Loss of Site Shops on remote rural sites
Comments
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Agreed, a tad of forward thinking and organisation helps a great deal regardless of being a motorised caravan or otherwise. Can’t see the club wishing to take on the responsibility of site shops in these times of cutbacks and burdening bureaucracy, red tape and regulations.
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The world has changed since the pandemic!people are more grumpy because it seems that the "big I am more important than you" person type is more prevelant!You will see this on the road,on site,in towns and around shops.I am so fed up with this attitude now that I no longer (after 50 years of caravanning)want to be involved.
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Some club sites have shops, some don't, some have large shops, sone have smaller ones, if having a shop is that important to your stay then ring up before booking or travelling.
For myself I've always viewed them as a slight perk, if they are there I'll use them for things like local maps, ice creams, sweets, local farm foods are usually good. In 25 years I think I can count on the fingers of one hand the time we've used them if we run out of something like milk.
We don't count on a site having one and stock up elsewhere. As posted caravan/MH fluids will always be sold and gas should be too dependent on stock
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I agree that a bit of forward planning should ensure you have a gas cylinder to use and a spare and with fridges and microwaves food should not be a problem.
I can’t see the point of having a food shop at Broadway when there is a garage that supplies everything over the road. Surely we should be supporting the local economy, not taking trade away?
I would far rather see wardens out and about on the site than sat in the office in the expectation someone might want a tin of beans or a pint of milk.
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“I would far rather see wardens out and about on the site than sat in the office in the expectation someone might want a tin of beans or a pint of milk.”
I think that would be the club’s stance afterall, thats what they pay the staff's wages for, not running a shop I believe!
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If you read my original post you would see that I said 'on Rural sites where the nearest shops are several (more than 5) miles away,' and added we should buy 'locally' if shops are available. A good example is Exmoor house, with a nice Co-op and plenty of Artisan shops and restaurants all within walking distance of the site. Borrowdale however had a terrific shop until this year. Sorely missed by members onsite (us) and hillwalkers coming off of Catbells looking for an ice ream. Just another change that I feel diminishes the Club and its welcome.
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David, I think some 'Covid' measures are still being applied, for instance here at Chapel Lane, Shower curtains still haven't re-appeared although the rails and hooks still hang forlornly waiting for the curtains to return, Saving clothes from getting wet in the cubicles which are smaller and NEED a curtain.
A bit 'off track' from the original thread, but you did mention 'covid' related items.
Whilst on the subject of Chapel Lane site, noticed multiple 'Traveller families' and their vans onsite, taking over the Laundry Facilities and breaking numerous site rules , hanging washing on fences and railings, gas bottles standing outside vans, Caravans and motorhomes parked close together on pitches unused. Just a bit unnerving, but not bothering us personally.
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Ray, you sound dissatisfied.
So drive 20 minutes from Chapel Lane.to Somerswood Caravan site at Meriden. Ask Angela or Marc, the owners, to let you look round.See if you like it better.
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Yes, a bit dissatisfied I am considering other sites, and do use some, but I suppose I have a sense of loyalty to the club, after 20 years, being a member, BUT the Club has changed a lot over the last few years, its no longer the 'Friendly Warden' type of Club and it shows , no where in the Information room to even write your Comments ... Why not ??
Before many start to vote with their feet, please review some of the EDICTS handed down over the last couple of years.
A concerned and dissatisfied long Term Member.
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It certainly has changed a lot! As to why there is nowhere in the Information room to write your comments these days the reason is clear. You can now write your comment immediately for all to read online. The internet has a lot to answer for but I guess that’s all to do with the changes we witness in real time. I'm far from convinced that this is a good thing mind!
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The 'comments book' was more friendly and local, not all comments were complaints, and if it was a complaint ,perhaps the problem had slipped the Wardens memory and just needed jogging, no need to shout it from the top of 'Trip Advisor' for all and sundry to see. No I agree ,not all new 'rules' are better for the Clubs 'ambience' and Member/ Warden relationships it appears to be more 'Them and US ' in these H&S enlightened times.
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Hi, yes it's me again, staying at my most favorite Site on the Network, Borrowdale/Low Manesty, yes, I did ring in advance BEFORE I booked and YES, the Site Managers have changed and the small shop onsite is open again, so we booked for 3 weeks , then added another week when we realised our journey home would include a Bank Holiday and a School holiday Week ! Minimum facilities Sites are not as cheap as they 'used to be' lol 😆 reading back through comments, a lot have mentioned 'plan ahead' believe me we do ! But it's nice having 'Fresh' Milk and local Bacon n eggs. I feel the Club should be more pro-active in assisting Managers of Rural sites who would like to provide a shop ywhen no alternatives are available within 5 miles. Perhaps a step by step guide for them ? So they avoid pitfalls ? Anyway now well into our lovely Paradise Holiday in deepest Borrowdale.
I might give New England Bay a Ring and see if they have re opened their little shop ? You never know until you ask !1 -
The club can give all it wants in terms of how to and step by step guides, but what it won't do is give the wardens the start up money to do it.
The wardens themselves have to put this money in and hope they get their money back as well as restocking and getting that stock in in their own time.
Is milk, bacon, eggs… fresher when bought on site?
As to the missing sticker that should have been sent out this has been mentioned before many times, the answer from the club is that all you have to do is ring/contact the club and one will be sent out if it's that important.
Anyway glad to see you're still using club sites after your OP.
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Ray, if you want a campsite which has a shop then go to one which has a shop.. UKCampsite.co.uk has a filter to let you select those.
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I don’t think Site staff need a guide on how to run a small shop, but I firmly believe some MH owning Club Members could do with a bit of advice on “how to survive in a motorhome that hardly moves when staying on a Club Site”. 🤭 We were pitched up next to a grumpy so and so who didn’t want to move his MH off the pitch last year, but had run out of milk and bread. (Bus stop 200 metres away). I gave him some tips about longlife milk and part baked bread……… He was last heard mumbling about storage space, so I gave up🤣
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Borrowdale site is excellent for anyone not wishing to take their vehicle off site, be it car or Motorhome. The bus stops right outside the site and takes you to the centre of Keswick where there is an excellent Booths. Alternatively if you fancy a boat ride to Keswick then take the ferry and catch the bus back so as to cut short any carrying of groceries.
I know Mr.&Mrs.Fussey (previous wardens) have spoilt members who like a shop on site but it's no great hardship with public transport available.
ps Borrowdale is one of our favourite sites as well.
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Come to Cornwall. . We have campsites with shops like this on site. Proper Job.-1 -
…..but it’s quite a walk to The Lakes.
Mind you, we also have campsites with no shops.
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@eurortraveller That's just a picture you've taken from the website at Polmanter (scroll down) - have you actually been there and what's it like?
But apart from a getting a picture off its website, really it's not comparing like for like to a club site. It has far more facilities than a site like Borrowdale with prices to match.
The prices there in peak are £61 in peak for a grass pitch and £64 for a HS. But a SP comes in at £70.50
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Define “better”. It’s subjective and surely no one uses a site solely for its shop?
Non-member prices are rather irrelevant as the OP is a member🤷🏻♂️
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@peedee I assume then that you've stayed on Polmanter? Up to you but as you've posted that you think club site prices are too high and prefer sites with metering metered sites I'm surprised you've stayed here at these higher than club prices?
I really think that comparing prices including the non member extra is rather just nonsense. It's been discussed and generally agreed that the numbers staying on a club site without being members is very small indeed. But you're a member anyway so why bring that in?
A much better site ? According to you of course that's not a fact and of course as @Tinwheeler says that is subjective.
But I would say what isn't subjective are the really harsh, in my view terrible, T&Cs compared to the club. As you know with the club it's a £5 deposit and cancel outside of 21 days you get that back or lose it within 21 days.
At Polmanter it's a £50 deposit no matter how long you're staying and it's non refundable. The balance is payable six weeks before arrival and again if you want to cancel within that six weeks you lose everything. If you want to change dates outside the 6 weeks then it's a £10 'admin fee'. Also you cannot change the dates within six weeks of arrival. The site charitably offers an insurance of £2.50 per night against this but even then there are T&C on a sliding scale on how much you get back! Cancel with 7 days days and you only get back 70% for a number of four specified reasons, but if you want to cancel and the reason isn't listed, for example mechanical trouble you only get back 50%, this is absolutely disgraceful in my view.
But there is worse to come. In mid July to the end of August you have to arrive on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday and the minimum stay is 7 nights.
Children at Godrevy stay for £1 per night up to 18 while at Polmanter children from 3 to 15 would pay £14 in peak. So a family of four with children under 16 would end up paying £98.50 as opposed to £61.50 a night. If the children are 16 to 17 then at Polmanter it would be £104.50, an extra £43 a night. Hardly worth mentioning but it's £6.50 per dog there as well. Also an extra car is £6.50 per night while clb car parks are free or it's £2 on the pitch, or child's tent on the pitch is £6.50 per night while free on a club site.
Any other time of year the minimum stay is 3 nights. So really anyone staying at Godrevy for three nights would almost certainly join and get the cheaper price.
So @peedee are you really staying this is a better site taking all of that into account? I certainly wouldn't be happy booking there under those T&Cs but each to their own.
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It’s about “change” really……… to sites, to how you tour, where you tour, the touring World in general. Some adapt and cope well, some don’t, and some have no intention of even trying. Change happens, survivors adapt, others chock up their wheels for good, some grumble into extinction……….. 😁
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I assume then that you've stayed on Polmanter?
Yes I have, several times, it is a far better site than any of the Clubs' offers in the area and even if it costs more and the terms are more onerous, its worth it. You should try it @Cornersteady after all it does have hardstanding fully serviced pitches which you dearly love. Terms generally do no bother me, I don't book months in advance and do not intend to cancel or not turn up. The price of children is irrelevent to me, mine left the nest many years ago and my Grandchildren are no longer youngsters. I no longer have a dog and have no need of a awning, my motorhome offers plenty of space without one. For a short stay I wouldn't chose a full facility site so length of stay is also irrelevent. Non member price is highly relevent to a non member and unless they particularly wanted to stay at a Club site location, I cannot see them staying there because none Club sites can offer just as good, if not better value for money.
peedee
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And instead of turning visitors away till 1300 they provide parking for early arrivals and breakfast from 9 a.m. Oh, and as well as their shop there are roast dinners pn Sundays. Come on down.
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@peedee I am really amazed as you dearly love metering sites and club prices are too high for you! But I must say if certain items like children and terms are irrelevant to you why compare prices with non members when you are a club member yourself?
And of course being a better site is not a fact?
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But it’s St Ives!😲 It’s one of the last places in Cornwall I’d choose to visit - hordes of tourists, awful parking, thieving seagulls….. Nope, there are far nicer places to go.
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