Steamer quay
We have just returned from a peaceful break at Steamer Quay in Totnes, the wardens were pleasant and the site well maintained.
My question is why have the Caravan and Motorhome club not invested more into this site? There is no motorhome grey water dump drain. Surely a small investment to install such a facility is not beyond the means of the Caravan and Motorhome club?
Some Dutch and swiss campers were a bit bemused as to why this potentially excellent motorhome site is under invested. EVERY site should have a drive over dump drain.
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All I know is that the site is leased from South Hams District Council so maybe they won’t permit such development.
Perhaps you might get some info by contacting the club's sites Dept.
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No electricity so it's no go there for us.
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We have stayed at this site over many years.
Like all members we have a Site Handbook that tell you all about the site , so there should be no surprises when you get there.
For as long as I can remember this site has been under a possible closure notice by South Hams and this is the reason for the lack of investment.
We love this peaceful site, my it continue.
Thanks to all the wardens for their hard work.
Safe travels.
Dave
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One of our favourite sites - proximity to town and facilities reminds me of a French municipal. Every time we have been for the last 10 years I have asked the warden - 'will you still be here next year?', as the site has been on annual lease from the local council who may have vague ideas about selling it off for luxury flats. I can fully understand the club not wishing to invest in the site on this basis, but I wonder how hard the club have pushed the council to make up their mind about its future. if it could get a long lease and improve the site with hardstandings and new toilets, it could lengthen the season, charge double and it would fill the site to occupancy levels approaching Bristol and York.
Meanwhile, the wardens do a wonderful job keeping the creaking facilities going and we will continue visiting to walk into this quirky town and especially the Royal Seven Stars pub! But please HQ sites staff - have another go at South Hams council to see if you can get that long lease - and remind them that many of us will be coming into town to spend money.
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Interestingly I think it's already very expensive for a non EHU set up but I still like it. No doubt the lease will be up at some point, let's hope it's a long one or can't be revoked easily. There are three hardstandings, not in the best spot but at least they are available.
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I wonder if the Club ever considered offering to buy this site, and Baltic Wharf, outright at market price? I appreciate that it would be a very expensive thing to do but at least both sites would become an asset. I suspect though neither Council would be willing to sell as both sites will contribute their housing targets. Morn hill is in a similar but slightly different situation as I believe the Club own half the site and Winchester Council the other half! Who could have predicted 30 years ago the situation we now find ourselves in?
David
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Since my earlier post, I have done a bit of enquiring about the future plans, and googled 'steamer quay redevelopment'. I turned up the Totnes Town Council website and their 'neighbourhood development plan' - something which all town and parish councils have got to do - though I suspect these (as in our village ) are something of a wishlist full of vague hopes and a harvest from the money tree. But Totnes has employed a firm of consultants, no doubt at great expense, who have produced a glossy report on enhancing the whole Steamer Quay area. Not only the caravan site, but the scout hut and the boat club are doomed under these plans, which envisage housing / car park / bus terminal for the whole area, together with 'enhancements to the local landscape', riverside walks etc. All these plans will take another year or so for further public consultation, and even if passed it may take another 10 years before the council has got a developer interested to do the whole site up. There is vague talk in the consultants report about relocating the caravan site further up Steamer Quay road but no recognition of the value the site brings to the local economy.
Meanwhile it looks like the present site will be remaining in some sort of limbo for the next few years whilst the council tries to get its ducks in a row to redevelop the whole riverfront. Knowing Totnes residents as I do, I do not think the council will have an easy ride. I only hope the Club keeps this site, warts and all, open as long as it can.
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It’s understandable that the club might be reluctant to spend money on the site.
Thanks for that, BD.
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When you look at the old photos of the site at Baltic Wharf, Bristol (you can see them in the office) it was just a field amongst semi derelict dock buildings, I expect Steamer Quay was much the same years ago. As you say if only the club had pounced and offered to take these "eye sores" from the council or owners years ago things might have been different now.
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