Steamer Quay refurb removal of non EHU pitches

Hja replied on 20/12/2022 21:41

Hja

Posted on 20/12/2022 21:41

Just had my copy of the December magazine and noticed that the economy pitches are to be removed at Steamer Quay as part of the refurbishment. As I understand it, these are the non-EHU pitches. Isnt this somewhat short sighted in the current climate? Surely more will be using off grid as a way of saving money? We certainly will be next year. Maybe there is some special issue at this site? I havnt stayed there, just noticed it in the magazine.

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peedee replied on 29/12/2022 10:28

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peedee

Motorhomer

Posted on 29/12/2022 10:20 by Burgundy

When presumably digging a trench to supply electric to each pitch it is just as easy to lay drainage and water supply. I didn’t see any reference to hard standings in the club’s details of the planned upgrade.

Posted on 29/12/2022 10:28

The council want to encourage all year tourism and only awarded the lease to the Club on the condition the site was developed and complied, so it is unlikely they will remain all grass. It is possible that with the Longmarsh car park providing for motorhomes, the SQ target visitors will be caravans and motorhomes wanting a longer stay.

peedee

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Takethedogalong replied on 29/12/2022 10:34

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Takethedogalong

Posted on 29/12/2022 10:20 by eurortraveller

Some want Steamer Quay to stay with toilets but no electricity, and some want Stover (all of ten miles away) to stay with electricity but no toilets. Some just complain about any sort of change.

Posted on 29/12/2022 10:34

Some simply want variety and choice EuroT, but the Club isn’t into choices. It’s driving ethos is fill the coffers via its wealthy core Membership, and that needs keeping them rolling by minimising effort, ensuring all comforts are at the flick of a switch, super flat, no grass involved. If I was being really cynical, I would take “camping” to its ultimate end game and lay on a driver and set up service. Except the Club have gone a stage further, and are using Glamping Pods. Future proofing, indeed.

I was personally told to use CLs if I wanted anything more basic when I raised the question of more basic camp sites.

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replied on 29/12/2022 10:45

Posted on 29/12/2022 10:24 by Takethedogalong

We would have used SQ as it was, we won’t consider it as it is going to be. Day trip for us.

Fighting the traffic around that area to get out further is a consideration for us as well. we know the area fairly well. Hot days, we head onto Dartmoor for a swim, and to get away from the crowds. Totnes was super busy five years ago when we were last there, it will be loads worse now after the pandemic, much like the rest of Devon and Cornwall.

Posted on 29/12/2022 10:45

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Cornersteady replied on 29/12/2022 11:45

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Cornersteady

Caravanner

Posted on 29/12/2022 09:52 by young thomas

Brue, agreed.

it's not as if folk are asking for a new more simple, less is more site within the portfolio, it's already there.

folk seem to be saying (will the club listen?) that this type of site is slowly (but very surely) being eradicating from the club network and, while a refurb/update might be good, why change the whole character of the place?

Posted on 29/12/2022 11:45

But how many folk YT?

That's the real question, are you basing it on the handful that are posting on here, perhaps 10? And it's not all one way as you would like to suggest. There are just as many folk posting to say it should be changed and welcome the changes.

As to type of site being eradicated (which you've used twice) again, same question for you where is the evidence for that? And if you're aduling to the character (again) being changed you've the only one I recall who posts that the club is losing sites with interesting or slightly quirky elements .

So who should the club to then? Well I would imagine that they will listen to the local council as they and the club want to keep the site open to boost visitors all year round? And that is why it is being changed remember.

The club might want to 'listen' or look how popular current types of sites with HS and SP are now, and so perhaps giving them some idea this is what people want, and how popular the club site will be when re-developed? No one in this thread has denied it won't be popular have they?

Cornersteady replied on 29/12/2022 12:02

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Cornersteady

Caravanner

Posted on 29/12/2022 09:03 by young thomas

"Maybe try a large commercial site then have a rethink of what you get from the club."

im sure very many are (or will be) doing just that for the coming season and beyond...

we always use commercials for our New Year break, this year are heading to a site with a fully serviced hard standing, free wifi and on the doorstep (walking distance) of a large town and a few mins bus ride to an adjacent city. really useful during 'celebrations'.

at £30 a night (just £25 for a non serviced HS) seems to me to be 'value for money, a decent pitch and price'.

The nearest open Club site (one that also gives walking distance to a town) is £46.20 a night for a serviced pitch and £41.30 for a HS.

At 50% extra, chargeable wifi and a £50 odd membership fee, perhaps it is time for that 'rethink of what you get from the club'?

Posted on 29/12/2022 12:02

But what you appear to be saying as fact is that the unnamed site you've chosen is just as good as the club site somewhere else nearby. I'm sure it is for you but it may not be for anyone else? Perhaps to others the club is worth far all the extra, I don't know as I don't know what two sites you're talking about? You also don't mention and T&C.

Rethink ? Well perhaps people do and then keep choosing the club, why else would club occupancy be so good, or showing as so good for next summer with deposits and these expensive prices? It cannot be people just going there for the first time? or it is a case that club sites are only full because people don't know there's better out there ?

Rethink ? Are club sites the most expensive sites out there as you appear to keep suggesting? Your Concierge Camping site that you have praised as being what the club should be like in the past is £72 per night at present for a 'standard' pitch while the higher end pitch is, well full this week, but £105 per night next so I assume it's much higher than that now?

Takethedogalong replied on 29/12/2022 12:12

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Takethedogalong

Posted on 29/12/2022 10:45 by

We have stayed at Steamer Quay on a number of occasions as we like Totnes very much. (In fact, when we lived in Somerset we would often make a day trip of it by car, or by train.)

The extra price one will need to pay for a service pitch probably means we will be unlikely to stay there in future. However, we often visit the town from our favourite UK site – Slapton Sands C&CC site. We take the boat from Dartmouth. The motorhome parking facility appeals though.

Posted on 29/12/2022 12:12

Yep, a night on the MH provision would suit us as well, probably out of main season. Like you, we would visit Totnes via other methods as well, scenic railway from Buckfastleigh.

We don’t tend to stop in towns anyway, much prefer peace and quiet, so Stover or Exeter Racecourse suit us fine when open. Better with a dog as well.

As for changing nature of Club Sites….. we have used two only in 2022. FM before the prices rocketed skywards, back in March. Then an overnight decision to use Clumber Park for three nights to watch Tour of Britain. That was the most expensive stay we have ever had on a Club Site. Nice, but at those prices, only if we were desperate for a break, it being our local Site. Those three nights cost us around same as 9 nights away touring in Scotland.

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replied on 29/12/2022 12:29

Posted on 29/12/2022 12:12 by Takethedogalong

Yep, a night on the MH provision would suit us as well, probably out of main season. Like you, we would visit Totnes via other methods as well, scenic railway from Buckfastleigh.

We don’t tend to stop in towns anyway, much prefer peace and quiet, so Stover or Exeter Racecourse suit us fine when open. Better with a dog as well.

As for changing nature of Club Sites….. we have used two only in 2022. FM before the prices rocketed skywards, back in March. Then an overnight decision to use Clumber Park for three nights to watch Tour of Britain. That was the most expensive stay we have ever had on a Club Site. Nice, but at those prices, only if we were desperate for a break, it being our local Site. Those three nights cost us around same as 9 nights away touring in Scotland.

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young thomas replied on 29/12/2022 12:59

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young thomas

Motorhomer

Posted on 29/12/2022 12:59

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Cornersteady replied on 29/12/2022 13:17

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Cornersteady

Caravanner

Posted on 29/12/2022 10:34 by Takethedogalong

Some simply want variety and choice EuroT, but the Club isn’t into choices. It’s driving ethos is fill the coffers via its wealthy core Membership, and that needs keeping them rolling by minimising effort, ensuring all comforts are at the flick of a switch, super flat, no grass involved. If I was being really cynical, I would take “camping” to its ultimate end game and lay on a driver and set up service. Except the Club have gone a stage further, and are using Glamping Pods. Future proofing, indeed.

I was personally told to use CLs if I wanted anything more basic when I raised the question of more basic camp sites.

Posted on 29/12/2022 13:17

I don't disagree with that TDA, it's fair assessment.

A wealthy core membership might be stretching it a bit, I see it as those being willing to pay the prices the club's set as they see that as value for money and not necessary wealthy, although a look round any site may make it look like that.

And this core membership isn't all the 'older generation' (you didn't say they were thankfully), in summer there are plenty of young families who also like having all the comforts that they have at home.

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