OS map Grid Refs gone!!

Sounds like we're being given the big elbow. Like you B2 I wonder what HO consider to be  "a significant proportion of members inconvenienced by this". There will be very many members who do not take part in CT who are and will not know of Ro's statement above, and who have not made their feeling known.

Thank you Rowena for your imput and the last paragraph in your statement.

I have mailed the Club mag Letters Editor regarding those members who would like to see the Grid Refs re-instated to make their feelings known to the Handbook Editor.

Its worth a try.

I'd be surprised if they deem to print your letter, willbee, but I hope that I'm wrong and it sparks lots of requests for re-instating of the Grid Refs.

I would be more likely to accept the excuse given to Rowena if there weren't other anomalies in the guide. Why, for example, has the club decided to put a "WC" sign on the facility line only to cross it out if the CL doesn't have one. Isn't it easier just to include a sign for those that do? You don't put an "Electric" sign on every CL only to cross out those that don't have one.  Where has the "12" in the box gone to denote All Year open CLs? 

Do the people who decide these things actually use CLs?

I was going to ask the same questions. They have also change the font and are now getting less letters per line than in the old SD. Had they stuck to the original one there would be more room available for the Grid Refs. Another couple of points...

1)Have you notice the number of blue boxes advertising features of the book? There appears to be more of them than previously, which of course is taking up yet more space that could be better used.

2) With reference to the loss of the All Year icon, they have now added the words "Open all Year"... so more space taken up and it also make it much harder for those that caravan all year round to identify which sites are open in the winter. I'll have to go right through the book highlighting them now.

Come on Ro please explain the reasons behind these issues to our satisfaction.

It is rather surprising that they use "available space" as an excuse when you bear iin mind that there has been a significant drop in CL numbers from the last edition. Ths excuse just doesn't wash.

Given the numerous shortcomings, he latest edition of the Handbook is about as useful as a chocolate fireguard.

I posted this earlier this month.  I have now had a response from the Club. The letter came from Kate Walters, Sites Directory & Handbook Editor.  It gave the reasons for OS reference omissions that have been outlined elsewhere on this thread.  It also stated that the the number of members unhappy with this will be monitored and "if it does inconvenience a significant number of members then I will certainly look to add them back in for the next edition of the Sites Directory".

So we know what to do, dont we?! 

BUT she also enclosed a list of OS references for all Club sites and ALL CLs.  Many thanks to her for this.  Presumably this must mean this is available for others to request as well.  It comes to 30+ pages.

Thanks for the post, hja. I think that's what all those that are interested in getting the Grid References re-installed have to do now. I'll certainly be sending a request for the printed copy.

Apologies if you sense some deja vu - I (wrongly) posted this in another thread..

Yes, of course the lack of OS Grid Refs is a concern, and with the many fewer CLs now in the handbook, due to losses on the network that haven't been filled by news CLs (despite some effort by the Club recently), I don't think the 'space in the directory' argument washes either.

Although it is of little comfort to those who eschew the Internet whilst traveling, and therefore rely on the OS grid ref (I'm a keen supporter of OS and love Grid Refs!), there is a modern alternative that has recently been developed and is gaining traction with many accommodation providers and even Mercedes who are building it into their car navigation.  It's called What Three Words and amazingly provides a unique 3 word grid reference to every three meter square in the world.  Read about it here.  https://what3words.com/

In case you are wondering - our CL site is located here

https://w3w.co/lorry.foggy.dent

and the road entrance is here

https://w3w.co/airfields.lazy.sits

The 'selling point' is that words are easier than numbers.

FYI I shared this concept with the Club about 6 months ago, pointing out that it might be worth considering as members often complain that they can't find the entrance to a CL using a Post Code.