Dorset caravan park removes tributes for landslide victim

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by Damien Sharkov
Caravan park bosses have come under fire after removing family tributes, left at the site where a holidaymaker lost her life last summer.
Charlotte Blackman was engulfed in a landslide, while camping along the Dorset seaside in July, last year.
The 22 year-old’s family decided to mark the anniversary of her passing by leaving flowers and a teddy bear on a memorial bench in the Freshwater Beach Holiday Park, where Charlotte was staying when the incident occurred.
Freshwater Beach bosses have since cleared the bench, removing tributes and asking the family to refrain from ” leaving things” on the site in the future.
Charlotte’s mother has branded their actions “insensitive” and “heartless”.
Freshwater’s general manager, Scott Condliffe, however stands by the decision, claiming the site was “becoming a shrine”, which was “not appropriate” for a holiday park.

He further stressed the fact that the accident had not happened on Freshwater’s premises. Condliffe invited the family to come back and visit the site and welcomed the idea of a memorial bench in the park.

“We left the flowers in place for several weeks afterwards,” he told the Derby Telegraph. “Only when it became very untidy we felt we had to do something.”

Freshwater Beach officials maintain they have been very understanding of the Blackman family’s tragedy, however reiterated “this is a business, not a graveyard”.

Al-Ko confirms UK caravans not affected by European recall

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by Daniel Mackrell

Al-Ko has reassured British caravanners that they will not be affected by the rear drum issue that caused around 7,000 European caravans to be recalled.

Caravan Times reported earlier this month that Al-Ko was asking caravan owners in Europe (specifically in Germany, Scandinavia and Slovenia), to get their caravan checked in case it was affected.

Al-Ko has since reassured British customers that the problem was caused by a paint repair process in the final stage of assembly, which caused the wheel brake drum problems.

The process isn’t used in manufacturing in the UK, and therefore doesn’t affect British-made caravans, however the number of caravans imported into the UK that may be affected is around 100.

Al-KO has said: “We can confirm that all UK manufactured caravans are not at risk of the paint thickness issue as the process of manufacture in the UK does not require the paint repair process to be carried out.

“However AL-KO Kober Limited is working with our parent company to help identify and inspect any vehicle that has been imported into the UK that could have affected wheel brake drums.”

The part that is potentially affected is the 2361 wheel brake drum on caravans manufactured between October 2012 and May 2013.

The process for identifying owners of potentially affected caravans has begun, and the chassis manufacturer emphasised that only affected owners and agents would be contacted.

Government to oppose EU plans for caravan MOT

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by Daniel Mackrell

Plans by the European Union to have MOT tests for caravans are set to be snubbed by the Government as caravanners continue to voice their concerns that it could see a decline in the country’s caravan culture.

Caravans weighing over 750kg would have to go for the regular MOT-style tests, meaning only a very limited number of caravans would be excluded from the check-ups.

Both The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club have voiced their concerns that this could damage the caravan industry in the UK, with around half a million caravans believed to be currently in use in the country.

The Caravan Club has said that implementing the proposals would be very costly, saying: “The UK Government assessed the cost of a caravan and trailer registration scheme alone as £239m as recently as 2012.”

The Caravan Club currently represents around 375,000 families, and it has said that the decision could affect the economy, as it could see a decline in local tourism from caravan users that go on holiday across the country, instead of travelling abroad.

The costs could deter people from owning a caravan, especially considering that they may have to travel long distances to reach a place that offers the MOT service that would cater towards caravans, as special equipment would be required.

Caravanners have been urged to contact their local MEP and encourage them to oppose the plans.

The European Parliament voted in favour of the proposals on 2 July this year, and caravanners have continued to petition and have been asking the UK government to stand against the decision.

The Department for Transport has generally shown strong support for countering the proposed plans, and many British MPs have spoken out against the proposal, and it will still be subject to more stages before a final decision is made.

Jacqueline Foster MEP, a spokesman for Transport and Tourism in the European Parliament, said: “I have spent many months objecting to the inclusion of caravans in this proposed regulation. I believe it to be pointless and it would contribute nothing to improve road safety.

“I believe it is an important part of our leisure and tourism industry which we should be encouraging, not penalising.”

The European Parliament will continue to debate the regulations regarding road-worthiness in the Autumn.

The legislation would apply from 1 January 2018 if the proposal is approved in the final stage.

2014 Swift Conqueror: Pictures, details and layouts revealed

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by Chris Jefferies

The top-end Swift caravans have been given a traditional, yet sumptuous makeover for the 2014 season.

Featuring a classic white exterior in place of the silver colour scheme that has been employed for the past few years, the 2014 Swift Conqueror certainly looks the part.

And the classy looks continue on the inside with high-gloss locker doors and elegant upholstery options throughout.

What’s more the kitchen has been redesigned with new style mixer taps and plenty of chrome fittings.

Beyond the looks, the Swift team has been working hard to increase the specification levels of this already impressive range.

For 2014 you will get an upgraded 40-watt solar panel, luxury double-width curtains and an external shower point, all fitted as standard.

The Alde central heating system will continue to provide year-round warmth, while LED lighting and the front panoramic sunroof will ensure a bright and airy interior.

And for added security, each caravan comes fitted with a Tracker Retrieve stolen vehicle recovery system, which could get you a discount on your insurance policy.

Perhaps most significantly, these are the first Swift Conquerors to be built using the company’s pioneering Smart Construction technology.

This process uses PURe (a type of polyurethane) to replace all the wood in the framework, resulting in a weight saving of 10-14kgs and great resilience against water ingress.

Swift is so confident in its new system that it is being rolled out on all of its caravans and motorhomes for the 2014 season, backed up by an industry-leading ten-year water ingress warranty.

Layouts and launch dates

All six layouts have been carried over from the 2013 season, with four single-axles and two twin-axles to pick from.

The only two-berth is the 480, a traditional couple’s end-washroom layout, while every other model can sleep up to four in comfort.

Those who don’t mind making up the bed at night can opt for the side dinette 530, which also comes with a spacious end washroom.

Moving up the range, and there are two fixed-bed layouts available on a single-axle Al-Ko chassis, the fixed double bed 570 and the fixed twin single bed 565 layout.

For those looking for extra space, the two twin-axle layouts offer a choice of fixed double bed layouts – the side double bed 630 and the transverse island bed 645.

Each of these fixed bed models will feature a memory foam mattress from Duvalay – as part of Swift’s exclusive deal for the coming season.

Every model in the 2014 Swift range will be on display next month at The Lawns Caravan Extravaganza in Cottingham, East Yorkshire (7-8 September).

In the meantime, keep checking back with CaravanTimes for full video coverage of the 2014 Swift Conqueror range.



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Coachman Vision: All-new family range launched for 2014 season

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by Chris Jefferies

Coachman Caravans has revealed an affordable new range of tourers aimed at the entry-level family market.

Called the Coachman Vision, this collection features an all-new exterior design with an aerodynamic front end and a choice of eight layouts.

This range will appeal to Coachman Amara owners, although on a model-by-model basis the Vision will be around £400 cheaper.

Jim Hibbs, Managing Director of Coachman, explained: “More and more young families are enjoying caravan holidays and we wanted to develop a brand new caravan for this particular market.”

Key features on-board include a 6KW Truma dual-fuel boiler, Thetford oven and grill, dual fuel hob and 113-litre fridge.

Weights are yet to be confirmed on all models, but the two-berth Coachman Vision 450/2 has an MTPLM of 1,325kgs, making for a saving of 5kgs when compared to the equivalent Amara.

Best of the rest

Elsewhere in the 2014 Coachman collection, the Pastiche range has been refreshed with new graphics and soft furnishings, whilst key onboard spec upgrades include the Truma 6KW heater, and the new 113-litre Thetford fridge.

Moving up the range and Coachman VIP buyers will get all of the above, plus an 80-watt solar panel, ultra-slim Avtex television and a new iPod-compatible Pioneer stereo system.

These changes are all carried into the flagship Coachman Laser collection, and this premium range also gets a Phantom Pro-3 stolen vehicle recovery system, which can provide you with updates on the status of your leisure battery to ensure it doesn’t run flat.

Coachman fans can look forward to seeing all these 2014 models at The Lawns show in Cottingham next month (7-8 September).

Bailey takes pride of place as Top Gear celebrates best of British

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by Chris Jefferies

Top Gear is often derided for being childish and not taking the important things in motoring seriously, but last week’s season finale was a turn up for the books.

Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond brought the series to a close with a touching tribute to British manufacturing and engineering.

The trio have previously derided the state of British industry, particularly the decline in the automotive sector since the strikes of the 1970s.

However, they set the record straight last Sunday (4 August), highlighting success stories such as the Honda plant in Swindon and the Ford factory in Essex.

The interesting trivia came thick and fast, such as the fact that the Nissan factory in Wearside produces more cars per year than the entire Italian automotive industry put together.

This all culminated in a procession to London, where the great and the good of the British automotive manufacturing and engineering industries gathered on the Mall.

And despite Top Gear being repeatedly critical of caravanners, they reserved a place in their cavalcade for Bailey of Bristol, whose Approach SE motorhome sat alongside land speed record cars and the tiny Peel P50.

Simon Howard, Marketing Director at Bailey of Bristol, said: “We were very proud to be selected to represent our industry in this celebration of the Best of British motor vehicle manufacturing and engineering.”

Given the sheer number and variety of vehicles involved, and the prestigious location, they all had to be delivered in a five-hour window, starting at midnight, the company explained.

“Looking up and down The Mall during the shoot it was great to see the tremendous variety of world-class British-made motor vehicles in Britain in one place at the same time. It made you feel that you were part of something really special,” Simon added.

To watch the episode in full on BBC iPlayer, click here.

Best of British chef to appear at 2013 Motorhome & Caravan Show

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by Tom Walsh

Visitors to this year’s NCC Motorhome and Caravan Show are in for a culinary treat as the Best of British chef Ed Baines will be making an appearance.

The TV chef, author and restaurateur will be providing great ideas for people wanting to create mouthwatering meals while on-the-go.

Ed will be hosting a live demonstration in the Show’s Experts’ Advice & Cookery Theatre between the Tuesday (15 October) and the Friday (18 October), producing a selection of dishes that are delicious and easy to prepare in a caravan, motorhome or on an outdoor stove.

All the ingredients involved in the meals will be sourced from some of the UK’s most popular holiday hotspots.

It gives people a great alternative from the standard beans on toast that can become increasingly mundane while on vacation.

This year’s NCC Motorhome and Caravan Show is once again taking place at Birmingham’s NEC from 15 to 20 October.

The 2012 event saw contestants from the BBC One television programme The Apprentice tasked with selling caravans to the public.

Hymer agrees UK import deal with Becks Motorhomes

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by Daniel Mackrell

Becks Motorhomes has agreed a deal with Hymer to be its motorhome dealer for the East Anglia region.

The retailer, based in Great Yarmouth, will be making an official announcement in October before the Motorhome and Caravan Show, but are pleased to have secured an agreement with the German manufacturer.

John Maitland, Managing Director of Becks Motorhomes, said: “We were approached by Hymer about doing business with them, and after some lengthy negotiations a deal was agreed.”

Maitland also admitted that he was “most excited about the VW Hymer“, which will be officially unveiled at the Motorhome and Caravan Show in October, along with other motorhomes from the company’s 2014 range.

Other models that Becks will sell include the T-range (Hymer Tramp) and the Hymer Exsis.

The dealership will also be supplying Hymer’s Carado brand, which provides cheaper motorhome alternatives for buyers.

The price of the Hymer models will range from around £55,000 to £120,000, and the local reaction has been so strong that Becks has already taken pre-orders.

However, customers in the East Anglia area will have to be patient, as the first stock of motorhomes won’t arrive until October.

2014 Sprite Caravans get Smart Construction and upgraded heating

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by Chris Jefferies

The Sprite Caravans name has always stood for good value for money and clever use of space, and the 2014 collection is no exception.

Built by the Swift Group, these caravans will benefit from Smart Construction for the beginning of the new season.

This new technique uses PURe (a type of polyurethane) to replace all the wood in the caravan framework, making it 10-14kg lighter and more resilient to the elements.

On top of this, the new Sprite range has been given a refreshed interior look, new exterior graphics and an improved heating system.

Spec and styling

The first thing Sprite fans will notice is the retro exterior design, with champagne and graphite graphics complimenting the new full-height rear panel and rear brake lights.

As with the 2013 Sprite range, a panoramic sunroof can be fitted to the front end as an optional extra.

On the inside, Sprite owners will be comfier than ever before thanks to the upgraded Truma Combi boiler, which now generates up to 4KW in smaller models and up to 6KW in larger models.

Digital controls make it easy to get the settings just right, while the Grade III insulation will keep the heat in, even in the depths of winter.

In the washrooms you’ll find a new Ecocamel shower head, which makes more efficient use of the water tank and delivers a more powerful stream.

Touring chefs can call on the three-burner hob, oven and separate grill, while the Thetford fridge has been improved, with a black finish and digital controls.

Extra security comes in the form of the Thatcham-approved Tracker Retrieve stolen vehicle recovery system, which comes fitted as standard.

And those looking for added spec can pay a bit extra for the Diamond Pack, which includes a microwave, Al-Ko wheel locks and stabilisers.

The interior design has also had something of a makeover, with dark chocolate fabric on the upholstery, French oak-effect vinyl on the floors and geometric pattern scatter cushions for extra comfort.

Prices and layouts

Seven popular layouts have been retained for the 2014 season, ranging from the end-washroom two-berth Alpine 2 to the twin-axle Quattro FB, which can sleep up to six.

The one key change is that the Musketeer TD layout has been dropped in favour of a new twin-axle layout, the Quattro EW (pictured above).

As the name suggests, this six-berth van is similar to the Quattro FB, but with an end washroom instead of a compact wetroom.

This has been achieved by fitting an L-shaped lounge in the front of the van and shifting the dinette further forwards.

Unlike traditional L-shaped lounges, the new Quattro has an offside bench, which allows for easier bed make-up and more occasional seating space if needed.

Exact weights and price tags are yet to be confirmed but Nick Page, Commercial Director at Swift Group, says that the 2014 Sprite range will be competitively priced.

“Sprite is one of our top selling ranges and with the new Smart construction and changes for 2014 we believe it will be the best built and specified caravan available on the market from around £13,000.”

All eight models will be on display at the Lawns Caravan Extravaganza in Cottingham (7-8 September).

In the meantime, keep checking back with CaravanTimes for full video coverage of the 2014 Sprite range.



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Camping and Caravanning Club reports 58 per cent rise in family bookings

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by Tom Walsh

The Camping and Caravanning Club has reported a significant increase in the amount of family bookings made for August.

As the UK has been experiencing a much warmer summer than in previous years, more and more people are enjoying the great outdoors and opting for a staycation rather than heading abroad.

Officials at the Club announced that they had seen a 58 per cent increase in family bookings for the coming month compared to the same period in 2012.

The Club is benefiting from the recent good weather and research commissioned by the organisation and carried out by Liverpool John Moores University found that 87 per cent of children believe that camping in the countryside “makes them feel happy”.

A further 91 per cent added that they enjoy exploring the great outdoors with their parents.

Robert Louden MBE, the Club’s director general, said: “Camping and caravanning continues to be en vogue, with the recent good weather bringing holidaymakers out in their thousands.”

2014 Sterling Eccles Sport gets modern new interior design

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by Chris Jefferies

For the past few years, the Swift Group’s two main caravan ranges have been pretty similar, with the key differences being woodgrain colour and upholstery options.

But for 2014, the company has made wholesale changes to the Sterling Eccles Sport collection to set it apart from its sister range, the Swift Challenger Sport.

The first thing that Sterling Eccles Sport fans will notice is the graphite exterior, which features a GRP front gas locker and a black surround for the popular sunroof.

Meanwhile on the inside, matt white locker doors create a clean, modern look, while the woven fabric upholstery is now complimented by drop-in rugs, and teal and bronze throw cushions.

This bold new design is inspired by the success of the Colour Concept caravan, which Swift displayed at the Spring Caravan and Camping show at the Birmingham NEC back in February.

Spec and layouts

The looks aren’t the only new aspect to the 2014 Sterling Eccles sport either, with key specification upgrades on both this and the 2014 Swift Challenger Sport collection.

Both ranges will get an upgraded 40W solar panel and an Ecocamel shower head, both of which are fitted as standard.

Meanwhile the Truma Combi boiler is now more powerful, with smaller layouts getting a 4kw heater and larger models receiving the new 6KW version.

Speaking of layouts, six popular options have been carried over for the new season, starting with the two-berth end-washroom Sterling Eccles Sport 442 (pictured below).

Three fixed-bed models are available in the form of the end-washroom 554, the side-washroom 514 and the transverse island bed 584.

At the top of the range, the 586 provides a six-berth family layout with fixed bunks, a rear dinette and a side washroom.

There is one new layout for 2014, in the form of the twin-axle twin lounge Sterling Eccles Sport 640, which has proved popular in the Sterling Eccles SE collection.

New construction, same warranty

As with every caravan in the 2014 Swift, Sterling and Sprite collections, the Eccles Sport is built using Smart Construction.

This new process features PURe (a type of polyurethane) to replace all the wood in the frame, which Swift claims will make for weight savings, a durable structure and, most importantly of all, no water ingress.

And their confidence is shown by the fact that their industry-leading ten-year water ingress warranty remains in place for the new season.

Prices and weights are yet to be confirmed, but all models will be on display at the Lawns Caravan Extravaganza in Cottingham (7-8 September).

In the meantime, keep checking back with CaravanTimes for full video coverage of the 2014 Sterling range.

VIDEO: How to look after your caravan’s gas system

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by Daniel Mackrell

While caravan holidays can be a lot of fun, safety is very important to stay aware of while you’re away, but there are precautions you can take to ensure your trips go by without a problem.

One of the big dangers for caravanners is gas, which can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

Gas provides a lot of uses in caravans, powering things like the cooker, heating and fridges, and if cared for correctly there should be no problems.

In this video we speak to Neil Greentree, General Manager of Greentrees Adventure store about the precautions you should take to ensure you’ll be safe on your holidays, and what checks you can make by yourself to stay vigilant of any dangers.

Neil also explains the importance of having a carbon monoxide tester, and how often you should visit a caravan dealer to have your gas checked.

Bodyshop Manager, Lee Searle also shares some tips on how to spot a gas problem in your caravan, such as checking the colour of the flames on your cooker.

Thanks to ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="http://www.greentrees-adventurestore.co.uk/" target="_blank">Greentrees Adventurestore and ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="http://www.towergateinsurance.co.uk/" target="_blank" Rel="NoFollow">Towergate Insurance for their help with this video.