Members Question Time 

National Botanic Garden of Wales - Saturday 21 March 2026

Notes from the CAMC Adran Cymru/Welsh Division Meet the Members Meeting

Meeting ran 2pm – 3.30pm ending with afternoon tea and cakes.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. John Davies – Chair of the CAMC Adran Cymru/Welsh Division

The Question Time panel: Mr. John Davies; CAMC staff and Executive Members including: Mr. Nick Lomas (Director General); Mr. Phil Coles (Director of Product Commercial Management); Mr. Selwyn Cooper (Chair of Technical Committee and Executive Committee member); and Mr. John Lefley (CAMC Vice Chair).

Attendance: from a potential 85  (including panel and AdranCymru/Welsh Division Officers and Team members) 57 attended, with 26 non-attendance (5 of which were notified beforehand).

Presentations:

Mr. Nick Lomas: Reported the Club’s best year ever.  60,000 families.  Renewing membership is a little down. However 2 million nights were utilized over the Clubsite network - showing that marketing initiatives worked.  Record number of members using the Club’s insurance cover (different options on offer). Overseas travel: 350 sites, over 17 countries, can be booked through the Club in Europe.  Current year has shown a strong beginning. Training for site managers and staff has been completed.

Mr. Selwyn Cooper: Reported his parents were ralliers, ran rallies and that caravanning was in his blood. His work as Chair of Technical Committee involves consulting with various organisations to gleen and influence issues relevant to our members.  Examples included: Road Safety Campaign; Position of sensors on our vans; legislation changes to caravan (trailers). The committee looks to understand and utilise the needs of members using their vehicles; caravans; campervans or motorhomes now and into the future. It also focuses on off-grid opportunities: power needed, battery/solar power/panels etc.

Mr. Phil Coles: Reported excited about his new role after having served the Club for the last 10 years.  Marketing initiatives have been a success: lower the price for children on Club Sites resulted in 19000 more children on sites.  Currently we have more campervan/motorhome members than caravan members.  The Club is redeveloping sites – for every pound spent by members at least 20p is reinvested into the clubsite network.  “Experience Leisure”  – popular for family/granny/friends to glamp alongside members in their own unit. Club sites, new and revamped are opened.

 

Mr. John Lefley: Reported he has been a Club Member since 1985, son of a Club Member. Regularly used and still uses the Club Site network. He has seen many changes and been party to many initiatives and work.  He has served as a ‘non-centre’ member being a ‘voice’ on Club Council.  He was Chair of the Sites Committee, was involved in the re-branding of the Club and for many years now  is a member of the CAMC Executive Committee serving as Vice Chair. (John supports the CAMC Adran Cymru/Welsh Division Officers and Team as our CAMC Executive Member.)

QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS (from the floor)

D Davies: Are there plans to open another Club site in Bristol after Baltic Wharf closure.  Nick Lomas answered: This question highlights the challenges the Club faces in managing and developing Club Sites: the site was leased from Bristol Council who reclaimed it back for housing. CAMC have tried (10yrs +) and continue to submit planning applications to redevelop a new site –  a new site is planned for 55 pitches.  Currently turned down on the grounds of ‘flooding’. Work continues with the planners and the environment agency.

No other questions had been raised prior to the meeting and no further questions were received from the floor: the administrator asked that each table to discuss and record, using the ‘postits’, the things the Club was doing well and then the things that may need to be addressed.  10 minutes was allocated. John Morgan (Nominated Member) collected the postits as they became available and these were distributed amongst the panel to answer.

Potential impact of the tourism tax in Wales: Nick Lomas answered: Tourism tax is for overnight stays in Wales – no charge for day trips.  There will be two tiers: Hotel (high) and Camping (low) – which we will come under. The Club opposed the Tourism Tax initiative on behalf of its members, giving sound reasoning. CAMC continued to work with various bodies and the Welsh Assembly in making changes to the initiative – eg: success in removing the charge for children.  The challenges facing the Club is that each local council can introduce their own system – so the Club may have to design many systems to collect and deliver the tax across our site network in Wales.  This will involve time and financial cost to the Club.  The UK has one of the highest tourist tax in the world.

Red Pennant Insurance cancelled The Club had used Red Pennant for ak 50 years.  Given 6 months notice of the underwriters cancelling as it had become onerous and no longer viable. Approx. 15000 members using the product.  The Club struggled to get a new underwriter.  It’s not the end of the story: there are plans to develop insurance and breakdown services further.  Online service now gone live.

What is the necessity of registering your caravan when towing abroad Selwyn Cooper answered this question.  Guidance on this can be found in the  CAMC 2026 European travel brochure.  The legislation relates to all trailers over 750kgs. This means that all trailers over 750kgs (including caravans) have to be registered on the government UK Trailer Registration Scheme before going to Europe.  Government website:  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/trailer-registration  Once registered: A certificate will be issued and a separate trailler registration plate should be displayed clearly on the back of the caravan.

Other rules and guidance when towing abroad: Again information can be found in the CAMC 2026 European travel brochure and via the Club website. Examples –advice of using  ‘beacons/flashing lights’ rather than the break down red triangle whilst in Spain.

Club Magazine and Free nights: One member  noted that they had not received their Club Magazine and another noted they had not received information or invite to use the Club ‘free night’ voucher.  John Lefley responded: Reminded members that the Club Magazine can be viewed online via tablets etc. Members should also check their preferences (via their Profile) as emails re Marketing initiatives cannot be sent to members who have opted out marketing emails/communications. Marketing initiatives are always highlighted in the Club Magazine – open for all members to take up.

Club Sites investment and pricing: Club sites were appreciated for quality that members can depend upon.  It was good to see investment in club sites in Wales and further. Investment in technology – Fast Check in was great.  As expected dynamic pricing and increased club site fees was raised.  Phil Cooper responded: Clubsite costs across the board have increased. 2019 -2023 costs e increased 100% - some of these costs had to be passed on to members – but the increase 40%.  2023 – clubsite fees to members increased by just 2%.  Dynamic pricing equals 3% of clubsite revenue.  Since the introduction of dynamic pricing: keeping prices as low as possible for members but also increase pitch nights has been the aim.  Dynamic pricing, marketing initiatives, club promotions/discounts, stay longer inititives, as well as closing the few non-viable sites, have resulted in our aims being met.

Club Sites and Electrical Hook Up: At every CAMC campsite (club site) members can save money by opting to not use the EHU facility on their pitch.  Inform the Warden on arrival – they will lock off the EHU facility and monies will be refunded if you have already prepaid your pitch fee.  The EHU opting out has to be for the whole of your site booking.

Also the target is for 20% of all pitches to be Service Pitches with access to mains water – is not popular with all members so Club needs to ensure ‘non-serviced’ pitches will still be available.

Club Site ideas: Suggestion that club sites have a chill out/games room.  The panel shared: some sites do have similar things.  Some “Experience Leisure” sites have “Chat Areas” and some CAMC campsites have ‘Happy to Chat’ benches.  There are no immediate plalns to put these into all CAMC campsites – need to update the toilets first.

What 3 Word: This is now listed on the Club Website.  John Lefley cautioned members to doublecheck directions – as not all are suitable for all caravans and motorhomes.

Closure of the Event 

Mr John Davies thanked the panel and members for their input and attendance today.  John Davies gave a vote of thanks from the members of CAMC Adran Cymru/Welsh Division to Mr. Nick Lomas on his retirement as Director General. A presentational gift was presented to Nick who replied “It has been a real honour and pleasure being your Director General.  Get out and enjoy your Caravan or Motorhome – it is just what I am going to do.”

All were invited to partake in afternoon tea and cakes.