CL Site Owners' Website

It’s a very good resource, and quite frankly shows the kind of commitment to CLs that HQ ought to have provided years ago. It’s a very informative read, and even without reading much deeper into the information at this moment, will give those new to trying out CLs much more information than the Club currently provides. The owners group is to be commended for developing this. We often mention to some of the CLs we use that there is a CL Owners Group, but we can now point them into looking at this thread.

I didn’t pick up on the phrase brue mentioned, but I do agree with what is said. We frequently only stop one or two nights on a CL if we are touring, but it’s never just to dump and fill. They represent somewhere safe, organised and legal for us to sleep, and we are happy to pay the overnight fee. We used to do this with our caravan, as well as the motorhome, and the one night stopover isn’t uncommon with those who truly tour about, particularly those with camper vans and Motorhomes. We stop because the CL will be in an area of interest to us, not because we need to “dump, fill and run”. We have found Sites we absolutely love, and now return to frequently for much longer stays, after an initial one night stop over. We do respect those CLs that stipulate a stay must be for two,three, more nights minimum at times, even if it means we move on elsewhere. 

As I say, I think it’s a great website, not just for CL owners, but for those like us who love CLs.👍

I totally agree with PD and Brue. Charge one nighters extra because they want to dump and fill? That's a rip off and not in the ethos of touring, to my mind. 

We often use CLs for one night stops en route to our main destination. Sometimes we dump and fill, sometimes not. Perhaps one in three of the CLs we stop at will find us at the service point yet I'd be paying extra at each stop!

If CL owners, got their pricing sorted out fairly they'd not need to appear so mean spirited and anti one nighters!

If I find a site charging in that manner, I'll sure as hell boycott it irrespective of whether I need to dump and fill.

Now, as PD suggested, why not let members use the dump and fill facilities for a sensible fee without staying the night? That way you get to let the pitch to someone else and still get your fees. Win/win, I say.

Perhaps the CAMC mindset is percolating into CL's. CAMC are steadfastly against "splash & dash" even for a fee. The name may have changed but the ethos hasn't.

I can see I have missed something here, admit to only glancing through each heading...... charging one night stays extra?🤔

Thank you for your observation on The Dump Fill & Run brigade..

This is, of course, a slightly contentious issue. 

Whilst some CLs encourage one-night stays (in fact those near ferry-ports etc. its the mainstay of their business) others (like myself) find that one-nighters are of marginal benefit.

Brand new CLs trying to build a customer base may welcome one-nighters, but more established CLs find that a one-nighter can often 'block' a longer booking and will only consider having them to stay either to fill-in a gap or as a last-minute booking if it suits them.

CLs on popular 'Routes' such as the one around Scotland have found that motorhomes tend to 'wild camp' for 2 or 3 nights (for free) and then use a CL to drop 3-days worth of rubbish, empty their full-to-bursting cassette or tank and fill their fresh water tanks, all for less than £15 (average).  This is not economic for many CL owners.

Some might say there is an 'opportunity' for CLs to offer a service whereby Motorhomes call in, dump, top-up and go.  However, this practice may be seen as operating a 'waste transfer station' as the customer is not staying overnight.  Also, it increases traffic on a site and still involves collecting money, book-keeping and generally being around and available on the off-chance someone wanted this.  Personally, I wouldn't contemplate the hassle and invasion of privacy & use of my metered water, costly (to empty) CDP etc. for less than £30.

I hope this offers some context.  There is no 'right' answer and I'm sure many sites will still allow one-night stays (particularly mid-week) but Owners are now more aware than ever of the costs of servicing visitors.

It's a fair way down the front page.

Frankly, Ted, that makes me feel like a second class and unwanted customer. I actually find your term "The dump, fill and run brigade" quite disparaging.

Instead of penalising one nighters, why not price it fairly to all but offer a discount for staying 5 nights, or whatever. 

I appreciate CL owners aren't running a charity and need to make a living but, if you run a business, you need to accept that the customer is king and not someone to be treated shabbily when their needs don't coincide with your concepts. Be fair to all or be the loser - it's your choice.

Yes, I had missed it. We wouldn’t stop if charged an extra £5 or so above normal rate for a one night stop, but I suppose it depends on where CL is located as to whether or not CL owner feels it’s needed.

I need to get our handbook out, and mark up some CL possibles for different tours. We might have one or two nights in some places reaching our target area, then a week in the area we are aiming for, coming back a different route and having one or two nights on Sites heading back home. Prefer not to book, although I fear this year will be a bit different. A lot of the places we go are well off the beaten track, and owners are happy to see you no matter how long you stay. Plus we use small private sites as well. We have never paid more than £18 a night at any CL, including ones with good showers and loos, and touring in Winter. Appreciate others will love all the extras provided, and not mind paying for what they need. 

I can quite understand the Dump ,Fill and Run brigade, it has already been mentioned on other threads ,"as members why cannot we just stop at sites and empty our waste,toilet and fill with water ,

I have noted it twice on a non facililty site in the Cotswolds that did not have barriers ,where motor caravans ,have asked to "look round" and the site staff found them Servicing their LV, and on one occasion got very nasty when advised about it the costs of emptying the cess pits that memder would pay for in their pitch fees

so i quite can see it happening on a CL/CS

An add charge of £5 for one night midweek only is a bit steep but weekends it seems reasonable as even the cc do midweek discounts ,

I think you might have misunderstood, JV. Ted is talking about those members who legitimately stop on CLs for one night, not intruders.