More Sites Lost
So sad to read in the February edition of the Caravan Club magazine that even more affiliated sites are leaving the network. Whilst one understands the commercialism of the arrangements it simply seems sad that in days of booming caravan sales that the premier club is losing rather than adding sites.
Is it not about time the club started to spend some of its reserves and invest in new sites. It seems that unless a plot is right in a town that the club wont consider the opportunity for fear of Motor Homes not using the site. Surely any reasonable useful site is better than no site
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Before the club spend money on new sites, they should refurbish some of the tired facilities they presently offer on some of the best populated sites, rather than just taking more and more.
Commercial sites we have used in the last year have been considerably better looked after, better facilities some 5 star and much much cheaper without having to pay £46 per year membership.
If the club does not buck up, I see me using many more commercial sites.
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I am not sure I am that bothered about affiliates leaving. If they were ones I liked I can still stay with them. You could not book them through central booking in any event, and CC discount was nothing to miniscule. The only difference will be that I probably have to leave a deposit for the gate card.
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Affiliated sites do not belong to the club, not run by the club, not staffed by the club and hence it cannot really control if they wish to remain affiliated.The sites are still there, you can still use them if you wish. What has the club lost? Does the club get income from them?
As for not adding sites, over the past few years there has been a number of new club sites built, Bridlington, Stonehaven, Barnard castle, being at least three I can think of. Additionally there major redevelopments on current sites to enable them to have better facilities and stay open longer.
Are caravans sales booming?
I'm not sure I agree about your point of the fear of MH not using sites
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I suppose a site with good access to a town, be it nearby or with good transport links is far more useful to more members than one right out in the middle of nowhere with no access? If the Club were that influenced by motorhomers they would get on a lot more quickly with replacing motorhome waste points!
David
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I'm disappointed to see Wincanton Racecourse is going as well as the affiliated sites. They will continue operating but I'm not so sure about Wincanton.
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"Affiliated sites"get more out of the club i.e. marketing,than any return we get as members, a few years ago a site near Bath "left" after a few years as an affiliated site,but it has recently "rejoined" was it because their numbers declined,?when not part of the "network"?
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Personally I have no problem with the standard of the club facilities in general. I don't mind 'tired' as long as they are clean.
Proximity or otherwise to a town or village really does not bother me for most of my tours. I typically stay on a site for 5 nights before moving. I do not wish to spend all my time in a town and so even if I can walk into a local city for a day I am going to be driving to other locations on the remaining days anyway.
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I have to agree with most contributors that the loss of affiliated sites is not a major problem but the loss of yet another club site means two gone this year with nothing new. There are sites for sale out there and the club has very substantial reserves. They must bite the bullet and buy or rent more. They may not always be the best sites but this can be sorted they just have to get more on the books or we could become one of a number giving up. Every site lost puts more pressure on the rest. I have not been to Wincanton but for me that means that many who would have gone could be trying for the sites I want instead.
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Are some people thinking that if a well estabilised site gives up its affiliated status with the Club then it will be off limits and they will no longer go there?
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If Wincanton racecourse site was anything like Folkstone racecourse site and the club had to go begging to the owners every time any work was needed to be done and then it was always "bodged"then it will not be be much of a loss, but i agree more sites need to be bought by the club but not at "any cost" just to increase capacity,look at the "problem" with getting a new site at Bristol
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From a personal point of view, shall be very sorry if Wincanton Racecourse no longer offers pitches. We have had some lovely stays at Wincanton, and the situation is great for lots of NT houses and gardens, museums and other lovely places close by, and all at a bargain price with clean, good, if not posh facilities. Excellent dog walking as well.
Longleat, offered as an alternative won't attract us. I am sure it is nice, but not our kind of site. I am now off to google Jockey Club!
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Go on then, name them. I've not seen anyone suggesting that might be the case.
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We have always loved the racecourse sites. Club had a good few more MUC when we first joined. Hexham is an example. Luckily still has camping and caravan areas. Exeter is one of our favourite sites, lots to do in area, and great for walking and cycling.
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Elima, as far as the affiliated sites are concerned they have not lost them, as they never owned them in the fist place. They were just advertised in the sites directory and on the website, however you had to book them direct. Any discount was very small. The ones we have stayed at were all of a standard similar or better than the CC owned sites, so in that respect the listing / recommendation was useful. However these sites still exist and can be booked as you would have done before.
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After being CC members for many, many years I am aware that these sites were not 'owned' by the CC but they were part of the network and advertised as such in the book. The discount could be considerable and would certainly accumulate over a couple of weeks. Quite frankly, it was no hardship to ring direct as sometimes you could get more information and Pick a Pitch!! The fact remains we have lost more sites when caravanning is becoming more popular.
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The only discount I ever got was £1 per night.
It really makes no difference at all that they are no longer affiliated. They are still there, they can still be telephoned, booked and used.
I don't see it as a big deal as far as AS sites go. I'm far more concerned about whether a site of any description will exist at Wincanton Racecourse in future.
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Why do you think affiliated sites are leaving the network? They pay a substantial fee to the Caravan Club to be included as an AS and they are inspected at least annually by the CC to ensure they meet a certain standard.
They are withdrawing because the owners feel they are not getting a suitable return for the fee they pay, which is no doubt increasing in cost year on year. Last year, the wife and I stayed on a site that had recently withdrawn as an affiliated CC site. We had a chat with the owners and they claimed they got nothing in return for the, and I quote, "the extortionate fee they had to pay" and felt they were better off cutting the tie and continuing with no CC affiliation.
With alternative marketing routes available to these sites, for example Premier Parks, Caravan Site Finder, Tranquil, UKCampsite etc, owners have other means available to them, to promote themselves.
Let's face it, if these privately owned sites were getting a good return for the AS 'membership', this wouldn't be news would it?
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I suspect that some of the sites would not have been as popular without affiliation. Once they have gained a regular increase in bookings these will doubtless be maintained (at least for quite a while) after they leave the scheme. I suspect that there are many CC touring members who, like me, use CC sites and their affiliated sites almost exclusively if there is a suitable site in the area. Only when there is not a site suitably placed do I look further afield.
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I suspect that some of the sites would not have been as popular without affiliation. Once they have gained a regular increase in bookings these will doubtless be maintained (at least for quite a while) after they leave the scheme. I suspect that there are many CC touring members who, like me, use CC sites and their affiliated sites almost exclusively if there is a suitable site in the area. Only when there is not a site suitably placed do I look further afield.
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I would agree to a great extent with what you say NA. I also think part of it is that members visit, perhaps not realising that they are managed and run slightly different to the Club owned sites, and perhaps might be surprised at some of the differences.
Wincanton is the one that concerns me. I just hope the Jockey Club is not pulling out altogether from providing pitches. The exhibition stands are used for lots of other events, so if there is something on that interests you it is a great venue.
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I am not so sure about the popularity, not from CC members in any event. I have just been looking at two we have stayed at both Morris leisure. They were Riverside at Betws-y-Coed and Stanmore Hall at Bridgnorth. In the last two years these have recieved 16 and 23 reviews, despite being open most or all year. Just by way of comparison Coed-Y-Llwyn near Blaenau Ffestiniog had 129 in the same period, despite only being open March to October.
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Maybe Steve. I have used (or will have by the end of the year) around 20 AS in the last 10 years.
Most I have been pleased with. Was not too enamoured with Royal Vale near Holmes Chapel although enjoyed the area a few years ago. Using a non CC/AS at Capesthorne Hall as part of our tours instead this year.
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