Steamer Quay Upgrade
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If they were putting in a common room with free wi fi and a coffee machine and a TV where all can watch football (or royal events) together, or turn it into a place to hold a Christmas party , or an indoor games room for children, or a heated drying room for wet clothes, or a shop for basics, or a sauna , or the sort of other amenities that 21st century campsites have, ….then I would be impressed. But it’s just water taps, soakaways and gravel squares - again. No big deal.
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Why? What is your evidence for that PD?
Also I can't see the logic, to stay at SQ they would have had to have a MH or caravan and are you saying that after buying such an outfit they won't have any money left to pay for a campsite?
You appear to be quoting this myth again that club site users are all the older generation
But again the evidence is totally different, you don't (I think) use club sites in peak/ summer holidays and on sites with SPs like Seacroft or Troutbeck Head or even one site you have gone to Melrose.
If you did you would have noticed the very high number of young families, the younger generation, we've used Melrose during the school holidays for a long time and even last summer it had a high proportion of young children with youngish parents.
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You appear to be quoting this myth again that club site users are all the older generation
Even the Club acknowledges the older generation are the majority of members. In the holidays, you would expect to see families using sites but they are not so prolific on C&MC sites as others. Of course you won't be aware of this because you only use Club sites.
peedee
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Brue
I think you have done a good job of selling it to me
On the point about costs I think we have to accept that site costs go up a level when any site is refurbished, a good recent example would be Morn Hill at Winchester. However what you get for the extra money is so much more than you did before. Now I appreciate some will say that what they had before was fine for them but from my experience of that site it has long needed to be refurbished. I can't comment of Steamer Quay as I have not yet been there but I am certainly more inclined to go once the refurbishment has been completed. Steamer Quay has a unique position close to the town, with all the benefits you mention, which to me gives it a premium to start with. Whether you have a motorhome or caravan you have the option of leaving it on site such is the closeness to the town and transport opportunities. We can constantly search for cheaper alternatives but if those alternatives are not as convenient surely a premium in price is worthwhile? I am beginning to wonder, just from a personal point of view, whether less might be more. Whilst I don't have a particular budget I think I would prefer to spend more on fees for sites which are convenient for me, and perhaps spend less nights away?
David
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Please post this acknowledgment PD? and again if you don't use any sites in peak I wonder how you know?
But no it's going off topic.
The club has stated very clearly what's it's going to do and it's definitely SP with no indication of meters.
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But then again Old Hartley is always very popular and it's all non awning?
I can only assume it's something to do with the space available and/or maximising income.
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I would have thought many families would want awning pitches, especially if staying for more than a couple of days.
I do hope that when the site reopens that point is made very clear.
Yes, a site in a good position is always an advantage, especially easy walk to town & public transport. But with a PVC we dont use facilities blocks and would only want a serviced pitch if price not too high. That balance between location & price is very subjective, but my guess, seeing prices of other serviced pitches on Club sites, we would be giving it a miss.
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Hja
We like to use our own facilities, always have since we actually had a caravan, and now motorhome, with the facilities to do so, circa 1998! Prior to that it was the facility block! Having said that I do quite like a serviced pitch. If I am using my own facilities I need more water and have more waste to dispose of. As I get older if I can make life easier the better it is
I suppose people will have a cost figure in mind on what they want to spend per night and I suppose if they turned round and said it was going to be £60 a night even I would recoil but if it were around the £35/40 a night, off peak, perhaps that would be acceptable given the location. David
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Shocking price for a pitch, that is getting towards some glamping prices I have seen. It is getting easier to find commercial sites cheaper especially off peak.
Back on topic it seems odd that if SQ is to have all serviced pitches, why put in a MVWP?
peedee
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I would think it very possible MH owners would book for location and if not used to using service pitches arrive without the means to empty. The same also applies to caravans and the service points mentioned. The drains they are currently installing on service pitches are great for sticking a tube into, but the contents of a waste master would go everywhere unless emptied very very slowly. At least the site manager would have a nice little earner selling lengths of waste tube.😂
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Well I thought that MH-ers liked to have drive over service points where they can position their drain tap above the drain and the waste water goes straight down very quickly?
This is what I've observed on club sites with MHs using SP, some do use a waste pipe on their pitch while some empty their tanks on their way either in or out.
With the pitch drain in the corner it would make this positioning very difficult?
Actually even for a caravan draining with a waste pipe isn't all that effective and quick as they grey pipe just lays along the ground unless like some you use some manner of keeping a gentle slope all the way to the drain. And I have had frozen waste pipes a few times too.
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why put in a MVWP?
From the drawing, it shows black water waste outlets. Not sure how many M/H used over here have black water tanks.
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Well I thought that MH-ers liked to have drive over service points where they can position their drain tap above the drain and the waste water goes straight down very quickly?
Yes, that is true but if you are on a service pitch which supplies a drain there is no real need to use the MVWP. Steve's excuse that they may not have an extension pipe is a pretty flimsy one. Why use a service pitch if you don't have the equipment to do so? When I have used sites that only have serviced pitches e.g. in Spain and Love to Stay in this country, I have never bothered visiting the MVWP even if they had one.
peedee
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Well on club sites that have SP with MH on them some do use the service points as I assume (and it looks) far easier and quicker than attaching a waste pipe from the MH's outlet to the pitch drain. Some MH on SP do have the waste pipe attached but then have to detach it and store it when leaving.
And I've seen MH use SP and all they do is fill up their fresh water tanks every few days or when needed so not connected all the time even to the tap.
I don't think it's a flimpy reason at all, MHs (I assume) will expect every club (and comparable) site to have a MVSP, isn't it a standard item?
If I were to have a MH (which might happen) I'd certainly not use the drain on the pitch, it's not effective (as I posted above) and much quicker on the service point.
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Not all motorhomes have a side exit waste point, there are those that have a central exit point under the van operated by a lever and I imagine would be difficult to attach any sort of waste hose? Also because Steamer Quay will be unique as far as Club sites are concerned in having all serviced pitches it is very likely that a proportion of the motorhomes that visit the site won't use serviced pitches on a regular basis so no real need to come equipped with a waste hose. So I think there is a need for a separate MVWP.
David
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i have not come across a motorhome with a central discharge point David, strikes me as being a very inconvenient system. Both motorhomes I have owned had side discharge points. I carry equipment to deal with all types of sites from a simple field to a fully serviced pitch. That gives me plenty of choice of where to stay without any worries.
peedee
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If I were to have a MH (which might happen) I'd certainly not use the drain on the pitch, it's not effective (as I posted above) and much quicker on the service point.
We use the one on the pitch, I connect up with the colapz tube, which is very quick to assemble and disassemble, and let it drain out while we are getting ready to leave. Then no need to queue at the service point. Some vans are very slow drainers and you can get stuck for a while if a busy time. One problem of such I high ratio of MH’s I guess.😀
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I think all the new grid style MHSP’s have also had manhole covers that can be lifted for the rare time a MH does have piped black disposal. On one site we were on (can’t remember which) they were labelled as such. Perhaps they had problems with folk using the grid for black waste.
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Thought about a few nights at Beverley Park over the Valentines period but at £41.45 a night will be staying in a hotel so no need to get the van out of storage, tow it to Paignton, set up, drive into Torquay and find parking etc etc.
Is even more noticeable as we are currently planning our summer trip to France where its a tad cheaper!
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If I were to have a MH (which might happen) I'd certainly not use the drain on the pitch, it's not effective (as I posted above) and much quicker on the service point.
Given a choice I wouldn't be using the serviced pitch in the first place. it just does not make sense to use a serviced pitch and use it as intended.
peedee
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I think there are some continental models that have the centre emptying point and I am pretty sure the Bailey Adamo range has the same. I appreciate they are probably in the minority but I still think there needs to be a proper service point on all sites.
David
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It sort of depends Corners. Some of the Club Site MVSP are a nightmare to use, as they are badly sited and you do get queues in the morning where you have lots leaving, and Caravans in the mix trying to back out and hitch up. YRP is one of the very worse, we never use MVSP there as you can stand for ages blocked by either a queue, or vans hitching up to leave. Even newer sites such as Barnard Castle aren’t good. Certain pitches, past the facility block (the MVSP is just outside) mean that you have to drive out and then back into and round the Site to use it🤷♀️ We can’t grasp the concept of connecting up to a service pitch with a motorised outfit, but then we go out in it every day, so a serviced pitch is wasted, an additional faff and more expense for us, one we don’t need. We simply hang a collapsible bucket on our rear bumper, open drain tap, and periodically empty bucket down grey waste. We are both short haired, so showers are a quick splash. You get used to what suits you personally, so serviced pitches are wasted on us, we just have to remember to fill water tank up on our way in, every so often. CLs are a doddle, you ask, and most will be bucket and chuck it for waste water.
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We have just walked past the Steamer Quay, Totnes site which currently looks overgrown and unloved.
Does anyone know what progress is being made on developing the site further to planning approvals being granted?
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