So what did the Club ever do for Motorcaravanners?

StuartO replied on 02/03/2019 12:44

Posted on 02/03/2019 12:44

It’s a while now since the Club was renamed, to reflect that there are lots of motorhomers among Members - but apart from the name change, what has and does the Club plan to do to cater effectively for motorhomers?

Well there has been a programme of improving motorhome servicepoints, to provide drive-over grey water drains, but at the club Site I most recently stayed at there was no lighting at this service point (unlike the others) so using it after dark (and it was dark at 4.30pm that day) was a matter of struggling with a torch.  But I haven’t noticed anything else specifically for motorhomers and in response a suggestion that the Club should develop overnight parking stops for motorhome like the Aires on the continent, I read somewhere that the Club’s only response was to wonder whether a discussion about whether this was a more appropriate thing for the Government rather than the Clubs to be considering.

CAMC is of course a commercial operator of full scale caravan sites and jolly good they are too but these cater primarily for people who want to stay for quite a number of days, like caravanners do, while lots of motorhomers (certainly on the Continent) make lots of use of more basic overnight parking, to stay for one or two nights only and then move on.  Some motorhomers do use their vehicles like caravans and stay on a Site for a while but lots more enjoys their holidays by keeping moving along.

For holidaying in this mode motorhomers don’t need a toilet block, resident staff and manicured grass around them every night; on most nights they don’t need much more than parking, a supply of drinking water, a drain for grey water and somewhere to empty the chemical toilet.  CAMC should be just as capable of building good Night Halt locations as it is at building full scale caravan sites - and operating them profitably.  There are lots of Aires on the continent which charge good money (and use barrier entry operated with credit cards etc) as well as the free ones provided (as a tourist facility and an attraction) by many local authorities.

There may be an argument for local authorities to build Aires as tourist attractions etc but there is also, quite separately, an argument for CAMC showing initiative in building a network of Aires in UK as a service to it’s Motorhome Members.  I think a network of CAMC Motorhome Nightstops would compliment the network of Club Sites and serve to promote them too - for example each Night Halt could easily display advertising material about nearby Club Sites.  And motorhomers who use Aires also tend to use full scale caravan sites periodically as well, for example to have a ‘laundry day”.

Isn’t someone on the Club’s staff or committees already thinking about this avenue of development - and if so can we hear something about their ideas?

 

replied on 03/03/2019 22:25

Posted on 03/03/2019 20:55 by Cornersteady

well I've just managed to catch up but it took a while as I kept getting a server error.

A few things come to mind.

Those that use club sites the least want the most changes, some sort of inverse square law. Even better are those who won't even join yet want changes but then say they probably wouldn't even join then.

Certain motor homers want something for very little, and even better want that paid for by a club which is not all for motorhomers.

If motorhomers don't feel that the club caters for them then find sites that do, (I would say the same to caravaners btw) but I don't think there are such sites in the UK, and club sites and members are full of each .

while the server errors were going on I watched a video by Baldy catz who was talking about wave particle duality, for those who mended shoes for living wink that is how light can be either a wave or particles. Neither one attracts a majority, both hotly discussed, but light works just as well with either.  A bit like the club for motorhomes and caravaners?

 

Posted on 03/03/2019 22:25

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

SteveL replied on 03/03/2019 22:56

Posted on 03/03/2019 21:19 by JayOutdoors

Just caught  up also - not read every page  but agree with your summary.  Also got server error a few times just now.

Posted on 03/03/2019 22:56

Indeed. Seems I managed to post twice. The first one disappeared into a server error, so I did it again. Now they are both showing.☹️

young thomas replied on 04/03/2019 08:23

Posted on 03/03/2019 20:25 by Navigateur

Many, perhaps even most, supermarket car parks are not owned by the supermarket they serve, but the landlord of the buildings.

However, as supermarkets and other large high street businesses close there could be a lot of space available.  In fact, as out-of-town malls also close there could be a lot of big sheds available.  Anyone for indoor aires?

Posted on 04/03/2019 08:23

Seville (I think) has an underground car park (aire) for MHwink

replied on 04/03/2019 08:56

Posted on 04/03/2019 08:23 by young thomas

Seville (I think) has an underground car park (aire) for MHwink

Posted on 04/03/2019 08:56

You know what happened in the Liverpool car park surprised

replied on 04/03/2019 11:36

Posted on 03/03/2019 17:52 by young thomas

here's one of the largest commercial organisations more than matching it (providing thousands of free spaces all over Europe) and is exactly the type of stopover facility that has been suggested many times by some MHers on CT as the perfect way to combine their type of touring with a fair price....no EHU reqd...

yes they'll be far too close for CC regs but often 3 or 4 vans have the whole carpark to themselves.

perhaps, out of hours (7 pm to 10 am?) the visitors car parks could be spaced a bit better and turned over to fast turnaround MH (or caravan) one nighters for a sensible fee....£10 ish?

Posted on 04/03/2019 11:36

Well that seems to work fine for Lidl there, most of the UK lidls that I have been into in UK seem to have barely enough space for peak shopping days/times in the week. The one in Chester has plenty of parking but is on a shopping complex shared with other businesses and where parking is limited for all

replied on 04/03/2019 11:49

Posted on 04/03/2019 11:36 by

Well that seems to work fine for Lidl there, most of the UK lidls that I have been into in UK seem to have barely enough space for peak shopping days/times in the week. The one in Chester has plenty of parking but is on a shopping complex shared with other businesses and where parking is limited for all

Posted on 04/03/2019 11:49

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

moulesy replied on 04/03/2019 13:33

Posted on 04/03/2019 11:49 by

Aldi do the same and peak shopping times over here are just a busy as in the UK but most MHers use the parking when it is less busy.  We are a considerate lot really.   

It is not just the supermarkets that provide free parking many of the local authorites do the same.  The attitude seems to be "why leave a car park empty just install a water supply and dump and let MHers come here with their money".  

Posted on 04/03/2019 13:33

Have you contacted Lidl or Aldi  (or any local authority) to ask them to provide this,  DD, or is it only important enough if someone else is prepared to make the effort? undecided

near Malvern Hills Club Campsite Member photo by Andrew Cole

Book a late escape

There's still availability at many popular UK Club campsites - find your perfect pitch today for a last minute trip!

Book now
Woman sitting in camping chair by Wastwater in the Lake District with her two dogs and picnic blanket

Follow us on Facebook

Follow the Caravan and Motorhome Club via our official Facebook page for latest news, holiday ideas, events, activities and special offers.

Photo of Wast Water, Lake District by Sue Peace
Visit Facebook