Closures CL
This month one in and fourteen out the rot continues
Comments
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Bad news indeed. I wish that the Club still gave brief details about why CLs close, especially if they have chosen to go down the private site route. Would be helpful, although of course some owners may like to keep decisions to themselves.
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I must admit I am beginning to wonder why ? Especially if they have gone to the expense of laying in EHU. Has public liability insurance gone up drastically ? Is there a common reason ? This is more than just Natural Wastage,through death,change of ownership
etc., perhaps the Club could tell us ?0 -
I shall have to take a bit more of an in depth look at which have closed. Sometimes reading through descriptions of what is provided can give a hint. I suspect some will be following the trend in farms sold off, going out of business generally, or younger
members of farming families taking over and doing something very different. Our favourite farm CL was originally a dairy farm, but down the years has diversified into free range egg production, livery stables and sub contracted hedge trimming/ field maintenance,
with the cattle bringing in the least income nowadays.Plus of course, the majority of today's touring visitors demand so much more from even these tiny sites, otherwise the customer base shrinks year on year. Gone are the days where location, peace and quiet, and just access to water and waste was all that
tourers required. Now a huge percentage want/need HS, toilet block, 16amps, serviced pitches etc... Not easy to recoupe investment on all that with just 5 pitches.0 -
I shall have to take a bit more of an in depth look at which have closed. Sometimes reading through descriptions of what is provided can give a hint. I suspect some will be following the trend in farms sold off, going out of business generally, or younger
members of farming families taking over and doing something very different. Our favourite farm CL was originally a dairy farm, but down the years has diversified into free range egg production, livery stables and sub contracted hedge trimming/ field maintenance,
with the cattle bringing in the least income nowadays.Plus of course, the majority of today's touring visitors demand so much more from even these tiny sites, otherwise the customer base shrinks year on year. Gone are the days where location, peace and quiet, and just access to water and waste was all that
tourers required. Now a huge percentage want/need HS, toilet block, 16amps, serviced pitches etc... Not easy to recoupe investment on all that with just 5 pitches.Write your comments here...I think you may find some have got little bit bigger 5 -10 vans on site, the last three cls that I went had more than 5 vans the last one said CC where removing him from their listings because of this.
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We have been on the odd site that had 6 on for a night, but not more than this. Some CLs have a small site next door, or a CS adjacent, which is permitted I think if planning has been granted. We have been on a number that are now Ex CLs, got the planning
permission and increased pitches and very nice sites they are, so it can be done.0 -
Fifty years ago five 'vans would take up very little space. Now that the 'van and their towcars and their awnings are at least twice the size they were we would need to REDUCE the limit to three or perhas two to keep the visual intrusion the same. So having
managed to stay at five is in fact a doubling of what we had.0 -
Fifty years ago five 'vans would take up very little space. Now that the 'van and their towcars and their awnings are at least twice the size they were we would need to REDUCE the limit to three or perhas two to keep the visual intrusion the same. So having
managed to stay at five is in fact a doubling of what we had.Trouble is, these days, people are not content with peace and quite on a grassy field. They want a theme park for £5.00 a night. Toilet block and serviced pitches thrown in. Its just not going to happen.
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Perhaps the Club is not publishing the reasons for closing because many of those that have closed as a CL are now small commercial sites. The CC perhaps does not want to publish this fact as regulars, and otheres, might continue to use these sites instead
of using CC sites or CLs.0 -
It did smile when I saw on another thread that somebody was looking for a CL with an indoor swimming pool!
Well there's one at Ingleton, Alan, that I know of.
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It did smile when I saw on another thread that somebody was looking for a CL with an indoor swimming pool!
Write your comments here...nellie told us about one at Ingleton! Nice little leisure centre adjacent to CL and commercial site, very reasonable price for CL, but using pool, etc is extra. Very nice though!
oop we cross posted Nellie!
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Great minds think alike, tda!
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I've just recalled another with a pool we have used as well! We were on our way home from Cornwall one year, got horrendously held up so detoured via Malmesbury. CL was a sheep field, cost us £3 for the night. However the very kind owner could see we were
exhausted, so invited us to cool off in his gorgeous outdoor pool. Fabulous! It was so hot, after the swim we just stuck our shower head out the window of the van and showered outside! Cold water, and swimwear on! It has closed now sadly, elderly owner died.
Such fun!0 -
There used to be one at Kelso, Tully Field, Houndridge Farm. They used to allow visitors to used the swimming baths attached to the Squash (?) centre, but it was a while ago and might not now be the case.
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I know of two CLs with swimming pools both near Carlisle. One is at Dalston Leisure on the Maryport ? road and the other in a village not far from Englethwaite Hall, can't remember the name of the village but you turn right out of the CC site and then several
miles along the road you take a left up a hill and the CL is on the right. Fairly new to the CL network , couple of years only. Kellysmum0 -
Gorlands at Longridge also has a pool.
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I know of two CLs with swimming pools both near Carlisle. One is at Dalston Leisure on the Maryport ? road and the other in a village not far from Englethwaite Hall, can't remember the name of the village but you turn right out of the CC
site and then several miles along the road you take a left up a hill and the CL is on the right. Fairly new to the CL network , couple of years only. KellysmumMy goodness, how did I forget that one!!
We were there during storm Desmond. It's on the road out of Carlisle towards Dalston,
only a couple of miles out of the city. Can definitely recommend this site. The other CL is Faugh Head Farm Caravan Site, Ainstable near Armathwaite. Not visited this one yet.0 -
There's another at the Brick Kilns at Little Barney in Norfolk although you'll need a bank loan to stay there. We stayed at the commercial site adjacent many moons ago, back in the mid 90s, usually in Early autumn when the apple trees were providing supper
every night.Back on thread though, is it not the case that we notice the closures more so now as there are fewer new ones opening up to replace the closures? The cost must be prohibitive these days to set up new CLs.
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It is a great shame that so many CLs seem to be closing. But some members do complain about the cost of staying on a CL - I must admit I do like having mains elec and am quite happy to pay around £15 a night for the privilidge of staying somewhere with peace,
quiet, tranquility and rural views. I don't want a toilet block/shower etc. Two summers ago I stopped on a CL in Cornwall, payed £11.50 a night with awning and elec - my brother camping on a commercial site down the road payed £35 a night - mind you, he did
have a tiny swimming pool, meagre shop, a souless bar and you could stumble from one guy rope to another - it was packed!! Long live the CL.0 -
If I was a prospective CL Owner and as part of my research into having a CL involved reading through some of the posts on Club Together then I would think twice about whether I wanted the aggro. All the doom and gloom about muddy fields, bad access, children
running wild, dogs pooing everywhere, and people finding £12 a night too expensive and the toilets and showers are not up to the standard of those in their vans on some sites, plus too many vans on a site and the regulars who are there all season, then I think
I would not want to invest so I will be out, could well be the train of thought.But just to let some prospective CL Owners know, it does not cost a lot to set up if you are a bit practical, and we don't see many unhappy campers and 70% who keep coming back must be happy with our standards, and if I had a moan it would be with the Club
for failing to promote CL's in its articles in the magazine, as they make it look the only thing that exists in an area is a Club or Affiliated site, and after all we are tied to Club Members and those sites are open to anyone who wants to pay their rates,
but the magazine is our only advertising forum.David www.perthshirecl.co.uk
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The mag isn't your only advertising forum....
..the best ones are on here and from the members recomendations to friends.
We actively promote CL's to our friends, the problem being that some are moaning at me because they cannot book a certain site for Easter.
Spread the word everyone, CL's are brilliant.
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Hi another cl with swiming pool called Llanfendigaid in Tywyn wales stayed there some years ago
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If I was a prospective CL Owner and as part of my research into having a CL involved reading through some of the posts on Club Together then I would think twice about whether I wanted the aggro. All the doom and gloom about muddy fields, bad access, children running wild, dogs pooing everywhere, and people finding £12 a night too expensive and the toilets and showers are not up to the standard of those in their vans on some sites, plus too many vans on a site and the regulars who are there all season, then I think I would not want to invest so I will be out, could well be the train of thought.
But just to let some prospective CL Owners know, it does not cost a lot to set up if you are a bit practical, and we don't see many unhappy campers and 70% who keep coming back must be happy with our standards, and if I had a moan it would be with the Club for failing to promote CL's in its articles in the magazine, as they make it look the only thing that exists in an area is a Club or Affiliated site, and after all we are tied to Club Members and those sites are open to anyone who wants to pay their rates, but the magazine is our only advertising forum.
David www.perthshirecl.co.uk
Hello David
thanks for your feedback. We have a section in The Magazine called CL Sites: Touring and each month our regular contributor Nick Harding produces an article which includes at least 3 CLs. Nick finds a theme - for instance see page 35 March Magazine we show three CLs perfectly located for off-site entertainment. In February the article was called "Monumental Trip" and features 3 CLs near Castles and the January issue showed our CLOY winners. I also put together the CL Sites Updates pages which feature in every issue. I hope that helps
thanks and regards Sandie
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If I was a prospective CL Owner and as part of my research into having a CL involved reading through some of the posts on Club Together then I would think twice about whether I wanted the aggro. All the doom and gloom about muddy fields, bad access, children
running wild, dogs pooing everywhere, and people finding £12 a night too expensive and the toilets and showers are not up to the standard of those in their vans on some sites, plus too many vans on a site and the regulars who are there all season, then I think
I would not want to invest so I will be out, could well be the train of thought.But just to let some prospective CL Owners know, it does not cost a lot to set up if you are a bit practical, and we don't see many unhappy campers and 70% who keep coming back must be happy with our standards, and if I had a moan it would be with the Club
for failing to promote CL's in its articles in the magazine, as they make it look the only thing that exists in an area is a Club or Affiliated site, and after all we are tied to Club Members and those sites are open to anyone who wants to pay their rates,
but the magazine is our only advertising forum.David www.perthshirecl.co.uk
Hello David
thanks for your feedback. We have a section in The Magazine called CL Sites: Touring and each month our regular contributor Nick Harding produces an article which includes at least 3 CLs. Nick finds a theme - for instance see page 35 March Magazine we
show three CLs perfectly located for off-site entertainment. In February the article was called "Monumental Trip" and features 3 CLs near Castles and the January issue showed our CLOY winners. I also put together the CL Sites Updates pages which feature
in every issue. I hope that helpsthanks and regards Sandie
Write your comments here...
Thanks for your response Sandie, and yes I note your mentions already, but your monthly reviews of 3 will mean 70 years before all sites are mentioned. This month you have a great article on central Scotland and it would have been nice to have seen some
mention of the CL's in that area as I would hope that a CL was seen to have as much of a standing in the Club as an Affiliated Site.David
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CL was seen to have as much of a standing in the Club as an Affiliated Site.
Doubt that's the case David, as I suspect that the clubs receives some income from Affiliated Site, which there don't get from CLs. I do appreciate that many caravanners would not be members if it was not for there being CLs, hence bring income in
membership fees to the club, but IMO the CC do not see it that way.0 -
This month you have a great article on central Scotland and it would have been nice to have seen some mention of the CL's in that area
The reviews always seem to be for CLs in the south of England. I class that as "foreign touring".
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