Loosing More CLs, why?

nelliethehooker replied on 19/01/2017 20:23

Posted on 19/01/2017 20:23

Prior to the new year there were 3 months when the number of new CL's exceeded the number that had closed, however the reverse is the case in the January magazine with 4 new sites but the closure of 12. Could this be because of the lack of support from HO for CL's that is now becoming apparent from the way that the new web site is treating them?

 

BirchHillFarmCL replied on 31/07/2017 13:50

Posted on 30/07/2017 21:19 by

A good point AD our MH puts over 1 tonne per wheel on the ground which can sink in on grass.  Of course this combined with the CC Ltd ban on the the wardens using their site tractors to pull stuck vehicles off is good reason for being able to book the pitch type of choice.  

Posted on 31/07/2017 13:50

[Deleted User User] - can you point me towards the place in the CAMC website or Sites Directory where is states "the CC Ltd ban on the the wardens using their site tractors to pull stuck vehicles off"?

Ian

Merve replied on 31/07/2017 18:09

Posted on 30/07/2017 16:07 by eurortraveller

I used to argue the same way for an increase in numbers, Merve, but I have come round to the fact that CLs are closing because few people want them .

In the Overseas Section I often recommend the nearest equivalents to CLs in France and Holland - and whether it's 5, 7 or 25 pitches (the limit for French Aires Naturelles de Camping) very few people are interested. The vast majority of people want "full fat" campsites, and they delight in finding sites with pools, water slides, restaurants, playgrounds, camp shop, bike hire, and all the trimmings, and they come back excited. 

Posted on 31/07/2017 18:09

Thanks for that ET. I think you hit the nail on the head here. Have we forgotten how to caravan? Have we forgotten the joy of everything that makes up a caravan holiday? Yes- including emptying the loo and fetching water and emptying waste!! That's all part of the fun!   Have the vast majority gone soft? Perhaps I'm just weird but the essence of caravanning to me and the other half is that we turn up in a field, pitch and live perfectly comfortably with minimum facilities as they are all on board. I'm not advocating going back to the 50s of course not particularly with the modern tech we have now but for goodness sake, are CLs really closing because the site up the road offers fully serviced pitches, toilet and shower block, shop, laundry, wash up etc etc at 4 or 5 times the price? - I have a horrible feeling that you may be right mate. In my book, you may as well go B&B! And why oh why would you want to be cheek by jowel with 120 other units? My OH says dryly- ' it's the herding instinct dear' Call me a cynic! 😂😂😂

replied on 31/07/2017 18:39

Posted on 31/07/2017 18:39

I think many, such as myself, do not caravan to visit sites but to visit areas. As such the CC club sites are generally fine. I require EHU, prefer hard standing generally and want good accesses and if a CC site has those and is where I wish to be then I will choose that. 

The cost aspect is not important to me but I think that any CL site that I might use would be more than a quarter of CC prices. I probably pay up to £24 a night for a facility site but we happily use non facility sites. I would expect that a suitable CL would be more than £12 generally and possibly £14 or more. I know some are cheaper. One that I used about 3 years ago was £9 and I wondered why the owner did not make it a round £10. There was 3 hardstandings I think and two grass with a good access.

Although we are happy to use our own facilities many are not and particularly those with smaller wash rooms. I suppose when I started there were few vans with showers are people used their own toilet for number twos!

replied on 31/07/2017 19:08

Posted on 31/07/2017 19:08

I suspect that many are like myself and prefer hard standings. When most CLs were on grass without EHU I seem to remember many clubsites being on grass also and I did not use an EHU for the first 13 years of caravanning simply because we had no mains provision on the caravan. I fitted electric eventually because the CC started to include them in the price. It was not essential to me however and was used for brewing up, hot water and occasional use of a fan heater. Oh yes I was also able to run the fridge on it because I was surprised to discover that on a non mains caravan the fridge was also set up to use electric!

I don't mind parking the car or caravan on grass but prefer hardstand outside the caravan door. 

Merve replied on 31/07/2017 20:06

Posted on 31/07/2017 20:06

I think many, such as myself, do not caravan to visit sites but to visit areas. As such the CC club sites are generally fine.

I agree with that Easy. There is no doubt that the club sites are in prime locations but with profits of £100 million each year and rising, why wouldn't they be?? The thing is though that I have not yet found difficulty in getting a non EHU site fairly near to be where they are and yes, I visit areas, not sites. I hate to say, that's the way it is but......... that's the way it is! People want convenience and I can certainly understand folks with kids having just had a holiday (non EHU ) with my daughter and SIL and their two boys. But, I have to say, the system worked brilliantly and everyone was able to shower regularly etc . The hard standing bit I get. We had a massive MH on the site - it was a beast and it was dry- might have been a different story had it been wet! But there he was supporting a small non EHU which was great! 

 

replied on 01/08/2017 06:52

Posted on 31/07/2017 13:50 by BirchHillFarmCL

Dorset Diver - can you point me towards the place in the CAMC website or Sites Directory where is states "the CC Ltd ban on the the wardens using their site tractors to pull stuck vehicles off"?

Ian

Posted on 01/08/2017 06:52

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

tigerfish replied on 04/08/2017 12:46

Posted on 04/08/2017 12:46

I'm with Merve on this one and much prefer grass pitches.  It is far easier to get awning pegs into grass based pitches than the all weather ones.

The other reason I prefer CL's is that that they offer a far more more reasonable nightly rate than the Club site.  We have used 5 direct CL's this year, two were £10 per night, two £12 and one @ £14.  I would not consider paying more than £15 in any event.

The last time we used a club site at Burnham on Sea, it was in the low season and we did not intend to put up an awning, yet the cost per night was well over £20, - Never again!

There are plenty of CL's out there with lovely lawn like grass, an EHU, and all for on average about £12  per night .  Some even offer well presented toilet facilities too.  

TF

replied on 04/08/2017 12:53

Posted on 01/08/2017 06:52 by

Suggest you check with some wardens.  Not all of the instructions given by CC Ltd to the people at the sharp end are made known to the customers.  You only find out when in need wink.

Posted on 04/08/2017 12:53

Spoke with a warden (probably 5 years ago?) who told me that they were no longer permitted to tow motorhomes off. He said that it was as a result of damage to a motorhome being towed off. He said that as the warden was towing the motor home one way the driver of the motorhome steered off towards the site road at a different angle and damage was done. Mayday will, however, tow off.

Bakers2 replied on 04/08/2017 13:00

Posted on 04/08/2017 12:53 by

Spoke with a warden (probably 5 years ago?) who told me that they were no longer permitted to tow motorhomes off. He said that it was as a result of damage to a motorhome being towed off. He said that as the warden was towing the motor home one way the driver of the motorhome steered off towards the site road at a different angle and damage was done. Mayday will, however, tow off.

Posted on 04/08/2017 13:00

Not on a club site but our storage site and our first outing 😲.  We had to agree that the tow was at our own risk before it could happen. Was verbal but not written. Seems the usual few spoil for the many. Thankfully the only other time we had an issue grips mats got us sorted ourselves.

 

Merve replied on 06/08/2017 20:23

Posted on 04/08/2017 12:46 by tigerfish

I'm with Merve on this one and much prefer grass pitches.  It is far easier to get awning pegs into grass based pitches than the all weather ones.

The other reason I prefer CL's is that that they offer a far more more reasonable nightly rate than the Club site.  We have used 5 direct CL's this year, two were £10 per night, two £12 and one @ £14.  I would not consider paying more than £15 in any event.

The last time we used a club site at Burnham on Sea, it was in the low season and we did not intend to put up an awning, yet the cost per night was well over £20, - Never again!

There are plenty of CL's out there with lovely lawn like grass, an EHU, and all for on average about £12  per night .  Some even offer well presented toilet facilities too.  

TF

Posted on 06/08/2017 20:23

Club sites are not beyond me financially but I'm sorry, I just won't pay the ridiculous prices! Over £20 a night? Goodness I get 4 nights for that and what extra would I get for my money if I stayed on a club site? The fact is nothing! I have a shower. I have a loo. I have a sink. When I bought the caravan, that's what I bought it for- the fact that it was fully kitted out. Goodness you can almost hear the pounds clicking up on the meter!! No, the friendly CL for me- happy days. 

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