Have you won a Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner?

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by Joe Jeffrey

In our latest competition, CaravanTimes offered you the chance to win a Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner. Keep reading to find out if you’ve cleaned up

A few weeks ago, we ran a competition giving you the chance to win a Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner worth £154.99.

Designed to meet consumer demand for a portable and compact carpet and fabrics spot cleaning machine, Rug Doctor’s Portable Spot Cleaner, combines powerful stain removal with ease of use, meaning you’ll never have to suffer muddy carpets or unnecessary stains in your leisure vehicle or anywhere else ever again.

To be in with a chance of winning, all you needed to do was like our Facebook page by clicking here and provide us with your details. To say the competition was popular would be an understatement, but unfortunately there could only be one winner and we are pleased to announce it is:

David Attfield

Congratulations, David. We’ll be in touch soon.

Don’t despair if you didn’t win this time round. Why not try your luck Make sure you try your luck in our new competition here to win a Garmin nüvi 2599LMT-D.

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Bailey brand becomes a permanent presence Down Under

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By Claire Lawson

Bailey opens new base in Southern Hemisphere

You’ve seen how resilient Bailey’s caravans can be when put to the test in the Australian Outback and now the Bristolian manufacturer has decided to set up permanent residency in the land down under.

High demand for Bailey caravans in the Southern Hemisphere has lead to a new wholly owned local subsidiary based in Melbourne, Victoria – Bailey Leisure Proprietary Limited.

Previously sold through a local distributor for the past five years, Bailey Leisure in Melbourne will handle all sales, marketing and distribution activities as well as supplying aftersales support and servicing. Retail outlets will be opened in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania with more places to be announced.

Bailey has certainly created a niche in the Australian market with the Bailey Pursuit, Bailey Pegasus GT65 and Bailey Unicorn ranges, whilst offering a lighter alternative Australian offerings, whilst still meeting the specific requirements of the market and complying with the Australian approval standards. Furthermore, technical modifications have been applied to all vehicle designs and the models have been tailored to include large on-board water tanks, air conditioning units and pull out sun canopies as standard.

Bailey (UK) Managing Director, Nick Howard, commented, “We are very excited about the opportunities available in the rapidly growing Australian Caravan Market. We feel that our Alu-Tech ranges are ideally suited to the particular needs of the Australian caravanner and that we can offer them something completely different to what is currently available.”

Adrian van Geelen Managing Director of Bailey Leisure shared Page’s sentiments, saying:
“The quality and performance of the vans is testament to the strength and adaptability of the unique Alu-Tech body shell system. Bailey has thoroughly proven the suitability of its vans for the Australian market taking ‘real life’ testing to a new level”

Plans for extensions at Langcliffe Caravan Park rejected

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By Claire Lawson

Proposals to redevelop Yorkshire park denied

The plans for the extension and redevelopment of the Langcliffe Holiday Park have been refused permission by the Craven District Council.

Owner, John Smith, set forward proposals for the park which is situated besides the protected Settle to Carlisle Railway and surrounded by the Yorkshire Dales National Park, including plans to expand the site into a field where 34 touring pitches would be set up, as well as a camping area, a new facilities block and car parking spaces. The addition of 59 static caravans was also part of the requested rehaul.

The national park authority has objected to the above plans, stating they would impact negatively on the landscape and the peacefulness of the park, with
members refusing the application due to its “unacceptable damaging impact on the character and appearance of the open countryside and landscape, and adjacent heritage assets, the Settle Carlisle Conservation Area and Langcliffe Conservation Area”.

With the increase in popularity of caravanning, it does beg the question whether this helps or hinders the countryside. More people are getting out into the country but it seems, to accommodate such numbers, the countryside needs to be utilised. It’s a bit of a double-edges sword though, as an increase in pitches would ultimately provide an increase in revenue to the area- clearly something the local council has failed to understand. Do you think the council made the right decision to deny the plans?

COMPETITION: Win a Garmin nüvi 2599LMT-D sat nav

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by Justine Iorga
Make travelling to your holiday destination easier with the nüvi 2599LMT-D up for grabs in our latest competition
The caravan season has arrived, which means it’s time to start getting ready to load up the caravan and navigate around the UK – or possibly Europe – for the holidays. Getting from place to place with a sat nav that misguides you can be the last thing you need when you’re trying to get to your destination and it’s even more difficult if you don’t have a sat nav or your smartphone’s map app won’t find your point of interest.
Well worry no more because the five inch nüvi 2599LMT-D from Garmin is one of the best sat navs on the market at the moment and you might just have the chance to win one in our latest competition.
The nüvi 2599LMT-D arrives loaded with detailed maps of Europe with free lifetime map updates, digital traffic to guide and assist you with any traffic jams you might meet on the road, driving directions that guide like a friend, using recognisable landmarks, buildings and traffic lights and loads more including active lane guidance with voice prompts to prepare you to drive through exits or interchanges.
Not only do you get those amazing features with the nüvi 2599LMT-D, but it’s also very compatible with your smartphone. You can sync your phone with the Bluetooth from the sat nav allowing you to take hands-free calls through its integrated microphone and speaker.
And speaking of your phone, if you can recall a few days ago, we told you about the brand new free Smartphone Link app from Garmin that interacts with your phone to deliver exact pinpoints to where you’ve pitched up, detailed information about points of interests, weather updates, life traffic feeds, speed watch safety camera updates, as well as check-ins through social media to keep your friends and family up to date with your journey – all from the palm of your hand.
This sat nav really offers everything you could possibly need and more in a navigation system and just think – it could be yours in our latest competition. Enter today and in just a few weeks time you could be tapping your details into the nüvi 2599LMT-D as you prepare to head out with your caravan.
To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is like our Facebook page by clicking here and complete the form below before midday on 8 May.
Good luck!

Competition rules:
The lucky winner will be picked at random at midday on 8 May 2015 and will be notified via the email address supplied in the entry form
Only one entry per person
No purchase necessary
No cash or alternative will be offered
This competition is open to new or existing CaravanTimes members and Facebook fans only
No employees of CaravanTimes or StantonPace Ltd may enter
The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 and over

New invention for gas cylinders could save lives

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By Claire Lawson

Brand new measuring gadget set to make gas cylinder use safer

A new scale has been developed to provide information about your gas levels and any leakage from LPG gas cylinders.

The Gas Scale will also bring added value and safety to your caravan or motorhome by letting you know the amount of gas remaining, whilst also working to alert you to any leaks coming from the cylinder which will inevitably help to prevent accidents.

But how does it work? Well, the scale, which sits strategically underneath the gas cylinder, has an in-built leakage detector that will automatically turn on an audio signal to alert you to any leakage via your smartphone. The app, which will be able to be downloaded for both Android and iOS, displays various items of information including your gas consumption history, as well as how much gas is still in the cylinder in either percentage, kilograms or pounds. The scale can be attached to cylinders up to 40 kilos in size.

Other features include adjustable sizes, Bluetooth connectivity with a range of up to 40 meters. The battery to the scale can be recharged via a USB cord.

The small gadget is made from high quality plastics, is weather resistant and has three magnetic legs so it needs no extra space.

The Gas Smart is available for pre-order on Kickstarter now, for a special price of $79 (approximately £53) for early adopters. With not much else like it on the market, the Gas Smart may just be what you need to rest assured this caravan season.

Check out the video below to see how it works.

Revived Atlas Leisure Homes achieves milestone

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By Claire Lawson

Atlas Leisure Homes buys back caravan factory

The 2008 recession, it is safe to say, took no prisoners. A number of industries were affected by the knock-on effect the dip in the economy inevitably presented – and the leisure industry was certainly one of these.

Struck by the recession, Atlas Holiday Homes collapsed in December of 2008. 340 jobs were lost and unit sales dramatically plummeted from 32,000 to 20,000. Atlas Leisure Homes then started renting the factory that was passed onto administrator BDO.

Shortly afterwards, however, the company was revived as Atlas Leisure Homes with its sights set on ‘eventual recovery’. And the revival has finally come to fruition with the announcement that

Atlas Leisure Homes has now bought the premises back for an undisclosed six-figure sum and is investing £200,000 into new equipment and systems.

Commercial director, Andrew Innes, knows this is a huge step forward for everyone after difficult times. “It’s a significant milestone, but it’s also a great weight off our minds.

“From an employee’s point of view, it gives them confidence the business is moving forward.”

Buying out BDO means the site is no longer at risk of being sold to another occupier – an aim Atlas has worked to achieve since the revival of the company.

Further major investments are currently planned to match the output of increasing demands. Almost £200,000 is being used to improve machinery and factory efficiency. Atlas is now centring their efforts on sustaining the company with quality stock.

“What we’re focused on is providing good-quality products and service to ensure the customers come back year after year. It’s about sustainability rather than chasing growth” continued Innes.

Currently, 1,250 caravans are being produced which is more than double the number of caravan production in its first year after the recovery.

“We’ve grown every single year from the very first year. There will be growth this year, there’s no doubt.” says Innes.

With signs like this indicating that we are truly out of the doldrums, it seems pretty evident that the leisure industry remains vigilant in times of financial hardship and that the pastime of getting out and about in our beloved homes on wheels looks set to continue for a very long time to come.

Elddis to support charity walk for Parkinsons

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by Alice Scarsi

Elddis Encore to provide comfort throughout Norman’s Conquest

Elddis has pledged its support to one man’s mission to raise money for a very worthy cause, by offering the use of an Elddis Encore motorhome to provide comfort during an epic journey.

Norman Yarrow, 55 from Gifford, East Lothian, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2013, following surgery to remove a tumour from his right lung. And now the resilient 55-year-old has vowed to fight the disease and raise money for Parkinson’s UK and The Cure Parkinson’s Trust by embarking on a 215-mile walk.

Entitled ‘Norman’s Conquest’, the challenge will see Norman and Scottish rugby and Lions legend Gavin Hastings embark upon the extreme challenge, which has just been made a whole lot better following Elddis’ offer of the use of an Elddis Encore that will allow Norman and Gavin to rest comfortably after each arduous day of the walk.

Speaking of the challenge that awaits, Norman explained: “I hope the funds I raise will make a real difference to people living with Parkinson’s. Support gives me hope for the future and is very much appreciated.”

Rachel Moncrieff, marketing & communications manager at Elddis said: “We were delighted to be in a position to support ‘Norman’s Conquest’ and help increase publicity for Parkinson’s UK and The Cure Parkinson’s Trust.

“We are lending Norman and his team a top-of-the-range Elddis Motorhome – our new Elddis Encore – as a support vehicle and for much-needed comfort at the end of each gruelling day. We thought Norman would appreciate the Encore’s luxury, in addition to the obvious practicality!”

Norman’s lengthy journey will begin on 21 April at Portpatrick in the South West of Scotland and will continue to Cockburnspath, just south of Dunbar, and along the Southern Upland Way. He has estimated he will complete his walk on 4 May.

Denise McNiven, Scotland fundraising manager at Parkinson’s UK, commented ‘Norman’s Conquest’: “I’d like to say thank you to Elddis and good luck to Norman, and everyone embarking on Norman’s Conquest in support of Parkinson’s UK. It is only with the incredible support of amazing people like Norman that we can continue our work.”

The amazing resilience displayed by Norman deciding to challenge not only himself, but also the illness has already been rewarded, as Norman has so far raised nearly £125,000 – far exceeding his original target of £100,000. But it goes without saying that the more money raised essentially means the closer we get to making a change for those that suffer from the debilitating disease.

To sponsor him, click here. And to find out more about Norman’s Conquest and to follow his journey, click here.

Online scammers sees caravanners and holidaymakers lose over £2.2 million

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by Justine Iorga
Scam artists take advantage of those seeking holiday getaway
Imagine going to book a holiday, getting the caravan loaded up, and setting out with the family to your destination only to find that it was all just one big scam. How livid would you be? We can take a guess and say very, and for thousands of devastated UK folks this very thing happened to them when they tried to book what they thought was a legit holiday, but turned out to be a cold-hearted scam.
The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) has compiled a report and found that people looking for UK caravan stays have been targeted (among many other holidaymakers) with adverts for non-existent accommodation posted on websites such as Facebook, Gumtree and Craigslist – earning con-artists a payday to the tune of £2.2 million.
The report reveals that fraudsters hacked into the accounts of owners on well-known accommodation sites or spoofed holiday websites with cunning imitations, leaving victims with nothing but a worthless fake booking and out hundreds of pounds. It was estimated each person on average lost £889, of the reported 1,569 victims according to the NFIB.
Apart from caravanners, other unwilling victims were getting scammed on flight bookings, timeshares, hotel accommodation, sporting tickets and more. Unfortunately for the victims, only a small portion of those scammed paid by credit cards, providing them with ultimate protection, meaning a lot of those conned were unable to be compensated for money lost.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Clark, head of economic crime at the City of London Police, spoke of the scam stating: “The nature and scale of holiday fraud means police action alone can only be part of the solution to this problem.
“Online shoppers must be vigilant and conduct all the necessary checks before booking a break to ensure the conmen are kept at bay.

“I would also urge anyone who has fallen victim to a holiday fraud to contact Action Fraud. Doing this will help the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau to identify and target those most responsible for this harmful and upsetting crime.”
As sickening as it is that people can get away with crimes like this at the expense of others, it just goes to show that when booking your next holiday make sure you are extra vigilant – if it sounds too good to be true then it just might be!
Do you know anyone that was a victim to online scamming? Let us know in the comments below.

The Big Outdoor Show returns for 2015

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by Joe Jeffrey

Willen Lake in Milton Keynes will provide the back drop for exciting outdoor show in May

The Big Outdoor Show is back with a bang for 2015.

The show, which takes place over the second May bank holiday weekend for three days will offer thousands upon thousands of outdoor enthusiasts an opportunity to partake in and view an array of outdoor activities and demonstrations on the water, in the air and on land, as well as enable those wishing to stay for the duration the option of pitching up or camping for the entire weekend in the beautiful lakeside location of the prestigious Willen Lake in Milton Keynes.

Aiming to be both educational and interesting The Big Outdoor Show 2015 will also play host to a number of key speakers and industry experts on a range of subjects from children’s water safety to polar expeditions. Key speakers will include John Sullivan from Elite Survival Training, as well as Sir Ranulph Fiennnes.

Former Royal Marines Commando John has operated in some of the world’s most challenging jungle, desert and arctic environments and, since leaving the Marines, has concentrated on acting as adviser on a number of programmes including Last Man Standing, Extreme Dreams and Unbreakables. More recently, the survivalist has been instrumental in setting up from scratch National Geographic’s documentary Eating with Cannibals.

Needing no further introduction, Sir Ranulph Fiennes will also be on hand as a seminar guest on bank holiday Monday (25 May). Sir Ranulph has been described by The Guinness Book of Records as the “world’s greatest living explorer” and perhaps for good reason, having been the first person to reach both North and South poles by foot, amongst other spectacular exploration feats.

The fun doesn’t stop there though, and The Big Outdoor Show will ensure there’s something for everyone. From mountain bike time trials to demonstration sails on Willen Lake and even an exotic animal display which will enable you to get up close with animals including raccoons, meerkats and more, the show sounds like it will certainly be unforgettable.

Tickets for the event are on sale now and children under the age of eight are free. To find out more about ticket options for The Big Outdoor Show, click here.

Annual Experience Day at Fifth Wheel factory confirmed for May

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By Claire Lawson

Annual Experience Day at Fifth Wheel factory confirmed for May

Since humble beginnings in 2002, the Fifth Wheel company has won many accolades over the years including the Caravan Club Design Award five times and has been highly regarded as ‘the biggest thing to hit the UK market in 20 years’. Now the company is ready to welcome guests at the Fifth Wheel Experience Day on 16 May.

The gates will be opening to anyone interested in taking up the opportunity to have a guided tour of the factory in Wales and see how Fifth Wheel and Inos caravans are made. While viewing the construction process, visitors will also get the chance to see the unique space, luxurious features and superior build quality of their models.

The tour will show products being hand built to meet customer requirements and Fifth Wheel’s designers will also be on hand to answer any questions.

Fifth Wheel is also providing the option of test driving some of their tourers while being accompanied by an expert driver. Guests will learn how to safely tow a caravan and navigate dual carriageways and tricky country roads with confidence.

On Saturday evening, a BBQ will be held with quality local food and entertainment in Fifth Wheel’s White House, sure to provide the perfect opportunity to get to know many other Fifth Wheel enthusiasts in atendance.

Visitors may bring their own motorhomes or caravans to stay in over night at the touring park in the area near the factory and then enjoy free coffee provided by Fifth Wheel before journeying back home on Sunday.

Be sure to book here quickly as spaces are limited and on a ‘first-in-first-serve’ basis.

AA launches motorists’ manifesto ahead of election

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By Claire Lawson

AA manifesto highlights interesting points raised by way of populous survey

It’s pretty safe to say that the 2015 election campaign has touched very little upon the country’s roads and the motorists who use them on a daily basis. Now, as a result, the AA has drawn up a motorists’ manifesto to encourage motorists to question parliamentary candidates on driving issues.

Over the past 12 months, an AA-Populus Panel has been busy finding out what the biggest concerns for British motorists are in the lead up to the big election and the results are pretty interesting.

From the AA members surveyed, the three main issues that are of main concern were road maintenance, the costs of motoring and driver behaviour.

Road conditions are of most concern for motorists with annoyances such as potholes, puddles and ponds proving to be of concern when it comes to road safety. Poorly maintained roads cause damage to wheels, rims, shock absorbers and suspensions and the AA, in its manifesto has suggested more funding ring-fenced to improve the state of the roads.

Not surprisingly, fuel costs are another big factor for driver-unrest, despite the recent announcement of a fuel duty freeze. The AA is also calling for full fuel price transparency with published wholesale and retail prices along with the abolition of tolls in England and Wales. Voters with vehicles spend £26.9bn on fuel duty each year, more than what UK firms pay and what is received from council tax.

Though the government can’t be held accountable for drivers’ behaviours, MPs do have an influence on the content of all driving tests and how the roads are policed. The AA claims more police are needed to clamp down on dangerous driving behaviours such as tailgating. Better road safety education in schools is also thought to help.

Edmund King, president of the AA has stated “We will endeavour to do our bit by sounding out all the main political parties on their motoring and transport polices, reminding them that motorists can vote with their wheels. The AA does have influence.

“The AA is apolitical and we understand that elections are not won or lost on motoring issues alone. Health, education and the economy tend to sway the results. However, transport and motoring are key to economic growth in the UK and shouldn’t be side-lined.”

Let us know what you think of what AA research has found. Do you think the AA will be successful in their endeavours this year?

Britains Got Talent teams up with Horizon Multi-Concept Vehicles for competition

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by Justine Iorga
Horizon Multi-Concept Vehicles offering BGT viewers the chance to win
If you tuned into Britain’s Got Talent this past Saturday (11 April) then you saw a show packed with loads of quirky and interesting acts including Marc Métral and his ‘talking’ dog Wendy, golden boy Calum Scott, roller skating duo Billy and Emily, the Ruby Reds, the ever so flexible Magdalena, and heaps more, but it wasn’t just the acts that grabbed our attention.
British luxury automotive company Horizon Multi-Concept Vehicles (MCV) Limited has teamed up with ITV for a competition that will be featured throughout the hit ITV show this season. The competition debuted this past weekend offering viewers across the country the chance to win an all-new, luxury Mercedes-Benz Vito model with a starting price of £49,995.
For those of you that aren’t familiar with Horizon MCV they design campervans that essentially act both as a stylish solution for day-to-day transportation, such as taking children to school, visiting the supermarket or commuting to work, whilst also providing the high-end, comprehensive living area needed to complement weekends away and long-distance tours, and, according to Horizon MCV, the new Vito reflects just the level of popularity for luxury, flexible-living solutions.
The vehicle, with slick, streamlined exterior design, including a more pronounced grill and greater dimensions, features an electronically controlled bench-to-bed facility and elevating roof and provides accommodation for up to four adults and one child.
Horizon MCV’s Sales Director James Burt said: “We are thrilled that our New Vito model will be featuring on Britain’s favourite Saturday night show. The launch of our New Vito model, the second multi-concept vehicle launched since our start up last year, has been a very exciting period for us.
Being the first company to have converted this particular luxury vehicle, we have experienced a vast amount of interest from customer’s right across the UK and it shows that, when it comes to our manufacturing industry, Britain certainly does have talent.”
Be sure to tune into BGT this Saturday night to check out the Vito featuring in the competition element of the show just before the break.
What are your thoughts on this high end campervan? Let us know in the comments below.