AGM Questions - Some relevant to CLs
Users of CLs may be interested to know that a number of questions relevant to the CL network were posed at the AGM and answered by the club.
They can be found here.
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/about-us/agm/2021-agm-questions-and-answers/
Comments
-
Have you clicked on the + at the right of each question?
0 -
It's not immediately apparent at all, I've learnt by experience on websites to hunt for the links.
0 -
I was hoping a Mr Jeffrey Carr (one of those who asked a question) might be a user of CT. Any further explanation will likely mean my comment (or complete post) will be Deleted User.
0 -
I could only find a couple of questions and neither of those were answered fully in any way. Plenty of Blah, Blah, Blah though!!
3 -
Ted
Perhaps the wrong question was asked? I think you are alluding to the system that you and some other CL owners have come up with to provide a more modern way for members to book CL's? Should the question have been, now that we have the basis of an online booking system in place could it not be adopted by the Club for wider use? I understand your reticence talking about it. Perhaps the Club see it as giving some CL owners an advantage over those less inclined to get involved, rather than it being a step forward for members?
David
2 -
This thread appears to have been moved to the CL section, and the Thread about "CL's instead of Sites" moved from the CL section to "Making things cheaper".
There is nothing in the Q&A attachment of any real interest or relevance to CL's except one question which isn't answered.The forum seems a bit manipulated to me.
1 -
Threads are moved to where they are most relevant. This thread is about the AGM responses to questions asked about CL's so should surely be in the CL section? The other thread you mention is about value so probably the reason it was moved to the section it now occupies? Sometimes its a fine line as to where discussions are moved to and probably the CL's instead of Sites could have been in any of three sections? I don't know about manipulation but I would have thought there was some value in putting threads where they are on topic and will get the maximum discussion?
David
0 -
I didn’t think either had moved GT👍
0 -
If I am wrong about your OP then I apologise GT.
We have been regular users of CL's since starting out almost 50 years ago. They cost less than club sites, it's true, but the reason we and I think most people use them, is not because of the price. We like CL's! We have nothing against club sites and occasionally use them too, but it is certainly not what we prefer. We do not want the facilities, preferring the more natural camping environment of a CL. Toilets, showers, made up roads and hard parking bays are not what we want. If CL's are all going to be like club sites, it is going to ruin them. We speak to CL owners and some of them have told us they feel under pressure to cater for those whose natural site choice is club sites, wanting the facilities but for less money. Some CL reviews mention lack of facilities as a negative after visiting knowing there are none, or other remarks suggesting desire for club site facilities on the cheap.
7 -
I wasn't sure they had been either but just wanted to explain the rational why threads are sometimes moved
David
1 -
Obbernockle
You have been at this game even longer than I have. I very much doubt you are alone in wanting to retain the relative naturalness that more basic CL's offer. It is interesting what you say about your conversations with CL owners. I can see where that pressure to provide more facilities is coming from. You only have to look at the Facebook Groups and it becomes clear that quite a body of people won't go to a CL unless its virtually a mini site with full facilities. The original premise of CL's is lost on many. On the other hand you have a lot of CL owners who clearly feel the way forward, for them and their customers, is to provide as many facilities as possible and I assume that success is judged by high occupancy? I could imagine that one of the biggest dangers for CL's with all these facilities is that they will be tempted to morph into larger sites.
David
1 -
Very much our way of thinking as well Obbernockle. It’s not just the price, it’s the sheer variety, the lovely ambience, and the space that so many provide. You never know what little gem of interest you are going to get on a CL, be it watching cows being milked, sheep in for shearing, a micro brewery, rare breed animals, a nice farm shop, canal boats passing by, steam trains close up, a delicious farm cafe. They truly are the gems in the site network if you like that sort of thing.
How we tour, be it in MH, van or (rarely now) tent, we are still campers at heart. We camp because we like holidays that give us plenty of fresh air, we like the physical bit of camping, having to do the odd chore keeps the joints moving, the muscles working, the heart pumping, and we shall basic camp for as long as we can. It’s good that the Club has made things easier for those who now cannot do as much of the physical stuff as they used to, and of course some CLs are going the same way. But I hope that lots of them still keep the more basic offerings as well.😁
2 -
As a regular user of 5 van sites over the years (CLs/CSs), it is without doubt that they are changing with the introduction of more facilities.
Whilst we have always welcomed the provision of EHU and understand the rationale in providing hardstandings, even though we prefer grass in summer, it is the clamour for serviced pitches which I find worrying.
On most grass CLs, the only restriction on pitching is the length of your cable and your imagination. Once hardstandings are present, there will be some restriction but the hardstandings can still be installed with "flair" and vans can hopefully be sited in any orientation.
As soon as drainage pipes are involved, serviced pitches will invariably be in a straight line and the resemblance to a Club site, with its rows of vans alll facing the same direction is obvious.
I have never really understood the clamour for serviced pitches as the time involved in collecting and disposing of water (especially when many sites say empty the waste under the hedges) is simply minutes a day. Utilising two aquarolls will cancel the worry of running out of water mid shower.
Mini club sites are my biggest turn off and are quickly discounted at our planning stage in favour of less regimented layouts.
2 -
"As soon as drainage pipes are involved, serviced pitches will invariably be in a straight line and the resemblance to a Club site, with its rows of vans all facing the same direction is obvious."
That doesn't necessarily follow, Mikey. We have just come back from High Breame CL at Flamborough - one we have been going to since it opened. It now has fully serviced pitches but you can position your van anywhere, and in whatever direction you wish - in keeping with the relaxed atmosphere of a CL. A similar situation applies to a CS we use regularly.
I think the last couple of years has had an impact on the popularity of fully serviced pitches on CLs because it means being able to use all the facilities in your van without having to worry about running out of water and therefore not be reliant on shared 'facilities', where such exists.
I know that Covid has definitely affected how we use our van and we now wouldn't dream of using shared facilities - even on a Club site.
1 -
It doesn't necessarily have to follow but invariably it will as it is obviously easier and cheaper to excavate a single short trench rather than two or more. There will always be exceptions to a rule.
I have looked at High Breame CL and it clearly demonstates another of my irritations with some CLs etc. The main page shows eight fantastic photos but none of them relate to the CL. Anyone can find stock photos of birds, deer, helicopters etc and my instant response is "What are they trying to hide?". One CL I would discount for that reason.
2 -
Getting back to the Q & A's
This one made me sit up think about one sidedness of some of the clubs decisions.
Quote, Question "Has the club become oversubscribed with too many people chasing too few pitches, causing issues within the booking system also weekend bookings preventing longer stays
Answer, Sites have been very busy this year because we did not open until part way through the season. We are looking at policy and procedures around bookings, but generally all members are free to book and use Club services. A weekend booking is very important for many members who cannot take longer breaks"So does that show that the club value the weekend campers over those that can and want to book longer stays. Which will provide the bigger income?
0 -
I have a CL nearby which is old style “caravanning in a field”. The only pressure to change which the owner may perhaps feel is because hardly anyone goes there. There was one review in 2012 and two more in the nine years since then.
There may be a group of older people on here who nostalgically prefer that sort of site, but the majority of members are voting with their wheels. They don’t take high tech, expensive, modern, computerised caravans into farm fields - and they certainly don’t take motorhomes.
1 -
So does that show that the club value the weekend campers over those that can and want to book longer stays. Which will provide the bigger income?
Harry, the shorter a stay on a site the greater the profit the club makes from the site fees, so yes they would value weekenders over longer stayers, provided of course that they can fill the pitches.
0 -
NTH
Surely the bigger profit comes from the more paying customers. I don't understand how a business works out what profit margins it requires over running costs but the maths tells me £25 × 4 nights gives a higher return than £25 x 2 nights.
2 -
Only if people can actually stay for four nights rather than two, which is the case, more people work a 5 day week than not? Hence the fuller sites at weekends?
So there may be more staying at weekends and that will make it a more profitable time? A crude example is that a 50 pitch site full at weekends (2 nights) will make the same as 20 pitches during the rest of the week.
Personally I didn't take the A weekend booking is very important for many members who cannot take longer breaks to mean for the club at all just that it was important for many members, which when I worked it certainly was.
0 -
The comment that people are looking for club site facilities at a cheaper price would indicate that there is a view that club sites are over-priced.
As for ET's statement "They don’t take high tech, expensive, modern, computerised caravans into farm fields - and they certainly don’t take motorhomes." I would respond, it being nearly that time of year "Oh yes they do"
5 -
Harry
I think I would look at it another way. The Club come in for a lot of stick from people who want to book full weeks but find that difficult because weekends are, naturally, very popular. Some have expressed the thought that full week bookings should take priority over weekends. There is also a lot of conjecture about whether weekends tend to be booked speculatively which adds to the problem. So I think all the club is doing is pointing out that weekends are equally important to members as probably we all remember from the time we were in full time work?
David
0 -
"I have looked at High Breame CL and it clearly demonstates another of my irritations with some CLs etc. The main page shows eight fantastic photos but none of them relate to the CL. Anyone can find stock photos of birds, deer, helicopters etc and my instant response is "What are they trying to hide?". One CL I would discount for that reason."
Slightly off-topic, I accept - but I wonder if that's the reason why it's permanently full????
We booked in January and the earliest John could accommodate us was a couple of weeks ago! - and they're friends of ours!!0 -
Yes, here we are on a farm CL this year, note the space! There were five vans there including a huge Concorde van, £6 per night, £1 for the dog. Sea view and great village pub.
3 -
Couldn't agree more CY.
First CL this autumn in a farm field on grass there was 3 brand new caravans, large ones at that, all new owners or returnees and a few days later we were joined by a brand new Burstner Motorhome that would normally be found abroad according to the owner and sole occupant (unfortunately recently widowed). This has been replicated throughout this year and not uncommon in most years.
3 -
But that's not what I was referring to. As I said provided the pitches are filled the greater profit comes when a members are coming and going on a short stay rather than spending extends periods on a site, as the latter will be using more electric and water per day than short stayers. Hence It is better to have those weekenders, arriving late on Friday and leaving early on Sunday compared to someone who is using power from Friday morning to Sunday evening.
0
