Camping and Caravanning Club freeze site fees for 2011

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by Holly Tribe

For the first time in a decade the Camping and Caravanning Club is freezing the price of its site fees for 2011.

With VAT due to rise to 20% at the beginning of next year, the Club has decided to keep the price of pitch fees at the same level for the second year running.

The current price of a mid-season family deal for two adults and two children costs an average of £17.50 for a standard pitch per night. Prices will remain the same for Club members, however the 2.5% increase in VAT will still have to be paid.

Director General Robert Louden said: “Our decision not to increase pitch fee prices, apart from the mandatory VAT rise, is a way of saying thank you to our members who have helped continue to thrust The Club to the forefront of the outdoor market.”

Mr Louden went on to explain that in these uncertain economic times it was important to keep encouraging tourists to get out and about: “It is imperative that we continue to persuade people not only to come to this country, but to stay in it as well and experience the freedom and flexibility that comes with the great outdoors,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Caravan Club recently revealed its’ members spend £400 million in local economies each year.

International Caravan and Motorhome Show success for Auto-Sleepers

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by Chris Malone

Caravan and motorhome manufacturer Auto-Sleepers has explained how much its staff enjoyed the recent International Caravan and Motorhome Show.

The event took place in Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre from October 12th to 17th and gave firms like Auto-Sleepers the chance to showcase their products and engage with the public.

Known as one of the biggest and best motorhome and caravanning exhibitions of the year, the show allowed the firm to meet customers old and new.

It had a stand showing all the latest offerings and Auto-Sleepers was keen to allow visitors to help it celebrate its half century in the motorhome industry.

The company launched its new Executive monocoque model, which was specially designed to mark the anniversary.

The vehicle drew a lot of attention, especially from owners of previous monocoque campervans, with its modern interior and classic design.

Meanwhile, all customers who bought a caravan at the event were given one free P&O return ferry crossing as part of the show’s sponsorship deal.

Roma Caravans launch bespoke Park Avenue model

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by Holly Tribe

Bespoke caravan builder Roma Caravans recently launched a brand new model with a high end, customisable finish. We caught up with the UK firm at the International Caravan and Motorhome Show to find out more.

Named the Park Avenue (after the Bedfordshire address of the company’s newly sited 16,000² factory) the Roma tourer is a new addition to the top end luxury caravan market.

The Park Avenue retains their trademark double doors and class leading 6’9″ headroom, but also offers customers the chance to achieve a high level of personalisation.

You, the designer

The seating area at the nose end and the fixed double bed to the rear are both built on top of an elevated platform. A bespoke champagne bar in the kitchen area compliments the ‘Clive Christian-inspired’ kitchen design featuring laminate worktops that come in a choice of colours depending on customer preference.

Prices and weights are subject to individual customer requirements, but with a kerb weight approaching 2 tonnes, and a price point starting at £30,500 these twin axle caravans are positioned at the higher end of the market and offer customers cradle to grave involvement in the design process.

A life less ordinary

The family-run firm pride themselves on building ‘out of the ordinary’ caravans, and their coachbuilt construction method enables customers more control over the final appearance of each tourer.

Speaking at the show, Roma’s Managing Director Dan Sullivan commented: “Roma doesn’t do traditional at all – we’ve always tried to be cutting edge. You’re not going to find anything like that caravan anywhere here today, because we’re a very small company and our attention to detail is second-to-none.”

And whilst Roma have traditionally been favoured by traveller communities, Sullivan indicated the company are taking their caravan design in a new direction to appeal to a broader customer base.

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Five-star Cumbrian caravan sites recognised by AA

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by Chris Malone

Brits planning a caravanning trip to Cumbria may wish to consider two Camping and Caravanning Club sites in the area.

The Eskdale and Troutbeck facilities were both recently recognised by travel body the Automobile Association (AA) for their high standards.

According to the Club, the sites were handed five AA premier pennants each, marking them out as top places to stay in the area.

AA inspector Brian Jones stayed at the Eskdale park and said it was an absolute pleasure.

“Facilities here are second to none with a smart amenities block fully equipped with efficient modern amenities,” he explained.

Mr Jones added that the surrounding mountains, shrubs and trees lent the entire experience a more natural feeling.

Meanwhile, Camping and Caravanning Club sites director Bob Hill explained that there has never been a better time to enjoy a stay in a UK mobile home.

In other news, Visit North-East England recently suggested that the area was perfect for those looking for a hiking break that allows them to get back to nature

Welsh campsite offers new environmentally friendly caravan

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by Chris Malone

A Welsh campsite is looking to offer guests an extra option in terms of accommodation by going beyond the traditional tents and tourers.

Camping and Caravanning Club Certified Site Bryncoch Farm has developed its Log Pod idea into a movable camping shelter that can be located on any of its pitches.

The structure is designed to give visitors an exciting new place to call home while on holiday at the park.

It can be connected to the onsite electrics and includes heating and insulation, site owner Trevor Richardson explained.

“Log Pods are the ultimate green, ecologically desirable, environmentally friendly ‘glam’ camping experience,” he said.

To help combat the problems associated with Britain’s muddy summers, the pods are raised from the ground in a similar way to a caravan.

This helps keep them clean and tidy, while providing the added excitement of staying in a mini log cabin.

Certified Sites are smaller, privately run campsites that are only available to members of the Caravanning and Camping Club. Housing just five caravans or motorhomes, they offer a boutique camping experience away from the crowds and there are over 1,400 located in the UK.

Click here to learn more about Certified Sites and their locations across Britain.

Caravan industry goes on crime offensive

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by Holly Tribe

Leading organisations in the caravan industry have joined forces to establish a new group to fight caravan related crime and promote safety and security to caravanners.

The Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (ACVIS) and the National Caravan Council (NCC) have partnered with the UK’s two major consumer clubs: the Camping and Caravanning Club and the Caravan Club to form the Caravan Safety and Security Group (CSSG).

Partners of the CSSG will facilitate the development of anti-theft campaigns, working with government enforcement agencies along with commercial and member organisations to reduce motorhome and caravan crime.

Committee Chairman and Director General of The Camping and Caravanning Club, Robert Louden, explained the official joining of the various partners is expected to be hugely beneficial to the caravan community as a whole.

He said: “The Club is delighted to be a part of the CSSG and we are looking forward to collaborating with other leading industry organisations to help support this safety and security initiative in the caravan leisure business.”

Supported by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACVIS), the CSSG was officially launched at the Caravan and Motorhome 2010, but has been operating unofficially for eighteen months. Last year successfully saw £505,000 worth of caravans recovered by law enforcement agencies.

AVCIS consultant, Tim Booth, explained: “We have seen a substantial reduction in the thefts of caravans from around 5,000 per year in the late 1990’s to 1,400 last year, while the industry was working together informally.

“CSSG establishes a more formal partnership that will not only look at theft and security issues but also at safety for the consumer.”

More information about the CSSG can be found online at www.cssginfo.co.uk.

Ten passengers discovered aboard moving caravan

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by Holly Tribe

A motorist has been charged for putting the lives of ten passengers at risk when he transported them 100 miles across the country in an overloaded caravan.

Sameer Mirzar had been driving the 3m x 1.8m caravan from Stoke to a picnic site in Llanberis, North Wales before he his cargo was revealed.

The 45 year old was stopped by traffic police after concerned motorists saw the curtains inside the caravan being pulled aside to reveal seven children and three women on board, and raised the alarm. The passengers in the caravan included seven children and three women, none of whom were wearing seat belts.

According to the Daily Mail, the caravan was said to have been dangerously overloaded and the tyres appeared squashed.

In his defence Mirzar, who is employed as an airline worker in Saudi Arabia, stated he was not aware of the law which prohibits drivers from carrying passengers in a towed vehicle.

The father of three has been ordered to pay a fine of £900 and a further £215 in court costs along with having his driving license revoked for two years.

After sentencing at the Magistrates court in Caernarfon, Sgt Ifan Jones who works with the North Wales Police Roads Policing Unit highlighted the dangers of towing a caravan with passengers on board: “The consequences of this caravan overturning or being involved in a collision are unimaginable. It was risking the lives of innocent people unnecessarily” he said.

Caravan site owners win Farmers’ Weekly gong

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by Chris Malone

A Huntingdonshire couple have won a coveted award for the farm they transformed into a mixed use recreational site.

David and Jayne Newman began their project at Stroud Hill Park Farm 15 years ago after realising that the soil was incapable of allowing them to earn a living through arable measures.

Since then, they have created a paintball facility, caravan park and built a restaurant on the site, with diners being fed pork and other produce from the still-working farm, the Hunts Post reported.

Having previously won the AA Campsite of the Year prize and two gongs at the Hunts Post Food and Drink Awards, the site has now received another honour.

It was recently handed the Farmers’ Weekly Diversification Farmer of the Year Award 2010 for its efforts in creating a profitable business out of a farm.

“David and Jayne Newman have shown huge energy in converting a farm into a property offering quality recreation and conservation,” explained judge Peter Pragg.

The couple now intend to build two eco-lodges on the site as they look to create a niche in green tourism.

In other news, rental firm Amber Leisure has begun offering touring caravans and motorhomes to families who wish to take their dogs.

Caravan salvage firm to move to Tewkesbury

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by Chris Malone

A caravan salvage firm is set to move its operations from a site in Highleadon, near Gloucester, to a new facility in Tewkesbury.

CAPS UK is to take over the former Tewkesbury Cold Stores site on Green Lane Trading Estate, helping to ensure that old caravans in the area do not end up on landfill sites, the Gloucestershire Echo reported.

The firm takes old or damaged models and rebuilds them or breaks them down for parts, meaning they are recycled and not simply a waste product.

Joint director Alex Paterson told the newspaper that the move will benefit both the company and the town.

“It will be nice to get in there and have proper offices and a frontage, compared to what we have now, and it will be good to be next to the motorway too,” he said.

The project is backed by the council and chamber of commerce, but is subject to a number of conditions, including that opening hours are restricted to 08:00 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday.

Meanwhile, Amber Leisure has suggested that a caravan holiday could be ideal for those with dogs as they often struggle to find accommodation that will cater for their pooches.

Amber Leisure offers dog-friendly caravans

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by Chris Malone

Caravan rental firm Amber Leisure is aiming to cater for a niche in the market after noticing that few of its rivals offer touring caravans or motorhomes to families with dogs.

According to the company, there are more than six million households with at least one dog in the UK, which can cause problems when heading off on holiday.

Brits often wish to take their canines with them, but may struggle to find accommodation that will allow pooches in.

However, Amber has made a selection of its vehicles available to those who want to take a trip with the whole family, including the pets.

“Being able to head off to the countryside and allow dogs to be taken on long walks or to run about free is an excellent opportunity, but many caravan hire companies will not permit dogs to be allowed on board,” the firm explained.

That is why it has made the decision to create a selection of special hire vehicles for dog owners.

However, those who wish to rent a caravan that has not been used by dogs can still do so as it will only be part of Amber’s service.

Meanwhile, the Gloucestershire Echo recently reported that a caravan salvage firm is set to move to a new site in the area.

Flintshire caravan site up for national award

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by Chris Malone

A Flintshire caravan park has been nominated for a prize in the Best Place to Stay category of the National Tourism Awards for Wales.

Tree Tops has won many awards in recent years, including 18 consecutive first place gongs in the Wales In Bloom contest and special commendations from the David Bellamy Gold Awards.

It is a family-run business that has been operated by the Walkers since its inception in the 1960s, the Flintshire Chronicle reported.

“Maintaining our high standards requires a lot of commitment and hard work so recognition for this would mean a lot to us,” general manager Andrew Walker told the newspaper.

He added that it would be particularly special to win the award in the firm’s 50th year, noting that the park is up against some stiff competition.

The Visit Wales contest has seen 53 companies shortlisted after more than 400 applied and Tree Tops stands a real chance of victory.

In other news, the Welsh town of Prestatyn has been attracting walkers by the thousand, thanks to local initiatives to encourage the hobby.

Bailey Caravans raises prices across all 2011 model ranges

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by Marcus Dubois

Bailey Caravans has announced today a 2.5% increase in prices across the entire model range, to take place with immediate effect.

The Bristol-based caravan manufacturer cited “increases in both raw material and component costs plus adverse currency variations” as the reasons behind the review of its existing price structure.

All models across the Bailey Olympus and Bailey Pegasus ranges will be affected, as well as the Seville, Valencia and Barcelona in the Bailey Unicorn line-up. However prices of the recently launched Unicorn Madrid and Unicorn Almeria will remain unaffected as they already reflect this increase.

Delayed impact

Visitors to last week’s International Caravan and Motorhome 2010 at the NEC can be reassured that they came away with a good deal. Bailey has claimed today that “unlike other manufacturers” the firm held off implementing a price increase at the start of the new model year in September “to offer customers greater value during this key sales period”.

The firm also noted that over the past six weeks its Retailer Network “has enjoyed its most successful period ever in terms of retail sales activity” and orders for Bailey caravan models are said to be lined up for well into 2011.

The price increases in full

The new prices are applicable on all caravans delivered from Monday 18th October onwards, with the exception of those units which have already been retailed. These remain guaranteed at the current pricing levels (1st September 2010).

Bailey has revealed there are currently limited stocks of pre-price increase models still available on Retailer Sites – those interested in purchasing such caravans should contact their local agent as soon as possible.

New prices for Bailey Olympus
Olympus 462 £ 13,730
Olympus 464 £ 14,240
Olympus 504 £ 14,855
Olympus 525 £ 14,960
Olympus 534 £ 14,855
Olympus 546 £ 15,060
Olympus 624 £ 15,985
New prices for Bailey Pegasus
Pegasus 462 £ 15,940
Pegasus 514 £ 16,795
Pegasus 524 £ 16,795
Pegasus 534 £ 16,895
Pegasus 546 £ 17,005
Pegasus 554 £ 17,005
Pegasus 624 £ 18,385
Pegasus 646 £ 18,720
New prices for Bailey Unicorn
Unicorn Seville £ 17,420
Unicorn Madrid £ 18,295
Unicorn Valencia £ 18,445
Unicorn Almeria £ 18,495
Unicorn Barcelona £ 20,185