Moorhampton Club Campsite Update
Comments
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If you are correct, @Wildwood then in choosing a site which families don’t generally gravitate too the trial will provide little useful data apart from the views of the few. I’d trust and hope it isn’t children per se that is the issue to the grouches, if it is then I’m afraid the club will be cow-towing to them. It’s a bit like appealing to the populist and vociferous minority which sadly we so often see these days in our general lives.0
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The fact is that there is a demand for Adult Only campsites, just as there is for Adult Only holidays. It doesnt mean that those who choose stay on them are grouches, detest children or should be 'ashamed'. It just means that they want to stay somewhere that is peaceful and quiet.
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I’m sure there would be a demand for Naturist Sites too, or caravan only ones and of course adult only ones, but who determines which are to be deemed so in this once family friendly club of ours. As said before it’s the location of sites not the facilities for many of us, are we to be banned from certain locations in some cases? It seems so. I’ve been on many sites which allow children which have been quiet and peaceful, in fact in some cases the adults have been the problem ones.0
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@TimboC Not sure if your suggestion is meant for me but if so I have made my views very clear to the club over my many decades of membership, in fact I’ve always been supportive towards them. For me there have always been three key elements to membership which underpin the ethos of the club. Firstly the notion that all sites on the network are accessible to all members. The second being the first come first served choice of pitches. The third being the fact that there is no minimum nights booking stipulated on any club site. The first two are now possibly being eroded and I now wonder when the third will be trialled somewhere soon. The Club changes, I get that, but changes are not always in the best interests of the majority of members, nor are they always supportive of the club traditional philosophy which I hold dear.0
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@rodgerthat your third tablet of stone is already being eroded. Most of the discounts, free nights, the Club occasionally offer tend to stipulate a minimum number of nights must be booked to access the discounts. Normal price bookings aren’t affected.
A lot of the sites are managed to keep the odd pitch or two for very large outfits, and I think you can request a pitch with easier access to loos and showers if you have a disability. This is just common sense site management to be honest.
Nothing ever stays the same, businesses have to evolve to keep a presence in the market. It’s that or fold. Hence this trial of one very small site as AO. If it keeps the site viable, better that than losing it altogether, far too many of the small sites have gone from the network in the last few years for one reason or another.
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Yes, it was meant for you. The original post makes it clear that this is a trial, and that it has come about as a result of demand from the membership. Not all sites have the facilities, playgrounds, equipment etc that are suitable for children, and its not unusual for reviews to downgrade sites for this reason.
Moorhampton is a small, tight site that has size restrictions for outfits, and is therefore the perfect site for a trial of this type. If the trial fails, or if enough members complain, then the idea will sink without trace but, in my view, as we are an ageing population, the demand for AO sites generally is likely to increase.
By introducing this trial, the Club is acknowledging the changes in the population and showing flexibility in its approach to the future of caravanning. Yes, children are the future as well, but the Club has plenty of sites far more suitable for families than Moorhampton, and investment in play equipment on these sites is obvious. As the current ageing population begin to die off, then no doubt the Club will take this into consideration when future plans are made.
I don't have a strong opinion either way on this subject and, like you, have witnessed as many rowdy adults on site as I have children, but I applaud the Club for trying something different.
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Understood @TimboC, it’s just that I question that level of demand from the membership you mention and then what degree of interest constitutes a valid reason for change. Afterall, what this is really is a barring of some members from visiting some sites, a situation we have never had before. I’d bet there is a sizeable proportion of the membership who would agree that this selective exclusion by the club is a bad thing. We’ve always had the ability to choose any of the networks sites according to our requirements and needs, that has always been appreciated by all. Don’t you think that the quiet peaceful and respectful families could now, in effect, become penalised by the few.0
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I don't know, which is why I suggested that you write to the Club in order to understand the rationalle behind this decision, but the fact is that the demand exists, and members wanting AO sites are currently going elsewhere. By initiating this trial the Club are testing this demand, and it will either succeed or fail. Its my view that a minority of Families will be upset that they can't go to Moorhampton for this season, but that the majority will shrug their shoulders and move onto another site or, most likely, not even notice the change.
Change is inevitable in any business. Adapt or die.
ps. I have a copy of the Practical Caravan Top 100 sites guide in front of me. 40 of these sites are Adult Only.
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@TimboC I get change is inevitable, I also understand that for businesses this can be a do or die inevitability. However, change can be both a positive and it can be also be detrimental too. It, change, needs to be very carefully considered. It seems to me that if the majority of providers evolve to have exactly the same product then that edge in individuality is lost. The club need to think differently and provide a product which is both attractive to the bulk of its membership and be significantly different to the competitors to warrant future consideration by existing and prospective members.
With regard to @Takethedogalong point, yes, some discounts do have a minimum nights caveat attached but as you say the core booking arrangement is with no stipulation for multiple nights. That in my view should remain. What I’d say is we have to be careful what we wish for as we may just see just another provider of exactly the same product,0 -
With all due respect, this is all a bit of a storm in a teacup isn’t it? It’s just a trial. It may prove to be a flop. OTOH, it might be a roaring success, but is it really that important in the grand scheme of things? I have no axe to grind as I’m easy either way (kids v no kids). We will sometimes go away with our daughter and grandchildren, and for sure a club site wouldn’t be for them, the least they require is a swimming pool. I would imagine that there are some members that would welcome an adults only site. The club is trying to appeal to a broader range, is that so bad? At the end of the day, there are lots of options out there, lots!
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It might well keep Moorhampton viable and on the network, so fingers crossed it goes well.🤞
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I really wonder why the Club chose that location in the first place - it isn’t at Hereford and it isn’t at Hay on Wye - but other sites with good reviews are. Chances of Moorhampton survival in the modern motorhome age seem slim to me.
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A different approach was in operation when we visited Naburn Lock site near York. They had divided the site with a screened off adults only area available, which seemed to work well enough. Not sure if it is still that way as the site has changed hands since then. It might work on some of the clubs larger sites.
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That’s true of a few Club Sites. The names can be misleading. Hebden Bridge isn’t in Hebden Bridge, Re named Marazion wasn’t in Marazion. 🤭
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@eurortraveller not every MH owner needs a bus😁 It’s a nice dormer stop is Moorhampton. Day in Hay, night at site, day in Hereford, we can find a parking spot in most towns👍
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Personally we would use the bus from just up the road. However, even for larger MH’s Hereford shouldn’t be a problem. According to search for sites there are two MH friendly car parks, that also permit overnight stays. Therefore those staying longer can stick their sign out and go off site for the day.
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There is also the rowing club for overnight stays. Easy walk into Hereford centre. Just a little way out of town at Moreton on Lugg is Cuckoo Corner, (ex CL) a small site with bus stop just outside for Hereford or Leominster. It was looking a bit untidy last time I was there but ok for a short stay. Moreton is within walking distance for village shop and fish and chips.
peedee
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I’ve just stumbled across this AO intention which is referenced in the June/July magazine. It’s a terrible discriminatory decision.
Our children ceased to be young many years ago and we ourselves always camp without children. However we think AO is a terrible way to go. As previously said by another, children are our future, and should be fully included in Club Site access.
We would never choose an AO site unless there was absolutely no alternative. We find dogs to be even more prevalent when on an AO site and have had horrible and extremely scary experiences with them. Gives us a no dogs site and we’d jump at the chance. But AO, absolutely not.1 -
Some would say preventing people camping with their pets is also discriminatory.
Being realistic, it’s only one site which isn’t ideal for children and it’s just a trial. You can always make your feelings known direct to CAMC.
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