Service stopover
Comments
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Juliette, you asked a question on a public forum and it's bound to attract strong opinions as it’s a fundamental issue. As I told you at the start, it’s been debated before and I advised you of the club's stance.
You seem very reluctant to entertain opposing views by thinking things through or even to respond to my suggestions of contacting the club yourself or using the other club. I don’t believe you are so blinkered as to think you only had to make the suggestion and we'd all agree with you and hey-ho the club changes it’s ways.
I'm surprised that you're surprised because nobody has been rude to you, nobody has insulted you or told you where to get off. All we've done is discussed the topic in a discussion area. You've not had total agreement but that’s life.
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Out of interest, WTG, and it is purely interest, do any of the Britstops provide water, drain points and chemical disposal?
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Thankyou. I’m sure they’ll prove useful, especially for breaking a long journey.
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If those who are not using CC sites choose to use sites which apparently include CLs and CSs according to PD (?) why should they come running to a CC site to make good the shortcomings of other options for a pittance? As far as CLs and CSs not being suitable for dumping MH waste water when did that happen? In years gone by MHs used a small waste container or a bucket if necessary - much like caravanners do.
Being able to stop off at a Club site is all about convenience in much the same way some use service pitches. If I can avoid it I have no desire to trot back and forth to a service point across the other side of a field with bucket fulls of waste and a watering can to fill my tank up. I bought a fully equipped motorhome to avoid such behaviour.
peedee
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We will return to what is now called the WC 500
for the first time in twenty or more years in a few weeks time. We've had this yearn for a long time and Project B 
has to some degree assisted this decision. I wonder what differences I will see. Back then we never booked sites, just tipped up and pitched or, on the rare occasion, wild camped. Some beautiful locations, scenery and experiences I now wish to revisit. Even then, lots of fellow Europeans and some from further afield had discovered this route and enjoyed the motorhoming way of life along it, I wonder if they will still be coming this year?For the majority of awe inspired responsible travellers the highlands then had everything we needed and that included the facilities now in question, well it did then, I wonder if it does now? Back then dumping, abluting, laundering and recharging was never an issue for us and we would be away for at least three or more weeks. Has 'it' changed that much or is it the visitors who have changed? The only thing which has change for us now is that we have strategically booked a few sites on route for the 'necessities', the rest we will wing as before!
Questions are, will webe disappointed, are we making some mistakes in or planning or expectations? We will be doing our best not to be mind so advice would be welcomed.
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Shame again that over there is brought in on UK sites section, and gain(sic) always so much better than here. Why does it happen?
Ok Corners, let's pretend you really want to know, so ill try and help you with this one, although reading the posts, it's pretty obvious to me....
the Caravan Club has been the (well) Caravan Club for many, many years and, despite 'allowing' these new fangled MH things into the club a while back, it wasn't until recently that it decided (with a big fanfare and at great expense) to become the Caravan and Motorhome Club, thus elevating the MH to equal status in all things club.
it even stated its intent to improve its offering to MHers with, again, a big noise about introducing drive over MHSPs.
now, over the water, tis the other way round, where the MH has been King for decades, with Germany and France, and now Spain gearing their sites to be truly MH friendly, changing infrastructure and processes to help get the most for their customers from this different type of tourer.
additionally, it was quickly recognised that these new self contained adventurers didn't require a full blown site in order to visit and stopover at a specific place, so the Aire/Stellplattz/Sosta was born and evolved into the myriad types of offering we have today.
sites then realised that, unless they got in on the act, the burgeoning numbers of MH we going to be driving right past their sites and look for the nearest aire (check oit the reported number of suffering Municipal sites).
so they reacted and either built an aire adjacent to their site and/or welcomed (that's a good word for the OP subject matter) MH to make use of the servcie point and make a couple of euros.
meanwhile, over here, our commitment to understanding how MH do it has been scant, with only a few councils providing stopping places and very few sites, other than the CCC offering dump services.
so, why is it that some posters are keen to introduce what happens over there when it comes to discussing infrastructure and process pertaining to MHs?.....
because over there, they've been doing it for decades and catering for many, many more MH than we have here, and they have made a damn good job of being truly 'MH friendly'.
the club is (possibly) no worse than other commercial sites over here in this respect however it was the Club that decided to make a big thing of changing the name, the corporate logo etc, etc and to be 'truly MH friendly'....
unfortunately, compared to over there, its anything but this...
so those who have used Aires etc, been on sites where passers through are as welcome as those who stay and have used well designed and implemented MHSP that can cope with that demand are keen to offer their experiences whenever it comes to debating them.
the op introduced a subject that is a daily occurrence all over Europe and many posters on ct will have seen it in action, where it works without any of the issues raised by by those who oppose that view.
however, how many of these have actually toured there, in a MH on a site where this happens?
as I said much earlier, I'll wager virtually none (if any at all) yet they seem to be those who have all the answers.
the club stuck its head above the parapet and proclaimed itself to be MH friendly overnight, at great expense.....
is it any wonder that those who understand what this really means for MHers get frustrated?
the OPs mistake was posting a pro MH thread on the Caravan Club forum.
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Returning to this thread after 24 hours, I am not entirely surprised at the reactions and comments. It seems a bit like Brexit. The hardcore 'site remainers' object vociferously to any suggestion of a variation on the current practices. The earlier suggestion that there could be a 'window of opportunity' between 2pm and 4pm was, quite frankly laughable. Pitches are available from noon but why shouldn't a "dump and fill" be available during the morning? I can see the merits of avoiding the "rush hour" and I can't imagine Mhomers wanting to take longer than necessary. The whole thread has been another example of "we don't want change". Rather depressing.
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is it any wonder that those who understand what this really means for MHers get frustrated?
the OPs mistake was posting a pro MH thread on the Caravan Club forum
Didn't really read all of that BB - too long, but your last two points are incorrect. The answer to both are just simply:
Why are there so many MH on club sites, even on SP?
What you and others are frustrated about is (as on the car park to aires theme) is wanting cheaper options for MHs only and not getting them. Wanting the club (which judging by the late availability is very successful in attracting caravans and MH) to cater for those that wild camp or tour in a particular way.
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it was quickly recognised that these new self contained adventurers didn't require a full blown site in order to visit and stopover at a specific place, so the Aire/Stellplattz/Sosta was born and evolved into the myriad types of offering we have today.
sites then realised that, unless they got in on the act, the burgeoning numbers of MH we going to be driving right past their sites and look for the nearest aire, so they reacted and either built an aire adjacent to their site and/or welcomed (that's a good word for the OP subject matter) MH to make use of the servcie point and make a couple of euros.
It might happen here one day - who knows.
unfortunately, compared to over there, its anything but this...
so those who have used Aires etc, been on sites where passers through are as welcome as those who stay and have used well designed and implemented MHSP that can cope with that demand are keen to offer their experiences whenever it comes to debating them.
The caravan club MHSPs are generally fairly internal. Many say that they use cheap or free stop off points when travelling and sites on arrival for longer stays. If they have water capacity, those travelling such a way are less likely to want to spend out on pit stops. Those who wild camp for days on end or overnight on car parks may want to make use. I don't consider it in the clubs general interest to attempt to service those.
The club included the name MH into its name presumably to be inclusive. Not to say 'we will cater for the desires of a small section of the community who regularly do not use our, or other suitable sites for extended periods. MAny who would like to see service stopovers say that they are OK without such facilities for several days. The only reason that I can therefore see them being required is because users are not doing the occasional off main site short stay.
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There are many types of motorhomers just as there are caravaners! Some caravaners are season pitch holders but that doesn't mean all are. How I motorhome is different to how others do. Some will wild camp all the time others prefer traditional sites. There are too many assumptions being made here and little acceptance of variety.
The club, quite rightly in my opinion, has retained that single night booking (long may this continue) which I'm sure is extremely beneficial to many motorhomers in particular be they regular or infrequent users of sites. We once again should be careful in what we wish for. Let different providers offer different products I say and then this will cover as many 'demands' as possible and retain that wealth of provision across this industry which can go a long way to satisfy all.
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This thread is basically about the demands of van owners who want to park up away from campsites overnight. I'm back on this thread because the main concern about wild camping in fragile environmental areas is of concern in places like Scotland and I'm strongly of the opinion that it's easy to kill off what you enjoy by misuse. So I've asked the club for their opinion or advice and I hope we get a reply.
I have to add that boosts to tourism like the NC500 have encouraged visitors so it's a catch22 in some cases. We can't all go there, camp where we like and expect everything to stay the same beautiful and peaceful place we love!
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You surprise me, CY, as you seem to be taking objective views of possible problems as an ‘anti’ stance.
I have listed some cons of the scheme, as I see them, while discussing why I don’t believe it is part of the club’s role. The pros, as far as I can see, aren’t going to exist for site users. I have also said I’m not that bothered what the club does on this issue.
How do you translate this into a ‘vociferous’ objection?
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The reason aires type facilities are not developed as such in UK is doubtless because, given our planning regulations, it is not seen profitable by site developers to provide. I can only guess that the reason dump stations have not been developed is that they would probably only make sense as part of another service provision and to date very few have considered it financially worthwhile to provide.
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Husky, wash that muzzle out!
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A lot of sense Brue. I don't consider owning a motorhome or camper because, as a couple and doing our caravanning within the UK it would not suit me. If I were single then I would doubtless look at a 5.5m campervan. In such an instance I might well spend the odd night or two in remoter areas off sites. Not to save money as I have enough to see me out. I have had two lots of friends who occasionally did the same thing during a tour if it suited. Not a problem. To promote off site camping as more main line I do not consider to be generally beneficial save, perhaps, for those doing it.
When I see occasional comments such as 'why would I spend £25 a night when I could have a good meal instead and if I could use dump stations I could probably camp for a few pounds a night' I immediately think 'isn't that what many Britsops would provide?'
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Mmm, it’s not the first time long winded posts haven’t been read, by me at least.
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I agree JVB. The first time we dumped, when we took the van to Clumber, there was a queue of one. That took long enough. Our van seems to have a fairly large waste pipe compared to some and empties fairly quickly. The one in fronts waste outlet was very narrow bore and took ages. I certainly wouldn't want to add to any congestion by opening it up to passing traffic.
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CC sites are/appear congested, not just because thay are busy (which they often are) but due to protracted one way systems (the Bain of many a town centre) and poor locations of the MHSP themselves.
i do admit to having to wait at a MHSP at a site nr Cadiz on our recent tour, and there were also two behind us, but this was the exception and most sites with better layouts and better located MHSP don't get too many problems.
but we are back to the underlying issue of the CC trying to 'become MHfriendly' from a base that is 'MH unfriendly'..
to really do it, and to do it well, requires more thought than is being applied currently.
racetrack one way layouts and poorly located MHSP do nothing to speed up the service process.....
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CC sites are/appear congested, not just because thay are busy (which they often are) but due to protracted one way systems
Rarely found the site road layouts a problem. Can't say that I ever felt a layout induced 'need for speed' either. Looking at some general recommended site spacing layouts in Europe here may seem a lesser emphasis on spacing between outfits and vehicles but do recommend a larger (8m) separation between blocks of caravan pitches which no doubt leads to wider. two way tracks.
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,now ,where has all the manufacturing gone ?, Ah,to overseas where they can see the potential in products and services 
