well, Malcolm, that's totally different to Meathop Fell where we stayed a fortnight ago.  We only stayed 4 nights, from Mon-Fri, but during that time the maximum on site was 20 units, out of a total of 102 HS pitches.  The site has midweek discount, so for 2 people it was £14.55 per night, not a fortune.  Even for the weekends either side I seem to remember something like over 70 pitches available. 

So I don't think you can generalise, just because Brighton is well occupied, it doesn't necessarily follow all other sites are the same.

I suspect that the availability of another CC site open all year in  reasonable proximity to Worthing is the real aim, rather than an across the board opening of CC sites.

When we first joined the club there were a few more sites open all year but having visited somewhere like Looe in winter we found it virtually empty. Big sites like Moreton are often only busy at weekends, I feel the balance is probably about right.

I think the club try to keep as many sites open as they can, as others have said sometimes closing for winter is sometimes a specific clause in the lease., there is usually a site open in most areas, and if not there are CL'S or commercial sites.

It's usually sites near big cities like London, Brighton, Bristol, Birmingham, York etc. that seem to stay open all year. 

Chirk site as 73 hard standings. We were there last week and the average attendance was 8-12 units per night. At weekend Late availability shows 40/45spaces.If there was a MWD would more people use the site.Also if the cancellation period was dispensed in winter would more take the plunge. What would you do if you had booked for today with the attrocious weather. Cancel I guess but at what cost.