The big winter shut down
Comments
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i realise it's tricky for some to understand the get up and go (linear) touring as already described but it's a style enjoyed by many, and likely to increase with the larger numbers of MHs
Sarcastic.
Not difficult to understand at all. The point that I was making is that on CC sites (and other sites that I use) I see little difference between the way the majority of MHs use the site and caravanner do. The only difference being perhaps shorter stays.I cannot see the CC wishing to provide for those MHs that just want cheap night halts.
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I would be inclined to agree ET. My impression is also that a lot of MH owners don't move them of site much, but the stay is shorter than the week we generally stay. If we get one, which we are considering doing in the next few years, it would be how we would envision using it.
As to what some consider cheap, I can't see that ever happening. Given the investment, a cost winter off peak, of £12 to £14 per night non EHU or £16 to £19 with EHU, would seem appropriate.
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Easy, not sarcastic at all, reality for many vanners in CC.
dont worry, I'll let u know when I'm being sarcastic
Plenty seem to be interested in making more use of sites during the close season, the issue seems to be that some regard any move in this direction as MH getting pitches on the cheap.
wasn't the OP about maximising current resources?
The thing is if the club want to provide a service in the off season, it has to be at a price that attracts customers.
however, I don't really care if the club do it or not, I have plenty of other options, merely answering the sensible OP with various options.
because it's not attractive to one or two on CT doesn't make it a bad thing to aim for
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Steve, for £19 in winter, you must be talking about providing a full service, wardens, showers, ehu and all?
this isn't providing a cheap extension to the season, this is just extending the normal CC 'priced' season.
i thought we were discussing being able to reduce cost (wardens, barriers, showers, metered (paid for) electric etc) to make any extended opening attractive for customers yet keep running costs low.
sounds like u want any return on investment before any one actually uses the system.
these types of investment projects have to looked at much more long term...
EDIT 234 for 4 at tea
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wasn't the OP about maximising current resources?
The OP was about providing additional locations in the 'close' season for motorhomers as they are the one that don't need heated toilet blocks and showers. Strange really as although I am sure that is true of a fair number of MHs I do notice a higher ratio of caravans to motorhomes on non-facility CC sites than on facility sites. I had assumed that to be because of transport problems perhaps but could equally be that some MHs find their wash rooms cramped - a bit like the wetroom arrangement in our previous caravan?
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Steve, for £19 in winter, you must be talking about providing a full service, wardens, showers, ehu and all?
this isn't providing a cheap extension to the season, this is just extending the normal CC 'priced' season.
I suspect BB that given the investment for what I would expect to be a small number of takers, the fact tha tthe CC would no doubt wish to have some security visits and to clean the disposal points etc on a daily basis, the few pitches to share this cost, the inrease in electric for heating off deason and the fact that non facility sites are currently around £15 that Steve is not too far wide of the mark.
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I think the simple answer to this is for the Club will keep sites open over winter if, a) they are allowed to do that and b) if there is sufficient demand. I somehow doubt that they will want to spend money on "special pitching areas". They could do that now for the current opening season. Rather than embark on any of these expensive ideas like automatic barriers with payment machines, reconfigurating campsites etc it would be much cheaper to experiment with keeping a few more sites open for a longer season to test the water. If successful the experiment could be extended. The idea that having space for 10 units to overnight for £10 is just not going to happen. To complete the work would cost several hundred thousand pounds which would mean a very long pay back which I imagine the Club would not feel was a worthwhile investment?
David
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a lot of MH owners don't move them of site much, but the stay is shorter than the week we generally stay. If we get one, which we are considering doing in the next few years, it would be how we would envision using it.
I considered a MH 30 years ago Steve. Parking was easier then including street parking!
We move every 5 days. 1st day we have packed up, driven a couple of hours and are set up on site before 1pm with a cuppa and a sandwich to hand. May well go out for a stroll somewhere for a few hours. Over the next 4 days we will have made the visits that we wish to make and the strolls etc and be ready to move on.
I have also reconsidered a MH in the last 10 years. There are few things that stop me.
OH is claustrophobic to some extent and therefore requires an open aspect. The motorhomes that would suit I could not accommodate. Plenty of drive area but narrow road frontage. A caravan longer than 7.3m over all and I would struggle on a mover.
This would mean using storage which I would find a pain. Once sited with a suitably large outfit there are many villages that I like to visit where the size would be a problem and so would choose to tow a car. That being the case I might as well tow a caravan.
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A lot of sense here. Far better for the club to trial an extended open period on a couple of sites and maybe close facilities if they were considering the OP suggestion. Depending on planning restrictions maybe close for a month and reopen.
Far better to loose £30K on a trial than to build a white elephant
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In Coulon in France, the Municipal site has a barrier which allows entry when a card payment is made. If you stay and don't pay you cannot get your van out after the date you have paid to.
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sounds like u want any return on investment before any one actually uses the system.
I think if I was a shareholder, rather than a member I would want the investment back in a few years, not spread over the next 10 or more. Who's to say how things will change in that time. They might not get it back.☹️
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Travellers?, is that Caravanners or Motorhomers. . . .Or both?.
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David, its pretty obvious that, if the club could open sites longer and make money, they would...
however, its also obvious that, for those sites that 'could' stay open, but dont, this is because the club cant make money....the reason being the demand isnt there....specifically to pay typical club prices out of season....the underlying problem is the cost of the overheads....people and electricity/heating.
if the club wanted to just do more of the same, it could do this easily....but punters wont come off season at £25 a night.
however, turn off the heating and showers, take away the staff costs and theres a huge saving. add this to the increased turnover.....xxx extra bums at £10 as opposed to nil extra bums at £25.....and the fairly small investment of a card activated barrier is soon recouped.
i seriously doubt any French town will have invested 'hundreds of thousands' of pounds on its barrier and payment station.....and they would also have funded a Euro-Relais water/waste/ehu bollard.
a half dozen card payment electricity meters will be cost neutral (if the charge rate reflects the bollard hire)
no other costs involved...no changing pitches or fencing areas off, just use the current pitches...in fact, the club doesnt even need to set a limit, any caravan or MH who wishes to ise a low cost, HS with metered leccy if required.
no booking, pay on entry (or exit) with the barrier system only allowing entry upto whatever number the club decides on.
everything the customer needs....pitch, MHSP, ehu if required, is there.
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as we have now played the trump card of 'travellers' i doubt there is any point in continuing the debate.....
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if the club wanted to just do more of the same, it could do this easily....but punters wont come off season at £25 a night.
Less desirable sites are £20 or perhaps less off season.
With less staff input and no facilities I could see this perhaps dropping to £16. However as some staff input would still be necessary and given low numbers in those areas and the lack of numbers and the likely demandsdemands on EHU in the Winter I would not be surprised at £18 rather than £10.
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We would also make use of them, reduced pitch Caravan Club sites, in the winter, without the need of full facilities if the price was reasonable to us. We do use sites all year round, but are more and more using CLs and small Commercial site due to the high cost of CC sites.
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no, the real world is where problems like this get dealt with rather than circumvented as infinitum....
the Gendarmerie dont mess about when 'debating' trespass with those who think they can do what they like...
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why would i (anyone) want to go to a 'less desirable' site?.....
EHU would be self funding.....so no costs there other thwn the set up of a few 'pay by card' bollards.
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exactly, Nellie.....more and more are touring out of season but the message hasnt got thrpugh to HQ.....
as ypu say, many of those who choose CL/THS/Commercial over the club do so on price....off season deals attract customers.....rigid pricing doesnt.
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why would i (anyone) want to go to a 'less desirable' site?.....undecided
Maybe a bad choice of words on my part. Not that the sites are 'undesirable' but that the location might be less popular in Winter. Having said that the resultant aires type areas might well be less popular in main season. I have no idea.
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I think you are miss-interpreting the term less desirable. Still a nice site in a good area, but less popular. So Chatsworth at £21 midweek as against Clumber at £15.60. When you consider we are probably using £6 to £8 of electricity if it is cold, both sites are a bargain. Clumber more so.
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You are an exception Nellie ........ most have homes to go to!
Seriously there are at least 3 situations affecting caravan users.
1. They have family and are ties by school hols.
2. Kids left and tied by holiday entitlement. Go away in better weather.
3. Retired and no ties and sufficient funds go away whenever.
When I had kids I would not weekend after first week in November until end of March.
Now I do not go away after early October until April but do have a couple of weeks in December.
I do not require full facility sites ...... many seem to. I do, however prefer facility sites in depth of Winter as money is not a consideration
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but customers will pay for the 'renting' of the bollard via their cards...
if we werent talking about a cash rich company like CC, any other company would take a business loan/overdaft and let the income pay off the rentals. isnt this what many small companies have to do to improve their services.
also, what mods to the site waste MHSP? whats wrong with the one already on the site?
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