Non EHU & enforced EHU

But the nature of those answers would influence my decision.  That's the whole point of asking questions isn't it?

Bringing questions into public view is always useful. 

I have now used the CT method of direct approach and asked the community manager if she could help with a response.

Blimey I am not interested in rallying but was just having a look at the EHU thoughts. I thought you rally folk were friendly and warm caravaners who love to get together and have a grand old time. Listening to you two im glad we have avoided rallies whilst caravaning you have certainly done nothing to make me want to give it a go.

Don't worry about it you are simply suffering from a case of confirmation bias

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/science-choice/201504/what-is-confirmation-bias

Thanks so much everyone for your comments and feedback which were considered at the last Events Committee meeting. The position of the committee with regard to your questions and concerns is provided below.

The Club was invited to Sandringham to run the 2017 National. This provided an amazing opportunity for members to visit the Royal Estate given that the last time a National was held there was 25 years ago. Although the venue was smaller than when previously visited, the Estate still provided us with sufficient land to increase our pitch provision by 12%. This continued a trend since 2012 that has produced a 12% growth in numbers attending the National. Moving forward to 2018 and 2019, our plans for the venues of choice provide continued growth in our capacity for increased numbers of members to attend the National.

Member feedback from the 2015 and 2016 Nationals demonstrated an overwhelming demand for EHU. The Club's Events Committee and staff endeavour to meet both the needs of members attending and the marshals involved in delivering the National. Therefore, given member demand, it was decided that for 2017 all pitches would be EHU. The number of pitches available at Sandringham was determined by the nature of the land made available to us and the type of activities on offer to members attending not the number of EHUs that the Club possesses.

We recognise members concerns about the impact of an event such as The National upon the environment. Given this, we are pleased to report that 100% of residual waste material from the event does not go to landfill but 67% is processed to be used as a fossil fuel alternative in power stations. In addition, 33% of all waste comprising wood, glass, paper/ card and metals is recycled. In line with the Club's approach to reducing its impact upon the environment we continue to explore ways to improve our performance in this area.

Following the 2017 National our survey of members who attended reaffirmed that most members wish to have EHU pitches, given this only EHU pitching will be available in 2018 at the National at Sledmere House.

Bookings for 2018 can be made later this year so keep an eye on camc.com/national for further details.

Thank you again for your feedback and we hope this has helped answer your questions.

Events Committee

Strange reply from the events committee ,on one hand they are waffling on about the club's approach to reducing the impact on the environment .On the other they are quite happy to penalise those members who wish to use environmentally friendly solar power .You can't have it both ways.

Spot on Trellis. It's also the snake oil principle, sell people something they don't need and make a fast buck. Either way the Club is also pandering to the industry producing high energy dependent vans.

Sorry I am a bit thick and struggle with percentages.   I really struggle with them when there are no numbers attached.  A 12% increase of what?  Since the last time the National was held at Sandringham?  Or last year?   Maybe it would helpful to release the attendance figures for the last 5 years nationals and the last one at Sandringham so those of us that can use a calculator share this success.   I have been unable find actual attendance figures any where perhaps the events committees can tell us what the figures are? And what the capacity of the next National will be our is this a state secret?

A reuse / recycling rate of 100% that is remarkable.

I like others fail to see why demand for EHU means that non EHU pitches are effectively banned?  This is a bit like saying that Manchester United are the best supported football team in the country therefore we must ban all other teams.

Surveys.  It would be interesting to see what the questions are and the results.  Would the events team please post a link to the questions, answers and response rate.   After all if someone  asked me if I want ehu I am going to say yes.   If someone asks me if I want 6amp ehu and it is going to cost £6 per day then my answer will be different.   

All in all a standard Caravan Club response. 

I think the generators  that were on the national that are being talked about are the large industrial "silent" type that were being used to supply the 6amp EHU for the pitches,

An Apology:

I may have given the impression that the cost of Ehu could be £6 per night.   I didn't know what the true cost a put that in as an illustration, that a cost should be included in any survey. 

I am now led to believe that the additional cost electricity for the National in 2011 was £30.  Therefore £7.50 per night over the 4 nights of the event.  Not the £6 I initially implied.  I apologise for any confusion I may of caused.

I leave it to others to decide if £7.50 for 6amp electricity represented good value for money in 2011 and what the equivalent cost was in 2017. 

No.  I believe that the price for non Ehu in 2011 was £75 and with Ehu £105 again in 2011.    

I assume that the club has official records of the prices.  So if I am wrong then they can correct me. Indeed they could publish a list of prices of the last period of time.  However in the post from the "Events committee" lots of percentages were quoted with no actual data to back them up.  

This years national has been proclaimed a great success but I have been unable to find anywhere how many outfits attended and how that relegated to previous years and previous National's at Sandringham and what the capacity will be for next years National. If these figures are available can some point me to them?  If they aren't available why not?