CL Sites

brue, as you well know we use CLs for about 90% of our stays. While we do look at what services etc they provide we also take into consideration the amount they charge. Our cost per night is working out at at roughly £12:50 pn and our total for the year will be in the region of £3200 I guess. If we were to be paying the price that some CL, and CC sites are charging we would certainly not be able to continue going away as frequently or for as long as we do.

Yes, that would impact on your use of sites. For us we are time poor and our usage is not so dependent on price, we are looking for nice places, mostly for single visits not touring very often. 

We would never use a Club site and always use CL's in the UK.  We look for level ground, total peace and quiet, away from main roads.  We also look at size so that we are not too close to other caravans.  

Some good CL sites have been spoilt by the owner falling to empty rubbish bins.  There is noting worse than overflowing rubbish and food waste.

Cholsey Grange, did you manage to collate any information regarding the above?

Also NTH's question regarding going commercial?

Brian - it's all rather confusing.  I have been keeping records of the total number of CL's that are available on the network, each month since last October.  At the end of October 2016 there were 2,343 CL's listed on the Club website.  At the end of October 2017 there were 2,298 which to my mind shows a net reduction of 45 CL's. 

On the other hand, a trawl through the magazines on a monthly basis shows a different story.  Starting in September 2016 and going through to the latest edition dated November 2017 I counted 112 newly opened CL's and 107 CL's that had been closed.

We can all understand that the Magazine and the Website might be out of synch, but the disparity doesn't seem logical to me.  I have put in a question to the Club, seeking clarification.

To answer your question though.  Anecdotal evidence suggests that in the past about 1/3 of CL's have closed due to retirement or bereavement. 1/3 have been sold and the new owner did not wish to continue, and 1/3 have closed for other reasons - including not meeting the requirements of the Club Certificate. 

At the AGM it was noted that 15 CL's had been closed for breaching their certificates this year.  No doubt the Club has a more accurate breakdown of the data, but I'd imagine it is commercially sensitive and will not be readily disclosed.

Sorry not to be able to answer this in full.

We have stayed on a number of ex CL/CS Sites these last few years, sites that have chosen for one reason or another to opt out of the network, put in a few more pitches and go it alone. Classic example is Cliff Farm near Pickering. Ex CL, they grew from 5 pitches to 18 and put in a very smart shower block, but prices are still very reasonable. Wasn't too much of an issue for farmer, he had got planning permission, was doing all the work bar certifying the electrics himself. Was working like a beaver one time we stayed, all very interesting, lovely little site, retains all the quirkiness and welcome of a CL. 

We are staying on a small commercial site at the moment, Rosedale at Penley nr Wrexham, that used to be a CL, which has roughly the same number of pitches as the site mentioned by tda, above. It was a COTY runner up in the past but has expanded. Has both H/S and grass pitches, showers, toilet dish washing up area, beautifully kept and much cheaper than any of this year's winners.

This is where the lack of information for members regarding why some CLs have left the network is so important. It isn't all retirements or  closures. I actually used to keep a little book of sites, listing details, and we kept in touch and still used a few sites no longer listed as CLs. Some have closed, but some have gone on to greater glory!  

Same with some of ex Club Sites as well, one or two are still out there and thriving in a new disguise! Much Wenlock sadly won't be one, we passed that last month, currently being developed as an up market park home retirement complex! 

Thanks for your efforts CG....

Fisherman, It is the Club that writes in " prices from ", they ask us to provide a price for the Handbook and we work out our price and always stick to that figure for 2 years, as we don't like going somewhere to find the price has jumped up and everything is an extra ourselves. I believe some CL Owners quote a low price in order to attract business but unfortunately they might not be repeat customers if they get stung. I want everyone to come back when they are in our area.

Just a comment on CL's indicating they can tow someone out, I have got very wary in this day and age as if a rope breaks and damages a car or motorhome then someone may claim. When it happens here it is because someone has chosen to drive over the grass rather than staying on the roads or hard standings, and I must admit when that happens I feel like claiming from the Driver !!.

David   www.perthshirecl.co.uk