Help shape future facilities at UK Club campsites
Comments
-
It’s an organisation that has a need to survive & they’re doing a good job👍🏻. ‘Club’ is a misnomer a tip of the hat to its previous century legacy. C&MC can’t afford to be held to ransom by a vocal minority that wants to pay peanuts for pitches. It just don’t add up🤷🏻♂️
3 -
I must admit I found the focus just on toilet/shower faculties far too narrow. Is this the only aspect of club sites they were unsure about and wanted to test the water or get reaction? Is everything else 'secure' with them?
0 -
I wonder what the proportion of facility block usage is and whether the non users are contibuting more than their share in site fees? I can envisage future usage might need to be considered against energy costs in some way. Just a thought.
1 -
Of course touring won’t die and I didn’t suggest it would, PD. However, it will sure be different and not everyone will be willing or able to swap to a non-ICE set up capable of towing or being converted to a MH and that’s where the static accommodation comes into its own.
Whichever way you look at it, change is coming.
0 -
Well I'm sure even the most ardent in-caravan shower user will use the toilets at some point so unless they'll be a way of separating them from showers it looks difficult as to how a separate charge could be made? It would have to be all or nothing?
From what I see as an ardent shower block user they are used quite a lot. I'm always up early but there are queues at times.
0 -
I’d have thought toilet/shower facility aspects would be the easiest thing of all for the club to reach decisions on without the need to employ a research company 🤷🏻♂️
2 -
Yes I would agree.
0 -
I’m wondering if they want to know if some folk will pay for their usage thus financing a full time cleaning crew or considering dropping the option completely🤔
0 -
A tap and a drain on each pitch would be of far more use to me than a toilet block somewhere with its queue. As touring pitches get replaced by static caravans, with their own toilet and shower, there will be less need for toilet blocks anyway.
6 -
😂😂😂👍🏻. 10/10 for imagination.
0 -
I think you need to perhaps at least have a look in one of these cabins David before passing judgements?
Having stayed at Butlins when I was about 10 in Minehead and stayed in one glamping cabin they are nothing alike in any way. The Butlins 'cabin' was in a row of huts was just like like those in Hi-de-hi, bare walls, bare floors, one small piece of carpet by the beds and no toilet or shower and one sink but no hot water, I also recall one single windows and one electric socket, and small beds with blankets and they were needed as it was draughty with one two-bar electric fire, all in one room and the walls paper thin.
The glamping cabins are detached, insulated, full size shower, toilet, sinks, dishwasher, large tv and plenty of electric sockets (with USB as well) and a fridge freezer. Large settee and dining table. Full double beds with duvets and a numbers of heater in every room. Outside there was a covered veranda, sun umbrella and picnic table.
Certainly equal to a touring outfit in comfort and in many ways it far surpassed a touring outfit.
3 -
I agree Nav. The club could have converted many a non facility site and kept customers happy just by adopting this strategy. Those that want a shower block, even having their very own time booked, can carry on as normal. The rest of the members who don't mind using our own facilities can carry on at the hopefully reduced nightly fee.
2 -
Tonight……..I am “us”😁
I have looked around quite a few glamping cabins, and been impressed by the ingenuity and creativeness of most of them. It’s an easy compromise for anyone who has loved caravanning, used to living in a smaller space, but for one reason or another, can no longer tour. We have good friends who use them regularly, as they had to give up their van, and the Club ones mean they can still holiday with their van owning daughter and her OH. Likewise static vans and lodges, both of which we have used and very much enjoyed. I am sure they have similar options overseas, it’s not just a UK thing.
The Club caters very well for those who need a lot of facilities, either through choice or necessity, so such diversification, keeps non touring Members happy, especially as more and more Club Sites are getting this option. It just needs to do more at the other end of the scale now, new touring families and couples, on tight budgets.
0 -
Someone has asked if it were beneficial. Well it might have been to the company doing the survey for the Club. It might have been to the managers at HQ
Perhaps the guy at HO that sanctioned the survey has shares in the firm that the club employs to upgrade the shower blocks, and requested that that be the sole direction of said survey?
2 -
Rowena, you asked for likes and dislikes.
I would like to be able to pitch in Nose first, Back first and even Across the pitch depending on my other half's' point of view. (I have no choice!)
This would ensure a peaceful stay, from my point of view.
I am fed up with 'pitch to the peg' every time I roll up. Lets have a little more flexibility with slightly larger pitches to accommodate those who prefer to optimise the view from their accommodation.
Oops! What was that big pink thing that just flew past my window?
2 -
I'm guessing that larger pitches would mean larger prices! Larger pitches would possibly result in less pitches overall, and should less pitches mean less income, then an increase in price would possibly be the result...
I think you can pitch nose in, on some occasions, but I think it is at the discretion of the site staff on any particular site? I seem to remember there were vans pitched 'the other way around' at Exbridge Lakeside when we visited last summer. I could be wrong, but I think the site staff told us this when we arrived.... can't exactly remember now. We had a serviced pitch, and I think that the location of the pitches meant you could get a better view the other way around. To be honest, we didn't bother, but I guess it's always worth asking..
David
2 -
Be careful what you wish for! Check out the so called Premium pitch that’s been put in at Moreton in Marsh! It’s supposed to be surrounded by privacy bushes (they’ve planted little more then twigs) and to be landscaped, well when the bare soil and a sprinkling of seed eventually comes through, it might make it? No picnic table and a goldfish bowl position on a pitch that most of the site has to drive or walk past. Looks like it’s just short of £50 per night for 2 adults at the mo! 😬
0 -
Mayhap a team of consultants should’ve been engaged rather than Tina from accounts because she likes gardening🤷🏻♂️🙁
3 -
On the vast majority of club sites you can pitch nose in or reverse in, this has been the case for many years. I think there is about five or less where you have to reverse in? Sandringham used to be like that I recall, not sure if it still is?
Across the pitch can be done, even is done, and is pitching in a different manner if you ask the wardens first.
Pitching to the peg is done for one reason alone, it is to ensure the club adheres to the fire regulations/guidelines of having 6m spacing between adjacent walls of a caravan or MH and 3m between other parts of your outfit , it is as simple as that.
I know there are those that perceive these regulations to be out dated or whatever but the fact is that the club has decided to use them so if one wants to use a club site then that's the way it has to be.
0 -
I know the pitching area you have mentioned, it used to be in a pleasant grassy spot under the trees but not everyone's choice due to the road usage. Last year we stayed on a CL with an expansive pitching area, hardstanding, big area of grass, water and drainage plus picnic table. Cost, £20. We stayed on a similar one early this year. The club has overheads that push up prices but instead of creating an occasional expensive pitch it could improve all pitches so that site users in general enjoy their holiday pitch as much as we did using these CLs.
3 -
Corners expressed concern about splitting the expense of using toilets/showers. A fair number of commercial sites operate a 'token' system for showers. Seems pretty simple to implement if required.
As for the pending demise of ICE vehicles for touring, I would imagine there will be a bit of a jump in demand for suitable tow cars and, to a lesser degree, newer motorhomes around 2029 to see the purchasers through a significant part of their pastime. By the time that new ICE's become illegal, I shall be in my mid 80's. I suspect however that I shall not be updating to see me through to my 100th birthday. Perhaps we'll end up like Cuba with old classics lovingly nurtured.
0 -
A bit like ourselves, CY!
0 -
Was it expressing concern CY? As I recall it was how such a system would operate rather than any concern?
And using tokens for showers that is certainly a step backwards to the past in my view and I didn't realise that still went on, really? For a set time too I imagine as well?
I am amazed this still goes on in UK (I hope) caravans sites. I can't recall or read about any of caravan site that has this or has been discussed ever on CT?
Are you seriously advocating this? What next push button showers too? How about 50p to use the toilets as well?
But for me like in a hotel I expect the shower to last as long as I want it to, I view it as being on holiday not something to be endured.
0
