Glamping and camping pods
Comments
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How on earth could you possibly see the "future of touring" being sticking in glorified statics ?
There are already many thousands of statics dotted around our Island, do you really see people booking one for a single night then moving onto the next ?
I find it incomprehensible that some people on here will defend "The Club" no matter what little wheeze they come up with. This is supposed to be a touring club isn't it ??
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Yes it is a touring club and so may it continue to be in some form or another but it's a fact that 'things' are changing fast and these changes, both local and globally, are impacting and will impact further on what transport and future touring will look like. No getting away from this unless we like sand in our eyes, ears and nose.
Digging heels in and turning our heads backwards will not help nor will it stop the changes taking place as we write.
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I think Micky has pretty much said it all, D&V.
It beats me how you can accuse people of defending the club in such a manner when it is clear as day to the more enlightened amongst us that touring as we know it is going to decline or even come to an end. The club is looking at alternative means to meet its membership’s needs. Surely that is a good thing and not worthy of your somewhat derogatory comments such as “little wheeze”.
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Chicken Little is alive and well
The UK government has said that in 11 years time 50% of cars and 40% of vans will be electric or hybrid. By 2040 the “majority” of new cars and vans sold will be completely zero emissions, and all new cars will have zero emissions “capability”.
Why expect that there will be no capable tow cars? At present capable electric cars for towing are around 2,000kg.
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At a price!
"Expect the worst but hope for the best". You must know that saying, Easy, and it certainly underlines the need for contingency plans.👍🏻
Btw, I said not likely to find many suitable towcars or vans, I didn’t say there would be none.
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I see a circle forming in the fog that is the future.
Touring with one's own habitation declines. People swap to staying in basic equiped mini-statics as hiring full size ones are too expensive. Electric cars become the normal transport. Then folk start to get fed up with cleanliness of the huts they are hiring, and the facilities they offer not being always to their liking. Many folk buy their own hut, yurt, glamp, tent, pod, etc. Someone then sees a business opportunity and starts building metal huts on wheels that folk can own and take wherever they want behind their electric transport. Landowners welcome the innovation and start renting out space in fields for these huts on wheels to be sited on.
Every one is a winner again.
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I, we, don't and that's the important thing, hopefully things will evolve and our pastime will continue in some form but it's not just the capacity and capability of future car technologies it's also the generation of any energy source, further reduction of pollution and the infrastructure of our road networks to support these. We live in hope but don't expect things to be as they were in the 60s and 70s.
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We already have that, it's called seasonal pitches.
Now as far as touring is concerned I note that the pods, air streams etc. are bookable on sites for a minimum of two nights. That's not too bad, (although I'd prefer single nights) as one can book three sites in one week and experience something like what many of us consider old fashioned touring. All this from the comfort of your non polluting, environmental electric vehicle. Other possibilities may evolve in the future mind but we've yet to see any real signs of these.
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it's not just the capacity and capability of future car technologies it's also the generation of any energy source, further reduction of pollution and the infrastructure of our road networks to support these.
If we can't generate enough power we will return to nuclear energy.
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"Nuclear" energy is actually nothing of the sort. All that is happening is that some of the heat produced by a nuclear reaction is used to raise steam to turn a turbine to turn a generator. It is actually as archaic a principle as the horse gin or the water wheel.
If there is a way forward it will be to create electricity directly from some process. Photo-voltaic works, but only by coupling up millions of individual cells; similalrly the Peltier effect could produce usable power with enough cells and some way of having the steep thermal gradient between two surfaces. Both produce direct current, which is fine for end-use but not transmission, so our way forward will similarly need to produce the power close to point of use.
Perhaps it has already been discovered and vested interests are sitting on it to keep their profits flowing . . . ?
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I’m not in favour of them. Regularly there is people on here complaining that site are full and they cant book their preferred dates, the introduction of these pods can only be reducing the number of site pitches. There’s usually plenty of alternative type of accommodation available local to sites such as hotel B&Bs etc. No need for these pods at all.
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I can't agree with you and think you have an uniformed opinion about them, possibly even a selfish one to say there is no need for them?
Where we store our caravan at Alderstead Heath there are 3 of them on a piece of land near the storage compound which was just a grass area next to the woods. The ones built at MIM are in what was the Dog walking area.
We have one booked at MIM for the end of the month. We are full time carers for my wife's mother who lives with us, she is 94, house bound, and disabled. Any trips we manage to take are planned around them fitting in with what my son and his wife can do to help or our close friends. Normally over a weekend when they are not working. This will be the first holiday/break my MIL will have had in 12 + years, being able to have her stay in a self contained unit but just a short walk away to go and take care of her needs at a moments notice (She often falls) is what has made this trip possible.
I would say there are many more people in this club who also have domestic circumstances which the introduction of the pods has made a big difference to, allowing family and loved ones to share a holiday/break/experience that previously wasn't possible.
Picture yourself in the same circumstances as ours and you may form a different opinion.
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That is certainly not the case at Moreton in Marsh as the Pods have been built on a separate area which is unlikely to have been suitable for pitching. Even if the area where the pods are had been able to be converted to pitches it would have been a tiny number compared to the ten Pods which are now available.
David
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MtD. I am sorry to hear of your predicament. I do understand the restrictions caring for someone can cause. I helped look after my mother (jointly with my sister and a very good neighbour) for several years, albeit she was slightly more independent than your MiL and didn’t live with me. I also looked after my late wife for 4 years while she was undergoing treatment for cancer.
The point I was trying to make is that in these, and similar circumstances there is usually an alternative, and in some cases a better suited one.
I sincerely hope you and your family have an enjoyable holiday at Morton in Marsh.
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'Enlightened among us' condescending a bit ?
The Club was formed at the beginning of the 20th Century by very 'Enlightened' people. I hope we can continue our very fulfilling hobby and pastime into the 22nd Century.
Cities are having to deal with THEIR pollution bought on by overpopulation, by all means legislate to limit pollution within their limits.
Using the same rules to cover vast swathes of unpolluted Countryside is wasteful and not needed.
Draconian anti Transport laws will not work.
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We sold our unit recently because tugging had become a chore apposed to a pleasure, we also now like to stay in hotels on organised trips with our local British Legion and friends.
The provision of these static units on club sites is a forward thinking initiative we believe but the price and flexibility of nights booked will determine their success or failure.
🐺🐺
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"The Club was formed at the beginning of the 20th Century by very 'Enlightened' people. I hope we can continue our very fulfilling hobby and pastime into the 22nd Century."
That is exactly what the club is trying to achieve, Ray, but they realise the way ahead will be different.
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I hope we are not going to be seeing them on more sites! I think it is terrible that on a site which is in desperate need of a makeover and is often difficult to get a pitch on the club have spent a significant amount of money on sheds to encourage non members to stay. Surely investment should be made for the current paying members
Looking at the increase in leisure vehicle sales both caravan and motorhome over the last couple of years and the increase in the number of people staying in the UK for holidays I think touring pitches should be increased not space taken away for glamping
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Have the club removed pitches to install them? I'll think you will find the answer is no. As stated from the two sites i know off they have used other areas of land on the sites. Namely a grass verge at Alderstead Heath and the dog exercise area at Moreton In Marsh
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Using the dog walk is surely bad practice for what has long been "The Dog and Caravan" Club. There was a long running thread recently with a strong reaction against using dog walks (and LNAs) to provide continental aire-style pitches.
Just remember, if the Club sees mini-statics as profitable then they WILL sacrifice touring pitches where they can get it past land covenants and planning regulations.
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And off lead, not something you find on many sites?
David
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The glamping area is where you could let dogs off their leads previously, it was always a bit boggy as it is "marsh." The new dog walking area used to be for children to play football have a good run around etc. Personally I would find the site a bit crowded now, we used to enjoy seeing one of our grandsons have a lot of freedom in the children's play area. Now it has shrunk somewhat.
However if the glamping pods are successful it will suit quite a few users.
PS I don't hold out much hope for the big recreational spaces at Hillhead etc if the club applies for more "pods." One of the nice things about the bigger sites is that they often have more space for children to play.
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yes, I understood from that thread there was 'no spare space' on club sites for 'other uses'
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We travel with our caravan or motorhome in UK for some months every year - have done so for 25 years or more - and I must admit that the introduction of "pods" does change some sites to the worse.
Several times have we found "tranquil places" - places that actually advertise with being tranquil - not so very tranquil any more. Because the pods have been occupied with younger people, sitting outside mostly, playing radio outside, playing, screaming and discussing until very late.
A little bit like tents, but some places doesn't allow tents; they introduce pods instead. I don't understand this, because it is sort of the same thing in my view...
Could I suggest different areas for different interests? A family area with playground; an adult area for those seeking peace and quiet. A "pod" area for non-touring guests. Placed well away from each other with planting or shower buildings in between. This would help ease the irritation and tension between "pod'ers" and tourers :-)
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