The big winter shut down
Comments
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"dont try to moderate the forum and folk wont object to it"
Hey, Moulesy, welcome to the club. Isn't it funny how some miss the irony in their own posts?
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BB said 'however, the panel have decided that this is something theyre not interested in'
I thought that I had outlined why I did not consider the use of a winter closed club site as an aire type arrangement as practical.
1. In order to be suited to Caravan and Motorhome it would need to appeal to both types of user. If there was a card operated barrier that required payment to and permitted the user, having paid for entry to come and go then any number of outfits could be brought in on that card. That is unless it was used purely as a night halt where having paid to enter then to go out and re-enter would require payment which would not suit most caravan users.
2.The sites that are closed are closed for a reason. They are either closed due to planning constraint or because they are not profitable as they are not in areas that folk wish to visit in any number at that time of year. A good many folk do not use sites in January and February (much beyond New Year).
3. On facility sites there are showers etc and also garage facilities, site equipment, reception buildings and so on. These need to be secured from this aire type arrangement as would most of the site. This aire needs the facilities such as refuse, waste, water etc within its compound therefore. All this requires considerable investment including design and planning applications as well as the construction costs.
4. Once the facilities were in place the site would need regular visits for security purposes as well as to service disposal points, deal with rubbish etc which would also need collection.
5. Given a possible low level of usage how many caravanners would wish their caravan to be (say) one of three unoccupied caravans left on site whilst they are out for the day? Seems an open invitation to theft.
6. With all the above factors I would not wish to sink many tens of thousands of pounds into such a provision in the expectation of making a reasonable return on my cash. If anybody thinks that it is worthwhile would they care to bankroll it? If there were an average of 6 units on it through the week and each paid £15 that would be £90 a day regardless of other running costs. It might well cost £60 a day in security and cleaning visits to say nothing of the capital tied up.
There are a number of other points I could raise.
Just to add that I am sorry BB thought that I was having a dig as it was not malicious. I did not think that you were making a serious proposal and were just 'funnin'.
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ET makes some good points, but surely none of them are insurmountable? If members want more sites at cheaper rates and open for longer periods then to my mind operation methods and what is on offer will have to change. Yes there are obstacles to overcome and there maybe short comings, risks and costs but is that not the case with any form of change. We have low facility sites, they don't suit everybody. We have sites with bars and swimming pools, they don't suit everybody. We have CLs, they don't suit everybody and if we had unmanned barrier controlled sites they won't suit everybody either.
peedee
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As you say PD none of the problems are insurmountable. Although one other I would add is the provision of EHU on a metered basis and the method of payment. As the sites are perhaps going to have limited appeal in winter without it. However, the CC is always being accused of not keeping up with the opposition in its marketing. Not cutting prices enough or throwing down offers in the off season.
Perhaps I missed it as I'm a caravanner. Are commercial sites opening Aires either close to, or as part of their sites? If it was economically viable in the U.K. I would have thought the commercials would have been copying the over there.
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i seriously cant remember the last time a tap froze here....or anywhere else for thst matter.....this isnt Scandanavia.
BB I find this very surprising, how many sites have you been on in winter? You must have been very lucky. We don't do much at all, but have had the taps, except in the heated block, frozen on several occasions. Rural sites, well away from towns, can be 5 C lower than the temps shown on the weather forecast.
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Many on CT have been advocating for metered electric however I think that the majority would not be in favour of such a move. I personally see it as an unnecessary complexity.
I can't say that I am aware of 'the regular postings for more pitches open out of season with more basic facilities' BB. There seems many who post that they do not wish to use the facilities on their own caravan to the full. For me personally most of the time the availability of facilities blocks etc does not trouble me. I would say that the adding of facilities to some sites has increased their popularity. Strangely for me I would have preferred that they had not been improved.
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BB, I'm afraid you are wrong on that one, we've been to the Minehead site and others in the SW and have experienced frozen taps. An overnight temp drop and that's it, even with some insulated taps, even down in Cornwall. We froze at Carnon Downs one year. People have to get water from the facility block when this happens.
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I think it is a bit early to call on that one David. The government desires to eliminate Diesel and Petrol engined vehicles from production by 2040. The date is however not fixed nor are the full alternatives known The 2040 deadline is likely to slip I anticipate - don't most government desired deadlines?
2040 is only 23 years away and I believe will prove unrealistic without massive changes in available technology and to have such a cut off date would cause tremendous financial hardship for very many.
I appreciate that this is not the thread to discuss the topic.
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I am not quite sure what the demise of the tow car and the opening of Aires have in common. Surely if we can't have a viable tow car, we are unlikely to be provided with a viable MH. Most of the MH we have looked at return similar MPG to our tow car, so no real benifit in terms of pollution. Surely if you can design a cleaner engine to lug 3.5 tonnes of MH about, it will also work for a tow vehicle.
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Alan, it was my post I was referring to as not "having a go" - you know, the one which said everyone had a perfect right to express their view but asking, politely I thought, for more thought before ending posts with throw away sarcastic lines addressed to no-one in particular, just anyone who appeared to disagree with one's own view.
It never occurred to me for a moment that anyone would interpret that as an attempt at moderation!
I've stated my view that CLs/CSs could provide just what the OP was looking for so I won't need to contribute any further to this thread!
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Winter touring is a mind set. We actually love it because it is a chance to get out and see this lovely country of ours wearing a different coat. Our first trip out in our MH was in temps down as low as -15c, hard frost, frozen site taps (all bar one) even snow at one point. But the lovely Christmas Market at Hexham, the drive back over the Moors, the colourful Christmas lights all over, the great atmosphere at Durham Grange.
All it needs is decent preparation, appropriate clothing and a sense of adventure. Bit like going abroad really.......
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I can't see the point in the Club changing what it offers to be honest. It's overheads and costs to cater for less visitors in the Winter at more sites won't be cost effective, and a large percentage of today's visitors are too fickle and too, dare I say "soft" to be a reliable market. Just think of all the cancellations that happen with a drop of rain in the Summer! There are others out there, smaller operators providing some nice, homely, more attractive offerings, next to cosy pubs, close by interesting towns and villages, along nice Winter walks.
The Club keeps some great sites open in Winter, and at decent prices. Admittedly, some areas of the country are not included, but there are options instead. The resourceful will manage to find something.
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