Network Shrinkage

As long as I can remember I have been to CLs where there has been more than 5 units so this isn't a new happening and the system hasn't been shut down yet. Most things in life change when it is realised that what was fitting years previous are not applicable in today's world. These changes are normally brought about by a change in legislation.

When CLs started, caravans were uncommon and cars were nowhere near as abundant as they are today. As a percentage there were more pitches available to the number of caravans than there are now, some 50 or 60 years later. In real terms the cost per night now is far less as a percentage of average income than it was years ago so farms, which is where the majority of CLs were and probably still are, are getting a far smaller income from CLs than years previous but now with the addition of EHUs, hard standings and showers etc etc.

So personally, and having close connection to the farming industry, I wouldn't shop a CL for having an extra unit especially if there was plenty of room and I wasn't inconvenienced by this extra unit. If by turning a blind eye I can help keep that CL, and probably the farm itself, in business then I will do.

I give up!

Some people clearly prefer to cut off their nose to spite their face.

Why are so many averse to the idea of lobbying for an increase? Are they really that convinced that it will result in the complete withdrawal of the exemption? Given the government support for the concept of diversification in rural businesses, I can't see that happening.

I've always been a fan of CL's, even before there was EHU's available. Now it seems that everybody needs EHU's which most farmers are happy to supply. 

What has caused the decline is that Vanners are demanding from the farmers "all singing all dancing CL's with metalled roads, hard standings, and Toilets/showers".  Those are very expensive to install and maintain.  The income from a maximum of 5 vans does not support this level of bling. 

But instead of increasing the number of pitches, Farmers should just provide the basics on their CL's.  A fresh water tap. Somewhere to empty the Elsan, An EHU and somewhere to dump Grey waste.---- That's all that is required.   Anybody wanting any more bling should just go to a full function camping site.   

K 

Should they?

Isn't it down to personal choice on the part of both the user and the provider? Not everyone wishes to follow the rule of K.

Looking at the number of CLs available on the club's web site today it would appear that there's been a loss of 57 in total since the 2017/18 Site Directory was published. A quick check through the SD indicted that there were about 90 new CLs which would infer that nearly 150 have closed/left the organisation over that time. Of this number it appears that, of the 150, there were twice as many sites that had EHU compared to those without.

In the old days the only advertising available was the CC magazine/book, hence the number of Cls. Now its much easier to advertise on the web. New search engines, other associations etc.etc. We the punters also can assess much more of what is available in a locality with huge choice of Cls, commercials of every size and make a choice. However the club stlll wants to remain as outdated and 60 years old. No wonder the losses are mounting up.

Nail on the head,all these new vans need electrical hook up,need water connection, hard standing.... when in fact they should be self contained only needing a patch of grass to rest on, use of fresh water tap somewhere and an area for waste disposal, the decline will continue brought on by caravan owners wanting more when in fact with a modern van you require less.

When the new magazine came out I tried to have a look at the CL's that had closed but they seem to remove them from the website before they publish so difficult to check to get a feel for what sort of CL's are closing. Even looking at reviews elsewhere it doesn't seem to throw much light on the subject. I did notice a couple that seem to be concentrating on permanent accommodation like cottages.

David

Agree DK. Some have other irons to fry, and are losing or altering CL status. I have a degree of sympathy for K's view as well. We are doing our best to support some of the more basic sites, but don't condone others for wanting more.