Servicing calls at CLs for Motorcaravans

Biggarmac replied on 18/01/2021 17:08

Posted on 18/01/2021 17:08

In 2020 when lockdown was lifted in July there was a surge of members desperate to get out in their units.  Sites were swamped and in some areas it was impossible to find a site.  Many motorcaravanners who had not previously gone off grid (I refuse to use the term wildcamp) found they had no choice.  I was lucky to get three nights on a CL at Blairgowrie during a 10 night tour. and one night on a commercial campsite in the Great Glen.  On other nights I stayed in Pub carparks where I was able to enjoy a meal, in forestry carparks, on coastal carparks and on friends drives.

The big problem was disposing of wastes and filling with water.  Friends with drives were very helpful, but the problem of lack of the type facilities such as there is on the continent was very evident.

On the continent many campsites allow non residents on to service their units, for a fee.  It could be an additional revenue stream for CL owners to allow passing trade to use their service points.  This would be particularly useful for CLs who are full to supplement their income and to reduce the problems which were seem in many popular tourist hotspots last year.  The owners would need to look at what extra costs they would have for this service and what services they would be able to provide.  For instance how much does 100 litres of water cost on a metered supply?  How much each toilet emptying would add to the cost of sewerage?  How much for emptying a greywater supply of say 80 litres?  For comparison the CCC, on some sites, allow members to use site facilities, empty wastes and fill water for £7.30 (last years price).  That also allows for the use of showers.

This would stop the complaint that one night stopovers to dump and fill are blocking longer bookings.  A drop in facility could be a bonus for both CL owners and Motorcaravanners.

JVB66 replied on 21/01/2021 15:48

Posted on 21/01/2021 15:19 by peedee

Nicola, I accept your decision and that of any other CL. It is a matter for the individual owner to decide. The only thing I would question is grey and black waste classed as chemical waste? It sound like the regulations are for more serious stuff.

Thanks for posting.

peedee

Posted on 21/01/2021 15:48

I know from some of our friends,who ran a non facilities club site that had three cesspits to be emptied, and back in 2008 when they were there it was costing £240 a load every week from easter to end of Sep and they had to sign a form to advise the water company that toilet chemicals (hazardouse waste) was included in the load

LLM replied on 21/01/2021 15:55

Posted on 21/01/2021 15:01 by Skybarn Farm CL

As a CL owner I would not offer this facility to anyone not staying at least one night on my CL. Apart from the 'hassle' factor of people coming and going to do this, as I understand the regulations (and I could be wrong) I believe, if someone is emptying their chemical waste into a facility on my property but are not staying at least the one night then I am 'handling' the waste which would require a waste transfer note to be completed by myself and the person dumping the waste.  This is a detailed legal document which would be required every time someone visited to do this.  Definitely not worth the time commitment for the return I would get from it.

Every transfer of waste must be covered by the appropriate documentation. For non-hazardous waste, waste transfer documentation is required where there is a transfer between two parties - this is generally a Waste Transfer Note (WTN).

I would dispute the fact that there were no pitches available post lockdown last year.  I am one of the admins for the CLBooking Facebook group and I know there were dozens of pitches (maybe not so many in Scotland wink) available during that time if you knew where to look or put a little effort in.  Plenty of CLs suffered from last minute cancellations and no shows on numerous occasions.  Many of the new CLs had lots of availability and the Facebook group was able to find and fill pitches for the majority of those asking, often last minute just as a touring motorhome would want.

Nicola
www.skybarnfarm.co.uk
Telephone: 01522 681218
Email: enquiries@skybarnfarm.co.uk
Site 883, page 380 of the 2021/2022 Sites Directory
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Posted on 21/01/2021 15:55

Perhaps the C&CC sites that offer the service need to look at the WTN regs or maybe you are seeing problem where none exists 🤔.

peedee replied on 21/01/2021 16:34

Posted on 21/01/2021 16:34

It is not every site on the C&CC network, perhaps it is only those that have mains sewers that can be included?

peedee

CholseyGrange replied on 21/01/2021 16:38

Posted on 21/01/2021 16:38

BM.  Thank you for your post.  It certainly prompted a lot of discussion and once again emphasized the requirements of the Motorhome Touring community.

The CL Owners Group (referred to within this post and elsewhere) is always open to ideas and best practice.  CL owners, by their very nature are entrepreneurs, willing to share their home or farm with CAMC members for a fair return.

We have a new Advisory Group with regional representatives, and I will make the Scottish Rep aware of this thread as the discussion seems (in the main) to be centered on Scotland.

If you think there is a real business case for CL Owners to offer a Waste & Fill service, and you can assure owners that they would not be operating a 'waste transfer station' or in breach of any local (Scottish or UK) legislation prohibiting such activity, and you can assure owners that they would not be breaching the Certification Rules set out by the CAMC, then I'm sure the Owners Group would welcome your proposal.  We may even offer you a Zoom call for you to put your ideas forward. 

However I must caution that I for one would want to know how much revenue I would likely receive, per week for offering this facility, how much time I would need to advertise & administer it and I'd then need to calculate how much it would cost me (provision of water / disposal of CDP & rubbish).   Gut feel says £30 per visit..probably not what you wanted to hear!  Please contact me directly if you wish to proceed with a proposal.  ted@clsiteowners.co.uk

As an aside, if you are looking for pitches, can I recommend the Facebook Group called 'CL Booking' where you will find 350+ CL owners advertising their late availability and handy set of maps.

PostScript

SkybarnFarm & Take the dog along.  I agree wholeheartedly with your input a few pages back.

Peedee.  Would you mind sharing with us the source / results of the Survey you quoted that had 9,000 motorhomers respondng?

LLM replied on 21/01/2021 16:40

Posted on 21/01/2021 15:48 by JVB66

I know from some of our friends,who ran a non facilities club site that had three cesspits to be emptied, and back in 2008 when they were there it was costing £240 a load every week from easter to end of Sep and they had to sign a form to advise the water company that toilet chemicals (hazardouse waste) was included in the load

Posted on 21/01/2021 16:40

That same document is used whatever the source of the waste if it contains hazardous chemicals even private household waste.  How does it affect the OP?

JVB66 replied on 21/01/2021 16:46

Posted on 21/01/2021 16:40 by LLM

That same document is used whatever the source of the waste if it contains hazardous chemicals even private households.  How does it affect the OP?

Posted on 21/01/2021 16:46

Have you read PDs post that as a layman was answeringundecided

replied on 21/01/2021 16:52

Posted on 21/01/2021 16:46 by JVB66

Have you read PDs post that as a layman was answeringundecided

Posted on 21/01/2021 16:52

He probably did

Cornersteady replied on 21/01/2021 16:52

Posted on 21/01/2021 16:38 by CholseyGrange

BM.  Thank you for your post.  It certainly prompted a lot of discussion and once again emphasized the requirements of the Motorhome Touring community.

The CL Owners Group (referred to within this post and elsewhere) is always open to ideas and best practice.  CL owners, by their very nature are entrepreneurs, willing to share their home or farm with CAMC members for a fair return.

We have a new Advisory Group with regional representatives, and I will make the Scottish Rep aware of this thread as the discussion seems (in the main) to be centered on Scotland.

If you think there is a real business case for CL Owners to offer a Waste & Fill service, and you can assure owners that they would not be operating a 'waste transfer station' or in breach of any local (Scottish or UK) legislation prohibiting such activity, and you can assure owners that they would not be breaching the Certification Rules set out by the CAMC, then I'm sure the Owners Group would welcome your proposal.  We may even offer you a Zoom call for you to put your ideas forward. 

However I must caution that I for one would want to know how much revenue I would likely receive, per week for offering this facility, how much time I would need to advertise & administer it and I'd then need to calculate how much it would cost me (provision of water / disposal of CDP & rubbish).   Gut feel says £30 per visit..probably not what you wanted to hear!  Please contact me directly if you wish to proceed with a proposal.  ted@clsiteowners.co.uk

As an aside, if you are looking for pitches, can I recommend the Facebook Group called 'CL Booking' where you will find 350+ CL owners advertising their late availability and handy set of maps.

PostScript

SkybarnFarm & Take the dog along.  I agree wholeheartedly with your input a few pages back.

Peedee.  Would you mind sharing with us the source / results of the Survey you quoted that had 9,000 motorhomers respondng?

Posted on 21/01/2021 16:52

A good post. 

LLM replied on 21/01/2021 17:00

Posted on 21/01/2021 16:34 by peedee

It is not every site on the C&CC network, perhaps it is only those that have mains sewers that can be included?

peedee

Posted on 21/01/2021 17:00

Of the few sites we have used in that way I do know that one was not on the mains.

Frankly the whole thing is being blown way out of proportion.  If any CL wishes to offer the service they could do it by letting it be known that it is available at a prearranged time or during certain hours and price.

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