Clachan Trial

birdseye
birdseye Forum Participant Posts: 31
edited September 2022 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Reading "Headlines" in the September Issue, my heart sank when I read the item about the club looking at technology.  I use my caravan to get away from this unnecessary use of computer technology.

There is no need to rush the arrival at a site, it is a good time to learn about the area.  I take no television, mobile phones or tablet.  The radio is just used to follow the weather on a local station.  My break is spent reading books and walking to find locations for my photography. 

Please stop this stupid flight from destroying HUMAN contact.  I also enjoy meeting fellow campers and those staff manning the site.

Please think again.

Comments

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2022 #3

    I know j just how you feel, but the younger generations cannot but encompass technology,which has its place in this modern world,

    The big problem being it has many downsides that are in urgent. need of much tighter controls,

    As was said by the PM today with the energy crisis we are in , we have ignored  the problems for far to long ,which is what we are also doing with some forms of technology 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,859 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #4

    Birdseye

    Its very much a personal choice whether an individual decides to distance themselves from technology whilst they are away in their vans. However the Club can't afford to ignore technology. We have yet to see if the experiment at Clachan works out and that particular site is unusual because it is a sort of satellite site of Maragowan  just down the road. I am not sure that such technology would be suitable for all sites but there will be sites where it could add to those sites remaining in the Club network? Unfortunately "human" contact is becoming more and more expensive so technology could be the answer to be side by side to the human element?

    David

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited September 2022 #5

    +1, choice. We strive to move forward but forget the past at our peril. It can & should be both. As DK says ‘it’s personal choice’ once in you can choose peace sans tech or chose a place that is pure san tech, I do when I use forest sites, it can be done👍🏻

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #6

    Tech could however mean keeping a site open, when the human element would make it unviable. Even where not the case it could speed up operations and reduce costs. Personally I would prefer to just drive up to the barrier, be admitted by what ever system is in place and sort myself out.

    Once on site our choice is to use tech to the full, downloading my paper, checking opening times of places we want to visit, booking tickets, sorting out train / bus times, which with live tracking means we are not stood there waiting for something that isn’t going to come.

    On site I think there is room for both of us to do our own thing. However, from the point of view of site operations I don’t think any organisation can stand still, that option leads to extinction.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited September 2022 #7

    Presumably the OP will be happy to find a bank with a counter cashier service, withdraw the requisite funds with a cheque and pay by cash upon arrival at the said site. He has also, no doubt, encountered the long queues whilst waiting for service from a 'real' human.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #8

    I think Birdseye is looking at this purely from his own perspective. His preference is not to use tech while away, although he obviously does at other times, but he forgets that the world still needs to turn and businesses still have to function and that includes site operators. 

    He calls use of technology "unnecessary". I think it is far from that.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2022 #9

    IF you can find a bank that actually has these days an open branch ,as with our Halifax there is very rarely.many users there let alone a queuesurprised

    We tend to use our local post office which can carry out a lot of most bank facilitieswink

  • Graydjames
    Graydjames Forum Participant Posts: 440 ✭✭✭
    edited September 2022 #10

    SteveL wrote:

    Personally I would prefer to just drive up to the barrier, be admitted by what ever system is in place and sort myself out.

    I could not agree more. It would be an absolute joy to be able to drive straight onto site, find my pitch and get set up without the queue and the need to go through the booking in process.

    Whilst not a great lover of smart phones, although I use them when necessary, I nonetheless make full use of digital technology whilst away. I also watch some TV - although, apart from news, mostly DVDs of my own choice. I read a lot too and walk around the area and enjoy local beauty spots and places of interest. 

    You can do both quite happily. 

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2022 #11

    "I could not agree more. It would be an absolute joy to be able to drive straight onto site, find my pitch and get set up without the queue and the need to go through the booking process"

    this is essentially the Camping Car Park process that has been described elsewhere.
    It's also certainly possible to do something similar at UK sites...I've used at least two sites where I had paid in advance, passed through the barrier using ANPR and drove straight to my (pre selected) pitch.

    this sort of system 'might' speed up queues on some uk sites but with many members hoping to maximise their time on Club sites and an earliest arrivals time holding them back from arriving 'too early' there will inevitably still be queues despite the new 'measures'.

    one difference with the CCP process is that there is no earliest arrival nor late departure...you pay for what you use in 24hr or 5hr periods.

    there is even a booking system to guarantee you a pitch.

    It's technology that's made this human free admission process possible.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2022 #12

    I think there has been a booking system in operation for Many decades for this club that also guarantees. you a pitchwink

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2022 #13

    True, but doesn't give Graydjames the ease of entry that he was musing over..😉

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2022 #14

    Not yet,  let's see how the Clachan. venture, if it works ,is possibly expanded in the future, with what seems the problems of employing and then retaining.cc site staff, 

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited September 2022 #15

    That’s why they keep shutting them down to save money🤷🏻‍♂️🙁

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2022 #16

    It can only be blamed on technology as the main closure reasonsundecidedyell

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited September 2022 #17

    Nope, folk not using them so they become a burdensome cost.

  • Graydjames
    Graydjames Forum Participant Posts: 440 ✭✭✭
    edited September 2022 #18

    I am not stupid; I did realise that, especially at and after 1pm, there will still be queues (and perhaps before that if some hard-of-understanding people still insist on turning up early).

    But with a number plate recognition system in place, the queue would move swiftly. There will be more of a clamour for the best pitches of course, again at around the earliest arrival time, I realise that too, but my point was that the process will definitely be easier. For those who choose to arrive a little later, it should be much easier.  

    In my view allowing people to come and go as they please is not a great idea and I would be strongly against it. 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2022 #19

    The reason for not using them is down to technology or to put it in simple language.on line  home banking as the main reason for the big fall in use as bank staff will admitundecided

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited September 2022 #20

     You originally said you use the PO with a winky eye. You’ve changed your mind. OK JV thanks👍🏻

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #21

    Or are the banks closing branches because people are using the Post Office instead?🤔

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #22

    I think it is just down to cost savings. We had a Nat West in the village, always got plenty of use and rare not to queue. That closed and the next nearest 3 miles away stayed open for a few more years, again always busy. They closed that and now the nearest is 7 miles away and has very limited counter service. Personally I think folk are using the post office because of the closures, rather than the closures being caused by lack of use.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2022 #23

    I think as us our post office in the local Co op has arrangements with the majority of  UK banks and is 400yds away of try to find parking in town, Most days (if staff available)it has two positions open and is busy

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2022 #24

    To the OP, do you still use film for your photography?

     

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited September 2022 #25
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2022 #26

    The name CC Ltd is the trading name as registered.at companies house for as many other organisations with quite a few separate financial arms and the Caravan and Motorhome club who have arranged this trial with ANPR at one site which if successful. May be expanded to other sites,and as barriers are already installed would have been quite cheap rather than issue the type of card you suggest to all members to use at just one siteundecided

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,636
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    edited September 2022 #27

    Club site you mean, don't you? Funny way to run a caravan touring club!!yell

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited September 2022 #28

    No it was an answer to JV’s post re banks, it says so in the 2 posts👍🏻

  • JollyKernow
    JollyKernow Forum Participant Posts: 2,629
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    edited September 2022 #29

    The last bank in our local town closed this week, luckily we have a pop up post office twice a week in the village hall. Thankfully cash is dwindling out from our customers, we've only had to do banking twice so far this year.

    JK