Servicing calls at CLs for Motorcaravans

Biggarmac replied on 18/01/2021 17:08

Biggarmac

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.

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321 replies

replied on 25/01/2021 17:02

Posted on 25/01/2021 16:53 by cyberyacht

We do seem to be digressing a bit, but grey disposal on CLs is often lacking for "both" caravans and MH's. Perhaps some of you have rippling biceps and can lift a full wastemaster with ease.

Posted on 25/01/2021 17:02

A long time since I had either the strength or the need. Worst I have come across is a lip around in the way and I have emptied from the top inlet or laid it down over the grid, undone thee end cap and lifted by the handle to discharge.

Cornersteady replied on 25/01/2021 17:06

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Cornersteady

Caravanner

Posted on 25/01/2021 17:06

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Takethedogalong replied on 25/01/2021 17:31

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Takethedogalong

Posted on 25/01/2021 16:53 by cyberyacht

We do seem to be digressing a bit, but grey disposal on CLs is often lacking for "both" caravans and MH's. Perhaps some of you have rippling biceps and can lift a full wastemaster with ease.

Posted on 25/01/2021 17:31

It’s called “ageing” CY, you have to look at compromises. We find that a hose attached to grey waste, and into hedgerow works a treat. But ask first. If you can’t use a pipe, then use a bucket and empty daily, again into hedgerow of tree bottoms. Our grey waste is nothing more than shower and handwash water, so no different to what you water your plants with at home with water butt attached to bathroom down pipe.

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JVB66 replied on 25/01/2021 17:44

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JVB66

Campervanner

Posted on 25/01/2021 17:31 by Takethedogalong

It’s called “ageing” CY, you have to look at compromises. We find that a hose attached to grey waste, and into hedgerow works a treat. But ask first. If you can’t use a pipe, then use a bucket and empty daily, again into hedgerow of tree bottoms. Our grey waste is nothing more than shower and handwash water, so no different to what you water your plants with at home with water butt attached to bathroom down pipe.

Posted on 25/01/2021 17:44

Except there could well be cooking fats and food particles in the grey waste ,

on a cl may? not be a problem as pitches not possibly in the same position or used as often as club sites where it is not allowed on the fixed pitches

JVB66 replied on 25/01/2021 18:24

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JVB66

Campervanner

Posted on 25/01/2021 16:43 by MikeyA

The problem with the CAMC design is that it is too large. The whole idea ( in my opinion) is to be able to discharge the cassette directly into the outlet pipe which is impossible with the CAMC design, the solids slide across the white plastic!. It would be far better if it was a quarter the size.

On many CLs you seen them use a standard WC, which is a better idea.

Posted on 25/01/2021 18:24

And even with the "to large " in your opinion there are still some who manage to make a mess in the area ,and as for toilet pans that seems even more of a problem when ,as we have seen ,the mess made by some when emptying cassettes in public toilets at P&Rs And Carparks

JVB66 replied on 25/01/2021 18:44

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JVB66

Campervanner

Posted on 25/01/2021 17:31 by Takethedogalong

It’s called “ageing” CY, you have to look at compromises. We find that a hose attached to grey waste, and into hedgerow works a treat. But ask first. If you can’t use a pipe, then use a bucket and empty daily, again into hedgerow of tree bottoms. Our grey waste is nothing more than shower and handwash water, so no different to what you water your plants with at home with water butt attached to bathroom down pipe.

Posted on 25/01/2021 18:44

Before the cc altered the wastewater and fresh water fill points they all had lips around them to stop most of the water flooding the area ,but then the club "listened?"to some vocal members and removed the lips which now as most will have noticed allows water from the waste and drinking water area to get flooded,and frozen in cold weather , also on some sites that have cess pits rainwater drain off is now getting into some cess pits which will need emptying more often

brue replied on 25/01/2021 18:49

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brue

Motorhomer

Posted on 25/01/2021 14:27 by ocsid

Without doing more than reading the OP, is not the concept flawed from the start in that CLs along with similar 5 van sites are generally covered by the exemption provisions of "Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960"?

This deals with providing "camping", not enabling the running of a motorhome or caravan servicing facility. Doing as suggested would require getting LA planning Control consent for a business based on that activity.

IMO, few present 5 van sites owners operating under the provisions of the act, are going to go to the expense of getting LA authority consent. That's basically why they are presently exempted sites not licensed sites, they don't want the hassle.

If they did it "on the quiet", firstly you would not know they did offer that if they can't admit it, and the holder of their exemption certificate, here the CMC would come down like a ton of bricks on any reported such activity, knowing the LA would be straight onto them and so risk losing the certification.

I think it has been proposed on a "want" without any understanding the nature of these site's licensing situation.

Posted on 25/01/2021 18:49

Thanks Ocsid, a reality check for some.

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LLM replied on 25/01/2021 18:53

LLM

Motorhomer

Posted on 25/01/2021 18:44 by JVB66

Before the cc altered the wastewater and fresh water fill points they all had lips around them to stop most of the water flooding the area ,but then the club "listened?"to some vocal members and removed the lips which now as most will have noticed allows water from the waste and drinking water area to get flooded,and frozen in cold weather , also on some sites that have cess pits rainwater drain off is now getting into some cess pits which will need emptying more often

Posted on 25/01/2021 18:53

Do you mean Cesspit or Septic tank? Do you know the difference?

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Biggarmac replied on 25/01/2021 18:57

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Biggarmac

Motorhomer

Posted on 25/01/2021 18:57

Wow what a lot of replies. After not coming to check for a couple of days there are two many points to go over one by one. Here goes with a few things.

The survey was posted on many motorhome sites, so was not just responses from members of CAMPRA.

There are already aires in the UK. Some are run by councils such as Craven Council in Yorkshire. They charge for parking in three of their carparks. Very little cost to the council, but plenty of extra revenue. No extra facilities are provided. Canterbury P & R has a very well used aire. Information on these places are in the files on the CAMPRA webpage.

I will contact the CL representative.

There is no way that this would be relevant to most CLs. It would only be an option where they were able to cater for extra movement of vehicles and would have the necessary personnel to deal with extra people.

Comment was made about what is happening in France. Many formerly free aires and ex municipal campsites are now being run by a company called "campingcarpark". They run a membership scheme where you buy a card and load it with money to pay for the barriered site. Costs are from approx 8 to 15 euros per night.

For those who said that there was plenty of availability last summer. I beg to differ. I was one on many who had great difficulty in finding places to tour in Scotland when lockdown came off in July.

For those of you who would like to check on the Campra website it is www.campra.org.uk

I will not wait so long before checking on comments again.