The future

malnik replied on 07/10/2020 22:04

Posted on 07/10/2020 22:04

I have been a member for 3 years now, I don't think i can continue my membership for the years ahead. As a young family i find this club not exactly "family friendly". More to the point, I have been looking at the make up of the people at the head of the table, the council members and commitee. 

We live in a diverse country and our nation is much better for that amazing diversity. Unfortunately the club seems to be a relic of the 70s, diversity seems to be something we as a club are unaware of. I'm sure they are all doing a great job but how can we go ahead without our club reflecting the make up of the country and the people they represent. Dont get me started on age groups being represented. I have no idea what ages everyone is, but i don't see young families represented and once again, they can't be ignored. Unless ofcourse the club is for elderly white people only. Again, this is no criticism of those people.

The easy answer is anyone can apply or put themselves forward. But the aptmosphere has to be right, it has to be friendly to people from other groups to be able to apply. Is it? What is the cub doing to encourage more diversity? Younger representation? It has to be more than just a token "anyone can apply". And this direction has to be from the leader, Mr Lomas.

On the basis of the above, I can't continue to be a member when it comes time to renew. 

DavidKlyne replied on 12/11/2020 12:00

Posted on 12/11/2020 12:00

In terms of deciding how you can promote your Club and have a point of difference with the Caravan and Motorhome Club how do you achieve that? You can't compete on size, more often than not you can't compete on site facilities, you are not completely free to select your own pitch, they charge a deposit on bookings, your forum is even worse than this one, so you are left with planting doubt that something as large as the CMC can't be as friendly as the smaller C&CC? It's just a marketing ploy. Like others I have yet to see how the idea of it being more friendly translates into the experience you have on a C&CC site compared to a CMC site? Personal interaction with other guests on site is just that, personal. Some are happy to chat or say hello whilst others want to keep themselves to themselves. For us campsites are there to enable us to explore the area near the campsite. If I wanted more person to person interaction, beyond a casual good morning, I would join a rally.

David

Takethedogalong replied on 12/11/2020 12:19

Posted on 12/11/2020 10:54 by Tinwheeler

TDA, you have listed in your 2nd para the very reasons we joined C&CC rather than CAMC 50 years ago🥺. It wasn't until retirement loomed and we wanted a bigger spread of sites that we joined CAMC. I like their sites but I'd not miss anything else in CAMC.

Posted on 12/11/2020 12:19

We joined purely for access to a loo! Our first little camper didn’t have one, so we used Sites with, back in the 80’s. Rolled into North Ledaig, they told us if we joined we got a discount and showed us list of other Sites. Somewhere in Killin was next, same tour, that was nice. We didn’t stay at Yellowcraig as another site in North Berwick was friendlier, but we did stand our ground at Berwick Seaview, and convinced Wardens that it was a proper camper van, our Rottweiler wasn’t going to eat anyone, and we were slightly older than we looked. We actually had to demonstrate how the camper roof popped up, show them the cooker and the sink. Talk about snobbery and exclusivity, it wasn’t easy back in those days being very young Club Members.

We didn’t use many Club Sites back in those days, and preferred the Trax ones on racecourses. We had a break from Club after that first year, as we found two or three Private Cornish Sites that suited us more with a caravan. Friends convinced us to rejoin, and we used Marazion back in the days before it had hook ups in paddock. We did use a lot of CLs though. We’ve used more Club Sites in last ten years really, got our favourites, tried a few more. It’s an age thing I suppose, you know outside of school holidays they will be quiet, facilities will be clean and well maintained, it’s easy to book without a penalty. We would possibly use more if they weren’t so expensive compared with CLs and some private sites. 

C&CC? Joined at Haltwhistle, we needed a Northumberland Site, cheaper to join. Just as amusing in terms of how things must be done, but there were more tent friendly CS sites so it suited as I did a couple of camping stays each year with my Sister. I think we were only Members for a couple of years. Haltwhistle is the only Club Site of theirs we have used. But have used some Listed Sites that don’t require membership.....

Takethedogalong replied on 12/11/2020 12:29

Posted on 12/11/2020 10:17 by

I can understand some of the tenters or possibly small campervans spending more time outside. The areas used by tents end to be away from us on hardstanding. Much of the year we tend to be off site during the day. When temperature reach around 30f we are often back earlier looking for shade. 

Posted on 12/11/2020 12:29

That’s one of the big differences with both Clubs, and the CAMC and private Sites. This Club likes to corral tents elsewhere, usually at the furthest point from the loo block, it can tend to give the air of “second class users”. It’s a ruddy long trek up that hill at Lower Wensleydale, especially in the dark😂 

replied on 12/11/2020 12:38

Posted on 12/11/2020 12:29 by Takethedogalong

That’s one of the big differences with both Clubs, and the CAMC and private Sites. This Club likes to corral tents elsewhere, usually at the furthest point from the loo block, it can tend to give the air of “second class users”. It’s a ruddy long trek up that hill at Lower Wensleydale, especially in the dark😂 

Posted on 12/11/2020 12:38

As I said earlier we have never parked close to tenters on C&CC sites as we use hard standing and they are usually on a sperate grass area

replied on 12/11/2020 12:41

Posted on 12/11/2020 12:41

We joined purely for access to a loo! Our first little camper didn’t have one, so we used Sites with, back in the 80’s.

I joined in 1981 when we had trailer tent and also a toilet tent.

Takethedogalong replied on 12/11/2020 13:04

Posted on 12/11/2020 12:38 by

As I said earlier we have never parked close to tenters on C&CC sites as we use hard standing and they are usually on a sperate grass area

Posted on 12/11/2020 13:04

I have no experience of C&CC sites ET, other than Haltwhistle, and we were only ones there. Are tents not allowed on HS pitches?(Assuming you can get pegs into gravel etc....)

We didn’t have a loo tent back in 80’s as we moved every day in camper. You got a full nights kip without needing to visit as well when young!😁

Tinwheeler replied on 12/11/2020 13:13

Posted on 12/11/2020 13:04 by Takethedogalong

I have no experience of C&CC sites ET, other than Haltwhistle, and we were only ones there. Are tents not allowed on HS pitches?(Assuming you can get pegs into gravel etc....)

We didn’t have a loo tent back in 80’s as we moved every day in camper. You got a full nights kip without needing to visit as well when young!😁

Posted on 12/11/2020 13:13

To the best of my belief, every unit type can book any pitch type - HS, grass, EHU, non-EHU, jumbo 🤷🏻‍♂️

replied on 12/11/2020 13:16

Posted on 12/11/2020 13:13 by Tinwheeler

To the best of my belief, every unit type can book any pitch type - HS, grass, EHU, non-EHU, jumbo 🤷🏻‍♂️

Posted on 12/11/2020 13:16

Not sure if they have non EHU hardstand?

Takethedogalong replied on 12/11/2020 13:25

Posted on 12/11/2020 13:25

Thanks Tinny. I have a bit of experience with Camping in the Forest Sites. We used to stay at Beddgelert, pre C&CC days. You just pitched up anywhere with a small tent. We woke one morning to find we were an “additional hazard” on some MTB competition🤣We moved😁 We had a nice couple of weeks there in caravan by the river as well, before Club got involved. Never went back, although we did look in last year. Touring pitches are awful now, dark, shady, and midges everywhere. ☹️

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