A Conversation at the NEC

Not much in it at Altnahara where EHU use can be compared to non EHU.

https://www.manorafon-farm-park.co.uk/stay/

A sign of the times?

I think the introduction of metering may be a bit of a conundrum for the club.

As I understand it, and will be happy to be put right, the club seem to have energy agreements with various suppliers around the UK. Each Kw will be charged at a slightly different unit base. I can foresee members who use various sites around the country being unhappy about having to pay a different rate. Maybe they'll balance it up by having varying charge for bollard use etc, just like a standing charge used by energy companies nowadays, and therefore standardise the charge.

It is going to need excellent, or at least very good, Communication skills from the club to explain this before initiating it and we all know how poor that is at present.

I think that is the second one to do this WN. I recall I hightlighted another one in another thread on costs. It was one where the campsite was not their main business. Cannot remember the name or the thread. They were putting more emphasis on running their animal sanctury/zoo not their campsite.

I think the portion of cost of a pitch price down to electric consumption is between £4 to £6. I would expect at least a £4 reduction in cost when meters are fitted even allowing for amortisation of meter installation costs being added to the pitch price.

peedee

I was on a CL last year next to a fishing lake.

We'd used it before and I mentioned to the owner that I hadn't heard his water pump aerating the lake as often. He told me he  had to cut back due to his energy bill rising from £15,000 per year to £45,000. Membership fees had already been paid and it was a members only facility so he couldn't or wouldn't ask for more.

I don't think the general public really appreciate the huge hike in commercial energy prices and the knock on effect that is having.

Must have missed your post Peedee.

I get the impression that the cottages are back down in Pickering myself, they certainly aren’t up on the Camping Site if you can see passing trains. Looks a nice business though, both aspects.

 I am sure this decision was take after some very thorough research.

 On CT members are quick to cite cheaper commercial sites but how many of these have understood their likely 2023 utility bills as well as the inflationary costs on everything else they buy. 

If they are to stay in business their prices will surely need upward adjustment or more touring sites will take the easy option of just having statics or sell to a static operator as the rental income is guaranteed regardless of weather, fuel costs etc.

Peedee

I suspect the readiness to listen and take notice and be concerned of comments on here and other Social Media is only likely to happen if the Club start to lose members in large numbers and occupancy rates fall below a level they are happy with? If neither of those two things happen they will just weather the storm and be convinced the decisions they made were correct. I am sure there is a view that the likes of CT and Social Media are just a way of letting people let off steam and once they have exhausted their frustration members will settle down to the normal rhythm of life? Let's face it some of the comments on the change of name were bordering on the hysterical and unfortunately some became very personal. The booking system change is different as it does impact on nearly all members directly. I am sure you are right that many people don't like change and perhaps the flaw here is that the Club have not sufficiently explained the aims and the practicalities of the new system. As they say only time will tell!

David

In a nutshell, no Rocky. The Club in the last decade or so has catered mainly for the roll in, hook up to everything, pay whatever it costs user, and that’s the core of its users still. (Nothing wrong with this if it’s your chosen way of touring, I am not knocking anyone’s choices).

Hence there are now far fewer basic facility Sites, more and more serviced pitches on remaining Sites, and the Club’s prices have just gone up and up each year. If you are a frugal usage camper, and either don’t mind the daily chores, or can still comfortably manage them, then you can get better value for money by using some of the lovely CLs and other options.

I would expect that a business will indeed be aware of rising costs, including electricity and gas, as they will have signed a supply contract for a certain length of time, and their prices will need to reflect their costs. If they do not, then they will not survive.

 A full facility family run commercial site we stayed on a year ago has increased their price from £27 to £29 per night  in June, which, for a serviced pitch is still very reasonable.  They offer seasonal pitches and a few glamping pods, but otherwise it is only tourers and MHs.

I think the Club is suffering from being  so big and having to support head office staff rather than just site staff.  They have also spent a lot on buying sites, perhaps time to rein in the non essential spending until things, hopefully, settle down.

I think  they are also trying to make up for the lost revenue during Covid shut downs.