What Would a UK Club Type Aire Look Like

I don't see that the Club needs to create aire type sites just adapt what they have. 

We recently stopped at a smallish site. Book online, pay at time of booking. The site had no staff but a barrier to get in, code given on day of arrival. Pick a pitch, all hardstanding with ehu. Small facilities block and drive over waste water dump. It was a mix of MHs and caravans. The owner is nearby if needed. The facilities are cleaned everyday. Everyone seemed to be happy all for £24 a night, open all year.

That's all that's needed surely. 

We use CCP Aires while over there and yes they work well. The barrier card is better than a code as its not needed to be changed. We also like sites for a longer stay. Why restrict sites to just caravans or MHs they can live quite happily together it's the way sites are still run that needs to change and the price. 

It seems to me that users of sites fall into two broad categories : those who choose a site purely for its location and then there are those who choose a site for the site itself as a destination.

Finely manicured grass, palatial facilities blocks and miles of picket fencing may suit some people but, for me, its all about location, location, location.  I rarely use the facilities block and would be quite happy with more basic pitches.

I also find the noise grounds maintenance equipment generates quite intrusive, particularly in Spring and early Summer.  Give me a nicely appointed carpark any day when it is located next to a tourist location or an interesting small community.

As you might gather, I would support more basic sites - I can't be the only member who would be happy with less facilities.  Keep it simple and then for those for whom it is paramount, sites also become more affordable.

EDIT  and with a lower environmental impact.

Goodness, I could have sworn that post was from another poster not seen for a while😂.

You may be right about the two (tow😎) categories of site users, Jim, and I’m with you on location being the optimum choice. However, CAMC does already has some non facility sites people can choose and then there are CLs, privately owned sites, CSs with the other club, rallies, THSs etc etc. In view of that massive choice, I really can’t see any need for CAMC to develop offerings only suitable for part of its membership, especially when they proclaim themselves to be all inclusive.

....... two (tow😎)  ......  darned small font - it's enough to rupture my eyeballs !!!

Very apt for a caravanning organisation though 🤣

Might one suggest that the Club already has something very similar to a Motorhome Aire in the refurbished Steamer Quay in Totnes? Non awning hardstandings with metered electricity. I understand it will have a facility block because that existed before. On the prices I can see they range from £33 to £43 a night this year for van plus two. I somehow suspect this is not the sort of price range envisaged by those wanting Aire type sites? 

I would imagine, at this stage at least, the Club would not be wanting to create sites/aires just for motorhomers when there is, whilst declining, still a substantial percentage of caravan members in the Club. We have already seen quite a lot of push back when the Club proposes new sites around the country, Bristol is just one example,  so I don't think it would be any easier with motorhome aires. They could create aires by converting parts of current sites with a number of short term, non bookable parking spaces for motorhomes which would be the far easier option than thinking about new sites. However going back to price per night I somehow don't think there would be the difference that some might expect. 

Those who keep an eye on Social Media will be aware that there is a big demand out there for places to park which are not campsites. A lot of pubs are tapping into this demand and some Councils are making provision. The opposite is that there seems an equal demand from local residents to stop people parking on the coast or in beauty spots from parking up and as they see it causing an eyesore. To provide the sort of facilities found in Europe there would have to be a sea change in the attitude of both Clubs to help persuade the powers that be that motorhome aires need to be built.

Just a few thoughts

David

TW - In view of that massive choice, I really can’t see any need for CAMC to develop offerings only suitable for part of its membership, especially when they proclaim themselves to be all inclusive.

Is there any reason why these aires couldn't be used by both, say 10 M/h pitches and 5 Caravans? If they were built in the right place, say near arterial main routes, caravaners en route to Cornwall from Scotland for example, might prefer a 24/48 hour stopover. A bit like Cadeside.

With modern technology (obviously not operated by CAMC IT) it could be "wardened" using ANPR and set maximum times with water, Elsan and electricity paid by metering.

Aire type sites and facilities as described take significant investment for apparently low return, If there is a demand for such sites backed by a sound business case somebody will provide them. An observation -  I have seen several disused/abandoned Park and Ride facilities that look Ideally placed and may be a quick start for an Aire. Or places with car parks intermittently used like race courses, showgrounds just a thought.

"Is there any reason why these aires couldn't be used by both, say 10 M/h pitches and 5 Caravans?"

Who knows, WN, but the OP was talking about the differing needs of motorhomers. I never found my needs much different with a MH than they were with a caravan, tbh🤷🏻‍♂️. How about you?

Nope.