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We spoke to the owner of a favourite CL today. We have been using it for 40 years!
She told us that she had been told she could take bookings from 4th July. There was also a post on a motorhome group on Facebook suggesting the same thing, but I can find nothing on CMHC web site !
Anyone able to tell us why ????
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I haven't read the list yet, but assume that those that are shown as closed had already informed the club that they were closing just as the lockdown started as the number of CL's on the web site took a sudden drop then. I would not be at all surprised if there is another large number of closures in next month's magazine.
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The CL Department has been furloughed for some time, so the 32 CL closures listed in the June magazine must have been initiated some time ago and unconnected with Coronavirus.
Taking a look at the list, there are some distinct geographic groups - I suspect that new Site Advisers (inspectors) have taken-over in some areas and are tidying-up their records.
Our previous Site Adviser would often do his annual visit unannounced when we were out at church on a Sunday morning and just leave a business card.
If that was typical of the Club's support to CLs, there could be circumstances where a CL Owner could have died, no-one notifies the Club, and the CL lies dormant in the Sites Directory until a new CL Adviser takes time to make face-to-face contact with the (new) land-owner.I must say that that I'm impressed with our new CL Adviser - her first visit was very thorough albeit still unannounced. We have nothing to hide and would rather speak to our Site Adviser in person than miss an unannounced visit.
Ian Kelly
01691 622951
Holiday@BirchHill.co.ukBirch Hill, The Cross, Ellesmere, Shropshire, SY12 0LP
www.BirchHill.co.uk
Birch Hill Farm - an award-winning hideaway in the beautiful lake-lands of Shropshire for members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club
If non-caravanning friends wish to join you, please see our new Glamping Pods - www.ArchersMeadow.co.uk2 -
Edit, I've just checked back and on 13th April the total of CL's open was 2172, the same as is showing as open now, and which I suspect will be in fact a lot less when those at HO and work on the CL section, and are on furlough, get back to work.
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I can point you to a CL in a field in inland Cornwall - a mile down a narrow lane from a rare bus, three miles from shop and pub, no information provided by the owner, no description provided by the inspector, no photograph, just two reviews on here in the last eight years - one of which is far from flattering - from a member who says we aren't going there again. No wonder the list of CLs is shrinking if there are still some others like this.
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I was sad to see the loss of so many CLs in the latest magazine. Best wishes to the new one near Whitby!
Wake up JVB, the above was posted by brue yesterday!
That's what the many of the last 10 posts have been about!1 -
Folks are different, thankfully CL network provides for all. Some of the loveliest CLs we have ever stayed on have been down tight lanes and with ordinary sized drive gates. It’s never been something that’s put us off to be honest, if the CL is in an interesting area, is peaceful and quiet, tidy, safe and with all the things we need, then we are fine. I recognise that others want more, nothing wrong with that.
A lot of places in Cornwall and Devon are down very tight roads. It’s the very nature of the countryside. One of our chief delights when down there is exploring any road that has an “unsuitable for long vehicles” sign on it. Down there can be found places only those who can reverse, or aren’t too precious about their vehicles will venture.
Another of our favourite beaches, devoid of many humans, even in August....
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There was a very good post on one of the Facebook groups from the people that run Skybarn CL explaining the ins and outs of running a CL. It would seem that more and more people are demanding more and more facilities and it is possible that those that are unwilling/unable to provide such facilities are seeing occupancy drop down to levels that make it not worthwhile running a CL. Given the current situation with COVID 19 where half the season has been wiped out I suspect it has concentrated the minds of those that were perhaps in two minds whether to carry on. By the end of the year there may be even more drop out. There may be some previous CL's that have converted to proper campsites which allows them to grow their business and I suppose some might swap sides! On the latter I would have thought that if you have a CL with reasonable facilities in a popular area I do wonder if you would be better off swapping Clubs, unless some think that the addition of tents would make a big difference to income?
David
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Just had a look at June’s list. A third of the closures are in Wales. Not certain, but that new one rings a bell with me🤔 I think it might possibly be a re certificated old CL that has had a bit of a rethink. Only three outfit pitches on CL, but it has a small commercial site adjacent. Could be a bit of rethink by owners🤔 Nice location though👍
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Certain members may want more and more facilities but there seems more also want less and cheaper because they can be more independent. They just need somewhere to park - even off-site campers (or as they might say “wild”) The Caravan & Motorhome Off-Grid Group now has 7000 members (in 10 months!) this group was set up to encourage and help people to try off grid caravanning and Motorhoming.
It seems even at last our Club may be seeing this as well with their article on Page 78 of the June Magazine - “Which Pitch” although about Club Sites again refers to Off Grid as ‘back to basics’. Hardly an encouragement from the club to try it! Nothing could be further from the truth- modern technology now allows you into a new and comfortable world. The comment “back to basics” is offensive to say the least. This is a comment one member made in CAMOGG “Basic indicates lack of refinement and sophistication- (there ain’t non of that missing in my van!! 🤣) or in CAMC speak “My caravanning experience is certainly not backwards or basic without electricity, more the contrary, it is refined and sophisticated” 😎”
The Club should also encourage new CLs to start as Off-Grid CLs as is a great way to start up a CL without the costs of installing hookups. The CL then can improve its site to EHU or fully serviced pitches in the years to follow rather than all the cost up front!3 -
It's quite simple. If you want all the comforts of a club site then go to one. It's unrealistic to expect a marginal income operation to provide all the bells and whistles unless you want to start paying Club site prices. That would rather defeat the primary USP of CL's.
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It seems we have been trying to answer this conundrum for years CY. Picking on members who would prefer a mostly modest/basic toilet or shower is not the answer.
I and many others would always prefer CL sites over club sites any time and we also prefer to have an onsite toilet and shower. Many CLs provide this requirement and their fees reflect this.
If the CLs are to survive it is up to the members to use them, that includes the basic ones as well as the ones with modest facilities.
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Whilst I agree with your point I do think that CLs need to ensure they give an alternative experience to Club sites. Too many CLs in my view provide the facility of EHU and hardstandings but (in order to minimise use of cable etc) then place them in a straight line. The result is a boring conformist look of a Club site.
As I have said before, CL owners need to be careful that by fulfilling the "wants" of a few, the resulting price increase does not lose the custom of the ones prepared to use their own plush facilities.
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It’s a big world out there, even on a small Island like ours👍🏻. I’ve found & used every option from C&MC types down to no facs. They are everywhere I’ve wanted to go E, W, N, S😊. Plenty of choice & spaces available. I have 2 bits of advice-‘don’t expect to pay a few £’s & think they will be there next year, & don’t jealously guard their location that is both selfish & shortsighted’. I’ve paid from £10 to £20 p/ngt. Hobby or business yes but they’re not charities.
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Perhaps it's about time the Club did a comprehensive member survey to establish what members views are on the use of CL's. Johnny57's group seems to suggest there is an interest in no facility CL's but the chatter on other Facebook groups seems to suggest the opposite. It would be interesting to know what advice, if any, the Club give to potential CL's on how to set up a successful CL?
David
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"interesting to know what advice, if any, the Club give to potential CL's on how to set up a successful CL?"
DavidKlye
I don't even think you have to ask it will be if you want to make any money put all what you can - hardstandings, WC/Showers, EHU etc and you will be full. It is dependant on the adviser I guess in that area. The one I had lucky was not adverse to Off-Grid sites so was not so negative.
I think the Club really need to encourage new CLs to start as Off-Grid CLs as is a great way to start up a CL without the costs of installing hookups etc etc. The CL then can improve its site to EHU or fully serviced pitches in the years to follow rather than all the cost up front!
With the rise in Britstops anf Motorhome/campers doing more free off-site camping we need to encourage them to join clubs by making cost look reasonable.2 -
As with every poll the results receive depend on how the question was worded.
Obviously if 100 people were asked the question "Would you visit a CL with EHU, hardstanding, toilet, showers WIFI" then I'm sure 99 would say Yes,
However, the more important question would be to ask the same 100 people "Would you visit a CL with EHU and grass from say May to September", it goes without saying that the positive answers would not be 99 but maybe around 50 -60 which may actually give them a better return on their investment than they could achieve providing the full package.
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Spot on J57 and Mikey. The CL networks unique selling point is its huge range of Sites. If folks are grumbling about about the cost of Club Sites, then the issue is there, on the Club Sites. Trying to make CLs into mini Club Sites isn’t the answer.
I find your sentence about advisors very interesting J57. You were indeed lucky with your advisor. Other CL owner friends have indicated to us that they were expected to spend a lot of money.
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We've used CL's regularly over the last 40 years and will continue to do so for as long as possible.
Last week I phoned the owner of our long time favourite CL to ask if he was accepting bookings for later in the year . His reply was not encouraging . Obviously he's looking for clearer guidance from the Club and we all know that for the moment he won't get it . That should not be taken as a criticism of the Club in any way .
There must be lots of CL's which only just have enough income to make them viable so given the current situation I wouldn't be surprised to see more closures. Let's hope it won't be too long before we can get back out there !
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In 1984 the alternative to a hook up was a noisy generator or as we did charge the van battery in the car boot when we went out. Now with solar panels etc. off grid is fine but a lot of sites without hook ups have shut. I installed mains equipment myself when sites with hook ups were prevented from having a reduced charge if you didn't use them due to regulations on the resale of power. Most of the sites now closing have hook ups, so there are other reasons for closures.
We regularly visit Coates farm, A cl at Much Wenlock Shropshire In a beautiful area with an abundance of attractions within a few miles £15 a night for what are effectively fully serviced pitches and its rare to find more than 2 to 3 vans on site.
To return to my original post. Use them or lose them
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I seriously hope members will support more CL's now that lockdown has been eased. I'm sure many who take social distancing seriously will do so, amongst other reasons.
Club sites or CL's? For me, it's similar to choosing between local shops or the supermarket. Go for quality and not quantity folks!
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However rigorous the 'covid secure' measures, a CL will still be a lot safer than a club site.
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Why do you make such a sweeping statement suggesting that all CLs are worth supporting? There are good and bad ones , beautiful and ugly, but overall I don't think CLs are are any better or worse than a great number of other small sites - some which are linked to other organisations and some which are independent. Social distancing is about space, not whether a site is tied to a club or not.
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Back in the 1970s and 1980s we only ever used CLs. They were ideal for our young family. We then abandoned caravanning for many years when we bought a yacht. We’ve been back to caravanning again now for some years but my wife is now not very keen on CLs. All those years ago we enjoyed interacting with the farmer. Now we find we hardly ever get to see the landowner. Dropping payment off in a letter box or even paying on line. We’re often in a field with no interaction with anyone. That may seem ideal for some but my wife is a little concerned about being in the middle of nowhere with no one else around. So we tend to use club sites so that my wife feels more secure. Illogical perhaps but that’s out choice these days.
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Not illogical to me Tony, we feel very much the same. I can perhaps understand the case of a couple with a very busy work schedule wanting to get away to the middle of nowhere for a weekend R and R. Maybe it's the case that a lot that enjoy our hobby don't actually like interacting with other people to any great degree so I suppose an isolated CL might be ideal?
David
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