CL Site Owners' Website
Comments
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If you were visiting Hexham as a Trax Site, it’s more than “some years” ago. I would take an informed guess at more than 30 years ago. I’d base my perception of CLs on a tad more information and usage to be honest😂
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I salute your efforts, good info, best of luck developing the CL group.
Given that you are 40%+ of the total pitches available through the club and 60% of new members say that access to the CL network influenced their decision to join the club then the club needs you.
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Excellent and informative website. I have drawn it to the attention of John at High Breame CL, Flamborough - one of our favourite spots.
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I can honestly say that over the years we've used CL's that we have seen very few of the "Dump, fill, run" brigade.
But that was before the growth in motorhome ownership which has surged in recent years. It seems from Ted's post it is the CL's in Scotland who are not happy. In my view they are playing into the hands of the drive for the creation of legal stopover areas for motorhmes and campervans.(Aires). The ammunition will be welcomed by campaigners.
peedee
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Thank you again for all you comments and support of the CL network in general.
Some comments went 'off-topic' from the purpose Original Post, but that seems to be the nature of discussions on this forum!
The feedback regarding motorhome usage of CL sites for one night is noted. As Peedee points out the growth in motorhome ownership and the popularity of the routes in Scotland are where this practice has become an issue for owners, it does not seem to be an issue for owners elsewhere in the UK, so if you are Motorhomer visiting CLs, please don't feel excluded, we very much appreciate your business.
There are many other topics on the CL Owners Website that we would welcome your views on. https://www.clsiteowners.co.uk
FYI, the issue that is of greatest concern to most CLs who provide EHU during the colder months is the rising cost of electricity and the growing use of electric by ever-larger units that now rely on electric (rather than gas) heating. But this is a topic that has been much debated hgere on CT already, and the solution is to hand: Metrering and charging at cost for usage.
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Metrering and charging at cost for usage.
Yes please. A much fairer system which like Bru I have no problem with. A flat rate increase in winter would cause me to think twice about using a site and it still does not really control the use of electricity. I can see CL owners basing their flat rate increase on the worst case scenario
peedee
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Good point, Brue. I certainly noticed the presence of Basil.
I've no objection to metered lekky, providing it's done legally with the secondary supplier agreement in place, as I'm always happy to pay for what I use.
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Ted said:-
FYI, the issue that is of greatest concern to most CLs who provide EHU during the colder months is the rising cost of electricity and the growing use of electric by ever-larger units that now rely on electric (rather than gas) heating. But this is a topic that has been much debated here on CT already, and the solution is to hand: Metering and charging at cost for usage.
I don't think I would have an objection to a metered electric supply having used them in Europe. The proviso being that the charge reflected the cost to the CL owner. However from a CL owners point of view would this not be taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Installing said meters would, I imagine, be fairly expensive? Plus there is also the inconvenience to the camper if there is a multitude of different systems. Is not the most simple approach not to just make a surcharge of £2/3 per night from October to March? Would that really put people off? For it to work I think you would have to get a fair number of CL owners to do the same so it looked as if it was standard practice?
David
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Same here, we have no issues with metered usage. The only downside is the cost of infrastructure for the CL owner, which I suppose has to be reflected in prices charged. Initially, it might put prices up, but then those like us with a small outfit are more likely to benefit.
I wouldn’t use the term “nitty gritty” myself, but that’s just me.
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Metering has the downside for the CL owner of having the need for someone to be on hand to calculate the electricity costs at the time the customer leaves.
As David said, two tier pricing for the varying months is simple.
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We've used a coin operated meter on one CL, any residue from a previous user was left for the next and so on....I have to say we were super cautious with usage! It's not for every CL or user but some might deem it necessary on a popular all year round site. On the other hand we're happy without EHU so It's not something of personal concern. I'd hate to think potential CL users were put off by the possible demands for a "perfect" CL.
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Whatever is surcharged needs to reflect reality, otherwise it will please no one though DK. If it’s too low, the owners are still subsidising electrical usage. If it’s set too high, those of us that do tour through Winter, but don’t sit all day tied to a bollard sucking up power won’t want to pay an extra £5-£6 for nothing. We are off pitch, out and about.
Many camper van owners and motorhome owners don’t join the Club because they find the site fees too excessive. We have two family members who tell us this. We have mentioned the CL network, and how much better value than Club Sites it is. If the CL network starts to get into Club Site pricing, I can see some current Members walking away. It’s nowhere near that at present, but it’s clear the super CLs are out there, and there’s obviously a market.
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It would be interesting to know what is currently available and the costs. Obviously each CL owner would have to look at it in the same way they look at the provision of toilets and hard standings. If CL owners start introducing winter rates I can see that having metering might turn out to be a competitive advantage.
Its not beyond the Club to recommend a standard in conjection with CL owners.
peedee
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Ted wrote: "but more established CLs find that a one-nighter can often 'block' a longer booking and will only consider having them to stay either to fill-in a gap or as a last-minute booking if it suits them."
Do 'one-nighters' book ahead anyway? I would have thought a phone call either on the day or possibly the night before which would easily fill the odd gap. A bit of welcome extra cash provided it, at least, covered the "dump & fill" cost.
Any 'wild camping' I do is the odd night en-route to somewhere that I would be stopping at for a few days, so generally the "dump and fill" is on a site that I am staying at for a while.
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Then you have the issue of obtaining refunds for unused credit.
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You also only have one owner (Canal and River Trust) providing and installing the meters, so they are all standard. CLs are independent businesses.
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CY, one nighters aren't a problem because, despite what Ted wrote as you've quoted, he then says CL owners "very much appreciate your business". So, we're welcome👍.
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Ted, one interesting comment I have picked up on, is from one of your featured CLs. The owner said that after decades of providing a CL, the visiting inspector decided it needed a second CDP point. (🤔 For 5 outfits?) This bears out some of the anecdotal conversations we have had with CL owning friends, who find themselves puzzling over almost being made to instal something that the site has functioned perfectly well without for a very long time, as a term of getting the license renewed. Installing something for safety reasons is one thing, but if it’s an enhancement, that’s something different. We were told, anecdotally, that such a suggestions had forced one CL to close, as the owner simply couldn’t afford it.
It might not be something to discuss on here, but it bears out the conversations we have had with one or two CL owners. Are some CLs being pushed down a path they can’t/don’t want to follow, and is this a reason some are giving up? It’s worrying.3 -
CL owning friends, who find themselves puzzling over almost being made to instal something that the site has functioned perfectly well without for a very long time, as a term of getting the license renewed. Installing something for safety reasons is one thing, but if it’s an enhancement, that’s something different
I thought the idea and indeed the appeal of CLs were that they could be as simple or not as people wanted? One could turn up almost on a whim and pitch however, pay whenever... and it was as cheap as you wanted it to be.
Added to the 'fact' that they are not club sites nor run like club sites?
Now we have some wanting more control or the club issuing some sort of standard that could or could not be followed - in which case what is the point?
Installing meters which would cost money which would lead to the CL owner having to get that money back somehow? And then the CL owner having more to track and some way of getting payment?
I've never used a CL but I appreciate the appeal and how well loved they are. There is something for everyone I would think? Why make them change to suit you? One can simply choose the CL that is 'right' for them?
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Agree with your comments Corners. Some CLs are part of other businesses but many are hobby type places and long may that continue. The "big boys" have money to make whilst others just enjoy their simple set up and we can enjoy them too.
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That was the original concept Corners. Small, simple, but meeting certain criteria. This of course has altered down the decades, with water quality and EHU installation requiring safety checks. Rightly so.
Some of the changes are driven by modern outfits, more Motorhomes nowadays, more outfit owners preferring sites with EHU, loos, showers, hardstandings, service pitches, wifi provision. Difficult to get a return on such investment with just five pitches.
Thankfully, there is still a good mix of basic, innovative off grid sites, all grass, grass/ hardstanding, all hardstanding, some with a loo, some with facility block, some with a small shop, etc.....
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