CLs instead of Club sites
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On the upside-Having the choice is excellent, CL’s & C&MC sites that also offer accommodation that is not LV to ensure a large or extended family can holiday together. . .Works for me👍🏻😊
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The CL we use at Alkborough, College Farm is very nice Rocky, over the bridge for you, but a great location. Three very nice glamping pods, adjacent area to nice CL. Has a delicious cafe as well👍 The pods were proving very popular last time we were there.
Another CL we used on our SW tour, Forton House, there was a lot of work going on to get shepherd’s huts into place. Again, separate but adjacent to CL area.
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Over the bridge is good, up North/down south too😊, it’s the recommendations from folk I know are good choosers is good that is the thing👍🏻
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Absolutely👍. Not only do we have full fac club sites offering static accommodation but CLs of all types are doing the same in many cases and also sometimes B&B or cottages. The choice is wonderful and you'll have no trouble finding something to suit all the family.
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Alkborough is lovely Rocky. We were blown away at how interesting the village is, all along the Humber, right across to the Lincolnshire coast. It’s become one of our favourite local areas for cycling and walking. Interesting churches as well. Any children would love a day or more at nearby Normanby Hall👍
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Some feedback from an owner of a CL
For BoleroBoy and Wherenext & others
I stated that 'many' CLs are now metering (as we have done at Cholsey Grange CL since the outset) because a good proportion of the 600 or so in the Owners Group already meter EHU.
I grant you that the Owners Group probably represents a subset of possibly the more 'progressive' CLs, but with the recent huge rise in electricity costs it has focussed the minds of many, and is the hottest topic of conversation within our group.
Approaches.
RETROFIT to existing EHU
The issue has been that fitting meters to existing EHU bollards has (in the past) been expensive, but costs are tumbling. If the bollard casing has space, or the DIN rail in a more modern bollard has space, then a retro-fit simple 'read-only' meter will cost circa £20 + fitting.
If the existing installation is very old, there may not be space for a Read Only meter to be fitted, which would mean a new EHU + Meter + Certification. The advantage is that the new installation will be in line with the new (safer) regulations.
- READ ONLY METERS. Most owners who stay open in the winter and offer EHU are certainly now considering this option. The issue comes down to whether they have the time to read the meters on arrival / departure (as I do) or leave it to the guests to do so on an 'honesty box' basis. This seems to be working for many.
INSTALL CARD SYSTEMS. To date the 2 dominant suppliers of EHU bollards have card-based payment systems available. However, their cost and complexity (cards are given to each visitor preloaded with (say) £5 of credit) has dissuaded many from adopting them (The systems cost £1K - £1.5K to install). Operationally these systems are less than ideal as cards need to be handed out / back etc.
CREDIT CARD - NEW PLAYER. The good news (for CLs and the club) is that technology is (at last) catching up and there is a new supplier of electric touring bollards on the scene with a much smarter way of taking payment utilising the customer pre-payment via Credit/Debit/Apple-pay etc. on the bollard itself.
The installation costs look to be around £1K for a CL, but the solution is much more elegant in terms of ease-of-use for both the visitor and the owner, with minimal running costs and easier remote management (for the owner) via an app. A number of CLs are already in touch with this new supplier.
The new technology would (at a cost) suit those CLs where the owner is remote and does not have time for reading meters or does not wish to rely on an honesty-box system.
Background information.
coupled with these cashless meters
https://www.nayax.com/solution/cashless-payment-solutions/
The CL Owners Group is already in discussions with this new supplier in the hopes of finding a cost-effective package that will suit CL sites that wish to ensure they recoup the cost of EHU.
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Me too, and seem to manage as well as anyone else using other methods. Once I've sussed out where and which sites I'd like to use I then look them up on the relevant web sites.
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with the recent huge rise in electricity costs it has focussed the minds of many, and is the hottest topic of conversation within our group.
But not apparently the Club who seems to be ploughing on regardless even ignoring the opportunity to implement changes when sites are being upgraded/refurbished.
A great post CC, thanks.
peedee
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Did you read the implied costs there PD at all?
The installation costs look to be around £1K for a CL
I'm sure you do do the sum and work out the cost for all the club's 10,000 pitches? I get £2 million pounds.
even ignoring the opportunity to implement changes when sites are being upgraded/refurbished.
I think that is just a non starter, you can't have one site on meters, or part of a site on meters, and the rest not in my view?
I think you will just have to accept that the club isn't going to install meters no matter how many times you post about it.
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I’m not particularly keen on the idea of meters, however if when a site was refurbished part or all of the meters were due for replacement anyway, the costs would be reduced. I would also expect some reduction for scale.
I also don’t see why one site couldn’t be metered, whilst the others continue as they are. Clearly there would be a price difference, as there are between different sites now. If we are going down the line of surface type booking, it would even be possible to do part of the site. You could either book a site with a meter or a standard EHU pitch. Again there would be a price difference.
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With the new "singing and dancing" booking syste, it would be nice to think we could get a non-EHU pitch so that those of us who are self-sufficient in energy are not subsidising others.
Moderator comment: Post slightly amended.
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Well maybe but I can't see having meters on part of the site or one site metered and the the rest no. I don't think that many people given a choice will not choose meters, not the typical club site user anyway. I have posted that not having EHU is a better option, or using any refurbishment money to be spent on things like solar panels.
Anyway academic as it's not going to happen soon.
Post edit, missed off the not
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I’m sure the Club didn’t install hook ups at every pitch when hook ups were first introduced, in fact I know that you could book the paddock area of Marazion without EHU back in the mid 90’s, so they had two separate areas. Might get complicated nowadays, so best idea if the Club was to meter, would be to look at a Site at a time.
They don’t refurbish every Site all in one go, so simply add introduction of metered pitches to whichever Site is next up for refurbishment🤷♀️ Some Sites, which are leased, such as the Racecourses, won’t get done anyway. From Ted’s post, it sounds like cheaper options are coming on stream now as well.1 -
Whilst the Club seem to recognise the issue of cost with regard to providing electricity on their sites they don't, currently, seem to be willing to change anything at the moment. Whilst metering could be installed site by site I imagine the Club would prefer to have a single standard across all sites which probably rules out the idea for the time being. They would also have a close eye on the acceptability of the idea of meters to members generally? Another factor is, not all, but quite a few sites are leased and as such always have a question mark over them in the long term which would probably put the Club off making changes?
I think CL's are in a totally different position as the use of electricity would usually form a higher percentage of the site fees so metering is an attractive proposition and the cost of installing for just 5 pitches could be recovered relatively quickly.
David
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Makes sense JV. Mind they have had Marazion 30 years to my knowledge, and some of the potholes around the Site road are like old friends to us now. I posted a photo of the mini lake feature we enjoyed, back in September😂
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CS, it was also stated that retro fitting of read-only meters could be accomplished at about £20 per meter, which you omitted, and that would work out at around £200,000, or a tenth of the amount you projected. That sort of outlay could readily be covered by the saving in electricity which is an inherent outcome of the use of metered electric.
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CholseyGrange said
"I stated that 'many' CLs are now metering (as we have done at Cholsey Grange CL since the outset) because a good proportion of the 600 or so in the Owners Group already meter EHU."
Sorry if I missed this further up the thread - but what is the reaction of CL visitors to metering on these sites? Some refer to the Club needing to assess member reaction before installation on Club sites.
Personally, as I have said on another thread about CLs with meters, I think it is the right way to go. We used a CL which meters electricity earlier this year. It is one of the Owners Group. The owner seemed to suggest that visitors were more interested in their consumption than critical.
So I just wondered if there was any consensus in the Owners Group about the initiative.
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It also stated, which you omitted, that this may not be possible? And really if it were that little the club wouldn't say it would be prohibitively expensive.
It is still £200,000 that I'd rather be spent on more pitches and or better facilities. Something that people might enjoy and benefit from?
Outlay would be covered? Could you explain how? I am at a loss as to how? If there is less electricity used (and I'm not sure there would be) then the club will pay less for that electricity. If a pitch uses £20 per stay now that is what the club pays, and it goes down to £15 say that is what the club will pay. It cannot get anything back?
As I keep saying it's been decided so we'll just have to live with it. There are I understand plenty of sites that have meters, use those if one dislikes meters so much.
The club offers an all inclusive price, just like hotels, holiday accommodation, restaurants, package holidays... one can either accept it or not.
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On a Peak Dist. site this summer, an independent site, I was initially put off by the pre-pay meter, which seemed to swallow our first couple of 25p cards quite quickly, but later realised that we'd paid out less overall for the 3 night weekend than the £4 or £5 / night charged by many sites for EHU.
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I think metering of some kind has to be the way to go ultimately. From a Club and visitor point of view, it would demonstrate a clear commitment towards the environment, and might just be a practical deterrent in terms of over use of electricity.
The Club has relied upon its friendly message of asking folks to be mindful about power consumption for years, but given the impact of electrical contracts on the pricing policy recently, surely it has to be better that folks can opt in or out of how much they want to pay, beyond the initial pitch fee? At least metering gives everyone that choice, rather than a blanket price applied to every visit, regardless of outfit size, cooking choice, how warm you want to be, etc.... it’s how our homes work, you pay for what you use, so why not apply the same for our touring homes?7 -
I would say that IMO, facilities on Club sites are fine.
There seems to be a divide between those who want more/better facilities, and those who want the money spent on other things. I would agree with purchasing more sites, as long as they offer value for money, but would hold off upgrading sites unless absolutely necessary.
On metering use, I tend towards pay for what you use, even though as we have a larger van with Alde heating, we would possibly pay more. It is our choice what we use, and no reason why we should not pay for our use......we already so so at home. Why should being on holiday mean we should be profligate?
If you think that being on holiday means you can do as you please and ignore global warming, then you need to think again.
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I certainly think se who 'off grid'...perhaps THS etc, are more mindful of the resources they use on site.
due to the time we spend on sites without fully plumbed in services, we propbably 'eke out' our resources (water, leccy) as second nature....even simple things like cleaning teeth not under a running tap or washing up in a small bowl of water...sometimes saving coffee cups to wash up later with dinner things etc.
it's the same with the leccy, lights go off when not being used, just like at home.
we like to think we don't waste things if it's as simple as flicking a switch or turning off a tap..
this isn't 'bragging/preaching' merely how we are....not 'greens' but don't like waste.
as TDDA mentions, the 'please don't' message from the club is all well and good but is it working in a world where all modern vans have ever more electrical kit with owners having ever more gadgets...
while moving all our eggs into the leccy basket is wonderful if cheap, plentiful and green, it ain't so good if it's expensive, limited and 'less green'...
Club sites might be able to use solar to offset some of the cost of running the office and facilities blocks, some rooftop kit is aiding hot water production but club solar (on site) won't run multiple pitches at 16A.
perhaps the time is right for those who have mobile solar with them to disconnect from the current pricing regime and contribute to the overall reduction in electric use...
yes, it wont 'save the club money' but it might reduce the overall grid requirement which has to be a good thing in its own right?
a non-EHU option saving a few quid might add up to something worthwhile across the network?
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Yes, THS sites with no handy water access after the first van fill, turns us into 'caravaners' as we have to lug water too...
fortunately, it's not for 5/6 days after arrival but, as you say, changes perspective.
we're certainly not out to save the planet but don't like waste...
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BB a lot of Caravans have large fresh water tanks. Mine in fact holds 2.5 Aquarolls which is a lot of water enabling a lot of showers before refill. I/we eat out so the water is used mainly for showering. Perhaps then turning you into a Caravaner may be a good thing, less water carrying equals more cycling.
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No doubt you fill it at the MHSP on arrival....surely you don't go and get one Aquaroll at a time and then pump it into the tank.....repeat as necessary?
we do plenty of cycling thanks....just clicked over 18,000 km on this latest bike.
catching up the MH😉
I was out the other day and had the bike computer on trip distance....for no real reason flipped it to total miles (use miles when 'here') and was stunned to see a display of '11111'....I actually thought there was a fault...
a few seconds later it clicked to '11112'....
anyway, the point was that 'going easy' on resources does seem to come easier to those who've had to be a little careful with them due to touring style...
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