Steamer Quay refurb removal of non EHU pitches
Comments
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I agree about putting meters in here. I get the impression, perhaps wrongly, from the council statement and how it's just been in the December magazine that this is a very recent move? If so maybe the club will install meters here rather than the unspecified location somewhere else? Or even if they won't be used as such at least they would be in place till the recording and billing equipment is ready sometime in the future?
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I’d think it would be popular all year round, Corners. Totnes is a quaint old town with much to offer at this time of year.
https://www.visittotnes.co.uk/totnes-christmas-market/
It's close to Darlington Hall which a lot of people visit for its arts and crafts and educational facilities.
Totnes is also on the edge of The English Riviera and Torbay attracts visitors all year round. While the lights may not rival Blackpool’s, the Christmas Train of Lights is certainly a sight worth seeing.
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Reducing electricity costs are unlikely in the short to medium term and almost certainly not in my vanning lifetime or most of those on here.
My guess is that CAMC prices over the next year or two are going to become even more eye-watering than they are now. There have already been a few comments that occupancy seems lower than previously. Is this the future?
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Eye watering for you you mean, Some could say that you've spent a considerable eye watering sum on getting your MH to tour off grid? It's all about choice?
Has there been those comments? From those that actually use sites? But there has been a good number of posts that have said how many sites are showing very good occupancy rates for next summer, most of the sites I'm on it's showing low and sometimes full, despite the introduction of deposits and these eye watering costs as they are now.
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Perhaps the club have their eye on a slightly longer term solution...?
now that would make a good Christmas present🎁
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We like non facility sites even with the caravan, we use them at home and abroad.
The ones Steve mentioned are as he said former Municipal sites, facilities open in the High season and can be used by tents and caravans at that time, MHs only for the rest of the year.
Why they don't allow caravans all year I don't know as there is Freshwater, a waste dump and a toilet dump, no reason not to let caravans in they are happy to use such sites.
We find them nice relaxing places.
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45 years since we first took a caravan abroad, back then the facilities provided were often very basic in some places. Same in UK too if I remember correctly.
Provision these days is much better, though in some very rural areas of Norway they can still leave a bit to be desired! In UK, the facilities on some CLs can also be less than ideal.
However, wherever we are, we actually prefer to use our own on board facilities, so prefer to use non facility sites/CLs where available, rather than pay for facilities we will not use.
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I believe there are some stellplatz in Germany that also allow caravans, but did not try any, and now we possibly will not take the van abroad again.
Would like to take van to Norway in 2024 for my younger sister's 80th, but a very long way to go, will need to see what shape we are in by then!
Brexit has made all that more difficult. ☹️
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However, wherever we are, we actually prefer to use our own on board facilities, so prefer to use non facility sites/CLs where available, rather than pay for facilities we will not use.
Same for us, and we know the standard of the facilities is always the same and never more than 1 in the queue.
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It's the club:'s favouritism for holiday destination which already have huge amounts of sites, for example The South West and the Yorkshire coast, disregarding areas where sites are in relatively short supply e.g. Essex and The Marches, in fact any region West of the M6
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West of the M6 includes the Lake District, Nellie, and there are quite a lot of sites there.
An alternative view could be that popular areas encourage the opening of new sites due to a guaranteed market. That doesn't excuse the absence of sites in some areas but good business sense could go some way towards explaining it and, added to that, not all Local Authorities welcome holiday sites.
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well all sites will have high energy costs, but sites stay open or close depending if those costs can be met from people staying on them?
And it says closure due to high operational costs not just high energy costs. Is that the same? maybe or maybe not but I suppose the bottom line is those costs cannot be met or subsidised by the club?
It also states and to ensure the rest of the UK Club site network can operate smoothly and cost effectively next year. Again whatever that means but I assume if it was kept open other sites would suffer?
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I am not so sure about that. Much of my comment was driven by the fact that the site currently does not have any pitch electrical infrastructure so adding metering would probably not cost as much as trying to convert a site. Yes Steamer Quay, after its refurbishment won't be a typical campsite as there won't be an option for awnings, although Old Hartley seems to manage quite well in that respect. It is likely to perhaps attract a greater a percentage of motorhomes, who of course, are more likely to depend on their own power supplies. Clearly any decision to introduce metering could not be based on just one site, particularly one that is not typical but it would be a start and could be done at probably a reasonable cost over and above the installation of the electric points. There is an opportunity at Steam Quay if the Club want to take it.
David
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Nellie
I wonder if the problem is that it is very difficult, or so it seems, to build a green field site so to speak. I think I am right in saying that all the recent new Club sites have been acquisitions of existing sites. I thought the Club tried to open a site in Essex but the locals protested against it and it didn't go ahead. Can't remember exactly whether that was a permanent site or a temporary one for the Olympics? If they now find acquisitions the best route invariably those sites are going to be in areas where campsites already exist?
David
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I think they are thinking😁 (I do generalise a tad here…..)
Who has the most spending capacity? The older end of the touring fraternity. (The Club’s core demograph.)
Who need/like to be fairly close to a town/shops/attractions, without using their own transport? The older end of the touring fraternity.
Who need the most assistance in terms of power gadgets, ease of set up, less physical exertion? The older end of the touring fraternity.
Who might such pitches attract easily, at whatever cost? The older end of the touring fraternity.
Sound business move on the whole🤷♀️ 👍
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I had forgotten about that Brue. Totnes is the Hebden Bridge of the South👍
You can only hope they have haven’t done “a Bristol”, and have got planning permission before investing!🤣
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I just wonder if anyone would bet against me if I were to say that the refurbished Steamer Quay will be an exceptionally popular site? If that is the case surely the Club have made the right decision? I think the site will be particularly popular with campervans and motorhomes because of the easy access to the town. I suspect that popularity will be right across the age range because that option to camp right in a town is fairly limited in the UK.
David
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I am sure it will be popular, Totnes is a nice, interesting town. We would make it a day visit though, we haven’t struggled for parking with our little MH the times we have visited. We use Exeter Racecourse Site, unless we are on a CL or in a cottage on Dartmoor.
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The Club is to be applauded.
In future members will be able to heat their caravans and cook their meals at the Totnes site with clean, green, renewable electricity instead of using fossil fuel gas shipped in from around the world.
Good move by CAMC.
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I don't know whether the Bridgetown area, where the site is situated benefits from the hydro power Euror, as I said only a part of Totnes has that benefit. The club could upgrade the pitches so that they could be used all year round, improve the small facility block and leave the site as a "green" area, instead it will light up the sky, use a lot more power and water and intrude more on the local residents who overlook the site.
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As said before it is already very popular. With changes the main benefit will be year round opening, if the local residents don't object. People go there year after year. we were chatting to a family from Scotland last year, well set up for a good stay, awning up and all the equipment needed for a pleasant holiday. Many people do long stays even off grid. I fear it will become a short stop over place for those who use wheels rather than feet.
PS I'm back on line this morning after a local power cut...ha ha.
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I think it is typical of the CMC they never seem to ask the paying customer what they would like to see
We have stayed here a few times and always enjoyed our stay.
It has always been a very relaxed site with lovely friendly wardens, the biggest problem with it was not the lack of EHU (most modern units can cope well for a few days without it) but the old facilities blocks. I notice they are not building a new block just refurbishment which from previous sites normally just means a bit of paint, unfortunately this site needs much more
The lack of awning pitches may put families in caravans of visiting for a week or more
The overall change will be a steep price rise, it has never been a cheap site but was always slightly less than others, I suspect it will become much like Hillhead which is vastly overpriced in the peak season
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