Network Shrinkage

Modern caravans and motorhomes are jam packed with electrical devices. If you were to use CLs without EHU all the time you would have thousands of pounds worth of equipment sitting idle due to the lack of EHU (electric hob, microwave, TV and satellite etc.). Some motorhomes now have aircon as standard.  I know that many like to go off-grid but for those who have invested heavily in all this equipment and don’t want to compromise then they want EHU. Unfortunately this is a substantial cost for a CL owner which must be very hard to recoup.

It is also true that motorhomes are far more popular and some CLs may not be suitable.

So, modern trends require modern facilities and CLs will struggle more and more.

There is one CL that I shall likely use and I think they charge £18 or over. Not checked this year but I would happily pay more as it has decent stoned access and pitches, EHU etc and nice outlook. I think a toilet but I know not a lot more. However it is in an area that I visited in 2017 and unlikely to use it until 2020 (god willing). 

The point is that I am willing to pay £18/20 and more for the right CL but wonder how many are.

We paid £20 a night for a CL last year. For that we got a large HS serviced pitch, 16A EHU, toilet, shower, awning and dogs included and free WiFi. Oh and glorious views across the valley to Pendle Hill. The alternative would have been a commercial site just down the road, surrounded by trees and £35 a night. My point being that if a CL offers better value and a better situation than the nearby alternatives we'll use it and happily pay. 

We had an enjoyable stay at Greetham Retreat C L last year and thought it good value at £18 a night.16A EHU, toilet, shower, awning and dogs included, free WiFi and very well kept grounds.

Reading this, we must try to use more CLs this year. We both like them as we much prefer smaller sites, with or without EHU.

I did just that last year David and it was more often sites that had EHU  that were disappearing rather than the basic site without any facilities. The numbers will be somewhere on here in a previous post. Perhaps it's those sites that are changing into small commercial sites and the CC won't admit that that's what's occuring. 

As far a CLs in general are concerned we'll stopped on 6 of them this trip, all of them H/S with EHU,  ranging from £10 to £14 pn, two with toilets, one with free wifi, and a different one with individual water taps, none of these being the dearest either. 

That proves the point that a CL investing in EHU and hardstandings cannot recoup the cost with the 5 van limit so needs to go commercial. The demand for non-EHU CLs must be lower so maybe the network can still satisfy those that are happy off grid.

This is all disappointing for those of us who do not like large sites such as the Club sites.  We only use CL sites in the UK but we do prefer EHU.

Fear not Q, there are still a lot of gems out there for those prepared to support them, and not over demanding in terms of having Club Site facilities close to hand. There are some lovely small private sites as well, a world away from being "commercial". 

Well, I am for one. if the site has good views and is well maintained.

I think there are two sorts of CL user; one who wants a cheap alternative to the cost of the big sites, and one who wants the exclusivity of the five vans sites with the peace and quiet and usually large pitches, and is prepared to pay for it.