Network Shrinkage

Agree totally DK. It's a lucky CL that can survive repeat seasons if they are on the more basic side and not in a high footfall area. A lot of farm CLs do well, probably because they are well capable of doing a lot of the infrastructure themselves, with things like electrics certified externally. We have watched one lovely farm ex CL grow from a five van site into a very nice private site of around 28 pitches, and the vast majority of the work was done "on the farm" as they had the equipment and know how. Owner was just awaiting electrics to be finished and certified last time we were there. They even built the spanking toilet and shower block as well. We stayed on another CL similar in Shropshire. This farm had kept the five van CL area, but had put in a 10 seasonal pitch area close by, with metered electrics. The waiting list for a seasonal pitch was already growing! The hook ups for the CL were still included in pitch price, and again it had a lovely toilet block, probably funded from seasonal pitches, but CL users benefited as well. Lots of different developments. Price wise, we pay £16 in Winter for the private site, and the CL with the seasonal pitches was only £13 per night, and each pitch there had services for water and waste water at each pitch, so it can be done.

We use CLs all the time but have two friends with motorhomes who need hardstanding and a bus service. Could the fact that a lot of caravanners have gone over to motorhomes have something to do with the closures?

The trend is there for all to see but no one seems to want to look at lifting the numbers. What is the difference with C & CC who have 5 vans and 10 tents. To the planners its 15 units with their vehicles etc. Does the C& CC network shrink as  fast as the CC? Takethedogallong shows typical examples of what is happening. Is there a web site that has these small commercials I wonder.

I doubt that it was because of any increase in motorhomes really. 

I started caravan use a little over 35 years ago. Some reports from members on here suggest that there were twice as many CLs available then. I have no idea. I do believe that there are less now though. There were campervans and motorhomes in use them as well even if not as high a percentage as at present.

If I were to guess I would think that the ownership of caravans has increased more than three fold. I think that the change is due to more commercial sites and the two club's sites having hardstand but probably more importantly stoned tracks between pitches. When I started most club sites were grassed areas with a stoned track. They probably had more room as on my last 7 week holiday before my wife was diagnosed with cancer we used 13+ sites and were usually able to hitch up the night before departure and arrange to arrive on the next site at 11am or earlier. 

I doubt it to be honest, we see lots of Motorhomers on CLs. More nowadays, but they have always been around. Not all MH owners park up like a caravan and need to use the bus. One all grass CL we used in Wales was all MHs, next one four out of five were. Probably in Winter most prefer HS, but then again I suspect majority of caravanners do as well.

On the other hand, one CL owner with a manicured grass pitching area told us that at the start and end of his season he tells motorhome users that he is fully booked because he does not want them cutting up his site.

Ukcampsites has a lot. We aren't advocating that CLs become small commercials, just showing how some options have been created, and most importantly, have kept the prices very reasonable. It all depends what the owners want from the sites. Profits yes and so they should. But over how long a period? If it's part of something else, then the CL may be viable to keep on. If it is the main source of income, then it's either going to cost a lot to stay, quickly develop with different options, or simply close. The "hobby" CLs are the ones probably closing, those opened to make use of a big garden, to meet people etc.... Folks age and pass away, new generation might not be as interested for the effort required, not enough money in it. 

I suppose what we should do is the next time a list of closures is published we should check them out on here (assuming they were not removed quickly!) to see if a pattern develops, ie sites with no facilities. Pure guesswork but I would imagine it's easier to call it a day for a CL which is not much more than a field compared to a CL where the owners have probably spent serious money on electrics and or hardstandings. I suppose there is also the possibility that they may have gone across to the other side, especially if they could get a bit more money by the extra tents mentioned by Fisherman.

David

I thought about two of our grown up children who like camping but can't afford vans. Both of them like small out of the way sites, our son and family also like using "pods" so I guess if you can have some tent pitches it could be more viable (but you'd probably need some wash facilities too.)

We even looked at buying a CL in Cornwall ourselves a few years back but the move didn't suit us at the time, that particular CL vanished, often a sale will end the CL if new owners aren't interested.

I joined CCC when I camped with my sister, so we could use CS's. Despite there being an allowance of up to 10 tents as well as five vans, they were never that busy. Some lovely locations as well.