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Peter's annual report - Season 2007
As usual bad points and good points

BAD POINTS.
a) Site opening fiasco, I'll say no more.
b) The Atoll bar extention.
Sack the architect. Useful when the weather is cold/wet for the shows, but the seating must be changed (2 pints of stella and I fall backwards off the pouffe! In July/August it needs far more outside seating with 'proper' tables and chairs. It was empty until 2 for 1 happy hour was reintroduced, suddenly it became very popular and remained so through the evening - amazing! They must reintroduce live bands and buy CD's that appeal to people over 20!
c) The bar staff must stop selling alcohol to girls and boys as young as 13 or 14. Seeing them staggering and falling about in the Atoll bar makes you wonder where their parents are.
d) Didnt rate the entertainment (Michael Jackson was OK)
e) Supermarket still closes early afternoon meaning a trip to the 8 to 8.
f) People still drive far too quickly on the roads, there will be a serious accident someday. Amongst the worst culprits are the staff who drive the electric site carts.
g) New mobile homes must not be sited during July/August, this is our
holiday time, and we dont want to be on a construction site.
h) The swimming pool needs supplementary heating; on several days in peak
season it was b****y freezing! (solar panels on the service building roofs maybe?)
i) There seemed to be fewer free plastic sunbeds around the pool, as a check I counted 165 in August!
j) Lots of cars still park on the roadways, it looks dreadful.
k) Dogs still wander the site in the mornings, I object to picking up their breakfast from my pitch.
It is apparent that better value sites exist in the area.  My French friend and neighbour has just sold up after three years at a loss of £20000.
He sites the opening hours fiasco and poor value as the reasons.
He said that 4 of his French friends sold up last October and moved to other local sites.  La Carabasse may be attractive, but also very expensive.

GOOD POINTS
a) Sensors and cameras have been fitted along the back walls, only this Winter will show if they are any use.
b) The new slabs around the pool do give more grip when wet.
c) The kids clubs were well organised and run.
d) Ground maintainance was excellent.
e) The early hour in the pool for owners.
f) Better situated internet access in the Atoll Bar.
g) I understand that the outings organised by the office were enjoyable.
h) I love being there!

Your comments!

Security
I can only agree with the comments & suggestions made by Jim.
The only addition I would make is that Siblu should consider putting barbed wire on the wall
at the back of the VB section, and re-inforce the wire at the back of the Archery area.
Both are highly vulnerable spots, allowing easy access to anyone from the road behind.

Unless each van is individually secured with an alarm with the facility to notify a security person if there is a breach, the only option is to secure the van & shed as best you can.  Hide any valuable items in the van, and close the curtains.  Unfortunately, if some scumbag is intent on gaining entry, they will.  An alarm may prevent excessive damage, but if there is no response to an alarm, the criminal community will soon cotton on.  Then it will be open season once again!

Knowing how much certain firms in the UK will try to charge for a linked alarm, God knows how much Siblu will want!  We can only wait & hope.  - Jill

1. (April 15th - September 15th) I have emailed the following questions to Siblu's CEO Mr Lesley Hurst.
2. Why was this problem not sorted out legally during the year when it was clear from the start that this was a contractual issue?
3. The whole thing is becoming tiresome with Siblu moving the goalposts as and  when they feel like.
4. The potential reduced opening period is not reflected in the increased 2007 site fees.
5. How are other sites in and around Vias being treated?
6. What about people who have made - and paid for - travel arrangements for Easter?
7. I found out the news two days ago after coming back from my days off and was very disheartened.
8. If we all worked together then I would have no reason not to let my mobile with Siblu.
9. I do not intend making a decision on my contract until clarification is received from Siblu.
10. I don't want to sign the 2007 contract because i feel I'm getting a bad deal.
11. I contacted Vias airport yesterday who said that Ryanair should be flying to them in April next year.
12. On the basis we were sold a mobile in 2003 with 10 months access to cover Easter and October which was important to us, the monthly cost of rental was 415E now for 5 months it is 978E.
13. People do not like to feel they are being 'ripped off'.
14. Siblu have stitched us up again! we will be looking for an alternative site.
15. I am amazed that SIBLU have allowed smoking in the pool area next to the kiosk.
16. There does not seem to be any follow up to complaints of late night noise by neighbours and there are too many speeding vehicles on the main road through the site, not least SIBLU vehicles!
17. My belief is that under the site fees they have a duty of responsibility to us as owners to ensure our propoerty is secure and safe.
18. Phoned tom at sales said i wanted a price for my van ca20 he said he has no budget to buy.
19. Siblu staff are more than welcome to talk about issues over a glass or two of wine on our decking.       
    Just one more
20. Owners are also unhappy about some of Siblu's changes to the site.

• The Atoll bar will be expanded ready for the 2007 season.
• The big outdoor pool will be heated ready for 2007 season

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Although we did cover most of our fees by renting I am given the distinct impression
that we are amongst very few who did this, and I can't state that I was happy with the way our home was cleaned and maintained by Siblu.
We booked our crossing in eager anticipation of an Easter visit for 2006 but to our dismay
we then find the opening times are severely curtailed to an April 15th - September 15th window which ruled out an Easter visit.

It also prevented us from the October half term holiday we had planned at the time.
We were offered alternative accommodation in nearby hotels, but that kind of defeats
the purpose of owning a holiday home don't you think?

         "I would be asking

                     for a reduction in site fees"

Are you selling this idea properly.
How can you justify selling the letting:-

• As an income
• all year round holiday parc
  

We were led to believe that when the site was open, the pool was even open. 
We could actually earn over £6000 in revenue.  yeah! right!

I am hearing back,about security problems on the site.  Have you any experiences, as Siblu appear to be playing this down, as just a minor problem?  Contact me if you are also concerned, specially as we have to get through a winter without any knowledge of what goes on.  We have noticed the wandering security men, even in November.   We have to trust them to execute their job.  And I'm sure they are. But of course they cant be in two places at one time. 
Any comments...
or even solutions?

Maybe you have lost items? ... from the garden... those territories, that we all seem, as individuals, to be proud over. Personally I think the staff at Siblu should build structures at each corner/various stages of the perimeter and staff them with armed guard...  yeah and perhaps have some high walls topped with high voltage electric barbed wire fences. A couple of tanks constantly parading down the avenues with their threatening gun turrets.   Dig out some ditches and cover them with some turf and netting so the intruders cant get out. The US have stated they will drop in, if indeed we need some heavy action. Please make certain your insurance policies on your home are in order!

Hey I went then... I suppose we just better let the thieves just get away with it. They must actually need the stuff! yeah! right!  whats that I hear you say... a cynic..perhaps I have just a vivid imagination!         "believe me there could be a dramatic difference" Oh Yes!....and someone has... I advise people to get both English and French prices for other caravan sites, believe me there could be a dramatic difference for some reason. I am relaying other peoples experiences.