Smaller Site Closures
I have been a member since 1982. Although due to club computer changes our membership records are incorrect and show 1999, but thats another issue.
I'n Not happy ! At the continual closure of the small "Club Sites"
the latest being Bromyard Downs, a great little site.
Previously in the past we lost Marazion, Pimpsaint (Wales), Doldowlod, and others.
These closures are all covered by the standard excuse Not enough members are using them ??
personally I have found these sites in the past to be very busy, and a struggle to get a pitch.
ls the closure reason more a case of they have no toilet and shower blocks and smaller pitches that cant take the increasing number of large vans ? So no big profits to be made?
After all this is a "Club"
Moderator Comment - Moved from Story Section
Comments
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You may be interested in discussions on the forum about site closures.
CAMC is not alone as C&CC are also closing sites.
Incidentally, it is nothing to do with "big profits". Sites have to be economically viable, yes, but there are no shareholders looking for profits and any operating surplus is ploughed back into upgrading and acquiring sites.
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CAMC is not a 'club', it is a business and therefore has to make business decisions.
Think an premier league football 'Club' or the Royal Automobile 'Club'.
The only difference is that the profits are ploughed back into the business and not given to shareholders.
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Which is to the benefit of all members.
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So for all these years I believed that the Club was just that and existed for the benefit of its members. Obviously that is now not the case on many levels eg winter closures , variable pricing and much more. So now we are told it is a commercial business so former members should now follow commercial practice and shop around.
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I've never believed that "belonging" to a club meant I had to be 100% loyal to them. Some people do but it is misplaced.
Independent site last week, CS site this week, CAMC site next month. Keep an open mind, oh and keep a lookout for "member" benefits. We've had our membership fee back this last year with savings so not all bad feelings.
I quite like the club but am open to other choices.
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I’m not quite sure what your point is. Surely you want CAMC to be financially viable? Viable is, of course, vastly different to big businesses making multi millions in order to pay shareholders.
Former members? What's to stop current members shopping around as WN described? I’m a former member but act no differently now to numerous other folk.
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I live in an inland agricultural area, well away from the coast. Within ten miles of the house there are 20 small caravan sites listed on UKCampsite. Doesn’t seem like a shortage to me.
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Surely the Club have a responsibility to members to make sure it remains viable? Some of the site closures were not of the Club's making with lease owners taking back the sites. Others have closed because not enough people used them. I think the club have said that they have something like 50 sites open all year so still plenty of choice? We are all free to "shop around" as you call it. The Club offers much better T&C's than most commercial sites like low booking deposits and payment on arrival. Not come across many commercials sites that are as generous?
David
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To answer your last point first, fully agree, I've always said that if one can find better VFM, better quality elsewhere then leave the club sites well alone.
Of course there are the booking T&Cs to take into account too which are to member's benefit, there have been a number of posts where non club sites have been used and lost a lot of money lost due to far harsher T&Cs.
Winter closures? I've been a member for over 25 years now and there are far many more sites open now over the winter than way back then.
Variable pricing? That's actually to my benefit in some cases, I've noticed that club sites I've booked well in advance have saved me money rather booking them later, but I still book at short notice too. But again there are other sites out there.
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Club AGM Q&A:
Why has the Club significantly reduced site open all year without consulting widely with members?
Question by Edward May
Response
The Club reviews site season dates and opening periods every year in line with historic demand and predicted occupancy. Some sites also open and close at different times because of redevelopment works. This is overseen by the Site and Accommodation Users Committee, who are all Club members. As in most years there have been some changes, but 51 sites remain open all year. This year Steamer Quay, Cirencester Park, Hawes and the newly acquired Lickpenny Matlock will be open all year for the first time.
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At the end of the day the club has to remain viable to continue to operate. Sometimes they will find that sites are simply not possible to run at a profit, although I do accept that those with a minor loss might be retained as a member benefit. The club has to draw a line somewhere with these borderline sites and hopefully this has been done correctly. It does not benefit us if we are paying seriously more than we should to keep one site open to benefit those on another.
Unfortunately we have not seen the figures so we do find ourselves guessing but hopefully the decisions were correct. The only one we have used recently was certainly badly short of customers and frankly could only be running at a loss. Looking at the condition of it, I think it was n borrowed time even then.
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