Farmer demands action on caravan dumping eyesore

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By Emily Boneham

Council refuses to take responsibility for caravan fly-tipping problem

A Stoke farmer has been passed from pillar to post by the council after three caravans were dumped at the gates to his farm in just a few months.

Paul Cooper is demanding that the council should take more responsibility for the fly-tipping at his Chatterley Hall Farm in Talke.

The 47-year-old land owner has also found discarded computer equipment, dirty nappies and fridge freezers amongst the rubbish.

Paul said: “The caravans look unsightly and it means people pull up and root through them and that attracts more dumping.”

When the fire service contacted Paul to tell him one of the abandoned caravans was causing a hazard last winter, the commercial heating engineer was forced to use his own JCB to move it.

Having moved the caravan into his field to prevent the hazard, Paul was told by Newcastle-under-Lyme Council that it was now on his land and was therefore his responsibility.

“The worst thing about the last caravan was no-one would take responsibility for it, I was passed around different departments.

“If it was by the council’s gates they would move it straight away. Perhaps if they installed a street light it would deter them from coming at night,” he said.

Despite complaints, councillor Ann Beech, the borough council’s cabinet member for environment and recycling, said: “The responsibility for removing fly-tipping from private land lies with the landowners, not the council.”

What do you think of the council’s decision?

Concerns expressed over paper licence counterpart changes

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By Claire Lawson

IAM expresses concern over scrapped paper counterparts

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has expressed concerns over implications surrounding the scrapping of the paper diving licence counterpart which took effect earlier this week (8 June).

Details will need to be obtained through the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) driver record system and checked online – something the IAM believe will cause issues for those wishing to hire vehicles, including motorhomes.

The paper counterpart no longer has any legal status and the DVLA has recommended those still in possession of them destroyed the counterpart in order to avoid confusion going forward. Instead, access to the DVLA’s Share Driving Licence Service will be needed as part of proof when it comes to hiring a vehicle, with details requiring to be printed off by those looking to hire.

An alternative to downloading and printing the information required will be a special code, which can be obtained from www.gov.uk and allows hire firms to access records for up to 72 hours in order to make necessary checks. This applies to both holders of photocard and paper licences.

CEO of IAM, Sarah Sillars, commented “The onus is very much on the individual to obtain the information they need beforehand. So we very much hope people will not be caught unawares, especially if they don’t want a nasty surprise when arriving to collect their car at the start of their holiday.”

Introduced in 1998 and containing information about endorsements and which categories of vehicle road users are entitled to use, the counterpart has been scrapped and replaced with information now being stored electronically.

Motorists call for more police on UK roads in new survey

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By Emily Boneham

UK motorists want to see tougher laws on drink-driving, mobile phone use behind the wheel and more

Drink and drug-driving, mobile phone usage behind the wheel and tailgating are among the most important issues requiring attention when it comes to motor safety according to result of a survey conducted by road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

The survey, completed by 2,703 motorists and asking which policing issues they would like to see improved on Britain’s roads, saw 45 per cent of respondents vote for an increase in the number of police officers in marked vehicles to enforce traffic laws, despite years of government cutbacks and police budgets continuing to be stretched.

The highest voted for issue concerned the use of mobile phones behind the wheel with 72 per cent of respondents suggesting this as a priority for police to tackle.

The results survey also saw voters calling for more traffic police patrols near to pubs and alcohol hot-spots indicating that this would combat drink-driving issues more directly, whilst 44 per cent of respondents were keen to see lower drink-drive limits enforced, along similar lines to those found in Scotland where the limit has been lowered from 80mg to 50mg.

IAM chief executive officer, Sarah Sillars, said of the survey’s findings: “The government cannot afford to be complacent about road safety and a lot more needs to be done to address major road offences through the enforcement of existing legislation and full use of police powers.

“The IAM supports an increase in the number of high profile road policing officers and a zero tolerance approach to the enforcement of traffic laws.”

Coachman Caravans supports Hull City of Culture promotion

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By Claire Lawson

Caravan firm set to play important role for the city of Hull in 2017

Caravan manufacturer, Coachman, has agreed to support the City of Culture program in Hull for 2017.

The programme is set to celebrate the contributions the city has made to Britain and will look at everything the area has on to offer, including theatre, music, poetry, wind turbines and caravans.

Managing director Martin Henderson spoke of the importance of the promotion saying “The year is a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of our city and our industry, which will have obvious benefits for the local economy and employment.”

Coachman employs 170 workers at its Sutton Fields factory and has enjoyed a steady growth in recent years. Henderson believes 2017 will bring even more work to the company and the area.

“We’ve been investing heavily in the wider development of the company, expanding our production facility and introducing state-of-the-art equipment.

“Not only are we investing in the future of our business, but in the caravan industry and Hull, too, demonstrating a growth in confidence within the sector and the city we all live and work in.”

Swift summer extravaganza offers great caravan deals

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By Emily Boneham

What’s happening at your nearest Swift dealer in June?

This month there’s a Swift summer extravaganza of events, from massive deals on new caravans, to holiday competitions and Hawaiian limbo parties.

Until 14 June, Swift’s dealership in Shepshed, Leicestershire, Ryedale Leisure have huge savings on new 2015 models from Swift, Sterling, and Sprite.

Deals include the Swift Continental 565 for £23,495 (was £26,540) and the Sprite Quattro FB, including pack and sunroof, for £16495 (was £17,195).

There will also be great part exchange deals, special offers on accessories and awnings, air awning demonstrations and motor mover demonstrations.

North of the border? There’s something for you too, with Kirkcaldy Caravans in Fife showing off their Swift ranges at the East of Scotland Caravan Show from 12-14 June 2015.

To celebrate this year’s show, organisers, in colaboration with Haven Holidays, will be giving away a three night stay at Haven’s Craig Tara Holiday Park in South Ayreshire.

The show will also give visitors the opportunity to buy new or pre-owned caravans with discounts of over £3,000 in some cases.

Meanwhile, Blackpool’s Westfield Caravans and Kendal Caravans will be holding Hawaiian Extravaganzas from 10am-5pm on 13-14 June and 20-21 June respectively.

Swift’s latest models and special editions will be on display Davan Caravans‘ open weekend in North Somerset from 13-14 June.

From 26-28 June, Preston Caravans will be celebrating their first year of trading with special deals, entertainment and guest speakers.

June certainly looks to be a busy month for Swift dealers across the UK. Wherever you are, pop on down and grab yourself a deal.

Final Top Gear episode preview featuring destruction of caravans released by BBC

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By Joe Jeffrey

Final episode footage reveals Top Gear trio, Clarkson, Hammond and May, don tuxedos and wreck caravans

The BBC has released a preview of the final Top Gear footage to feature Jeremy Clarkson.

Unveiled on Twitter, the 30 second glimpse of the final episode to feature Clarkson and his goons, Richard Hammond and James May, shows the trio don dinner suits and assume their own take on a caravan derby, destroying at least one caravan during the process whilst driving 4X4s.

The footage was originally shelved after Clarkson hit the headlines earlier this year for assaulting a Top Gear producer before being unceremoniously dumped by the BBC. It is thought the show will air on BBC2 in the next few weeks.

The preview comes as speculation mounts over who will be replacing Clarkson, with Chris Evans fuelling rumours at the weekend that he could supersede the shamed television presenter after revealing he had been making a “secret Top Gear film”.

The future of Top Gear’s format for season 23 is still unclear after it was reported that Hammond and May have been offered deals in the region of £1m a year to stay with the BBC – a deal which would make the pair the corporation’s highest earners and said to be part of a plan to include a different host on each show rather than directly replacing Clarkson outright.

Check out the preview below and let us know your thoughts.

VARTA introduces indestructible gadgets to keep your adventures powered up all summer

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By Joe Jeffrey

For stress-free trips, VARTA has released a new line of impressive indestructible gadgets just in time for your summer holiday, ensuring you’re always fully-charged wherever you are

With summer on the horizon, it’s certainly time to start planning your annual getaway if you haven’t already done so. And it pretty much goes without saying that – when it comes to planning – deciding what to pack is pretty important too.

It’s not just appropriate clothing that’s a factor these days though, and with caravanning comes the ideal opportunity to live off grid for a while whilst still being surrounded by your home comforts. In 2015, with a plethora of gadgets at our disposal, it’s pretty much a given that caravans across the country will not only be full of couples and families making the most of what British Summer Time has to offer, but also the latest in technology.

From using our tablets in order to plan our stay and find local points of interest upon arrival, to finding our way back to our pitch after setting off to explore – many of us opt to bring our gadgets along with us in order to continue where we left off at home. And for good reason.

But, for those of us with more electronic devices than plug sockets, as well as those who,admittedly like us, won’t leave their leisure vehicle without gripping onto our prized smartphones or tablets when looking to search all the great outdoors has to offer, it’s pretty difficult to keep all of our items charged and accessible at the same time. Until now that is. Renowned German battery manufacturers,VARTA, might just be able to help with this conundrum and many more, thanks to the VARTA indestructible Powerpack – a compact charger which enables you to recharge your mobile phone, or any other device which can be powered up via a USB, on the move.

The award-winning 6000 mAh indestructible Powerpack has certainly been designed with the camper and caravanner in mind. Offering enough power to charge your smartphone three times over, the Powerpack has also been designed to survive the toughest conditions there are and comes fully dustproof, waterproof and drop tested.

Both compact and durable thanks to the highly durable acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic and aluminium alloy, the Powerpack also comes with two USB ports for simultaneous multiple charging functionality, offering the perfect solution for when you need to charge two devices at once after a long day out with not a socket in sight.

Priced at £34.99, the VARTA Powerpack certainly packs a punch and is a must for those who like to remain fully-charged at all times – wherever you are.

it’s not just smart technology that those clever people over at VARTA have designed with the caravanner in mind though and additional accessories to help you along on your holiday this summer come by way of VARTA’s 5W LED Camping Lantern and VARTA High Optics 2AA torch – both ideal for when those light nights begin to draw to a close.

VARTA’s indestructible 5W LED Camping Lantern (priced £29.99) is an ideal addition to any caravan holiday. Extremely robust having undertaken a four metre drop test, as well being waterproof, the lantern, with rubberised head and base, features six high performance LEDs with special reflector technology. And with three light modes – from 280 lumens high to a more energy-efficient 32 lumens low, this is one lantern that’s ideal for whatever the occasion – as long as it’s dark we guess.

The VARTA Camping Lantern also features an extra strong and retractable handle, as well as an integrated hook which allows for easy hanging when required.

On the other hand, If it’s a torch you’re after, you’d be hard pressed to find one which can withstand as much wear and tear as the VARTA High Optics 2AA Torch. Both water resistant and scratch resistant and built with an aircraft grade anodized aluminium casing, the 3W LED offering provides an adjustable light beam range of up to 85 metres, with a slidable head control featuring a nifty precision focus system – ideal for when it comes to finding your way back to your pitch late at night. The VARTA High Optics 2AA Torch is priced at £28.99 and is certainly worth a look.

For more information on these and other great accessories by VARTA, visit their website here to take a look.

Ever dreamed of owning your own beach? Well now you can!

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By JoshBudd

Idyllic cornish beach goes up for sale for £250,000, complete with watercentre, cafe and beach shop

How many times have you embarked on a caravanning holiday to the seaside, with your deck-chair and windbreaker in hand, donning your new swimming costume in hope of a relaxing and refreshing day in the sun, only to find it jam-packed with people who had the same idea, with not a single square-centimetre of sand for you to lay your towel?

Well, if you have £250,000 lying around, you can now enjoy a beautiful, empty beach all to yourself, as Polkerris beach in southern Cornwall has gone up for sale.

Previous owner of Polkerris beach, Bob Shillito, is generously including a watersports centre, cafe and beach shop into the bundle, along with an eight-year lease on the property.

Of the work involved in owning a beach, Bob revealed to the Cornish Guardian that prospective owners shouldn’t expect an easy ride of sun, sea and sangrias – especially during high-season. He said: “On any given day I could be acting as harbourmaster for a visiting yacht, scooping ice creams, hiring out paddle boards, negotiating with equipment suppliers, and awarding sailing certificates all in the same afternoon. You never know what will come up next.”

Polkerris beach is just two miles west of Fowey, set against the quiet yet enchanting Polkerris village.

Imagine, stepping from your caravan and smelling the fresh sea-air whilst you cook your family breakfast. Surrounded by nothing but sun, sea and sand, having endless locations to place your towel. Imagine the peace and quiet!

What would you do with your own beach? Transform it into a thriving business or keep it all to yourself?

Northumberland National Park launches safeguarding foundation

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By Emily Boneham

Foundation aims to protect park and widen participation for all ages

With some of Britain’s finest landscapes and awe-inspiring geological features, Northumberland’s National Park is known worldwide for the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s Wall.

Now passionate conservationists and philanthropic partners have come together to create the Foundation, led by a number of local trustees.

As an independent charity, the Foundation will explore opportunities for a range of initiatives within the National Park, including vocational training courses, research, and activities that open up the park for people of all ages to enjoy.

Geologist Ian Jackson, who also sits on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and lives in the park, said: “The landscape of the National Park has been inspiring people for generations and the creation of the Northumberland National Park Foundation will help that continue long into the future.”

Initially, the Foundation will help raise the £2.2million that is needed to ensure The Sill – the National Landscape Discovery Centre at Once Brewed, Hadrian’s Wall – reaches its full potential.

Chair of the Foundation, Antony Braithwaite, said: “We now have an opportunity through the Foundation to protect these ancient landscapes, their culture and heritage and enable others to enjoy, learn about and care for them.”

Northumberland National Park features in the Caravan Times’ top places to stargaze, alongside Dalby Forest, Yorkshire and Exmoor National Park, Somerset.

Bookings now open: Webbs Big Weekend promises to be the biggest yet

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By Emily Boneham

You’ll be seeing double at this year’s motorhome show

Webbs Big Weekend is back and, this year looks set to double the fun, with double the number of motorhomes on show plus loads more thrown in for good measure.

Unlike previous years when the show has been held in Reading, this year the show will come together in one huge weekend from Friday 17 July to Sunday 19 July in Warminster.

Online bookings are now open for those wishing to pitch up for the weekend’s festivities and, for those who do, a Big Weekend pass will be provided in order to allow access to all areas so you don’t miss out on a thing.

Highlights include a Friday night quiz, ultimate party band, the Funtime Frankies for that Saturday night boogie, as well as discounts galore throughout the fun-packed weekend.

The Webbs team will also obviously be on hand to answer all of your questions and offer you those pro tips to making your trip away a breeze.

For details and to book, head over to the Webbs-site.

Demand for pitches leads to half a million pound expansion for Welsh caravan park

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By Claire Lawson

Rising popularity at caravan site creates demand for more pitches

Increase in the popularity of a caravan park on the Welsh border between Shrewsbury and Welshpool has seen a cash injection of £500,000 ahead of exciting expansion plans due to be implemented.

Plans for expansion at Seven Oaks Holiday Park include adding a further 20 pitches to the site, bringing the total number of pitches up to 130 by the end of June. The new additions are to be placed on an elevated terrace, overlooking one of the coarse fishing pools situated within the picturesque park.

Owners Ron and Margaret Brace are excited with the plans, as Ron explained: “Buying a caravan does change your life for the better and we know how important it is for people to find the right park.”

“Midlanders love this area because it’s an escape from the rat race, traffic jams and built up areas to the peace and quiet of the beautiful countryside. Light pollution in the Midlands means that you don’t really see the stars at night, but the sky always seems much bigger here,” finished Ron.

Lunar supports young local sporting talent

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By Claire Lawson

Lunar Caravans gives support to young football stars of the future

Lunar Caravans has pledged its support to young sports stars of the future in a deal which will see the manufacturer sponsor two local football teams.

The two teams – the Under 7 ‘Reds’ and Under 7 ‘Yellows’ – at Brinscall Village Junior Football Club have been selected to be sponsored by Lunar, and will each have the Lunar logo adorned on their kits to help take them into their second competitive season.

Brinscall Village Junior Football Club has offered young people aged between six and fifteen the opportunity to play football since 1997, and both the Reds and Yellows proved successful enough to reach the finals each of their respective competitions in their first competitive season – a major first for the club.

Lunar Chairman and CEO Brian Mellor said of the company’s newly formed relationship: “Lunar is proud to be supporting young local talent. Not only does the Club build up youngsters’ football skills, it also provides a place for them to socialise and forge solid friendships that will grow as they do.

“The Club does an excellent job and we wish them all every success for the new season and the future.”

Hopefully Lunar’s magic will help the teams to further success in future seasons.