Motorhome facilities and rules

jb99 replied on 16/09/2021 12:05

Posted on 16/09/2021 12:05

We've just returned from a tour of mid and south Wales in our motorhome.  We stayed at a number different locations: pubs, public car parks, private camp sites and one night at the C&MC site in St Davids.  We have paid our membership fees for many years, but in practice we haven't stayed on a Club site very often, and not since the name change and rebranding.  So we expected great improvements for motorhomes. 

We arrived rather early, but were warmly welcomed by the lady on reception who unexpectedly checked us in before the official time. 

I was rather confused by the parking rules, but looked at the way adjacent vehicles were arranged and tried to imitate them.  Since our motorhome is less than 2.5m wide, versus a car/caravan/awning measuring maybe 7m, it was easy to maintain the 6m separation from our neighbours.  However, apparently I had picked the wrong corner to go next to the white post.  This was explained to me that evening, but since we were leaving the next morning the very friendly warden said not to bother moving.  Fine, I'll be more careful if we visit again.

The next morning, there was a queue of motorhomes at the only grey waste point, so we decided that, as we only had a small amount of waste we would empty the toilet cassette at the service point then just fill up with fresh water and leave.  So, I pulled up next to the adjacent service point and attached my hose connector to the threaded tap.  Shortly after, a  different warden who was maintaining the grass, came along and said that motorhomes weren't allowed to use the service points and indeed there was a notice that said this that I hadn't seen.  He said that this was because filling a motorhome takes a lot of time so other people would have to wait.  I asked why I had to wait rather than other members and although a 100 litre motorhome tank will obviously take longer than a 50 litre rolling caravan tank, there were three other service points on the site.  No! Jobsworth was adamant and claimed that it was a health and safety risk (which is hard to understand). 

According to various comments on Facebook, these is just a couple of many petty rule enforcement incidents that are alienating motorhome owners.  I really think that if the Club wants to encourage this massively increasing sector of the market, they need to learn the differences between motorhomes and towed caravans.

So, the rebranding was clearly just a marketing exercise and we will have to seriously consider whether to renew our membership next year.

viatorem replied on 18/09/2021 18:21

Posted on 18/09/2021 13:01 by Rocky 2 buckets

No, they’re doing good👍🏻. Progress is needed on all fronts at once evolving is constant a forward thinking & looking business never stand still. Dynamism is needed dust gathers on anything that doesn’t move.

 

Posted on 18/09/2021 18:21

Each to their own opinion, what's perfect to one is less so to another or have I missed the ironywink

young thomas replied on 18/09/2021 19:08

Posted on 18/09/2021 18:21 by viatorem

Each to their own opinion, what's perfect to one is less so to another or have I missed the ironywink

Posted on 18/09/2021 19:08

Agreed. They might be doing 'good' (well) in some areas but it's often difficult for a business to strike out in too many directions at one time.

as JVB points out, the pods are a separate business...however, outsourcing the WiFi hasn't been a huge success as even outsourced businesses need a service manager from the host to ensure that the paid for service is meeting all performance targets and costs...

I have no idea how the club decides, plans, resources, manages and delivers a network wide project like revamping MHSP.

perhaps it should just find the 'groundworks' equivalent of Air Angel and let them get on with it..

many on here know what makes a good MHSP....they use them regularly when abroad...yet I've still to see any repeating satisfactory standard being delivered...

perhaps there is no 'blueprint' and different areas are using different designs?

either way, its not happening at any great rate yet...

focus is what will get this delivered, not a piecemeal approach...it's fairly easy to see whether 'pods' or 'MHSP' is the higher priority...

DavidKlyne replied on 18/09/2021 20:34

Posted on 18/09/2021 19:08 by young thomas

Agreed. They might be doing 'good' (well) in some areas but it's often difficult for a business to strike out in too many directions at one time.

as JVB points out, the pods are a separate business...however, outsourcing the WiFi hasn't been a huge success as even outsourced businesses need a service manager from the host to ensure that the paid for service is meeting all performance targets and costs...

I have no idea how the club decides, plans, resources, manages and delivers a network wide project like revamping MHSP.

perhaps it should just find the 'groundworks' equivalent of Air Angel and let them get on with it..

many on here know what makes a good MHSP....they use them regularly when abroad...yet I've still to see any repeating satisfactory standard being delivered...

perhaps there is no 'blueprint' and different areas are using different designs?

either way, its not happening at any great rate yet...

focus is what will get this delivered, not a piecemeal approach...it's fairly easy to see whether 'pods' or 'MHSP' is the higher priority...

Posted on 18/09/2021 20:34

I think most of these things are fairly easy to work out. Take motorhome service points. I am pretty sure the Club have probably completed the work on most sites they actually own or the work is planned in where refurbishments are in the pipeline. The problem is where the site is leased, a surprising number! I imagine the club wouldn't be keen putting new waste points in where they don't know from year to year if they will still be running the site. 

With WiFi I don't know what options the club have. I am pretty sure that it was the right decision to contract it out. I have been on non club  sites which use Camper Connect as a supplier which have provided perfectly reasonable WiFi but whether  they could cope any better with the demands of Club sites I have no idea. The trouble with WiFi is that the demands of the service have far outgrown the provision. I am not convinced that even the provision of 100GB connection will really solve the problem. Strangely we are currently on a no facility site with just a hotspot but almost outside the site City Fibre is laying fibre optics capable of at least 900GB if its the same as the City Fibre network at home. 

David

 

Takethedogalong replied on 18/09/2021 21:37

Posted on 18/09/2021 21:37

If the Club was designing a brand new Site from scratch, then it’s likely they could plan and deliver a very good MH service point. But they very seldom do this. Most of the improvements are carried out around existing, sometimes very old Sites, they have a lot of leased Sites, as DK points out. Or they are buying up existing Sites, and making do again with existing infrastructure. 

Dumping waste water, and filling up with fresh is such a tiny part of our overall holiday, in fact we seldom notice what’s on offer, and we certainly don’t base a stay somewhere on the MHSP. We deal with our fill and empty daily, so our waste tank never gets very full. We prefer it this way, makes life a lot easier. 

viatorem replied on 19/09/2021 08:08

Posted on 19/09/2021 08:08

We visited some friends on the St Agnes beacon club site last week, firstly I was surprised at the level of occupancy for this time of year and  secondly the apparent number of pitches had increased since we last visited. It looked like a pack em in approach. I may be wrong but I didn't notice any extra facilities. In the past this site was rarely fully booked even in peak season due to the lack of a toilet block, a sign of staycation and changing demands possibly. 

JollyKernow replied on 19/09/2021 09:01

Posted on 19/09/2021 09:01

Morning

Always amuses me peoples perception of increased pitch numbers on sites. Just for information, St.Agnes has lost 4 pitches, Marazion 2 pitches and Godrevy 1 pitch in the last year. There's been no increase in numbers in the 12 years I've been with the club in the south west.

Service point only sites have been rammed this year. I hope the club take this on board for future reference. This last fortnight we've been full with mainly motorhomes, the grass has stood up well.

JK

Navigateur replied on 19/09/2021 09:08

Posted on 19/09/2021 09:08

You have got me thinking there.  Facilities cost money - a lot of money.  Pitches make money. Modern caravans have on-board facilities (and ancient ones are allowed a toilet tent). So maybe instead of refurbishment, demolish and install more pitches? Could easily be fully serviced ones as the pipes are there.

Cornersteady replied on 19/09/2021 09:13

Posted on 18/09/2021 19:08 by young thomas

Agreed. They might be doing 'good' (well) in some areas but it's often difficult for a business to strike out in too many directions at one time.

as JVB points out, the pods are a separate business...however, outsourcing the WiFi hasn't been a huge success as even outsourced businesses need a service manager from the host to ensure that the paid for service is meeting all performance targets and costs...

I have no idea how the club decides, plans, resources, manages and delivers a network wide project like revamping MHSP.

perhaps it should just find the 'groundworks' equivalent of Air Angel and let them get on with it..

many on here know what makes a good MHSP....they use them regularly when abroad...yet I've still to see any repeating satisfactory standard being delivered...

perhaps there is no 'blueprint' and different areas are using different designs?

either way, its not happening at any great rate yet...

focus is what will get this delivered, not a piecemeal approach...it's fairly easy to see whether 'pods' or 'MHSP' is the higher priority...

Posted on 19/09/2021 09:13

either way, its not happening at any great rate yet...

focus is what will get this delivered, not a piecemeal approach...it's fairly easy to see whether 'pods' or 'MHSP' is the higher priority...

The above two statements make it sound as this is a definitive statement applicable to all club sites when really it is only from your perspective from the limited number (as you yourself have stated) of sites you have visited. It is not by any mean the complete picture that you're trying to suggest.

I think the opposite. Firstly you mention the rate? Now how is that (or even how do you) even measured or defined or what can one compared it to? Is the rate on non club sites far better? Secondly in the frequents flyer sites I use and many further afield across the country I've noticed new MHSP being installed from as along ago as four/five years and certainly after any refurbishment.

It is fairly easy to see whether 'pods' or 'MHSP' is the higher priority? Again you make this sound like a definitive statement but how? From what source or statistics are you basing this on? Any or just your gut feeling? It is far from easy to see across all sites. I think the two have gone hand in hand, in fact in my experience MHSP wee being changed before these glamping pods on 5 sites I can think of. But I can't/won't say that applies to all sites as you appear to do?

Of course all my experiences and observations only and I wouldn't make those applicable to all club sites but they do offer a differing viewpoint to and counters yours.

Rocky 2 buckets replied on 19/09/2021 09:23

Posted on 19/09/2021 09:01 by JollyKernow

Morning

Always amuses me peoples perception of increased pitch numbers on sites. Just for information, St.Agnes has lost 4 pitches, Marazion 2 pitches and Godrevy 1 pitch in the last year. There's been no increase in numbers in the 12 years I've been with the club in the south west.

Service point only sites have been rammed this year. I hope the club take this on board for future reference. This last fortnight we've been full with mainly motorhomes, the grass has stood up well.

JK

Posted on 19/09/2021 09:23

Darn it there’s always someone who rocks up with facts & truths to spoil the fake news spreaders of CT🤷🏻‍♂️😊

viatorem replied on 19/09/2021 13:01

Posted on 19/09/2021 09:01 by JollyKernow

Morning

Always amuses me peoples perception of increased pitch numbers on sites. Just for information, St.Agnes has lost 4 pitches, Marazion 2 pitches and Godrevy 1 pitch in the last year. There's been no increase in numbers in the 12 years I've been with the club in the south west.

Service point only sites have been rammed this year. I hope the club take this on board for future reference. This last fortnight we've been full with mainly motorhomes, the grass has stood up well.

JK

Posted on 19/09/2021 13:01

It is a crowded perception agreed, maybe the modern outfits are taking up a greater acreage over the last 25 yrs or so.

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