We need more basic facility sites
Comments
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“Limited budget? As I've said before the club is sadly not a charity, it's fact of life.”
I don’t think people are suggesting the club is a charity. What is being said in this post is that it is a club for members and those members have different budgets and needs. Obviously people that can afford to pay the higher prices will be in favour of top class sites with SP’s. I am not one of those people. I have commented on other posts that my days of using full facility sites are now over, my budget won’t run to those prices. So you can deduce I am now one of the members who would benefit from lower priced sites and others have made similar comments. If the club think anything of those members then they will look to cater for their needs and if this means basic facility sites then so be it. If it doesn’t then those memberships will cease and the club will end up a high end organisation. That is a long way from where the club was when I joined in 1987.
I started this post because of the impending closure of High Onn as it concerns me and I am entitled to document my views as to how I see it.
One very common statement by many, including the previous chairman, Bob Black, is that modern caravans have every facility on board to partake of our hobby quite easily. So why pay for the facility twice.
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Because the facilities, if we're talking showers on board are mostly not as spacious as those in the shower block, and will certainty run out of hot water earlier. I don't wish to have showers worrying about that or stop start as some have posted. In any case just because an outfit may them doesn't mean one has to use them, if I wish to pay for them twice then that's my concern.
If it doesn’t then those memberships will cease and the club will end up a high end organisation
And so what? If that is what the club offers then that is it. Either pay up or don't use it, but you're making it sound as if one has to join. Like any club if it does not offer what you want or need or can afford don't join, so very simple.
Yes you are entitled but then so am I and that is that basic facilities sites are underused and/or if they are not viable then they close. Use CLs.
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There are now CL’s with no facilities charging £25. Latest magazine arrived today, looked at new CL’s 2 are £25 with electric no toilet or shower. Another is £20 electric is metered again no toilet or shower.
I was looking at going to Scotland at October half term at the end of October, I looked at Ayr Cragie gardens and the nights I would require will cost £24.90 per night.0 -
Correct you didn't, however you always defend the clubs prices and have mentioned in the past that you think the prices are fair and about right.
That does concern me because while you and others are happy to keep shelling out that kind of money, the club will just keep on squeezing the pips.
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Doesn't look like we will never see eye to eye on this, you stand your corner and I'll stand mine.
You suggest I use cl's, I already do but also have used basic club sites hence my concern. So please don't worry about me I will get by without going elsewhere, I've been here for 35 years. By paying fees at the lower end of the scale gives me more money in my pocket to spend when I'm away. A win, win situation for me.
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Great - nothing to complain about then Harry
btw I like the pun you uses
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- Non facilty sites are normally a secure place with on site staff and untill some money cruncher decided that all sites must stand on their own financialy instead all sites takings going in one pot ,is when the members club started loose it's all inclusiveness for all members, whether they used high end new LVs or those who as we had when younger our first old caravan that was great fun to own with our children
And now we have the situation of mostly non facilty sites which have always struggled to at least break even closing and to the detriment of quite a few members wishes it seems in what seems this clubs "dash for cash",'🤔
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If you can't find VFM for yourself why should I help you out.
I don't eat in any of the establishments you mentioned so I couldn't say how much they charge.
To put this back on topic, £30 + for a patch of gravel is in my book expensive. I believe as a member I have the right to express that.
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I will admit the week before on that site is somewhat more expensive. I take it the week before is half term in Scotland. I was just pointing out that in my opinion some cl owners are getting somewhat greedy. My limit has gone up to £20 but with the new increases in energy cost might have to go up to more. Also I do agree with you and find it concerning that people think sites at over £30 are value for money.
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Actually I have always said that I think the club's prices are fair and right for me, a big difference. I've never said they are right and fair to anyone else and I don't think I've defended them in any other light. Their money their choice so I wouldn't be so arrogant really as to judge.
That kind of money rather patronising really, why not let everyone decide what they want to pay with their money and what is correct? Does anyone challenge you about your holidays aboard?
I'm leaving this as it's nothing to do with the OP and is being dragged off topic by being personal
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Lots of comments on this thread that people feel that the club doesn't listen to it's members but no suggestions on how that can be archived. It certainly isn't by reading a public forum open to members and non-members nor is it a true representation of the thoughts of all members.
Yes and before some people point out I have only been a member for three years so can I ask if the club has ever had member representatives or feedback sessions or any other way of capturing the thoughts of members, apart from submitted questions at the AGM.
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I find myself in total agreement with harryb. Since Covid, we haven't used one single facility block on any site we have been on - even on this CS we have been on for the last two weeks, where one of our previous visitors described the facilities as 'better than most hotels he had stayed in". We are fortunate in that our van has a massive bathroom and we just don't need - or want - to use public facilities. It's absolutely no inconvenience to us to use the van for what it was intended for- indeed, it's a delight.
With the exception of a one-night stopover at Broadway in June, the only other CAMC site with facilities we will use this year is Sandringham for Christmas, and that decision has been driven mainly by price.
Since we don't use the facilities - why should I have to pay for them - which is why no-facility sites - with their more sensible prices - will continue to have their attraction for us.
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We don't consider any site over £25 per night value for money and have sought cheaper options during June July and August of this year as a result to stay within that limit.
Price is everything for us being retired and on a limited income, and once the forecast higher home fuel bills kick in, goodness knows what the future holds.
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Their are so many ways the Club can collect members views if they care to express them. Sadly in my view many members just cannot be bothered to do so. They only use sites and if it is not to their liking they leave the Club and that is it. They make no more effort than that.
The structure of the Club is such it allows feedback to the Executive committee from the grass routes. To understand how you need to read >About the Club< Any member can become involved in local Centres, their AGMs, Regional AGMs and Regional Question times and the Club Coucil is drawn from volunteer members who do get involved in the above. There is a regional question time for the South West next month on the 24th September in Swindon. You could attend if you so desired. All thie above is on top of surveys and the opportunities of social media like CT to express views.
peedee
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The Club already has a range of sites - simple to better equipped. They collect the views of members by looking at the site occupancy figures. They know what members want by looking at what sells.
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For us, it depends on what you mean by 'basic facility sites'. If you mean sites without a 'facility block' (i.e. without a toilet block), then I'd be fine with these type of sites. However, I do like serviced pitches, these days... and they appear to be very popular. I think the club have to look at what is being used and what is economical.
Speaking to the site staff at one site without a toilet block.... I was commenting on how quiet the site was... and our conversation that many sites were quieter than usual this year... They said that in spite of being less busy, the serviced pitches were always full....
Just trying to book a serviced pitch at Devizes C&CC site for dates in September.... nothing available for my dates.... the nearest serviced pitch I can find is at Stonehenge (Private site), which is just around half an hour from Devizes - I'm still looking.
I don't know anything about High Onn, but if the site isn't used and is making a loss, I guess you can't expect it to remain open. Lack of use would push up prices even more - it would still cost approximately the same to run it - the income would need to cover expenditure...
Whether it is a basic of full facility site, the Club also find it really difficult to find suitable locations for sites, and often have to abide by restrictions imposed by local authorities (e.g. whether the Club is allowed to have hardstanding, grass pitches and how many, ehu, serviced pitches, toilet blocks, tent pitches etc., what access roads are like etc). Then there is the local authority attraction to use 'spare land' to build housing or other developments instead....
I could be wrong (this is from memory), but I think it is Essex where there is no Club site..... they have been looking for a suitable location for years without success.
Just my two-penneth... 🙂
David
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We’ve just returned home after a 3 week trip, 4 CL’s and 1 club site. We use our facilities exclusively so paying for a club site is not really vfm. The club could have card entry to facilities and we folk that don’t want to use them get a discount
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I can’t see there being much of a discount. There is still the cost of servicing the facilities wether you use them or not. So just a bit of hot water saved. To be replaced by extra heated in the LV, which unless the electric was metered would mean extra cost there.
Apart from that it’s bad enough getting the sprung door open with a bowl full of dishes at the moment and you want to add a key / card pad.😂
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- The same "problem"with your suggestion of a card system is the same as any other lock "I have left my card in the van ?" from someone who is not entitled to access or "I cannot remember the code " "I have left my glasses in the van so cannot see the code" and they are let in by others
- There is a notice in several places at this site advising members that the barrier access card is issued to them personally and to not let others through the barriers unless you are expecting them
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Good post David , the only comment I disagree with is if a site is not in profit then to possibly close it . many companies use very profitable outlets to help others that struggle to keep a presence in the area as this members club also used to do
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Their are so many ways the Club can collect members views if they care to express them. Sadly in my view many members just cannot be bothered to do so. They only use sites and if it is not to their liking they leave the Club and that is it. They make no more effort than that.
Don’t mind doing the odd survey but that’s about the limit to how much I want to be involved. I regard the club in exactly the same light as Go Outdoors. We pay an annual fee for the card and it gets me a discount. As with Go Outdoors the product can often be obtained for less elsewhere, but it provides an easy way of purchasing the product from a convenient location. As long as we find the sites to our liking, which we have since 2005, we will continue. If that changes, then we will leave.
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...but folk don't buy 14 jumpers all at once...😉
a member taking a fortnights holiday at a £30 a night club site is shelling out £420! That's a huge amount for a stay on a campsite.
it's these type of numbers that will prevent the type of member Harry mentions from being able to take that holiday with CAMC.
And yes, as some so rightly keep telling us, it's very simple....if you can't afford it, bad luck go somewhere else.
...but I'm sure that wasn't the ethos the club was built on all those years ago.
things change, times are tough....for customers and the club, but it isn't rocket science for the club to come up with an offering that keeps customers on pitches but takes the increasing sting out of those ever rising electricity increases.
it doesn't affect some (who keep telling us) as they are financially able to continue, but others being pushed away by prices have been members a long, long time and see the Club as the only way to tour...
being left with the option of cough up of give up...now that will be a hard decision.
I can afford club sites, but I've taken the above 'very simple' recommendation: I have chosen not to use them.
We will be going elsewhere, at £10-£12 a night in the uk and €0-€20 overseas.
I wish the OP and others in that position the best.
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DSB said...
"Just trying to book a serviced pitch at Devizes C&CC site for dates in September.... nothing available for my dates.... the nearest serviced pitch I can find is at Stonehenge (Private site), which is just around half an hour from Devizes - I'm still looking."
are you really saying that, if you want to actually go to Devizes, you'd stay at Stonehenge just because they have a tap on the pitch?...and then drive to Devizes?
surely I've misunderstood?
if there isn't a service pitch at Devizes, won't you just shrug your shoulders and book a different pitch....at Devizes, where you actually want to be?
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I think David (DSB) makes a valid point about usings sites or losing them and I wonder if that is the major concern of the Club that sites like High Onn are generally "under used" If that is the case it's hardly an endorsement for creating more of them even if you could overcome all the obstacles mentioned. If it were possible the Club would probably want these sites to have serviced pitches as a way to encourage more use and to that end it would mean higher site fees, maybe not as high as a full facility site, but certainly higher than £17 a night.
Ever since we have had a caravan/motorhome with full facilities, circa 1998, we have always used our own on board facilities, mainly from a personal convenience point of view. Site toilet blocks get very minimal use from us. Under the current system on non metered electricity I am not sure there is room for a discount for not using the facilities as using your own does incur some additional cost to the Club and any saving for not using a toilet block would probably be fairly minimal?
David
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