Mildenhall site not opening 2017
Comments
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Spot on Easy. Well said. Like I've said many times Easy and others are now saying it- they are not interested in the non EHUers as they can't charge the big bucks for non EHU sites. This is yet another example of the treatment of non EHUers.
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Yes we were booked on to the site for Easter, with 2 other sets of friends the info in the notice above is all we could get out of them, which is the biggest load of crap. They knew that the site lease was coming up for renewal, and that the site was not coming up to their standards for months if not years. So for them to be accepting booking knowing it was possible the lease may not be renewed, is a breach of contract.
plus who said I wasn't up to standard, certainly not all the members who loved this sites simple but back to nature appeal. Not everyone wants all the bells and whistles, and after all this club needs to meet the requirements of all it members.
In addition to this they could have honoured the bookings through to the end of May therefore getting over the really busy period without letting members down.
The sites they have given as alternatives are already fully booked. Plus when I rang them to complain all they had with availabilty was Great Yarmouth, or Fakenham Race course. Very helpful, when you want to be in or around Mildenhall.
They showed a total disregard for the member, without care, maybe it's time the membership voted with its feet, and left them, it's the only way these people accept their errors and improve,if you hit them where it hurts, because otherwise they don't give a dam.
After all what do we get for our membership fee, except costly re branding, and loss of holidays.
Sorry for the rant, but this is really annoying.
one 20 year member who is now very disgruntled.
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who said I wasn't up to standard, certainly not all the members who loved this sites simple but back to nature appeal. Not everyone wants all the bells and whistles, and after all this club needs to meet the requirements of all it members
Indeed, Not a site that I have used recently, but one tha tI would happily have used.
Can anybody who has been say what was/is wrong with it??
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We used it two years ago and apart from it being, in places,in need of some tree work to make it less enclosed in some areas, then it was fine,god walks directly out of site, and some aircraft noise from Mildenhall USAF base (being closed soon) it was a nice non facility site
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There are two CL's nearer than the ones Rochelle has posted.
Wildmere Farm CL at Holywell Row, Mildenhall Suffolk
The Suffolk Academy CL at Barrow approx. 15 miles from Mildenhall.
Reviews and Photo's here including various Sites we have stopped at in the UK
What a shame Round Plantation, Mildenhall Site is no more. I live just a mile from it but we have spent many happy hours in our caravan there when we had a business in Mildenhall had a seasonal pitch for weekends That's when there was a Full Time Warden there. Those were the days a much smaller site than it was of late.
During the war the site was a Munitions Dump.had excellent hard standings, .
DianneT
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It was nice there under the trees, Dianne, very natural but a bit noisier than Thetford which is more manicured.
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Below is my reply with direct contact with the club
I am disappointed with not seeing any response on Monday as intimated in your reply, only now found it on CT today, please see my response (below) which I have also put on CT, a response would be appreciated, I and I would guess many other members, considering the 5 star reviews are anything to go by, must feel very let down by the club’s attitude on this site, considering all the hype and text on club pages in the last few days.
"We want to encourage more explorers, adventurers and pioneers to join us, opening their eyes to new possibilities. We are a diverse Club and together we share a passion for the great outdoors." you can’t get more outdoors than in a forest !!
“to help everyone get the most from their time in the great outdoors, to enthuse new members and to forever inspire a pioneering spirit of adventure” again adventure on a basic site without all the luxuries & gadgets !!
Inspire - Together we want to inspire more people to enjoy the great outdoors, isn’t Mildenhall a great outdoors ?
Simplify - We'll make the experience as easy and seamless as possible so you can enjoy the great outdoors your way. Basic sites like Mildenhall are our way
Pioneer - At heart, we're explorers forever looking to learn, discover and innovate. Plenty to discover at Mildenhall in the heart of the forest
Inclusive - We're a diverse community of adventurers, drawn together by our passion for the great outdoors. Isn’t Mildenhall ideally suited towards a community of adventurers
I would welcome your comments, what a double wammy, changing the name of our club and wasting vast sums of money, and losing Mildenhall all within a few days.
However I don't expect to get a sensible response,appear to be more interested in marketing than club members.
Now reading that members were even allowed to book on the site for Easter and now let down with nothing left in the area, if the others sites in the area are also full don't that tell you that the site is still needed.
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While it is sad to lose yet another site, Mildenhall did need a lot of work doing to it to bring it up to a reasonable standard and I can well understand the Club not wishing to keep it if tenure could not be guaranteed. It is certainly not a site I would visit again.
It is ironic members are complaining about the cost of rebranding and are now complaining about the Club being careful not to waste money.
peedee
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What is wrong with giving a little publicity to the 2 x CL's actually sited in Mildenhall?
Why go to March 23 miles away? If you are a 'birder' and want to visit Lakenheath, Lackford Lakes, Lynford Arboretum etc.. that's a heck of a commute every day.
My vote would be stay locally to Mildenhall
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Although it is not a site we would likely stay at, due to its lack of facilities, it is sad to loose any site from the network. Even more so when the CAMC have just spent a minimum of £60,000, and probably a lot more, sending out a sticker that could have been picked up on site, or included with the site book or magazine.
The money for the sticker has therefore been totally wasted, yet they are not prepared to risk any money on keeping this site open, even if only for those who have booked a peak time in good faith. I don't know what repairs are needed, but on a non facility site run by volunteers, I would have thought £60,000 could make a significant difference.
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It is certainly a site that I would have used if I travelled that way Steve. I enjoy non facility sites and not for the saving. When I go to Anglesey occasionally I always use the none facility site rather than the facility site a couple of miles down the road.
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It's probably something to do with the way the CL search works nowadays.
I agree. If people want to be in a particular location then posting an alternative some distance away seems bizarre when there are alternatives much closer
CL owners must wonder why they bother sometimes
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We obviously don't know the detailed information on this site. However clearly it does not seem to be owned by the Club and therefore seems to be held on some sort of leasehold basis. If the owners of the site are unwilling to commit to a reasonable length of lease it's hardly surprising that the Club is cautious about investing money which they may never see a return on. The site is almost opposite the Mildenhall RAF base which is due to be closed in 2023 and used for housing, perhaps the same awaits the land used by the campsite which is preventing a long lease. Its an uncomfortable truth that all sites held on a leasehold basis could be at risk sooner or later.
David
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The reason for the comments on this thread are precisely because NO INFORMATION is given. I have to say it TOTALLY opposes what has been promised or quoted with the rebrand. Exploring yes we'll shut a site and you can cause pollution driving extra miles to explore 🙄
Even if you are correct in your speculation 2023 is a long way away so several seasons left............
Indeed it insulting that no explanation of what costs are attribute to as there are no facilities and no paid staff.
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If the owners of the site are unwilling to commit to a reasonable length of lease it's hardly surprising that the Club is cautious about investing money which they may never see a return on.
I wonder what the club saw as needing to be done?
Remind me why the club lost Braithwaite Fold? Was it because they wanted to spend money on upgrading the site and the Caravan and Camping Club didn't? I have no idea really but I do wonder.
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As you say David, we don't know the detailed information. If for instance it needed 10's of thousands of pounds spending on the EHU provision, that clearly would not make any sense, if the lease only had a few years to run. However, it would not preclude keeping it open as a non EHU site for those few years.
The club really needs to come clean and give a bit more information. You never know we might be a bit more understanding. Although the fact they waited until after the rebrand and until the show had closed to announce the closure, means they have a fair bit of work required to redeem themselves in my eyes.
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In the case of Braithwaite Fold didn't the local Council put it up on a short term lease, of I think five years to the highest bidder. Its years since I have been there so no idea if the C&CC have spent money on the site. I can see why the CMC would be reluctant to spend money on a new toilet block costing hundreds of thousands of pounds just for five years.
David
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We don't know the full story, David, but whatever the truth, it doesn't excuse the misinformation and omissions regarding nearby sites in the CM's post. That was quite shocking. I'm surprised you haven't defended that as well, to be honest.
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I don't mind grass on sites that are all grass and have good ground conditions PD. Trees look pleasant enough. No TV is fine by me as well. Although we are away 120 nights we only use TV on 3 nights over Christmas probably no more than 6 hours. This year OH watched Celebrity University Challenge and I think I watched a film. I am sure there was something else? As for pitch Access not a problem with the motormover.
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I don't see what there is to defend or condemn. Members are perfectly able to do their own research and some members have helpfully added details of additional local CL's. Isn't that what the forum should be about, helping each other?
David
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Apart from the nissan hut , it sounds like a few sites that those who want "perfection" are around the networks of both clubs,wehen we used Mildenhall the pitches were fine, and we have been on some sites that are a lot worse,and TV? is it that much of a problem,its not what the "new club"seem to be promoting
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. If for instance it needed 10's of thousands of pounds spending on the EHU provision, that clearly would not make any sense, if the lease only had a few years to run. However, it would not preclude keeping it open as a non EHU site for those few years.
Steve, the side does have EHU so no need to spend the £10,000s that you suggest. What it didn't have was a toilet block, and those that visited there knew that and we happy with it. Perhaps it was even the reason that they used the site.
ET, the land is very sandy and drys very quickly, like a lot of area. It would have certainly appealed to you.
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