Clachan Arrival Trial.
This link was posted in the General Chat section but I think it would be good repost here as a separate discussion. https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/useful-information/arrival-efficiency-trial-at-clachan/
The Club are going to trial the use of ANPR from 24th August at the Clachan site in Scotland to automate arrivals with the likelihood it will be rolled out to more sites if successful. Some of you may have already used commercial sites where ANRP is employed to access a site. All the details are quite extensively covered in the link. Members will have to make sure their registration number is registered when booking and apparently payment will be taken on the morning of arrival.
David
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It’s a good site to trial it on, small but with 5 different pitch types. If with the new booking system I opt to pay before arrival, it would be nice to just drive up to the barrier and be let in. However, I do wonder how successful it would be at a large busy site. When we had a service pitch at Cirencester a few years ago, on several occasions folk started to set up on one of the purple pegs, only to be told to move when they went back to get their barrier card. Quite what part of white peg or red peg (if they had a service pitch) they didn’t understand is a mystery.😂 I know the barrier sign is going to remind them of pitch type and maps will be available, which will probably work at Clachan. However, when the Friday rush occurs at a large site……well I guess we will have to wait and see if the trial progresses that far.
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I've been on a commercial site with ANPR and, as you say, once you've notified them of your registration number, it works well.
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I am a member of forestry commission sites, going in-no problem, coming out-no problem as a member or someone who has bought a pkg ticket, if not then the barrier stays down. ANPR is a superb system, I’ve never known it fail yet. Similar to multi story car parks.
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Reading the info. about the trial the instructions for the member is clear and comprehensive. I see that they are reminded that the ANPR will be programmed to only operate after that 1pm arrival time. That’s good! To ignore these instructions could possibly negate any benefits of installing.
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It was Tinny who made the connection Brue. I’d been informed it was in Scotland but TW did the research👍🏻
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From reading the details in the link, posted by TDA in General Chat, it seems that you will no longer need to show a membership card? Given the recent publicity given to the membership card on the App it seems a bit strange, unless the card will be dispensed with?
I am not even sure that at Clachan there is a reception as don't you have to book in at Maragowan just down the road? So probably a good place to start. I think it will become more complicated as the sites get bigger but if you are saving on average 5/10 minutes at reception compared to the current set up arrivals could be quite smooth. This obviously lessens, quite considerably, the need for contact with site staff. Does this mean that things like site shops and perhaps selling of gas will be a thing of the past?
David
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RB2. I was thanking TDA for providing the actual link that DK used but I'm sure TW can take the credits too, so apologies if I've missed anyone else off the list.
I was relieved to hear about the 1pm lock but will it prevent people blocking the entrance? I suppose time will tell.
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Cheers, Rocky, but it was only because you'd already posted.
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Thanks👍🏻, you stated ‘development’ I saw that as TW. No worries😊. One thing we can both agree on it’s a good move forward.
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I searched for the information after reading what Rocky and Tinny had posted, and copied it. So much of the Club’s information gets buried too deep for a lot of Members to find easily, so just thought it best to have Club’s own link. Hopefully helps in case any misinformation (😉) gets posted.
I see it as a way forward, but it will rely more on Members knowing what they are doing on arrival, never easy at first with any changes. Our experience of the long winded arrival procedure at FM back in March (no criticism of staff, and no queue, we arrived alone) had us wanting some sort of easier arrival procedure, it shouldn’t take 20 minutes to get in, then a walk back to reception as well to get settled. Hope it goes well👍
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Wow ... this development could revolutionise the way sites are run. Thinking aloud, I have come up with some of the benefits (to me at least) :
- Hastle-free booking in and departure - no treking back to the office to report where I'm pitched and to collect a barrier pass that I don't ever use
- Extended arrival and departure times - even before 1pm
if there are pitches free - All year round access to sites which are currently seasonal, subject to ground conditions allowing (ie hardstandings/reinforced surfaces)
- No need for an office, freeing up the site staff to carry out their maintenance duties throughout the working day
- The possibility of reducing staffing levels if on-site admin is eliminated, thereby keeping site fees down
- The possibility of installing an automated entry system which allows units to arrive without booking in advance, subject to pitches being available (using an in and out pitch counter)
I know some of these "advantages" may not appeal to everybody but I can certainly see the potential. It would of course need all pitches to be the same category - standard with awning and electric - otherwise it wouldn't work without extra supervision.
It makes me wonder if CMC HQ have seen the potential of the Camping-Car Parks model in France and are giving it a limited trial. Time will tell.
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It's very good news and hopefully will prove successful and be rolled out across more sites.
Now using work speak EBI (even better if) if the system could be linked to the app showing which pitches are free for your choice (maybe not activated till you've passed the barrier for the first time) and certainly some way of letting the site office know which pitch you have chosen and so keeping out of the office completely?
Having said all that I don't want to take wardens out of reception all the time and I assume you'll still be able to do it old school if you want, although many, like me, will want to book in this way.
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Sorry to burst your bubble, Jim, but arrivals are still between 1300 and 2000.
I think you've utilised some wishful thinking in your list 😂
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What can happen in the future is only limited by imagination?
David
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A potential negative(for rule breakers) if you arrive or leave before/beyond your allotted time you could be required to pay extra, maybe automatically against your card used.
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Earlier arrivals times? I don't want to turn this into an early arrivals thread but if it's known that if you turn up early at the ANPR barrier and there's a pitch you'll be let on then it becomes a free for all again and will undo all the excellent work in stopping early arrivals. As stated (I think) the system won't let you on till 13:00, rightly so in my view.
Extended arrivals maybe but again where do you draw the line 9pm 10pm? And once again you'll get I arrive only a few minutes after 10 posts.
There will always be a need for an office, not everyone will pay before arriving and ANPR does fail (as I posted one car park never could read ours) and as a point of contact for any problems and don't forget the shop. I can't see on site admin going down all that much, apart from the rush hours and jobs around a large site will still need a few sets of wardens to adhere to working legislation.
Arriving with out booking? That happens now but someone or something needs to check if their stay can be accommodated, there might be a pitch today but tomorrow night? Also you can't let just anyone in through the barriers, you can imagine what would happen with some of the travelling community?
But yes I'm sure the system can be developed even more.
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But they can’t change without them being changed! We have to work with what is reality in the here and now until further changes are possibly made. Of course wishing is allowed but some will believe only what they want to believe. Most of the issues we see on sites are down to folk wishing and then carrying our their very own wishes.
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I think Jim is looking at it from a mainly overseas, motorhome perspective. Nothing wrong with that, I can see merits in what he dreams about. But it’s a long, long way in the future, if ever, under the Club hat.
It will be a few years anyway for the current trial and any roll out to come about. Even more to get some Members on board with it I suspect.
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I think the technology and the Club will do ok. It’s the mindset of some of the Membership that is more worrying……. Those who don’t like change, those who don’t help themselves more about what is going on, those who like to push the boundaries and don’t care about others, for example🤷♀️
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I agree with your comments, especially about the arrival times. There was a "review" of a site a few days ago from a member who had arrived 2 hours early and ranted about not being allowed on site or allowed to wait in the car park! He/she must think that the Caravan Club is run simply for him/her or that they are the only member who might arrive early, forgetting that if other people arrive early, it is easy for the road to become blocked.
I don't object to the proposals as long as I can still choose my pitch as I am very much against having my pitch allotted, unless I am staying for just one night and it is one of the main reasons that I like the CMHC.
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🤣🤣, thinking outside the box👍🏻
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In the information that has been released to members it says payment will be taken by the nearby site ? arrivals without a booking would i presume need to contact the nearby site for payment and their reg number to gain access
It will be interesting whether the near by site will have the facilities to be able to do this by having the office manned at all times from 1300_2000
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As well you know that is nothing new! Some have even had already on-site ‘help’ to save pitches from those who arrived on a previous day. As said previously, most issues on sites occur due to folk wishing to do their own thing. We also read in reviews when ‘members’ have been seen and questioned about doing such things then the bearer of bad news is deemed rude and everything is then painted as wrong. No matter what some will always conspire to get their own way and exhibit such antisocial behaviours. Let’s not forget though that such folk really are in a minority despite the issues they can cause.
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