The C&MC and use of electricity.

[coundonroad]

I remember one in the south of France a bit like that. Someone had to come to your pitch to unlock it, come out to your pitch if you tripped it and come out to your pitch to let you release your cable when you left. Bizarre.

We had the same on a site at Sagunt, near Valencia last year. Very odd. Fortunately the rest of the trip was spent on aires etc, although in its favour it was right on the beach, and I'd use it again.

 

[Drover]

What do the site owners get out of it? apart from some sort of booking facility.

I'm not quiet sure as when we enquired with camc about opening a cl with a honesty box instead of someone collecting money I'm sure that there was loads of swearing and muffled groans before being told NO.......THAT WILL NOT DO

 

[Biggarmac]

[QUOTE="Pudsey Bear, post: 1312739, member: 63319

As a side topic, I also think that local councils should be making ALL sites allow none members to empty and fill at least for a small charge, this might get fewer people doing naughty things with cassettes, and charge a bit more if they want to use other site facilities such as showers.
[/QUOTE]
Highland Council contacted all the campsites in their area and offerred them cash to allow motorhomes to drop in to empty and fill. They met with a very mixed response. Some sites said "under no circumstances". Some said "yes for high fees such as £15". Some said "we've done it for years thanks for the cash".
It was not a brilliant success. I think they were offerred at least £500.
The CCC fee for service stop offs was £7.65 last year. 3 hours on site. Empty wastes, fill water, have showers. If clothes washers are available use them for normal price.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

The CCC fee for service stop offs was £7.65 last year. 3 hours on site. Empty wastes, fill water, have showers. If clothes washers are available use them for normal price.
[/QUOTE]

Yes I posted last year that we had decided to try it for ourselves, I went online found a site that offered the service drove in and spoke to a chap and was told to crack on then the jobsworth turned up and asked for our member number, I said we're not members so was asked to leave I said we don't mind paying and we have already emptied the loo and filled up with water so if we can have our showers we'll pay and leave, he grumbled but said okay so we did.

It seems to us that it's a ready money (literally) stream that I'd think most site owners would latch onto so it must be the clubs who are screwing it up.


I didn't know the councils had got involved, good on them for trying at least.


There is a business opportunity there for some enterprising person, like all the garages that are now car washes, they would have been ideal to have a van wash, fill up with water, empty the cassette, maybe even do it for you then sell you bread milk, and eggs, poss opportunity for a farm even, I'm sure there are other places that could do it too.

 

[barryd]

If sites in the UK have space and are in areas where there are lots of motorhomes they should do what some French and German sites do and have a service point and Aire outside the main site. Stopped on a few like that. Basically you are in the cheap seats. Some allow you to use the site facilities, others dont. Some have hookup, some dont. Seems to work ok over there.

We once pulled into one site in France and asked if we could use their facilities to do some washing an ironing. Happy to pay of course. Not only did they let us use their facilities and fill up and empty they wouldnt take any money!! WTF!

 

[Biggarmac]

CAMpRA have been trying get Revolution Laundries to put in service points near their laundries. Someone in their organisation was in touch with us but then - nothing.
We've also been in touch with car wash companies. Same thing. One person interested but then - nothing.
CAMpRA have been using the funds they collected to put in service points, but it all takes ages to get the permissions you need.

 

[Fisherman]

If sites in the UK have space and are in areas where there are lots of motorhomes they should do what some French and German sites do and have a service point and Aire outside the main site. Stopped on a few like that. Basically you are in the cheap seats. Some allow you to use the site facilities, others dont. Some have hookup, some dont. Seems to work ok over there.

We once pulled into one site in France and asked if we could use their facilities to do some washing an ironing. Happy to pay of course. Not only did they let us use their facilities and fill up and empty they wouldnt take any money!! WTF!

They don’t want to do it even for their members Barry.
They were asked about doing what the CCC do, give members 4 hours access for a fee. The CCC charge about £7.50. But they said it would disrupt their sites and would be unfair to “paying” customers. I pointed out to them that members were paying customers and are willing to pay for the service, guess what, you guessed it, no reply. They simply despise us, happy to take our money, but they reckon we are all chancers. This is what has to change, their attitude towards us. Until that happens nothing will change.

 

[Wrightpm]

The CC and now the C and MHC are definitely elitist and snooty. They begrudgingly added MH simply for commercial reasons. I have heard it touted that MH over 10 yrs old may not be welcome nor custom builds. The Caravan and Camping Club has a strapline "The Friendly Club". I have always found this to be true. I am sure there are a mix of lovely people (inc wardens) in both clubs but I think there is a lot of truth in the views expressed.
On the topic - I am sure that people on EHU can milk it a bit - leaving fan heaters running 24/7 and say "well I am paying for it". Well that may be the way people choose to live but regardless of whether a pitch has EHU or not you should be able to opt NOT to have the EHU.

 

[barryd]

They don’t want to do it even for their members Barry.
They were asked about doing what the CCC do, give members 4 hours access for a fee. The CCC charge about £7.50. But they said it would disrupt their sites and would be unfair to “paying” customers. I pointed out to them that members were paying customers and are willing to pay for the service, guess what, you guessed it, no reply. They simply despise us, happy to take our money, but they reckon we are all chancers. This is what has to change, their attitude towards us. Until that happens nothing will change.

Oh I have no doubt the club would never entertain such an idea but other sites maybe should. Its easy money really if they have the space and a service point anyway.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

The extra revenue is to obvious a route for them so my thinking is they are not allowed to except under certain conditions or they lose their association with the clubs or else why not unless they are closet anti wild camping & in some mistaken way think it will drive us through their gates. when the opposite is true and if we were allowed in to service the cassette and refill, we might consider camping there next time if it's nice enough.

 

[Jaytee]

I reckon this is going to cause problems this year. Electricity prices are going skywards and lets face it, there seems to be many of the opinion on sites or CLs with electric that they have bought it so they will use it. I have heard stories directly from CL owners saying they had guests using great big heaters outside in awnings or leaving fan heaters going in them to dry clothes while they were out etc.

Metering is the way to go of course but I bet the clubs wont do it for two reasons. The majority of their users are addicted to hookup and the second reason, cost. It would probably cost millions to change all the sites to metered hookup and I bet the few motorhomers wanting none electric pitches will be in a minority. All they will do I reckon is put up their charges just like everyone else has had to.

Long live the off the beaten track basic CL sites without hookup I say. Sadly they are few and far between now but thats where ill be heading this year. Lets hope all the newbies have not discovered solar just yet then.

We are a small MCC CL. (Non members welcome) and we have a pitch charge of £14/night and then metered EHU if wanted at the KWh price that we pay. Seems to work very well and night.y use ranges from (rounded down) £12 to £2.
Bit of a pain for us having to be around to check meter but have an honesty box if we’re not here and so far no ones let us down. We are also happy with one nighters and home builds.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

We are a small MCC CL. (Non members welcome) and we have a pitch charge of £14/night and then metered EHU if wanted at the KWh price that we pay. Seems to work very well and night.y use ranges from (rounded down) £12 to £2.
Bit of a pain for us having to be around to check meter but have an honesty box if we’re not here and so far no ones let us down. We are also happy with one nighters and home builds.

You need to add your info to your signature, website etc.

 

[Fisherman]

We are a small MCC CL. (Non members welcome) and we have a pitch charge of £14/night and then metered EHU if wanted at the KWh price that we pay. Seems to work very well and night.y use ranges from (rounded down) £12 to £2.
Bit of a pain for us having to be around to check meter but have an honesty box if we’re not here and so far no ones let us down. We are also happy with one nighters and home builds.

OMG, a small CL can manage what a conglomerate turning over tens of millions a year can’t/won’t do. It seems logical, you offer people memberships, you offer them sites, most with full facilities, you offer them the option of using leccy and charge them for what they use.
I remember NASA putting a man on the moon in July 1969, the C&MC are having problems charging for leccy in 2023. Or do I note a reluctance to do something that will mitigate pollution, helping the environment, from an organisation which claims to be environmentally friendly. I have no doubt they won’t listen to a word that I and others are saying, why should they, their sites are full, they are making lots of dosh, and everyone is happy, well in their wee world anyway.

 

[Debroos]

I agree with pretty much all the of opinion given above and have already decided to let membership lapse at the end of this month. I don't care at all about the Club sites but I will be sorry to lose access to the CLs especially as CAMC have a better off grid selection than the CSs of the other club. Having said that, I have only once been asked for my membership number so may just be cheeky and try a few bookings anyway, being honest as a lapsed member of course. I do wonder if CL owners are particularly bothered provided one looks like a 'respectable' punter, especially in light of the CAMC's new disastrous site search and booking system.

The other thing about most CLs/CSs who offer EHU is that it is optional.

I didn't realise that many camc cl's offered optional electricity. Never occurred t me to ask.

Totally agree with comments about camc. We only belong for the cl's and as has been said the basic out of the way ones are getting rarer.
Trouble is, being in the south west of England wild camping is really hard especially since we don't like car parks in our wee high top. A lot less privacy than your big motorhomes.
Such a long way to Scotland

 

[barryd]

OMG, a small CL can manage what a conglomerate turning over tens of millions a year can’t/won’t do. It seems logical, you offer people memberships, you offer them sites, most with full facilities, you offer them the option of using leccy and charge them for what they use.
I remember NASA putting a man on the moon in July 1969, the C&MC are having problems charging for leccy in 2023. Or do I note a reluctance to do something that will mitigate pollution, helping the environment, from an organisation which claims to be environmentally friendly. I have no doubt they won’t listen to a word that I and others are saying, why should they, their sites are full, they are making lots of dosh, and everyone is happy, well in their wee world anyway.

That last bit is probably spot on Bill. The Windermere C&MC site over Christmas and New Year was heaving and its not cheap either. It was full in October also when we were in that area. With all the newbies now boosting motorhome sales there will be no shortage of punters and they will all want hookup. What I did notice on last years Epic trip though was that the CL sites with all singing all dancing facilities and EHU were also the most popular. The carefully selected basic off grid CLs we found were often never full and on occasion just us. They ranged from a fiver to ten quid. WTF! Seems us off gridders are in a minority. Then again, we shouldnt be surprised. This is a wild camping forum. Point is we are a minority it seems in our needs so they wont change for us.

 

[TJBi]

If sites in the UK have space and are in areas where there are lots of motorhomes they should do what some French and German sites do and have a service point and Aire outside the main site. Stopped on a few like that. Basically you are in the cheap seats. Some allow you to use the site facilities, others dont. Some have hookup, some dont. Seems to work ok over there.

We once pulled into one site in France and asked if we could use their facilities to do some washing an ironing. Happy to pay of course. Not only did they let us use their facilities and fill up and empty they wouldnt take any money!! WTF!

That's the French for you - generous to a fault.

 

[alcam]

That last bit is probably spot on Bill. The Windermere C&MC site over Christmas and New Year was heaving and its not cheap either. It was full in October also when we were in that area. With all the newbies now boosting motorhome sales there will be no shortage of punters and they will all want hookup. What I did notice on last years Epic trip though was that the CL sites with all singing all dancing facilities and EHU were also the most popular. The carefully selected basic off grid CLs we found were often never full and on occasion just us. They ranged from a fiver to ten quid. WTF! Seems us off gridders are in a minority. Then again, we shouldnt be surprised. This is a wild camping forum. Point is we are a minority it seems in our needs so they wont change for us.

Possibly a substantial minority Barry?
Think I asked some time ago if I was to join a club which one .
I joined the CCC it appears I made the right choice . Have used it 3(?) times in 2 years but I always have the facility for emptying etc .
Think someone from Campra has commented they try to explain that we don't really need EHU .
Like to think ,post COVID, things will settle down and the wanderers (wildish campers) will be able to get on with it

 

[Debroos]

We are a small MCC CL. (Non members welcome) and we have a pitch charge of £14/night and then metered EHU if wanted at the KWh price that we pay. Seems to work very well and night.y use ranges from (rounded down) £12 to £2.
Bit of a pain for us having to be around to check meter but have an honesty box if we’re not here and so far no ones let us down. We are also happy with one nighters and home builds.

That sounds great but won't you get into trouble as mcc state that only members can stay...
(sure you'd get a lot of support on here if they did get shirty!)
Where are you?

 

[Jaytee]

That sounds great but won't you get into trouble as mcc state that only members can stay...
(sure you'd get a lot of support on here if they did get shirty!)
Where are you?

We can accept non members ok, it’s on their signage. We’re near Filey North Yorkshire.

 

[Norfolk NewBoy]

Many years ago we arrived at CCC Salisbury and were offered EHU or Non-EHU (adjoining fields). We chose "non" but were asked to be honest, as some campers pay for "non" then run a lead under the hedge to a bollard after the office closes at 6pm.

Gordon