Kielder Waterside AS taking seasonal bookings only

alan1406
alan1406 Forum Participant Posts: 75
edited March 2017 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Just phoned up this morning (after being advised to call Mid March) that the Kielder Waterside Caravan Park is only accepting seasonal pitches this year.  After asking when this decision was made, I was advised 2 weeks ago.

The Club webpage for this site needs deleting/updating, and dare I say the "affiliated" status of it needs removing.  How can an affiliated site NOT accept tourers?

At the end of the day it's a private "for profit" site so they can do what they like.  I'm disappointed however that their licence to trade from the relevant local authority does not oblige them to provide touring pitches as part of their set up.

C&M Club - please take the necessary action quickly to alert members like me that KW is not an option any more

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Comments

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited March 2017 #2

    Glad we went there the end of August last year. Having nattered with the warden a couple of times I am not totally surprised other than that there are pitches that are within wooded areas hat I certainly would not wish as a seasonal pitch.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #3

    At the very least the web site needs updating. It still clearly shows the site  offers hardstanding EHU touring pitches as well as seasonal.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited March 2017 #4

    Has the cc been advised by the owners,it might be worth the OP reporting suchundecided

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #5

    It says on the Club advert, Kielder Waterside will be opening in May following "exciting" new developments.

    Hope someone from the CAMC sites team can explain what is happening. I've reported this in the hope of an update.

  • RachelV
    RachelV Forum Participant Posts: 14
    edited March 2017 #6

    Hi all, I'm new to the Community team, having started working at the Club this time last year.

    Kielder Water is unfortunately unable to accept bookings for touring pitches in 2017 and will only be selling seasonal long term pitches for 2017. This is a temporary arrangement while they construct the new lodges on site and have very limited availability.

    I have asked our Website team to make this information clearer on the page, and we will keep you updated as to any changes.

  • PITCHTOCLOSE
    PITCHTOCLOSE Forum Participant Posts: 658
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    edited March 2017 #7

    That's the way it's going folks, more seasonal pitches and more pods less touring pitches😎

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #8

    Thank you for explaining Rachel. smile

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,650 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #9

    Yet another site off the list.....carry on like this and there'll be no sites left to visit!!

  • alan1406
    alan1406 Forum Participant Posts: 75
    edited March 2017 #10

    I spoke to a lady at Kielder Waterside this afternoon.  She explained that the changes have been implemented with the support of the Northumbrian County Council and the Kielder Water Forest Park authority.  There are doubtless other sites that will be the net beneficiaries of the move, but they will get booked up quickly now I imagine.  Just like "affordable housing" is insisted upon with housing planning, "touring facilities" should be mandatory when permissions are granted to operate such leisure enterprises.  Maybe this is something the CAMC can bring pressure on this being the case...

    Another thing - far from being temporary this sounds like it is a permanent move.  KW make no money (apparently) from the touring operation, so unless they are contractually bound to provide touring pitches, they are quite at liberty not to do it.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #11

    It seems to be very unfortunate that the club have not updated the details for this site leaving the misleading advert  with people wasting time on phone calls. One wonders why the advert has been left to run, does this make the list of sites on offer look more substantial?

    see here                the "information" on the right states that  the site will be open in May and "exciting redevelopments" are taking place.

     

  • Brian1
    Brian1 Forum Participant Posts: 242
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    edited March 2017 #12

    Unless you HAVE to be by the water, there are better options in the region.  The site sufferes in the summer from midges and no way could it be described as quiet.

     

    Try Castleton (just 30 minutes away over the border in Scotland) - a great site in a great area.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #13

    Do you mean this affiliated site at Newcastleton Brian? Looks very nice, will have to give it a try when next in that area. It is odd in although  affiliated it states that it is for CC members only, or referrals from members. I have not come across one like that before.

  • Brian1
    Brian1 Forum Participant Posts: 242
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    edited March 2017 #14

    Yes, that's the one Steve.  Great little site, friendly, very good for dogs, plenty of walks locally, handy for the pubs etc in the village and not too far from Kielder either smile

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #15

    Thanks Brian, I will add it to our list of ones to visit.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #16

    Yes, a nice site, not quite as remote as Kielder either, very good facilities, and some very large pitches too if I remember correctly.

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited March 2017 #17

    Another example of the club neglecting the basics probably whilst concentrating on their ego trip " New Branding"

  • PATMAU
    PATMAU Forum Participant Posts: 250
    edited March 2017 #18

    If you want to stay in Kielder, then there is a community run caravan and camping park at Kielder Village, near Kielder Castle. It doesn't have a view of the water but is only a short walk or bike ride away.  It is quieter then the Kielder AS site, but it does have those little darlings, the midge.  We had one holiday there, and it was so wet I can only describe it as living in a carwash for a week.  I like Kielder, but now stay further away and day visit.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #19

    Ah I see the club have got round to updating the details. As the OP said seasonal pitches only in the future.

    See here

    There are some lovely places to stay in the Borders and it's easy to have a day out at Kielder (or not.....depending on the midge count! wink)

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,650 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #20

    The C&CC have a site at Bellingham, which is within cycling distance or a short drive of Keilder Forest.

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited March 2017 #21

    If they aren't accepting touring bookings for 2017 the webpage shouldn't just be updated it should be Deleted User and the site shouldn't show up in searches. 

    I'm losing confidence in the club completely. 

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,198 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #22

    It seems bizarre to list it as an AS if it is not accepting touring vans. Rachel V implies in her reply that it was known, 'temporary for 2017' whilst they build lodges . Decisions like this don't happen overnight similar to rebranding 😉.  Why was it listed? To make it look like we get a choice of more sites? Cynical moi? I agree with JayEss about losing confidence in the club - there's another thread running about Nissan promotions not appearing to live up to the offer.

  • alan1406
    alan1406 Forum Participant Posts: 75
    edited July 2017 #23

    Here we are 4 months later and the listing as an AS is still online.

    If anyone from the Club bothers to read anything on these forums please would they bring it to the attention of the listings people and suspend it with immediate effect.  And comment on here accordingly.  Thankyou

     

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited July 2017 #24

    It sounds as though you need to post on Facebook for anyone to take notice!  Or email the Club?  undecided

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,198 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2017 #25

    Definitely fb. Be interesting to see how long before its commented on 😉. Don't think it's a closed group so anyone can post. Maybe an email too.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,869 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2017 #26

    This is quite a difficult one. I somehow doubt members of the Club management are monitoring this this forum on a regular basis. Even the Community Manager can't read every thread as she has other duties as well as the Club Together Forum. There is always the report option to highlight the issue to the CM. However I am of the view that issues like this need to be referred directly to the Club via e-mail. 

    David

  • RowenaBCAMC
    RowenaBCAMC Forum Participant Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2017 #27

    Hi everyone, I've forwarded this to the relevant department requesting further information on the situation and asking what is happening with regards to their website page. I will update you once I have more information. Many thanks. 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2017 #28

    I would not personally report this as it simply should not be necessary to do so. CC were aware anfd simply needed to put the info clearly on the relevant site entry. I don't expect to hold CC managements hand.

  • alan1406
    alan1406 Forum Participant Posts: 75
    edited July 2017 #29

    Thanks :-)

    The Caravan & Motorhome Club have always been slow to embrace technology and modern methods of communication, and perhaps this is reflected by having only one resource as the Community Manager.

    Proper use and prompt monitoring of social media and forums pays dividends for companies / organisations and is an easy / cheap conduit for staying close to it's members / customers

     

    So if this is a resourcing issue, the C&MHC have sufficient funding to pay for at least another 2 members of staff.  Not rocket science!

     

     

  • David2115
    David2115 Club Member Posts: 548 ✭
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    edited July 2017 #30

    Not sure why people are getting so upset about it. Those commenting know the situation so what's the problem ?

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2017 #31

    The reason that such poor information annoys me is simple. Before I book a tour I plan a route and all site locations that I wish to use before commencing to book sites. If having booked several I find one is not available I reconsider the rest of my plans. Simply the way that I personally do things. Such poor information then becomes unnecessarily irritating 

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