Motorhome service point on sites

Sharon chadderton
Sharon chadderton Forum Participant Posts: 6
edited September 2021 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

If you are a member on the club are you allowed to go on a site to only use the motorhome point I.e. water and empty tanks?

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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2021 #2

    No , the  motor caravan sevice points on sites are for the use of those staying at the site

    Ps why do you ask?

    I understand the camping club allow you to access their sites for a charge £7? to use their facilities

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #3

    JVB is correct. The club has given reasons in the past for only allowing those staying on site to use the MHSPs. I seem to recall causing congestion was cited and the club also stated it did not want to be seen to be effectively condoning wildcamping.

    Various service points and aire-type set ups are beginning to appear around the country and these will probably meet your needs but, if all else fails, book onto a site for a night or so.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #4

    There are other issues that probably prevent the CMC opening their sites to use that sort of facility. There would obviously be a charge for it. Receptions seem to be open less and less these days which could restrict the availability of such a service. Also, I imagine, that the Club wouldn't want motorhomes coming into the site at the busiest arrival times for people staying on site, so with such restrictions would it be a worthwhile service? There are a handful of sites where the motorhome point is near the entrance which perhaps would make it an easier option but there are not enough sites like that to make it a worthwhile project. 

    David

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2021 #5

    It makes no difference to me ... I have a caravan. If there was a will, I'm sure the club could find a way. Apparently the 'other club' allows this option & on the C&CC site I was on this week, the MH service point was on the exit to the site ... they seemed to manage & there seemed to rarely be anyone in the office. I was pitched not far from the exit & there wasn't a steady stream of MHs using it. And surely if you were a MH that wanted to use this facility common sense would tell you not to arrive at 12/1 o'clock when the new arrivals came .... 

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #6

    I’m not sure if the C&CC are even allowing dump and fill currently. If they are, barriers / the big signs saying arrivals only between 1 and  8pm and nobody in reception, would mean it could  only be available in the afternoon. If it’s circa £7 and you qualify for the age related  discount, you might as well stop the night in any event. Our HS with electric is only £19 a night.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2021 #7

    This may be a Covid precaution...however, you're right...where theres a will...

    in some other places, its not only common but pretty much expected that touring MH can call into sites they are not staying on, to refill with water etc for a small fee, usually about €2.

    sites are often designed differently so that these visitors dont actually enter the site via a barrier, the MHSP is generally at, or very near to, the exit....some even have two adjacent MHSPs. 

    visitors dont impact the site at all, they either come to the office for a token (for water) or pay a cash fee on trust..

    the site residents generally don't even know they're there.

    its a different mindset, where a demand for a service is met with a fit for purpose product on pretty much every site.

    i guess their view might be that by providing a proper place for tourers to empty waste cheaply and conveniently, they are ensuring that folk do the right thing.

    another view might be totally to the contrary and that allowing this service 'encourages wild camping'....

    perhaps that stance it might actually encourage folk to act less responsibly?

    yes, its a mindset thing, different ideas on catering for all types of touring.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #8

    As I mentioned there are not many CMC sites where the dump facilities are near the entrance. Seacroft and I think Southport have that option. So I suppose some payment option could be organised to avoid the need for there to be anyone available to take the payment. As most motorhome dump facilities are in the middle of the site, usually near the toilet block, this requires access to the site. If reception is unmanned how is that achieved? I am not sure I would trust in common sense, many don't seem to understand when they should arrive at the site if they have a booking!

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2021 #9

    The 'MHSP in the middle' just shows how little CC knew (or have learned) about motorhoming....

    we were on Baltic Wharf parked just past the MHSP....on leaving I had to drive all the way round the site to empty and then around again to get out!

    every day at leaving time you can imagine every MH doing two unnecessary laps of the site thanks to the poor location and the one way system...

    ok, BW struggles for space but it gives the idea of how poor thinking/design can have a huge effect on traffic flow and patience...

    as DK says, we're too far down the line with many, many poorly located MHSP to 'allow' visitors....adding a drive over grid improves things but can't address the location issues throughout the network.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited September 2021 #10

    There seems to be a "we've always done it this way" mindset in any CAMC planning/design/site operation.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited September 2021 #11

    And then there is my mindset "if people choose to camp where the facilities do not meet their requirements it is up to them to meet their needs and not for CMC to provide". 

     

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2021 #12

    Motor caravan waste points as service pitches are on older sites  and yet to be upgraded ,installed near to the already installed drainage systems,rather than the add costs of what could be long additional waste pipes that could, in lots of instances, also need connecting  to the sewerage pumps 

    Evan on new and refubished sites although motor caravan servise points are made far more accesable they would also need to be within the site drains and pumps layout,hopefully also inside the security barriers ,

     

  • dave the rave
    dave the rave Forum Participant Posts: 806
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    edited September 2021 #13

    Talking of mindsets..........How come people who choose a motorised caravan expect to be treated differently to lesser mortals who choose a touring caravan?

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #14

    It will be interesting to see what they do at Clumber, seeing as it’s such a major upgrade. The current drive over grids are poorly located close to walls and only one of the two is accessible with our MH, unless I drive the wrong way in a very busy area. Hopefully they were just cheap and cheerful stopgap measures and the new ones will be better designed.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #15

    I don’t see it as being treated differently. You are free to empty your waste master down the drive over grid, I often did when we had a caravan. Given that the club have styled itself a Motorhome club well as caravan, it is only right and sensible that they provide these basic facilities.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2021 #16

    Did notice the drive over one at the Top facilities block was in a worse position than the older one near the dog/cycle wash ,maybe it was placed there to keep the roadway clear? 

    but then a flxible pipe attached to your waste outlet could alleviate the left hand drive set up on your M/Cwink

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited September 2021 #17

    I think that noneplussed's post might be in reference to the provision of dump facilities for members not staying on site. Read original OP Steve

     

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #18

    in what way NP?

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #19

    You may be right ET. Although in that case noneplussed should have put some people, rather than the implication it applies to all MH owners, which I think is very far from the truth. A significant number currently are being used more like caravans for long term stays.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited September 2021 #20

    I felt that it carried on from my response to CY on pervious page as beneath

    And then there is my mindset "if people choose to camp where the facilities do not meet their requirements it is up to them to meet their needs and not for CMC to provide". 

    The implication for me (from reading on topic posts) was that it was aimed at those who felt they should be able to use club facilities whilst not stopping

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #21

    If you mean MHSP provision, they are not necessary but by directing MHs to dedicated dump/fill points it frees up the other points for everyone else and prevents congestion on site roads. Therefore, MHSPs are a benefit to everyone.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #22

    You might think differently if you had to lift a hernia inducing drain cover to empty your waste wateryell Up until only a few years ago Club sites were designed almost exclusively for the easy use of caravanners. Only of late have motorhomers had improved waste water disposal. I am sure the only reason sites have motorhome water refill points back then is to stop motorhomes blocking site roads by filling up with water at regular service points!!! Many site facilities are mutually beneficial to both caravanners and motorhomers but given the increasing number of motorhomes visiting Club site the Club have had to think about how to change things, a little, to make life a bit easier for both traditions.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited September 2021 #23

    The OP is about MHs not stopping using sites as a dump station.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2021 #24

    Yet folk are allowed into a CC site to buy gas when not actually staying there..

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2021 #25

    Not differently at all, I would have no problem with a caravaner driving on site to empty their waste for an agreed fee and then motoring off wherever...

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #26

    But they will probably park in the parking area and not enter the residential part of the site, or go through the site barriers and cause possible congestion?

    Most MHSP are within the site and to use them one has to enter the site, and even as you posted yesterday about where they are on the site at BW? Imagine a few MH not staying doing that over the course of a day?

    Also it would mean extra unnecessary traffic on site at perhaps busy times and reducing safety?

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited September 2021 #27

    Indeed and I have done so

  • David  H
    David H Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited June 2022 #28

    What is the difference between a service point and a motorhome service point?