CL thoughts

Yes, I pretty much agree with all you say.  We generally use CLs.  At this time of year, with a PVC, we like hardstanding and electricity. Earlier in the year pretty happy on well drained grass and off grid. Yes the owners we have spoken too talk of the issues over electricity. I think many are finding their way through the possible options such as higher prices, fully metered or a certain amount included and then metering above that level.  I am surprised some havent gone down the line of reduced ampage, to say 10 or 6amps.

We, like you, are low electricity users. We tend to use our own facilities, so dont want full facility club sites, for example. We also are not prepared to pay £25 or £30 a night for other people's electricity - which is why we always prefer the option of hook up or not, and fully metered electricity.

I recognise that costs for CLs have increased - insurance, ground maintenance, sceptic tank emptying etc. Also I think new CLs are probably more expensive than more established ones - partly because establishing the infrastructure from new  is so expensive. Older sites have probably absorbed that cost.

Personally I do think too many sites are trying to set themselves up as mini club sites and whilst I suppose this gives confidence to those new to CLs I am happier with fewer facilities, well positioned and maintained.

I know the Club has "inspectors" of CLs who I believe visit annually. I think they are unannounced visits. It does alarm me when I read reviews about more than 5 vans, loose dogs, and appalling toilet dumps and water facilities. I would hope that inspectors read the reviews before visiting. I appreciate that for some critical reviews there will be another side of the story.

Liking off grid facilities means pitches are more often than not grass.  This can be a concern for motorhomes. I generally find that the owners know their ground well and a chat before hand can reassure about ground drainage. Personally I would prefer a bit of hard standing (nothing posh) before shower blocks.

I wish the Club did more to promote and support CLs because I really do believe they are the jewel in the crown for the Club.  Everyone of them is different - that is one of the attractions.

Just taking the metering aspect for this post we have recently stopped at 3 CLs that had differing metering charges.

The first had an extremely generous allowance of 12 KWh per day. They had a meter that started at Zero and an honesty card that you completed at the end of your stay with payment at the rate that their farm was tied into (£0.60 per kWh). We used less than 20 for our 5 night stay. Presumably anyone exceeding their allocation would be expected to leave cash or a cheque for excess use.

Second one allowed 6KWh daily use, once again charge was £0.60 for any excess. Again this was sufficient.

Third one had a meter but did put £3 per night's stay on the meter. Assuming the price was £0.60 (I think they did mention int somewhere) this would allow 5 units per nights stay. We managed this, just about.

I do think metering is going to become more prevalent which normally would be good news for those that don't need it or use minimal amounts but, and it's a big but, will CL owners reduce their core price per night to show this? 

We too much prefer CLs, and haven't used club sites for over 12 months.

It does concern me however that the club appeast to have morphed into someting akin to a large 'holiday corporation' and may see the CL network now as some form of competition.

I do think some CL's see themselves as mini club sites and charge way over the odds.

Others are what I would say, are in it for the right reason but the club does need to support them over electric otherwise the little gems of CL's will disappear.

 tonker, I can't see how the club can support the CL owners over the cost of electricity as each is a separate entity and one's contract with an energy supplier will be different from the next, with some having their own electric supply be it by a wind turbine or a solar panel array.

We are at present on tour using mainly CLs (14 in total) all with EHU, none of which have a metered supply to the vans, and mostly on grass, and the price varies between £20 at the top end to £10 as the least, and this one has separate men's and ladies toilets and a free shower, all of which were cleaned out daily !! When ones like this can do it I do wonder why some think that £30 pn is chargeable!!

Don’t forget that financial support for CLs from camc would be using members’ money which would need to be recouped from membership and/or site fees. That’d go down well 🙄

There does seem to be a fairly wide price range for CLs, even those offering similar facilities. I do think, though, that some owners are trying to be too greedy. There is a fairly new CL that, whilst it has a shower and toilet available, the pitches are not serviced and some of the pitches are sloping. It's not even in an area that I recognise as being 'touristy'. This is £30.00 per night. One that I won't be visiting.

Conversely, the most I have paid this year at 5 different CLs is £25. All had hard standing,, three had serviced pitches and two had immaculate shower / toilet facilities. Three had metered electric although one owner said that during the summer they didn't bother using the meters as visitors usually used far less than the daily allowance. On none of them did we exceed the daily allowance within the pitch price.

It really is a matter of doing ones homework before booking. Those that overcharge for what you get will soon find they have empty pitches but I do believe that the prices should be fair to both owners and guests.

I think I am unsure how CL's sit with the club.

We access them through the club website or app so I just assumed that the club supported them.

Perhaps they are more of a competition to the club sites. Not sure.

Agree with everything above, some owners are greedy but market forces should dictate if they are able to continue charging their prices..

The other thing that doesn't help is that the handbook and the website prices are not up to date and owners charge a different price to what is advertised. When you politely say something, the owners often blame the club!

I think the important word in the pricing is 'from'.