Well apart from getting my name wrong, at least I got a reply, but no real progress. Still the same old excuses, for ever under review, although they do at last acknowledge there is a demand for Aires. I might join that ‘other club’.
Dear Mr Jones,
Thank you for your email and patience whilst we reviewed your comments,
I have been looking at your comments with our Head of Site Operations and our Technical Manager at the Club has shared some insight.
The Club are very aware of the rise in Motorhome purchase and in light of the COVID crisis, know dealerships and manufacturers have seen a further boom in sales and interest. We have understood for some time there is demand for another level of stopover, along the lines of a French Aire. However, the establishment of these would have a cost, and there would be planning approval challenges and UK safety requirements (minimum fire safety separation distances for instance) to overcome. It’s worth debating whether the provision of such facilities should be the responsibility of an organisation like the Club, or whether local authorities should mainly provide them (as is the case in some other countries – France and Australia, for instance). There are already some examples of this in the UK, although some of them operate without compliance with the safety separation distances that those same local authorities would insist on for site operators like the Club.
We have previously attempted to influence individual local authorities in respect of Motorhome parking and facility for. Our experience is that it takes much more than a letter to get their attention and staffing changes and pressure from other sectors distract from this issue. Perhaps now that there is a surge in UK tourism this will put this requirement firmly in the spotlight.
We do consider motorhome owners when designing, re-designing and reviewing sites for acquisition – looking at the availability of public transport and proximity to local amenities among other things. Many of our existing sites were acquired decades ago when demands from members were different. But as these sites remain popular despite some of them being in locations away from towns, it makes no sense to sell them. We install hardstanding’s and motor van waste points on all sites as a matter of policy, and we will continue to review what is needed by our members in the future. In our Minor works schedule motor van waste points, across our network remains a priority and we have developed the newer grill systems at over 80 of our Clubs sites and continue to roll these out. The whole purpose of our name change and revised values is to ensure we do a better job on an ongoing basis of catering for owners of motorhomes as well as caravans.
Prior to the Club’s closure the suggestion for members to pay a fee to stop off and empty waste and re-fill on sites has been considered a few times. I know a similar organisation operates in this way and whilst we continue to review this, the decision has remained by our Executive Committee not to offer this service and maintain the facilities only for members staying onsite with us and, to avoid these becoming overwhelmed during peak periods. With the current circumstances in mind, we know and expect our waste and service points will be used more frequently than ever by members and guests staying with us, as they depend on their own facilities more often. Please be assured we will continue to review our policy on this matter and if we do ever decide to introduce this service, we will share and publish details of.
I have shared your comments with our CL’s manager for consideration. As CL sites and our Affiliated Sites operate under their own steam, they are likely to differ from site to site on their own policies in respect of charging for use of their services whilst not staying, some sites may very well decide to facilitate this service, if they haven’t done previously and it fits with their operations.
I am sorry we can’t offer a solution to this at the moment, but I hope my comments assure you this is certainly an issue the Club acknowledges.
Kind Regards,
Lauren
Lauren Wall
Member Relations Manager
Caravan and Motorhome Club
T: +44 (0) 1342 336886
E:
lauren.wall@camc.com
W:
www.camc.com
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EMail from Customer
Date: 11 June 2020 10:33:54
From:
ianlones@gmail.com
To:
memberenquiries@camc.com
Subject: Facilities for motorhomes
Dear Sirs
I should like to know what efforts the Club has in the pipeline to address the needs of touring motorhomes, both in terms of basic overnight spaces and access to water and dumps station facilities. I ask because I am reviewing whether I wish to remain a member once my subscription expires.
I along with many thousands of others am a motorhome owner and a member of the C&MC. Motorhomes offer the freedom of unscheduled travel, and the autonomy of not needing sanitary facilities every day. Because I have medical conditions which make it difficult to know far in advance when and how far I may travel on a particular day this is especially important. Indeed the motorhome is a lifeline enabling me to visit relatives in far flung places, journeys that for others can be done in a day but for me require a number of overnight stops. I have encountered many other motorhome owners with their own reasons for why it is difficult to plan and book ahead, for many others this freedom is the very essence of motorhoming.
Because my vehicle is fully self contained I use primarily CL sites as I do not need the expensive sanitary and other facilities provided at club sites, indeed in the summer months I don’t even need electricity. Although in truth I have no desire anyway to sit in a site in walking distance of nowhere with nothing but hundreds of others campers to stare at.
In the summer in the UK it is almost impossible to find sites without booking ahead. I consequently am resigned normally to spending most of my time abroad where specific facilities are provided for motorhomes, where motorhomes are generally more welcome, and where pre-booking is not required. This is something I share with the thousands of other motorhomers who stream across the Channel every year. In winter the majority of UK sites are closed even though many motorhomers travel all year.
In a normal year thousands of European motorhomers visit the UK expecting to turn up without booking and find facilities for motorhomes like at home. Every year an increasing volume of motorhomes are rented out to first timers who have little idea how to behave. Every year many fail to find a campsite space for the night. Not surprising then that there is an increasing volume of complaints about motorhomes clogging up carparks and lay-bys, and concerns about dumping of waste. With the release of Covid Rules in the near future, and the current scrabble to book up campsites, this problem is going to be seriously exacerbated by the sudden taking to the road by UK motorhomers, hirers, and the additional first timers created by the current surge in motorhome sales.
I am disappointed that the C&MC despite its new name does little to provide for the particular needs of touring motorhomes. Although it may be optimistic to expect the Club to provide new stand alone Aires / Sostas / Stellplatze on the continental model, it is notable that many European campsites have devoted part of their space to basic overnight motorhome stops, and almost universally make their dump station facilities available to touring motorhomes for a charge. It is also the case that with an automatic payment system installed these types of facility can provide an income all year without need for permanent staff.
Whenever I have in the past raised this subject on your forum all I get is smug replies from the entrenched caravanners and ex-caravanners that there is no demand for such facilities. They may not want them but many motorhomers do and with motorhome sales outstripping caravan sales perhaps more would become members if more targeted facilities were available.
The Club at least could encourage provision of motorhome specific basic CL sites, and in particular to make its dump stations available for a standalone charge. With the closure of many public toilets there will be an extraordinary demand for dump stations this year. The Camping and Caravanning Club already offers dump facilities for a charge; I see little reason why the C&MC could not do so and also encourage some CLs to do likewise.
Given that the Club has had the benefit of public money for staff furlough schemes it could at least provide this small public service, even if only to members.
Regards
Ian Lones
Architect
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