AGM Questions - Some relevant to CLs

As the OP of the thread about 'CLs instead of sites'  it's still where I put it. I started it partly because of the numerous (justified IMHO) comments about how expensive Club sites have become.

I didn’t think either had moved GT👍

If I am wrong about your OP then I apologise GT.

We have been regular users of CL's since starting out almost 50 years ago. They cost less than club sites, it's true, but the reason we and I think most people use them, is not because of the price. We like CL's!  We have nothing against club sites and occasionally use them too, but it is certainly not what we prefer. We do not want the facilities, preferring the more natural camping environment of a CL. Toilets, showers, made up roads and hard parking bays are not what we want. If CL's are all going to be like club sites, it is going to ruin them. We speak to CL owners and some of them have told us they feel under pressure to cater for those whose natural site choice is club sites, wanting the facilities but for less money. Some CL reviews mention lack of facilities as a negative after visiting knowing there are none, or other remarks suggesting desire for club site facilities on the cheap.

I wasn't sure they had been either but just wanted to explain the rational  why threads are sometimes  moved

David

Obbernockle

You have been at this game even longer than I have. I very much doubt you are alone in wanting to retain the relative naturalness that more basic CL's offer. It is interesting what you say about your conversations with CL owners. I can see where that pressure to provide more facilities is coming from. You only have to look at the Facebook Groups and it becomes clear that quite a body of people won't go to a CL unless its virtually a mini site with full facilities. The original premise of CL's is lost on many. On the other hand you have a lot of CL owners who clearly feel the way forward, for them and their customers, is to provide as many facilities as possible and I assume that success is judged by high occupancy? I could imagine that one of the biggest dangers for CL's with all these facilities is that they will be tempted to morph into larger sites.

David

Very much our way of thinking as well Obbernockle. It’s not just the price, it’s the sheer variety, the lovely ambience, and the space that so many provide. You never know what little gem of interest you are going to get on a CL, be it watching cows being milked, sheep in for shearing, a micro brewery, rare breed animals, a nice farm shop, canal boats passing by, steam trains close up, a delicious farm cafe. They truly are the gems in the site network if you like that sort of thing.

How we tour, be it in MH, van or (rarely now) tent, we are still campers at heart. We camp because we like holidays that give us plenty of fresh air, we like the physical bit of camping, having to do the odd chore keeps the joints moving, the muscles working, the heart pumping, and we shall basic camp for as long as we can. It’s good that the Club has made things easier for those who now cannot do as much of the physical stuff as they used to, and of course some CLs are going the same way. But I hope that lots of them still keep the more basic offerings as well.😁

As a regular user of 5 van sites over the years (CLs/CSs), it is without doubt that they are changing with the introduction of more facilities.

Whilst we have always welcomed the provision of  EHU and understand the rationale in providing hardstandings, even though we prefer grass in summer, it is the clamour for serviced pitches which I find worrying.

On most grass CLs, the only restriction on pitching is the length of your cable and your imagination. Once hardstandings are present, there will be some restriction but the hardstandings can still be installed with "flair" and vans can hopefully be sited in any orientation.

As soon as drainage pipes are involved, serviced pitches will invariably be in a straight line and the resemblance to a Club site, with its rows of vans alll facing the same direction is obvious.

I have never really understood the clamour for serviced pitches as the time involved in collecting and disposing of water (especially when many sites say empty the waste under the hedges) is simply minutes a day. Utilising two aquarolls will cancel the worry of running out of water mid shower. 

Mini club sites are my biggest turn off and are quickly discounted at our planning stage in favour of less regimented layouts.

"As soon as drainage pipes are involved, serviced pitches will invariably be in a straight line and the resemblance to a Club site, with its rows of vans all facing the same direction is obvious."

That doesn't necessarily follow, Mikey.  We have just come back from High Breame CL at Flamborough - one we have been going to since it opened.  It now has fully serviced pitches but you can position your van anywhere, and in whatever direction you wish - in keeping with the relaxed atmosphere of a CL. A similar situation applies to a CS we use regularly.

I think the last couple of years has had an impact on the popularity of fully serviced pitches on CLs because it means being able to use all the facilities in your van without having to worry about running out of water and therefore not be reliant on shared 'facilities', where such exists.

I know that Covid has definitely affected how we use our van and we now wouldn't dream of using shared facilities - even on a Club site.

 It doesn't necessarily have to follow but invariably it will as it is obviously easier and cheaper to excavate a single short trench rather than two or more. There will always be exceptions to a rule.

I have looked at High Breame CL and it clearly demonstates another of my irritations with some CLs etc. The main page shows eight fantastic photos but none of them relate to the CL. Anyone can find stock photos of birds, deer, helicopters etc and my instant response is "What are they trying to hide?".  One CL I would discount for that reason.

Getting back to the Q & A's

This one made me sit up think about one sidedness of some of the clubs decisions.

Quote, Question "Has the club become oversubscribed with too many people chasing too few pitches, causing issues within the booking system also weekend bookings preventing longer stays

Answer, Sites have been very busy this year because we did not open until part way through the season. We are looking at policy and procedures around bookings, but generally all members are free to book and use Club services. A weekend booking is very important for many members who cannot take longer breaks"

So does that show that the club value the weekend campers over those that can and want to book longer stays. Which will provide the bigger income?