Increase size of CLs?
Why Are CLs only allowed 5 vans, is it the government, local councils? If so perhaps the Club could lobby for an increase.
Isn't it time CLs were given permission to have more than 5 vans, many do anyway unofficially!
Perhaps it could be allowed to double to 10 vans, but only if they had a certain acreage?
I wouldn't like to see them over stuffed with vans but it would help both caraanners have more choice and scope and perhaps make it more financialily viable for owners.
Comments
-
Depends if you live near one in a tiny village. Sometimes even 5 vans can double the population in people and dogs. I can usually tell how many dogs when I cut my verge grass. My other concern is that many CL owners use the CC to establish a CL and then
have a better case with local planning to establish a larger commercial site and close the CL.0 -
Quite happy for CL'S to only have 5 vans if they want any more they can apply for a commercial licence.
0 -
Government legislation allows bodies such as CC to grant permission for sites taking up to 5 units under their auspices. This exempts the sites from the usual rigmarole of obtaining licensing and planning permission - at least, that is my understanding.
More than 5 units requires all the rigmarole that commercial sites have to go through.Any exempted site allowing more than 5 units to stay risks losing its exemption and jeopardises the whole of the CL network by putting CC's power to give exemption at risk.
0 -
perhaps the Club could lobby for an increase.
I think we all know the law as it stands. I just quote the opening line from the original post.
0 -
The OP didn't seem sure!
The day CC lobbies for anything we'll likely see hell freeze over. Haven't CC admitted recently they are not a campaigning organisation?
0 -
Perfectly happy for CLs to stay at five pitches, because there are already lots of lovely slightly larger (5-20 pitch) private sites out there, if you look for them. We used three absolute crackers last year, similar price to CLs, quarter price of some Club
Sites.The argument for having more pitches to pay for more facilities doesn't entice us. Waste, water and EHU, plus good firm base if a 12 month site, are all we need. Anything else provided at a price lower than £18 per night is a bonus for us. The peace, quiet
and hopefully good location are priceless!0 -
,where will it end?
It will end with fewer and fewer CLs.
0 -
The OP didn't seem sure!
The day CC lobbies for anything we'll likely see hell freeze over. Haven't CC admitted recently they are not a campaigning organisation?
Although they made a big play at being the lobbiest that halted the proposed caravan MOT!
0 -
I do think the club are stretching the rules when licencing one CL next to another with just a hedge between them. It's likely to be pushing the boundaries of the Clubs licence and if they get caught it could jeopardise all CL owners for the sake of av
few that really should pursue a commercial site permission if they want more units...0 -
Why Are CLs only allowed 5 vans, is it the government, local councils? If so perhaps the Club could lobby for an increase.
The 5 van limit is set by the law, the caravan sites and control of development act 1960 to be precise. The CC have stated on many occasions that they feel that to bring any amendment to parliament would more than likely result in the removal or restriction of the excemptions that allow the club and other organisations to licence CLs and run rallies etc. This is the reason that they do not support any changes to the act at present.
0 -
The reason I use them , is cos they only have 5 or less ....
....but that's maybe the reason the owners close them.
0 -
I would like the limit to remain at 5 Units. I also am happy to stay on cl's without public lavatories. I have all the facilities I need in the van.
K
Same here. We were at a lovely little CL a couple of years ago, on a farm only half a mile from a village centre and public transport, so very convenient for motorhomers, and only about £6 a night.
It was a field with well separated fresh water tap and CDP (with its own tap). The owner mentioned that the CC had been trying to persuade her to install EHU for some time but it was obvious that it would have cost a heck of a lot and she would have had
to hike her prices to stand any chance or recouping it.Graham
0 -
I would like to see more CLs going down the basic route , however I know a lot of caravaners want hookup , but loo's and showers surely we can do without , iam prepared to pay a tenner for a basic site , if you want all singing all dancing then why not use club sites .
The more pressure that is put on the CL owners to install toilets , showers , taps on each pitch , information sheds etc the more there gonna increase the price to cover there outlay .
0 -
I would like the limit to remain at 5 Units. I also am happy to stay on cl's without public lavatories. I have all the facilities I need in the van.
K
Same for us too. Happy to see CLs remain at 5 vans, thank you very much. Op says that increasing the number of pitches will result in more being available, but at the moment there are plenty of CLs that have empty pitches. what it woukld result in is that
more of them will closing down, so reducing our choise of site.0 -
We are also happy for CLs to remain at 5 vans. This is a great part of their appeal for us. We tend to avoid those CLs next to another camping field for precisely that reason. It's all about choice. If the OP wants to stay on a site with more than 5 vans
then I suggest they do so and leave CLs as they are for those of us that enjoy them.0 -
Some of us are trying a different tack as we know people like getting away from it all. http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/community/discussions/sites-touring/certificated-locations/Ever-fancied-having-a-whole-site-to-yourself/rt/1498835/
CL's are generally in more beautiful secluded spots than club sites. Even as a caravanner first and CL owner second I've long thought that perhaps we need to stop thinking of CL's as the poor mans club site and value them
for the seclusion and rural retreat that they provide. Otherwise they will disappear...0 -
I am sure that I speak for many who post on here, particularly on the CL section, when I say that many of us are only members because of the wonderful CL section, so no thoughts of it being the poor mans section
it
is good to see lots of new ideas, new products and facilities. We are currently still enjoying some delicious eggs bought on our last CL visit, we hate shop eggs, having had our own chickens! The diversity of ideas, facilities and locations provide something
for almost every visitor, and I for one am grateful for what is provided and the work and expenditure committed. Hope your idea works Oly!0 -
5 van max. Minimum facilities and under £10 per night. If CL's want to put in all the bells and whistles then they should be called Super CL's and charge whatever people will pay.
Long live the true CL because if they are being pushed by the CC into becoming super CL 's then I am out of the CC as the true CL is now the only reason we are in the CC.
I of course appreciate others will have different opinions but these are mine
0 -
An interesting debate.
I'm wiriting this in my van on an excellent CL.
On more than one occasion I've talked to CL owners who say it's break even at absolute best for them over a season, very little financial incentive.
If you are on a CL with just you on it your probably costing the owner money!
toilets etc are being built to try and maintain a small following to male it worthwhile.
0 -
We'd pay up to £15 a night for a CL with electricity but recently been on one near Hornsea that was £9 a night (£10 if awning used!). We want the owner to make a profit to keep them open but only 5 vans please...we love the peace and quiet. Toilets and showers
- in my humble opinion, forget it. Totally unnecessary.0 -
Never mind what members want, let's look at it from one owner's point of view. Things are very seasonal here in Cornwall. A nearby farmer was getting long spells with almost no visitors, but was limited to 5 vans at times when everyone wanted to come. It just wasn't worthwhile to keep cutting the grass and having the septic tank emptied to continue like that.
Her choice was to either close the site and put sheep in the field, or to get planning permission to open a second field and take 20 vans, and as well as that get planning permission to use the yard for caravan storage. Some of you will say you preferred it as it was before. She disagrees with you, and those who go there despite the changes still give her glowing reviews.
0 -
Never mind what members want, let's look at it from one owner's point of view. Things are very seasonal here in Cornwall. A nearby farmer was getting long spells with almost no visitors, but was limited to
5 vans at times when everyone wanted to come. It just wasn't worthwhile to keep cutting the grass and having the septic tank emptied to continue like that.Her choice was to either close the site and put sheep in the field, or to get planning permission to open a second field and take 20 vans, and as well as that get planning permission to use the yard for caravan
storage. Some of you will say you preferred it as it was before. She disagrees with you, and those who go there despite the changes still give her glowing reviews.Nothing wrong with that. It just shows that a range of sites suit a range of customers and a range of owners. It also demonstrates that there is no need to change the limit as the existing legislation copes with the circumstances.
Graham
0 -
No, you misunderstand me, Graham. It was either change or shut up shop. The present 5 van limit wasn't one of the options for her.
0 -
eurortraveller, You appear to be advocating that even though the vast majority of members are happy with
the five van rule you would like it changed even though you have the option to select a commercial or club site with more van’s.The system works well as it is as you demonstrated in your last post, if the CL does not pay then the option is there to obtain
planning permission for a commercial site and all that entails.0 -
Vulcan, I don't doubt that you and other members are happy with things as they are. I was simply pointing out why one local CL owner was not. The declining number of CLs shows that there are other owners who feel the same way.
0
