OS map Grid Refs gone!!
Is there a good reason why the new Club Sites Directory is not showing OS Grid Refs?
Surely I can't be the only member who still likes to see exactly where I will be towing to?
Google Maps sometimes does not show the CL / field clearly. A pinpoint location with the OS map sorts that out. Or rather, it did.
A black mark for the CL dept at the Club. Could do better.
Comments
-
It is on the web site, as you say Richard12. Willbee was commenting on the sites directory.
It does seem a strange omission, it would have been simple enough to include it as well. It would be interesting to know the CC's thinking behind the decision, given they have kept it on the web site.
However, if you are looking for the site on digital OS mapping, you can normally use Lat and Long or OS coordinates. Alternatively if using paper maps, conversion Apps are available and quick to use.
1 -
I've just been assured by LiveChat that if I click on a CL (on the map) that the OS grid reference will be displayed. It isn't. It's a major annoyance, as I, like many OS map readers, like to pinpoint the site and familiarise myself with the locality before setting out. I also do not like blindly following a SatNav. It's a pity members weren't consulted prior to making the decision to omit the OS references from the 2019/20 Handbook - the references punch way above their 'weight' in terms of relevance, usefulness and for the relatively small amount of space they take up.
2 -
When I click on the View Map tab I get the reviews and no map. It has been raised in the Snagging Thread. Only applies when using my chrome based android but okay on AppleMac. NellietheHooker also mentioned this when starting another thread in this CL section.
Edit - Nellies thread was on UK Sites section entitled "Where has the OS gone?".
1 -
I've now located the OS references for the relevant CL. It is indeed under 'Maps' though why I struggled to find it in the first place I don't know. My thanks to the patient 'LiveChat' person ... she was right in the first place. Thanks also to SteveL, above.
1 -
It's ridiculous that this has been removed. We and I would think many other members use the site directory much of the time, and can only do so when there's no wifi signal available. We like to look where a prospective site is situated on one of our OS maps, and not have to log on to do it. The CC is obviously no longer interested in members who do not have or are not interested in having internet access!! Disgusting!!!
2 -
All this web clicking is of no relevance if one is looking up the handbook to plot a paper map.
The references were omitted because the vast majority of the new tourer explorers in their campervans had no idea what they were and the few who did were frightened by them.
"May the Lord be mercifull unto them".
5 -
I too am appalled at the lack of OS references in site book. All above comments are relevant. We always check OS maps before a. deciding it's a site we wish to book, and b. to check with site book directions for those last few miles, which we use in the car.
If trying to decide between several CLs, having to go back and forward on the web site between the relevant entries is a nightmare - especially if you dont have/cant access high speed internet.
I wrote to the club at the start of January asking WHY? but other than an acknowledgement, have heard nothing!!
4 -
Omissions of site price lists come to mind again. Another odd decision in my mind.
Remember the OP was talking about the sites directory and not web sites. There are one or two omissions in this new directory and also some inclusions which are surplus to requirements.
0 -
I wrote to the club at the start of January asking WHY? but other than an acknowledgement, have heard nothing!!
hja, I've reported your post, just to see if that produces an explanation to you. ~Should you receive one I would like to hear what they had to say.....but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a proper response.
EDIT.
hja, I see that there's an "explanation" to the question why have the ordnance survey map references been removed from the sites directory and handbook in the "Have a question" ?blob which appears when one signs in. Doesn't help though!!
0 -
Must be more than one "sign-in" system. Who'se surprised!
What does the blob tell us?
0 -
How about this...
Ordnance Survey map references
The OS map references have been removed from both CLs and Club Sites in the 2019/2020 Sites Directory and Handbook.
We have a very limited amount of space so we have to make a judgement call on what we can include. This year we’ve added lots more information about the local area and local amenities, and as usage of Sat Navs (which use Longitude and Latitude) is so much more common these days we made the decision to remove the OS map references. This information will remain available online where we have no restrictions on the amount of information we are able to show, but will no longer be used in the handbook as we felt there were other pieces of information that are more relevant to a larger number of our members.
Not a lot of use when one isn't on wifi!! No consideration for those that don't want or can't get wifi!!
1 -
The absence of any definitive pinpoint location data from the handbook is, like the absence of pricing, a retrograde step.
4 -
Not fair to say any CY, there are Lat and Long, those are fairly definitive and pin point. For anyone with a smartphone there is the option of using a free conversion App to get the OS variety. This doesn't require the internet to do this and takes probably 30 seconds.
However, I agree the OS should still be in the handbook. The arguement over space is fairly lame, as they take up so little.
0 -
Whilst savvy enough to know how to work around the omission of OS map references, I do feel it is from a CL users point of view, indeed these being the only likely members who would be looking at this section of the handbook, a poorly considered decision.
But sadly, I feel the whole 5 van network, its users and its owners are considered by "the club" to be of little if any value to the business.
Would the inclusion of these add more than a page or two to the 704, not IMO a big burden.
1 -
Thanks for the Quote!
Omiting the unverified testimonials (which are probably the most unsincere form of of marketing speak) would give a huge space for useful information. By that I do not mean more of the "Make the most of your stay" details, which for sites where I know the area I would class much of the content as irrelevant, and that information of real use to potential visitors is deliberately omitted.
Just had the thought that the OS NGR (as previously used) consists of eight characters, while the phrase "Make the most of your stay" consists of 25 characters. Whatever else would potential visitors be making the most of?
I stick by my earlier comments. All part of dumbing down and avoiding the effort of providing meaningful content.
3 -
How much time, effort and cost was expended in removing the grid references from every entry in the handbook? The cost alone would have more than paid for a couple of extra pages if they were necessary.
Another very poor decision made by the club.
Just as a rather cynical thought, perhaps those compiling the handbook don't understand grid references and their immense value to many members.
6 -
Many thanks for your feedback. I've forwarded this discussion to my colleague who works on the Sites Directory and Handbook and will post here again once I have further information.
0 -
Thank you, Rowena. I hope there will be a more believable explanation of the reason for the deletion.
2 -
Apologies, I did not read Willbees post properly. Is it not possible to ask members what they would like, or not like, regarding amendments to the directory. Having read through posts and seen some excellent advice given by some very knowledgeable people. The club could use these members to advise on the required CL information that is needed.
0 -
+1
However it will take 2 yrs for the "error" to be corrected and by then those at HO will have forgotten all about this post, and do nothing.
0 -
Many thanks for this. Both he report & the reference to Have a Question? which as others have commented, I havent found.
The explanation given by the Club seems illogical to me - we use OS references on paper maps to view location, surroundings, access roads. These are often easier to understand than say Google earth or Google maps. They can also be used whilst on the road - we have smart phones and an I-pad - but cant use those "on the go".
It seems to me that this is part of an effort to get rid of the handbook altogether, which must be quite expensive to produce and post out. But maybe I am just being cynical!
We use more CLs than Club Sites so this really is a negative for us which is not easily remedied.
3 -
As a CL owner we were not informed this was going to happen , alot of CLs are in very rural areas with large post code areas the sat nav for our area takes you to a cottage about half a mile away.The owner of the cottage has put a map of the houses and how to get to them on her gate.Not a great deal of thought has gone into this decision,
perhaps a list of CLs by county with OS references could be sent out
1 -
Never mind the cynical thought, I very much doubt if those compiling the handbook and responsible for the omit of grid refs have ever towed a caravan down lanes to a CL. If they had, they would well understand the confidence having the grid ref gives.
2 -
My sympathies. The club have consistently let CL owners down (think of the non co-operation when setting up this super-duper website).
Even if they are reluctant to print over 2200 OS grid references then the least they can do is to produce it in PDF for us to download and print ourselves, particularly as we'll have to wait for another 2 years for the omission to be rectified, if they can be bothered.
4 -
GPS co-ordinates give even more precision if sufficient decimal places are allocated.
0 -
Not a lot of good if one doesn't use or own a GPS. However I do have lots of OS maps!
Why couldn't they have got rid of the Long'/Lat' co-ordinates instead, I've never heard of anyone using them to find a site. That would have saved them even more paper too.0
