Loosing More CLs, why?

Well, you know what I think of the new website, particularly when it comes to how CL owners have been treated but I do think it's a bit early to assume your hypothesis. 

Presumably the closures would have been notified to the CC quite a number of weeks or even months ago (especially when you consider how slow some of the CC depts are) and then you would have to have print runs etc so I assume most of these closures were advised to the CC before the launch of this abomination.

However, it will be interesting to hear from any current CL owner as to whether their current treatment will have a bearing on their continuing with the CC.

WN, I was not inferring that the new web site was responsible for the CL's closing, just lack of HO support. However it will be interesting to hear what CL owners think of the way the site is treating them. 

It seems to me that the Club, through the Magazine have been investing quite a lot of print inches to promote CL's with interviews of the owners and their customers and some nice pictures. Perhaps there are more at this time of year because it's around now that those CL's decide that they will close at season end. Given that a CL is only ever going to be a second line income, at least whilst the limit is 5 vans the owners no doubt have a difficult decision on whether it is worth while carrying on. In a short number of years we seem to have gone from basic CL's to fully featured CL's and perhaps its the basic ones which are no longer being supported by the membership. Age of owner might also be a contributory factor?

David

I think a couple of things.

1. At 5 vans only as DK says it's not going to make much money especially if it's a basic site charging a few pounds a night with all the extra work (bookings,  grass cutting, security, access roads etc) and costs (water, sewage, lawnmower purchase and running, time).
2. From comments on here no one wants to pay anything to stay so if the owners actually charge what it costs to run plus a small profit margin everyone seems to be up in arms.
3. The way people live nowadays having a tap in a muddy field is no longer deemed to be acceptable for a holiday.  We are all used to mod cons and travelling abroad and to nice hotels etc. so we demand more from a site (please don't turn this into on board facilities)  so we like a hard standing maybe a toilet or shower electric etc.

There has been a steady decline i the number of CLs for some considerable time.

It would be interesting to see the numbers from perhaps 5 or 10 years ago?

As a regular listener to 'Farming today' on Radio 4 for very many years I have noticed recently that some farmers and landowners seem to be reasonably comfortable with the current grants, subsidies and payments they receive from the E.U.

Maybe they feel they no longer need the toil and inconvenience of running a CL for such a minimal income. That may change after Brexit of course.

I think DK & MT have it right. The 5 van max is so inhibiting on income, but any pressure to change the anomaly that permits even that modest number I am worried endangers it altogether.

Then there is the younger want all singing all dancing facilities and there will always be those looking to pay as little as possible, not pay what is reasonable.

We see it everywhere this aversion to caravanning with a tap and CDP, even in the most beautiful of locations, and despite buying vans now with all we need already provided; strange but it affects rallies etc.

I suspect it is simply a generational thing, now disappearing with us.

I don't think this applies just to caravanning. The younger generation just don't do "discomfort". It all has to be wall to wall pampering as evidenced by all inclusive mega luxury breaks in Dubai, Maldives etc. Even yachting gone the same way. Despite significant improvements in the standard of accommodation in yachts, it has to be full facilities in a marina rather than dropping the hook in a quiet anchorage.

I'm not sure I agree with the comments about the younger generation, there's always been a variety of choices available. Two out of our three grown up children go camping at some point in the year, often with other families and friends. But they don't have the time to do this a lot and they don't have the money for super luxury holidays either so they suss out simple accommodation and bargain places elsewhere.

Our oldest daughter and family only have one holiday a year, usually an all inclusive break somewhere warm.

This is all a million miles away from van ownership and holidays on CLs but if you've got a van CLs provide such a good variety of holiday spots. Much of it relies on promotion and word of mouth.

Does one picture on this CC advert page promote CLs enough? I don't think so.