Swift announces new and updated motorhomes for 2016

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by Joe Jeffrey

Manufacturer announces new motorhome offerings for 2016

Swift has unveiled its latest motorhome ranges and updated models for 2016 – and from what we here at CaravanTimes have seen, you’re in for a treat next season.

Firstly, Swift‘s bestselling range, the Escape will see several updates for 2016, with the most notable, perhaps, being an enhancement to its construction system to the all-new SMART Plus.

Building upon Swift’s already impressive SMART intelligent construction system, SMART Plus will include three key enhancements, including a new sandwich floor construction system with GRP outer skin providing greater durability from the elements, an upgraded hail resistant roof, as well as changes to the front window jig, which will be made fully using GRP and foam construction.

A new low-line 622 – ideal for couples – brings the choice to two low-line and four high-line models for the new season, featuring a Fiat 2.3 litre, 130bhp Euro 5+ turbo diesel engine with a 6-speed gearbox.

Meanwhile, the Bessacarr motorhome range sees a complete restyle, both inside and out, also featuring SMART Plus construction as described above. The range will remain with eight models, five low-line and three with the integrated roofline, including two with electronic drop down beds. A new digital control panel has been added too, in order to control heating and hot water.

The Bessacarr isn’t the only motorhome range seeing a makeover for 2016, though, with the Bolero also seeing changes made, including a new exterior styling featuring a new GRP front pod housing an opening sky view window and a new rear panel with sportier look. A more compact version of the Bessacarr comes courtesy of new model, the 612EK, whilst a new larger model – the 744PR will appeal to those with families looking to ht the great outdoors.

The ‘Black Edition’ Kon-Tiki range will also see further enhancements made for 2016, including the introduction of MSART Plus.

Last but not least, the sporty, compact Rio motorhome range, introduced last year to much fanfare, will see the arrival of two new models, namely the 310, with parallel front lounge, side kitchen and rear washroom with separate shower, and the 325, featuring a travelling dinette with fixed rear transverse bed.

We will be going into Swift’s latest offerings, including their latest caravan range for 2016, in a lot more depth over the coming weeks, so make sure you check back to find out more soon.

Popular Yorkshire holiday destinations ban motorhomes

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by Ellie Pritchard

A variety of popular caravanning destinations have clamped down on motorhomes

Despite the protests of the tourist industry and local hotel managers, a clamp down on motorhomes at Yorkshire Coast holiday parks has been given the go ahead.

A ban that will stop motorhomes from parking up on earmarked roads will be introduced between 11pm and 7am, after North Yorkshire County Council‘s Yorkshire Coast and Moors Area Committee councillors have decided to crack down on the issue in Whitby, Sandsend, Scarborough, Filey and Cayton Bay.

The authority’s director of business services, David Bowe, told the committee: “The most shocking comments concerned the emptying of chemical waste over cliffs, defecating in public areas in the streets, and reports of a resident counting 37 motor caravans parking for significant periods on North Promenade, Whitby.”

Local residents have supported the ban, claiming that motorhomes give the holiday coast a bad image and don’t give enough back to the local economy, as well as producing a lot of litter. However, local residents with motorhomes will be provided with permits.

Many keen motorhomers have objected to the ban in a recent council survey, claiming that it’s discriminatory, and many motorhomers have hot back at the ban, stating that they will no longer choose the Yorkshire coast for a holiday destination.

Bowe added: “It is clear there is strong opposition from the motor-caravanning community.

“The majority of those responding to the survey objected to the principle of discriminating between categories of vehicles, rather than being immediately affected as regular users of the road.”

The ban will be enforced in Whitby’s North Promenade, Love Lane, North Terrace, Church Street and Royal Crescent; the Royal Albert Drive, Foreshore Road, Sandside and Esplanade at Scarborough; The Beach, Crescent Hill and The Crescent at Filey; Sandsend Road and Lythe Bank, Sandsend; and Filey Road, Osgodby Hill, Cayton.

Can you understand the reasoning behind the ban? Or do you think think it’s discriminatory? Leave a comment below or tell us in our CaravanTimes forum.

Emergency evacuation during Welsh caravan park fire

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by David Bates

Welsh campsite fire wakes sleeping caravanners

A fire at a caravan park in Ceredigion, mid Wales, has led to the evacuation of 60 holidaymakers.

The incident, which took place in the small hours of Thursday morning, saw firefighters called to Sea Rivers Caravan Park in Ynyslas, near Borth, at 2:20am. The blaze was shortly brought under control thereafter.

Park owner, Michelle South, played down the fire and praised the firefighters’ efforts at containing the blaze to a machinery storage unit.

Of the incident, she said: “The priority was to get everyone out of their caravans and make sure everyone was calm. We now want to focus on everyone enjoying the rest of their holidays.”

One pair of caravanners, Sam and Shadina Dolsun, were woken by “loads of bangs” and were able to notify other caravanners of the blaze before it became uncontrollable.

Caravanner, Sam, said: “We were just lucky the wind was blowing the right way so it didn’t catch anyone’s caravan.”

With an increase in caravan park and caravan/motorhome blazes being reported as late, what do you think could be done to avoid such incidents going forward? It would be interesting to know your thoughts.

Caravanners worst nightmare as Clarkson, Hammond and May to return with new programme for Amazon Prime

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by David Bates

Top Gear trio pen deal with Amazon Prime

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May’s brief broadcast exile is over, following the announcement of a new motoring show scheduled to be broadcast on Amazon Prime.

The former Top Gear trio have agreed a deal for three series’, with the cost of the agreement as yet unconfirmed. Amazon are, however, believed to have invested a significant amount into the British trio, whose deal out-manoeuvres contractual strictures that prevent their making a motoring program in the UK for the next two years, in an attempt to compete with streaming rivals Netflix.

Clarkson, needless to say, couldn’t resist taking a swipe at his former employers, tweeting: ‘”I feel like I’ve climbed out of a bi-plane and into a spaceship.” James May offered a more self-deprecating response, stating: “We have become part of the new age of smart TV. Ironic, isn’t it?”

Unfortunately for fans, the new series will not feature the Stig, however, surely fanatics will be happy to hear Amazon Prime Video EU vice-president Jay Marine say that his approach is “to give programme makers creative freedom to be innovative and make the shows they want to make.” Loosened from any constraints, who knows what madness will ensue?

The trio’s first series with Amazon Prime is expected to be available globally in 2016.

Britain best for holidays, according to King of Caravans

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by David Bates

Self proclaimed ‘King of Caravans’, Don Amott, reaps benefits of Brits holidaying at home

The owner of a series of leisure parks across the UK has insisted Brits are becoming increasingly aware of the UK’s holiday spots.

Self-proclaimed ‘King of Caravans’, Don Amott, 66, who heads 24-acre showground, Don Amott Leisure Park, in Hilton, as well as Don Amott Parks in Lincolnshire and Staffordshire, has spoken out of a surge in caravanning for 2015 – especially with the over 40s – with many opting for staycations across the United Kingdom.

Despite being in business since 1963, Amott refuses to take a back seat or to limit expansion. He told the Derby Telegraph: “We’re ahead of last year. Last year was a decent year but we’re 10 per cent ahead on sales this year and it’s about the same on the profit side”. Recent figures have revealed Don Amott Leisure Park has a current turnover of £15 million, with additional parks raking in £7 million respectively.

The ‘King of Caravans’ acknowledged that the rise in staycations following the 2007/2008 recession was beneficial for the British tourism trade, but as the economy has picked up, he certainly hasn’t slowed down.

Amott considers himself at the forefront of the caravan-leisure industry. He describes a eureka moment on holiday in Palm Springs, Florida, saying: “They had big water features, the grounds were manicured and the trees were lit up.

“Over here, we just had lines of caravans and seeing all that made me think we were doing something wrong. We came back and scrapped every idea we had. We were like the pioneers of what you now get in this country.”

This approach to caravanning is rather more expensive, but Amott told the Derby Telegraph, “what we try to do is give people value for money” by consistently delivering the best possible product. Their profit, he says, is directed into enviable customer service and continual development.

The Camping and Caravanning Club launches competition to send two lucky caravanners to Spain

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by Ellie Pritchard

Two lucky caravanners will get the chance to head off to sunny Spain in association with the Camping and Caravanning Club

Celebrating the release of their new Winter Sun Camping Brochure, the Camping and Caravanning Club has teamed up with Brittany Ferries to offer two lucky competition winners the chance to jet off to Spain for some much missed sun this winter.

Courtesy of Brittany Ferries, the two camping holidays will include return crossings to either Santander or Bilbao, with one standard car plus towed unit or motorhome with a two-berth inside cabin each way – dog friendly cabins will also be offered to the animal lovers amongst you!

The lucky winners will get a choice between camping at Marjal Costa Blanca and Camping Monmar, with both sites offering a 30 night stay, including electricity and the choice of dates ranging from from 1 November this year to 30 April next year.

Camping Monmar is situated on the Costa del Azahar and, although it only has 50 pitches, the beach and the Moncofa resort are just 300 metres away.

The more modern Marjal Costa Blanca, on the other hand, sits between the coast and the countryside with lots of public transport opportunities. The Club holds 179 pitches at this site, many of which have scenic views.

At these sites, the competition winners can expect a host of fun activities, including barbecues, games, bike rides, themed nights, quizzes and coffee mornings.

If you’re feeling lucky, you can enter the competition here.

One in four UK cars are illegal according to new study

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by Ellie Pritchard

A new WheelRight study has shown that our tyres need a bit more TLC

According to new research backed by Highways England, UK tyres are in dire need of a bit more attention, with many deemed potentially dangerous.

Earlier this month, CaravanTimes reported that a TyreSafe study revealed up to ten million cars were currently on the UK’s road with illegal tyres. And now, following research from tyre pressure monitoring experts WheelRight, it has been revealed that one in four UK cars have at least one dangerously under-inflated tyre.

On top of these worrying statistics, the average heavy goods vehicle on Britain’s motorways is driving with at least one dangerously underinflated tyre at any time, according to WheelRight’s study.

The study of the nation’s tyres took place at Keele Services on the southbound M6 during March to June this year. The scheme is being run by WheelRight in association with Highways England and Welcome Break.

WheelRight’s chief executive, John Catling, said: “We’ve been offering a free pressure check to motorists and HGV drivers using our drive-over tyre pressure system at Keele Services on one of Britain’s busiest stretches of road – the M6.

“We have taken thousands of tyre pressure readings and have collated some pretty shocking statistics which reveal the true extent of our tyre neglect. Every year, the UK sees approximately 25 deaths and nearly 1,500 serious accidents attributed to poorly inflated or defective tyres. We believe that lack of awareness on the impact tyre pressure can have on road safety is putting drivers at risk,” he continued.

It seems that motorists have limited awareness of the impact that incorrect tyre pressures can have on road safety. Although the topic could be covered informally as part of the driving test, there is next to no education provided on the importance of having the correct tyre pressures given to learner drivers.

Catling added: “The lowest tyre pressure reading we’ve taken for a motorist on our system was a very low, and very dangerous, score of just six pounds per square inch (PSI), when it should have been closer to 30 psi to be safe. An accident waiting to happen!”

However, Catling thinks there is a simple solution: “We’ve seen first-hand that motorists are keen to learn more about what action they can take to keep their vehicles and themselves safe. If a motorist using our system receives identifies a low pressure reading, our on-site support team at Keele Services will direct drivers to the air machines located a few metres away and provide advice on how to inflate tyres correctly and to what level.

“We believe that regular tyre pressure checks offer significant cost and safety benefits to all drivers – not to mention, peace of mind.”

You can find out more about the WheelRight pilot at Keele here.

Caravan dealership invests £60,000 in solar panels

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by Jessica Almeida

Solar panel investment hopes to reduce company’s carbon footprint

Award winning Shropshire caravan and motorhome dealership, Salop Leisure, plans to reduce its carbon footprint by utilising the power of the sun to generate electricity.

The company plans to install a 50 kilowatt Solar PV system on the roof of its headquarters in Emstrey, Shrewsbury, which will hopefully supply a quarter of the electricity used by the business.

The Solar PV system will be installed by Surespark Energy Rugeley and, for the next 20 years, looks set to benefit from generous government backed feed-in-tariffs. In Shrewsbury, the company installed a similar but larger system for Morris Lubricants.

Salop Leisure’s Mark Fras, said the £60,000 system would hopefully pay for itself within six years and reduce the company’s carbon footprint. To further reduce energy consumption, the company is also considering investing in £20,000 on LED lights at its headquarters.

Fras stated: “We were so impressed by the positive reports received about the Solar PV system installed for Morris Lubricants that we decided to invest in our own system.” He explains that the system will generate an estimated 25 per cent of the company’s energy and will make a significant contribution to decreasing the company’s carbon footprint, which is great news for the company.

Vote in The Caravan Club CL of the Year Awards and you could be a winner

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by Jessica Almeida

The Caravan Club wants your help to pick the CL of the Year 2015

With so many Certificated Locations (CL) across the UK, there is bound to be a site that you favour over the rest – whatever your interests are there has to be a site that appeals to you. And now, The Caravan Club is offering you the opportunity to share your views by voting for your favourite CL of the Year in the Club’s 2015 awards.

The awards are designed to recognise the best of the best CL sites and the owners who work hard to provide the best for their members. Those who have experienced what it is like to stay on CLs know that no matter what time of holiday you are looking for they have so much to offer. By enjoying a stay at a CL you are also bringing income to the area by contributing to the local economy.

To vote for your favourite CL, complete the online voting form by clicking here.

Alternately, you can also complete the form in The Caravan Club’s April Magazine and returning it to The Caravan Club by 21 September.

Not only will you be voting for your favourite CL, but everyone who nominates their favourite CL will be entered into a prize draw to win a five-night stay at CL of their choice as well as an invitation to the famed awards ceremony at the House of Commons in November.

Why not help pick a winner and have the chance to be a winner yourself. Vote now!

Paramedics treating patient at caravan site fall victim to vandals

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by Jessica Almeida

EMAS asks anyone with information to contact Leicestershire Police

Vandals left a paramedic’s vehicle covered in red paint and faeces after emergency services responded to an emergency on a caravan site in Bagworth, Leicestershire earlier this week.

Paramedic and team leader at Leicestershire’s East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), Time Hargraves, condemned the attack, branding it as “disgusting.”

Hargreaves said: “It was a deliberate attack, this wasn’t an accident.

“When he came out the car was covered in red paint and faeces including all over the door handles. The paramedic had to use gloves to get into the car and he drove it to one of our workshops.”

The vehicle is now in the body shop until the full extent of the damage is assessed and repairs are completed.

EMAS declared that the cost of having a car off the road and having to find a replacement is around £200 a day. However, this does not include the cost of the damage and repair to the car.

Of the incident, Hargraves went on: “The saving grace, if there is one, is that there was no attack or violence to the paramedic.

“We would ask anyone who knows anything about this to contact Leicestershire Police.”

Police have stated that they are aware of the reports by EMAS and are carrying out inquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Leicestershire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 5550111.

Pupils as young as 11 could be given driving lessons at school

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by Ellie Pritchard

IAM back a petition for students to be taught road safety at school

In a bid to curb the rising number of accidents on UK roads, major motoring organisations and experts have drawn up a petition urging the Government to put driving on the school curriculum.

The petition has been created to help cut the high number of accidents involving newly qualified drivers on the UK’s roads. Launched by Young Driver, the UK’s largest provider of pre-17 driving lessons, the petition is already supported by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), the RAC, the Driving Instructors Association (DIA), the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the Motor Schools Association of Great Britain (MSA), Admiral, Goodyear, as well as motoring presenter and expert Quentin Willson.

The petition comes as it has been revealed that one in five new drivers have an accident within six months of passing their test, with road accidents being responsible for 25 per cent of the deaths of 15 to 19 year olds in the UK, in comparison to just 0.5 per cent of adult fatalities. In fact, 400 people are killed in accidents involving young drivers every year.

The petition doesn’t propose that the driving age should be lowered, but it suggests youngsters should be taught about driving at school, in both practical and classroom based lessons.

Kim Stanton from Young Driver explained: “Driving a vehicle is potentially one of the most dangerous and responsible things a person can do. Learning to drive should be done over a long period of time, and from a young age, when pupils are more receptive to safety messages.

“Evidence-based research shows that road safety messages are better absorbed by children in their early teens rather than at driving age. By having this take place at school it can be made inclusive for all. We urge people to sign this petition so we can get this issue in front of the people with the power to change things” Stanton continued.

Independent research taken on behalf of Young Driver has revealed that pupils who take part in the scheme, which teaches students from as young as 11, are half as likely to have an accident when they do pass their test. This supports the studies in Europe that have shown that crashes involving new drivers who have trained at school has reduced by 40 per cent.

Mark Lewis, director of standards for the IAM, said: “The high number of accidents and the sad loss of life as a result of unprepared young drivers urgently needs to be tackled. Quite obviously the driving education that youngsters are currently receiving is inadequate. At the IAM we can help prepare people for more advanced driving situations once they have passed their test, but there needs to be more done at an earlier stage.

“Learning such an important skill shouldn’t potentially be done and dusted in a few short months. That’s why I strongly believe people should sign this petition and get the subject debated in the House of Commons.”

Quentin Willson added: “Both my son, age 16, and daughter, age 11, have started having driving lessons with Young Driver. I think it’s vital – it’s a road safety revolution in the making. If we could get this on the curriculum, so the opportunity was open to all, it would have huge ramifications in terms of the safety of our young people. And, as both a father and road user, that’s certainly something I want to back. 100,000 signatures could help save 400 precious lives every year.”

You can sign the petition here.

10,000 caravanners and campers evacuated in French wildfire saga

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by Megan Henderson

‘Complete bedlam’ ensues as caravanners flee treacherous blaze

Caravanners were left in a state of panic yesterday after being told to grab their passports and run, as 15 foot high flames from a forest wildfire looked set to engulf camping and caravan sites in France.

Up to 10,000 campers and caravanners were evacuated due to the wildfires, which eventually took 200 firefighters to extinguish. 50 fire engines and specialist water-dropping planes were also dispatched to tackle the blaze.

The wildfire burned through forests in the southern region of Var, with much of the region still at risk of fires due to drought, winds and high temperatures.

One caravanner present, Dan Rainford, described the experience as “complete bedlam” to the Mirror, as he and many other tourists quickly fled and searched for a safe escape.

Dan, who was on holiday with his wife, Louise, and two children, Callum and Sophie, as well as his mum Lynne, when they were told that their campsite could be engulfed in flames.

Dan said: Dan said to Mirror: “Suddenly we were being told to get out. They said ‘grab your cars, grab your passports if you’ve got them and just go – forget your clothes’.

“We were sent to the emergency exit – but it was complete bedlam. There were thousands of people trying to do the same thing.”

The Rainford family was among round 3,000 campers and caravanners that had to be evacuated from the Holiday Green site. Two other sites, Pin de la Lègue and la Pierre Verte, were also evacuated, bringing traffic to an abrupt stop.

“That was the scary part for me,” continued Dan. “Being stuck in the traffic while we could see the smoke approaching. It probably took half an hour to get out. I was thinking ‘come on – get moving’. People were very panicked.”

While stopped in the traffic Dan said his mother, Lynne, grabbed his two children, Callum, 15, and Sophie, 12, and exited the car because she was concerned about getting them to safety.

After making it out of the site the Rainfords went to the coast, and were eventually allowed back to their site by 8pm.

He said: “The reps told us how close the fire had come to us – five caravans had been burnt out just next to ours.

“You could see burn marks up the side of ours. It could have very easily been us. We were very lucky, all of our stuff was in there.” Dan continued.

Although the Rainfords were staying in the middle of the site, the fire was able to ‘jump’ over other caravan because of the strength of the wind.

It is estimated that around 30 hectares of land in the Frejus region have been let devastated due to the effects of the fire.

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth office said: “We are liaising with the local authorities in Frejus and are in contact with British nationals caught up in the situation to provide support.”