Should the Club put it's foot down?
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But I'd rather the club's money spent on an extra site, isn't that better than spending money on installing meters that cannot be recouped ever?
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Dont know how Foreign sites operate, and have no desire to find out, dont have an awning to keep warm. And am perfectly happy with the clubs present set up for electricty. Also we are not extinction rebellion activists so if i ever do get an awning i might or might not heat it...my choice.
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Fell End Caravan Site nr Silverdale had metered electric at least 15 yrs ago, so nothing new in this country.
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At least some CL owners are aware of this, and have moved to banning awning heaters on their sites.
And others have banned the charging of EVs too.
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The real problem the club has is many of the current sites are leased and it can’t guarantee that, come the time, the lease will be renewed. I’m guessing that because of that the acquisition of new sites becomes a priority. Personally I believe its a better policy to maintain pitch numbers than to risk money on a capital project where a return can’t be guaranteed
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Sounds like Club have risk assessed single reception staffing and deemed it a two person task in the main. (That’s acknowledging JVB’s input) Without knowing criteria applied, hard to question. They are quite “open” reception areas, and we have witnessed less than nice behaviour towards staff, albeit very rare. But an example of how trying to think in terms of changing something isn’t as simple as it seems.
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I would trial one person doing loos and leave one in office.
If only one does the loos then who does the showers? They work in pairs. Surely if only one then logic means the facilities will be shut for twice as long! No trial needed it is just common sense and basic maths.
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who would cut the grass?
this is tail wagging the dog...the bare bones Club staffing model means multi tasking, and while it provides adaptability and versatility, its compromised by staff only being able to be in one place at any time.
at sites where electricity bills are prepped at anytime to allow folk to settle up (usually the night before) prior to leaving, there needs to be office staff available.
similarly with those ariving throughout the day, the staff cant be cleaning loos and checking folk in at the same time.
so the club model dictates what tasks can be done and when, in turn placing customers into convenient slots where the office is fully manned, arrival times etc...
whilst implementing a flexible 'pay for use' electric system to reduce overall costs is laudable (for several reasons) it is dead in the water if the staffing levels prevent its smooth administration.
...and this is one of the biggest (cultural) differences where ive seen this type of system work successfully....
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I honestly don't think in the longer term it would provide cheaper sites BB. Perhaps initially yes, but then the prices would creep up again. Plus if you wanted it you would be paying for electric on top.
As to either taking electric at a fixed charge or not, as is common in France, I'm not sure how easily that would work with our longer opening period and 16 amp limit. In France the charge was between 2.5 and 4 € for a 6 / 10 amp supply. However, the majority of the sites were only open April to mid / end of September, when the weather is better, particularly in some of the areas they are located.
Here, I wouldn't mind say a £4 reduction in fee in the warmer months and relying on my own facilities. However, how many are going to opt for it in the winter months when consumption is going to be much higher. So the CC would loose money in the summer when they could sell the pitch for £4 more to someone who wants electric but would not consume anywhere near £4 a night. They also wouldn't gain in the winter as folk would take the electric, which could easily cost the £4 or more.
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whilst implementing a flexible 'pay for use' electric system to reduce overall costs is laudable (for several reasons) it is dead in the water if the staffing levels prevent its smooth administration.
...and this is one of the biggest (cultural) differences where ive seen this type of system work successfully..
correct unfortunately
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the bare bones Club staffing model means multi tasking, and while it provides adaptability and versatility, its compromised by staff only being able to be in one place at any time
But having more staff will cost more money and therefore higher pitch fees, you have often said that club sites are too expensive and how it is driving out certain members who can no longer afford prices as they are? So why do you advocate having more staff?
Additionally to compound the above price increase you are saying let's install meters at at significant cost (10,000 new meters at ...) cost using current money reserves that can never be replaced and will offer no advantage at all except perhaps to a few rather than the many.
Oh is it bare bones? most club sites have more than one set of wardens, three sets is common.
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But having more staff will cost more money
not necessarily, some commercial sites have contract cleaners coming in each day to do some of the cleaning with warden type people doubling up in the evening as a final check before lights out, there are lots of models out there that the club could adapt, where theres a will theres a way
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Thanks for that Micky😁 but I think if you read my post you will see I did have the maths covered, and said it would increase block closure time. I think in reality the on-site staff might actually have some choice as to how and when they do loo block cleaning, dependent upon other circumstances of course. Perhaps a Warden could let us know? It will vary greatly from site to site, and let’s not forget some sites don’t actually have loo blocks!
But all this talk of who should clean, who should do this or that has led us away from OP, and suggestion of a ban on awning heaters.
Like bans/laws in other aspects of society, it will only work if staffing or technology resources are there to implement and monitor it. It’s fairly easy for a 5 pitch private owner to monitor and remove those who don’t comply. Something entirely different on a 200 pitch multi area site where instant removals are as rare as hens teeth, and the scant staff model has more important priorities.
It’s the same principle that sees folks drive too fast, or petty theft flourish. The resources aren’t there to catch those who do it. Therefore you are left with two options.....education/self regulation, or social engineering. One relies upon common sense/ a moral compass, the other is more covert and controversial. One is asking people to comply because it’s the right thing to do from a resource sharing/environmental principle, the other is only allowing a given usage (6amps, 10amps) so that folks are forced into compliance, but with a certain degree of choice. We all make trade offs every day based on such taxation/ pricing. 🤔🙂
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perhaps CC needs to look at how commercials operate with reception staff, groundsmen, handymen, cleaners, etc..yet provide (often) more comprehensive facilities (chef, waiting staff, bar staff) with similar prices.
compare Henley Four Oaks (i think one warden set when we were there) to Swiss Farm next door, which has pool, restaurant, bar, cleaners, gardeners etc, etc..
today, HFO is £21 for two people in our van, SF is £23.50 for a far nicer site (imho, which is why we chose it over HFO for Regatta week) with far more facilities.
it can and is being done with different models.
investment and shrewd operation can yeild better facilities, without exhorbitent price rises.
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In the past OH and I have "volunteered ?" to assist some of our friends on a one couple site with cleaning the facilities, and even on a small site (40 pitches)when full, it needed all the time allocated to clean up after the members (hate to think what their houses are like)
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So the verdict on banning awning heaters is…… 🙄
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You're not suggesting a change to the way CC does things are you!?!? 
