Splash & Dash
Hi to all Motorhomers & Tourers
Does anyone else feel a little bit 'excluded' from our club?
I suggested a service be introduced whereby a CAMC Full Member could pull into a Club site for a quick 'splash & dash' then be on our way. ie refill our onboard water tank and empty our waste tank only. Not to empty any rubbish. Not to use any of the onsite facilities. Not to park up overnight. Just a quick, harmless refresh then gone.
Anyone else feel this would be a very helpful, useful allowance for those of us that like to 'tour' in our Motorhomes?
Lloyd Muse
Comments
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This has been debated many times I assure you. But the club has stated in a past AGM that it will not offer this service. The reasons are that the club does not approve of wild camping and this service might help those who do it. You might want to ask again at the next AGM, times may have changed but the club at present caters for MH touring by staying on site (which it's doing very successfully) and not to those who will not stay on a site overnight.
My personal view, and would be even if I had a motorhome, is that club sites are for those staying on sites, and it caters for MHs in this way. Allowing extra outfits on would increase traffic at the entrance which can get busy at times and on a few sites you would have to drive around increasing traffic and decreasing safety. It could be asked why should those staying and paying on site be put out by passing MHs, for example not being able to use a MHSP when they want for as a MH, one or more, not staying on site is using it? If I had a MH I might be annoyed if I wanted to use the MHSP and there was someone there not staying on site. Also how quick is quick? There's also the problem of the office being closed at certains times and when open those wanting to book in are maybe now being held up? One MH doing this may not make a difference but what happens when it becomes the norm throughout the day which could happen in busy tourist areas?
The other club does allow that so you could use them?
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Perhaps you’ve missed previous discussions on this subject.
CAMC's stance is not favourable for several reasons such as it's likely to increase traffic movement on site and cause further congestion at MHSPs. Mainly, CAMC is not in favour of wild camping and sees provision of such a facility as being perceived as supporting wild camping.
You could always join the other club who allow short stops for using all facilities for, I think, about £7. What fee do you think CAMC should charge for emptying/filling tanks and cassettes?
PS. Why do you feel excluded? Like all members you are welcome to stay on sites by paying the appropriate site fee.
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🤣🤣🤣 Cross posted again, Corners.
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From the 2023 AGM, as referred to by Corners -
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Hi TW,I did admire your last post —finding the exact question and answer from the last AGM - well done.
Though the answer given was rather superior - implying that anyone not staying on a Club site is “wild camping” - and we really don’t approve of that, do we ! Actually there are quite a lot of CLs without facility to dump 100 litres of waste.
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Thankyou. It was actually very easy to find.
Superior? No, it’s just CAMC's view as they don't condone law breaking. Neither do I as it happens - any law.
I don’t fully understand your reference to CLs as very few folk would want to dump that quantity of grey water and CLs are generally happy for it to be discharged into hedgerows. That looks to be a bit of a red herring to me. 🤔
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On the surface it seems a perfectly reasonable question to ask but, not withstanding the CMC attitude to the matter generally, there are quite a few practical difficulties. Assuming you would be willing to pay for the service we immediately hit on the problem of payment. Site receptions, except perhaps for the large busy sites, are often closed for part of the day. If it were to be allowed I doubt the club would want anyone arriving around 1.00pm when all the new arrivals are waiting to check in. So as you can see the window of opportunity gets shorter and shorter. Also very few Club sites have these facilities near to the entrance so you would have to traverse the entire site which entails access via security barriers. I think it is also difficult to estimate how popular such a service would be. If it was two or three units a day using the service maybe not too bad but if it were dozens that could certainly cause issues?
David
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Maybe this Club could do it in exactly the same way the other Club does. Perhaps send a fact finding team to see how they have managed to overcome practical difficulties and charging for the service.
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….but why would CAMC want to do that if they’re against it on ethical grounds?
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There are two clubs, one which offers such a service and one that doesn't.
Joining either is entirely voluntary, in fact you pay for the privilege
If a MH owner wants the service then they should choose the one that does? Perhaps people join the CAMC as it doesn't?
So no the club doesn't need to do anything, no one is even sure such a demand exists for MH owing club members?
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Also I'm not sure about being a bit excluded?
One joins a club knowing full well (or should for the membership fee) what is offered, surely one then can't say they are being excluded for something that was never on offer?
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Off topic totally but the text when writing a reply is now large again? It wasn't earlier?
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I wonder how many nights folk can manage without a need to ‘Splash & Dash’. The best we have managed was 5 nights after which the most wish for need was a shower. If planned well it is perfectly possible to do this but using the onboard WC is the issue, you can’t always manage calls of nature to correspond with available public facilities. One night’s stay on a CL or site isn’t too much to ask for, long live our club’s no minimum nights stay which, of course, allows this. No need for any changes in my opinion for all those reasons previously given, bottled water can be bought in many shops and all super markets and careful planning is all that is needed.
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I really do think the Club needs to analyse the logistics around this. They need to understand that there are lots of pub stops, which many motorhomers use, and an increasing number of recognised and lawful other overnight stops. Many of these stops do not have all waste disposal facilities.
it may be the club will decide it is not interested in providing services for these MEMBERS. If so, we must not be surprised if some feel excluded. But the Club has said it wants to investigate how better to support motorhomers.
It seems to me that many people, and the Club, don’t understand how many motorhomers tour these days. Of course some experience the pro Motorhome facilities in mainland Europe and then want those facilities in the uk. Some just want the facility to tour from place to place, visiting attractions on the way, or parking up in legitimate town centre car parks, in order to visit the town.many of these legitimate stops are very busy.
more waste disposal facilities ARE being developed around the country. This will of course reduce the need to use sites to get rid of waste.
yes of course we can belong to the more enlightened CCC, and many of us do.3 -
The greatest unknown is how popular such a service would be? Perhaps someone staying at a C&CC site could ask and report back?
David
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Yes there are two Clubs.
One Club rebranded itself to emphasise its commitment to motorhomers but refuses provide this basic service to them.
The other Club never made any loud noises about Motorhome friendly claims but does provide the service.Ironic?
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I suppose one question camc might ask itself is why should they provide such a service if the members concerned won’t commit to using club sites.
Maybe it’s felt that camc provides the whole package and they don’t see why members should opt for only the splash and dash element with the inevitable changes to site infrastructure/operation that would incur for reasons already stated upthread.
Indeed, independent facility stops are appearing and camc may feel that’s a job best left to others while the club caters for those using its sites. 🤷🏻♂️
I’m just guessing here.
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Indeed, independent facility stops are appearing and camc may feel that’s a job best left to others while the club caters for those using its sites. 🤷🏻♂️
I’m just guessing here.
I think it is a pretty good guess TW, its the kind of vibe I am getting which is resulting in me wrestling with the question of value of membership. Most site are far too expensive for short stop overs and as HJA points out there are now many alternatives when touring.
peedee
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The other club was never seen as discriminatory as is demonstrated in its name which clearly embraces all types of canvas structures and caravans. It had no need to change its name or practices.
CAMC, on the other hand, was seen by many as a rather elite club for touring caravans and folk didn’t realise that the term 'caravan' also included motor caravans. Therefore, with the increase in numbers of MHs, CAMC being forward thinking, changed the name to make it clear that MHs are also welcome.
C&CC clearly takes a different stand on the splash and dash issue. That's up to them.
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Provide a service that may or may not be in demand?
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I really do think the Club needs to analyse the logistics around this. They need to understand that there are lots of pub stops, which many motorhomers use, and an increasing number of recognised and lawful other overnight stops. Many of these stops do not have all waste disposal facilities.
I think the club fully understands these places exist but that aside if these places exist some will have these services so why should the club provide them?
If such a demand exists why aren’t these places providing them, after if there is such a demand they could charge and make additional income? But again why should the club provide services for some places not having them?
If so, we must not be surprised if some feel excluded.
Sorry I just don’t get how people join a club knowing exactly what is provided and then feel excluded about a service that wasn’t on offer?
It seems to me that many people, and the Club, don’t understand how many motorhomers tour these days.
Many, where is the many? But that aside the club does understand that there are many types of MH touring. The club just caters for the kind that wants to stay on a campsite overnight. And with the highest ever membership, highest (and grown significantly) proportion of MH owning members it appears to be doing that very well?
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And with the highest ever membership, highest (and grown significantly) proportion of MH owning members it appears to be doing that very well?
We shall see when the accounts are published and after the AGM. The C&CC lost £5 million in operating costs in the 2023 financial year. I cannot see the Club being immune from the downturn in leisure vehicle use which has also hit the manufacturing industry equally as hard.
peedee
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Some very good points there Hja. I thought the comment from the Club about not encouraging wild camping at a previous AGM was very misjudged. Maybe the new Chairman will take a more reasoned approach. For those of us that keep an eye on Social Media will be aware there is almost a mirror image between those that use Club sites and those that chose an alternative places to stay. Many will have a foot in each camp? When people use Pub Stops they will have toilets available, at least whilst the pub is open but no other facilities usually. Also whilst people can legitimately park overnight in many places it is usually without any facilities. So why are these facilities not provide? I suspect its all to do with capital expenditure and cash strapped councils.
I am not making the argument that the Club should introduce this service as I can see many issues which I have highlighted in another post. Just wanting the Club to recognise that using a motorhome is not just about using sites but a variety of places to stay.
David
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I wasn't talking about money there PD at all so not sure where that has come from?
I think you may have missed reading the first part of that paragraph which gave the context of that quote:
'The club just caters for the kind that wants to stay on a campsite overnight. And with the highest ever membership, highest (and grown significantly) proportion of MH owning members it appears to be doing that very well?'
Meaning it is attracting and catering for MH owners into the club and its sites. Nothing to do with money but based on highest membership and MH proportion, was it 70% that was posted recently, certainly above 50% anyway
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David, Hawick put in disposal facilities and Fleetwood has stated in intends to do the same using the profits is has made from allowing motorhomes to park overnight in a car park. I imagine that one of the big problems for many who allow motorhomes to overnight is access to the sewer sytem. For some it is not a problem for others the cost of doing so is just too high.
peedee
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I think for it to become more widespread you would probably need an organisation like Visit Britain onside. That is a Government agency so if they could persuade them to provide relatively small grants that would encourage more local authorities to think about it? Perhaps the Government could mandate that all Motorway Services have such facilities, money to one side that could be quite an easy win? Perhaps they have these facilities already for coaches but no body knows they are there?
David
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Perhaps the Government could mandate that all Motorway Services have such facilities, money to one side that could be quite an easy win? Perhaps they have these facilities already for coaches but no body knows they are there?
Good point, I have seen disposal points at least two motorway service areas, both drive over, and they have one at the Folkstone end of the Chunnel. I think the last one I saw was at Warwick service on the M40. Directions to them are definitely not signed.
peedee
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Not totally off topic is this snippet -
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/plans-allow-campervans-park-overnight-29904206.amp
The reversal may not help MH-ers but it’s good to see the views of site owners are being considered. I’m sure those site owners wouldn’t be in favour of splash & dash!
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There are far,far too many people with converted delivery vans that want to stay for nothing at prime locations and expect the local council tax payer to pay for cleaning and maintainance of those areas.Something needs to be done,and quickly,to stop these freeloaders who are spoiling picnic and day trippers enjoyment.It has become much,much worse since covid.In my opinion they should only be allowed to stay nightly on recognised,licensed type sites (I include cl sites in licensed.)
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While not necessarily disputing what you say, Dave, remember there are also legal stops without facilities for emptying etc.
Wanting something to be done and only allowing people to stop on licensed sites is all very well but how do you suggest cash strapped local authorities police such a scheme?
As an afterthought, I really can’t see the miscreants to whom you refer paying money to either stay on a site or to use a splash and dash. The responsible folk will already be using a site every few days in order to use facilities.
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