Where is the Caravan Club going?

The club have been taking tents on some sites for years (part of the lease) and the holiday cottages are only on sites that had them already,when aquired by the club,tent pitches are normally in places that are normally "difficult",the pods are also it seems in "difficult"areas,the latest "proliferation" of it seem tent pitches,is probably down to marketing as i know that more people are taking to tents as it is so much cheaper to get started,the Nurse i see at the docs would love a caravan to extend their holiday season, but does not have space to store a c/van,or the finances to have a larger car and the tent they have for the family has all the facilities of a caravan but much bigger and it all fits in the litt 

Do not see any problem with tents on CC sites. Often have a few drinks and a chat in the evening outside there tent or our awning. We are all campers, be it a tent or caravan.

The CC often leases sites and the lease sometimes stipulates certain conditions such as allowing non CC members etc. This might be the case with the sites that you identify;  in that they have to provide more than just pitches to CC members. 

I am not sure why there is any surprise about the commercial nature of the CC.  Club is just a name and has nothing to do with its corporate structure. This is no different than most football 'clubs' which are just money making machines for their owners and shareholders.

I don't mind tents or other types of accommodation on sites. I regularlly us CCC sites as well as CC sites. No problems at all. I wouldn't want to be called snobish. 

Don't personally see the problem. Most of the tent pitches I have seen are in locations where it would be difficult to site a caravan. Even if they were not it would not change my attitude.  I am sure we cannot be unique it meeting up with family members who camp but do not have a caravan. It also perhaps promotes caravaning to those who stop on the sites in tents or pods.

The CC often leases sites and the lease sometimes stipulates certain conditions such as allowing non CC members etc. This might be the case with the sites that you identify;  in that they have to provide more than just pitches to CC members. 

I am not sure why there is any surprise about the commercial nature of the CC.  Club is just a name and has nothing to do with its corporate structure. This is no different than most football 'clubs' which are just money making machines for their owners and shareholders.

...Except their are no "owners " or shareholders and all the profits are ploughed back into the club

Tents are not allowed on most sites. Lease or planning issues can require tents to be allowed. On all the sites we have been on that takes them they have been in a seperate area.

The camping pods are only an experiment on a few sites not usually fully booked and no decision has been announced on the long term use of these. The C&CC have them on far more sites and are far more commercial with statics as well.

If the people using the sites obey by the rules does it really matter what there staying in. If a site can make a few quid of a bit of land not suitable for caravans or motorhomes surely we all benefit as members in the long run. Sometimes I think there's a lot of snobbery in this club and I don't mean from the people in charge or the wardens but from fellow members, I know some friends who don't join anymore because they felt that. 

Strangely enough at Dunnet the CC have cut down on the tent pitches which were used by walkers etc and just have two now. I missed seeing the campers last year, it makes the sites more interesting. It doesn't worry me at all and there are only a few pitches available, not always in good spots either....I'd use the C & CC for better camping pitches!

i joined the club and paid my sub. for caravan and motorhome pitches. An occasional pup tent, no problem. Now the powers that be offer sites for tenters, for camping pods, even putting my sub. into supporting holiday cottages. 

I think the Club is rapidly losing its way. It is THE CARAVAN CLUB. it is mainly financed by its members, their subscriptions and their pitch fees. Now we see an exhibition of corporate empire building, corporate greed and expansion. May be its not worth being a member any more, just use the CC as another commercial entity like commercial sites, hotels, holiday cottages etc.  And stop the fiction, the pretence, that it is IN ANY WAY, a club for its members.

Peter.

PS, sorry for the typo in the heading, can't edit that....

Simple solution, if that is, your views are supported by a majority of "powers that be", (i.e. Us members). Put you and your ideas up for election to the Committee. If you succeed, you become a power to change the policy. If not, you can return to enjoy your caravanning with the knowledge that "Members rule, ok". I for one, would not give you my vote unless I was convinced caravanners were going to fill most of the pitches, most of the time, as in my opinion it is better to have a site with a few tents on, paying its way, than have a drain on resources that would probably result in the eventual closure of the site.

Besides, I can't see much difference between a tent and an awning myself.