Disused quarry in Derbyshire set to be turned into 62 pitch caravan park

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

New caravan on disused quarry set to provide boost to local economy

A caravan park with space for 62 tourers and 19 glamping pods or lodges could be built on a disused quarry in Buxton, Derbyshire should planning permission be granted.

The proposal, submitted to High Peak Borough Council, seeks to convert the disused Wainwrights Quarry into a tourist facility with two fishing ponds in a bid to boost the local economy.

The quarry has three water spaces, but only two will be used for fishing, while the third will be preserved to protect endangered wildlife on the land.

The development would contain a shower and toilet block, space for tents to pitch, as well as a cycle path around the site, picnic facilities, as well a newly-planted wood and space to let dogs off the lead.

Louise Dowd, director of planning services, said: “We want to make this the go-to tourist destination and we think having the lakes which will be stocked for fishing is a unique attraction and will not only attract those holidaying but we would also welcome day pass visitors.”

“We have taken on many caravan sites before, but this will be something different.

“We have never had to convert a quarry before but we are up for the challenge.”

Bailey announces its support for women’s Matrix Fitness Cycle Team for 2016 season

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Bailey’s Approach Advance 665 to support women’s cycle team as girls get ready to go

Bailey of Bristol has announced it is to support women’s cycling as a sponsor of the Matrix Fitness Cycling team by providing a Bailey Approach Advance 665 motorhome as a support vehicle.

The Matrix Fitness Cycling team has been supporting and promoting the women’s cycling scene since it was officially formed in 2010, and helped develop the six race women’s Matrix Fitness Grand Prix series, which enters its sixth season this year. The team will be competing at major races in the UK throughout the year, including the National Championships, Lincoln Grand Prix and Tour of the Reservoir to name a few, plus opportunities for some overseas races, including USA, Belgium and France. The Matrix team has also reached out to support 20-year-old Jeanne d’Arc Girubuntu, the only women on Rwanda’s National Cycling Team, and it is raising money to help Team Rwanda Cycling and Jeanne’s dream to race in Europe.

There are nine riders in the Matrix Fitness Cycling team, who range in age from 15 to 25 years and include Great Britain Cycling Team members Laura Trott, Elinor Barker, Corrine Hall and Lora Turnham.  Alderney Baker, Alice Cobb, Amira Mellor, Isla Rush complete the line up along with Harriet Owen who has been appointed the official Bailey rider for Matrix Fitness Cycling.

According to team manager, the Approach Advance 665, featuring separate dining and lounging areas as well as a fully-equipped kitchen and shower room, is sure to provide the perfect support vehicle for the team and will provide the riders with the best possible provide the best possible environment for both pre-race preparation and post-race recovery. She said: “This partnership is a fantastic opportunity for us.  Bailey is a company with a great history and we’ve been given the chance to bring their product into the cycling world with our women’s team.  We know the motorhome is the perfect race day base for our riders and staff.  It provides comfort, space and a level of professionalism that is going to help performance from the top to bottom of the team.  We couldn’t be more proud to work with such a great British company.”  

In order to help the team stand out from the crowd at race meetings, the motorhome has also received a Matrix-style makeover featuring a bespoke graphics scheme on the outside and a special set of upholstery and driving seat covers in team colours.  

Of the partnership Bailey of Bristol managing director, Nick Howard, said: “We are delighted to be supporting such an impressive team of British talent and at the same time helping to promote women’s cycling in general. We wish all the riders every success for the forthcoming season”.

For more on the Matrix Fitness Cycling team click here.

The Camping and Caravanning Club celebrates highest membership figures ever

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Milestone reached for Club as almost 600,000 members sign up

The Camping and Caravanning Club has announced a record number of members, with nearly 600,000 individuals, or 281,674 households, now being members of the Club.

Founded with just six members as the Association of British Cycle Campers in 1901, The Camping and Caravanning Club has moved on a long way over the years. Gone are the days of dreaded trips to the basic facilities and now modern caravans and motorhomes grace many of the Club’s sites across the UK and further afield today.

Robert Louden MBE, director general of The Camping and Caravanning Club, said: “This achievement signals the continued growth in popularity of camping in all its forms and also the excellent service we provide to our members.”

The Club’s first permanent site opened at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in 1913. Today The Club boasts 108 Club Sites, more than 1,600 Certificated Sites, an overseas Travel Service and various membership services.

The Club hit its previous membership peak in August 2011, shortly after the global recession when more Brits switched to camping and caravanning as an affordable and sociable ‘staycation’ holiday option. Membership then tailed off between 2012 and 2014, due to diverse factors.

Darren Whittington, the Club’s membership services director, said: “Unfortunately poor weather and high petrol prices impacted on member recruitment between 2012 and 2014. But as pioneers in our field we took this time to reassess our offering and make changes to ensure we could meet the needs of the modern member. This included improving our digital offering.” 

Julia Bradbury, Club president, television presenter and outdoor enthusiast, said of the milestone:  “In an age when time is so precious, camping and caravanning is a brilliant way to spend quality time with family and friends. I believe this, along with the great benefits the Club has to offer, is why campers choose to join The Camping and Caravanning Club.”

Highways England announces new innovative plans for UK roads

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Highways England to introduce driverless cars as part of £150 million innovation strategy

Highways England has published its new innovation strategy, setting out for the first time its wide-ranging plans to ensure it remains up-to-date with advances in technology in a bid to bring benefits to road users whilst unlocking economic growth.

In an attempt to remain relevant, the government agency aims to introduce roads complete with Wi-Fi which will help advise road users of advanced road closures or congestion warnings, as well as driverless cars as early as next year.

The innovation strategy also details Highways England‘s plans to improve signaling of junctions on motorways in a bid to increase traffic flow, as well as the introduction of a new Test and Innovation Centre to pioneer new research.

Roads Minister Andrew Jones said: “Innovation is absolutely critical to our £15 billion investment plan for roads. A more reliable road network is good news for motorists and good news for the economy. Quicker, safer roads will improve access to jobs and opportunities. Placing Britain at the forefront of innovation and research in this area will also create more jobs and investment.”

Speaking on the innovative approach to improving England’s roads, Highways England chief executive, Jim O’Sullivan, said: “We’re committed to using innovation to benefit the millions of journeys made on England’s Strategic Road Network today and in the future. We will work with our partners in the supply chain, technology specialists and the automotive industry to trial new technologies that will help make journeys on our roads safer, more reliable and better informed.

“This will involve supporting trials of better connected and autonomous vehicles on our motorways by the end of next year, testing radar technology to better detect breakdowns, and trialling fuel price signs on the M5 between Bristol and Exeter.”

What do you think of these plans laid out by Highways England? We’re all for receiving alerts for traffic warnings, but would you feel comfortable hitting the road knowing you could be sharing it with driverless vehicles going at 70mph?

Campbells Caravans appoints new customer service ‘champion’

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Fellow caravanner acquired as Campbell’s new service manager at popular dealership

Campbells Caravans in Lostock Hall, Preston, has succeeded in enticing a skilled and experienced service manager away from the automotive trade and into the world of caravanning in a bid to enhance its delivery of customer service.

Rob Clarkson, from Much Hoole in Lancashire, has spent the last 30 years working in the motor industry and most recently managed the aftersales service offering across three major North West car dealerships for a large automotive retail group.

His love of caravanning and his personal experience as a Campbells customer, Rob purchased a Bailey caravan in 2014, encouraged him to take up the role of service manager at the family run dealership.

Clarkson said: “Campbells is a well run dealership with a clear understanding of just how important customer satisfaction is to the longevity of their business.  They’ve been operating now for over 46 years and have run an NCC Approved Workshop for over 15 years, so that says a lot about their commitment.  However, they are not ones to rest on their laurels. They want to constantly delight their customers and recognise that there is always room for improvement.

“My professional experience with a volume operator in the automotive industry matched with my personal passion and understanding of caravanning means I can really help deliver great service to our customers and make a solid contribution to the future success of the business,” he added.

Campbells Caravans is a third generation family run dealership with both a caravan and motorhome sales and servicing offering.

Daniel Campbell, director of Campbells Caravans, said: “We’re extremely excited about Rob’s appointment. Historically, customer service standards in the automotive trade have been subject to much more scrutiny than other industries. As a result, Rob’s level of training and experience of customer centric initiatives is extremely advanced. This is really exciting and we hope to raise the benchmark for our business and for our industry. We are always looking for new ways to improve the service we offer to our customers.”

The Caravan Club invites you to explore the gardens, vineyards and chateaux of the Loire Valley this spring

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Add a touch of adventure to your next excursion with The Caravan Club

The Caravan Club has announced details of an idyllic new getaway with a touch of class for those looking to travel further afield this spring.

The Club’s Châteaux of the Loire escorted motorhome tour will enable motorhomers to journey through the heart of France and experience the historic architecture and horticulture of the region during an 11-night break.

Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the International Garden Festival, which takes place at Château de Chaumont, guests will have the opportunity to visit the gardens in full bloom before enjoying a tour of the château and a boat cruise on the River Loire. The Festival takes place between 21 April and 2 November 2016 and welcomes entries from around the world, showcasing their interpretations of the theme, “gardens from the coming century”.

Guests can enjoy a tour through 30 themed gardens at the International Garden Festival which are selected from over 300 global entries. Displays focus on the latest in gardening innovation and the Festival is the spot for discovering new horticultural talent. 

During the tour, guests will also visit Château de Chambord, the largest and most distinctive in the Loire Valley; Château de Cheverny, which includes a tasting at a local wine producer; and finally Château du Clos Lucé in the charming town of Amboise, famous for being the residence of Leonardo da Vinci. Guests will have plenty of free time to explore this charming region on their own and can enjoy a spot of bird-watching at the on-site bird sanctuary at Camping Les Saules.

The 11-night tour is based at Camping Les Saules in Cheverny and includes five excursions. Prices start from £919 for two people, departing on 13 June.

To book this tour contact The Caravan Club on 01342 488 354 or visit their booking page here now.

Heartless thieves steal caravan from autistic child

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Moment callous thieves steal disabled child’s caravan caught on film

CCTV footage of the moment a caravan worth £10,000 was stolen from the family of an 11-year-old autistic child has been released in an attempt to bring the thieves to justice.

The CCTV images show how, in the space of just six minutes, a gang of men in a Land Rover, manage to push the caravan, which was located in Townhill, Fife, into position before hitching it to their vehicle and escaping into the night.

The raid, which happened shortly before 3am on 24 March, has left the family, including autistic son, Gavin, who saw the caravan as a safe holiday haven, devastated.

Gavin’s father, Steven, said “I received a phone call from a friend at around 9am telling me the caravan was gone.

“We were totally devastated as we saved for a long time to buy the right caravan for us.”

The married father of three added: “We haven’t told our children yet. Our oldest son, Gavin, has autism and this played a key part in choosing a caravan where he could have his own space when he needed.

“Gavin doesn’t like sleeping in strange places like hotels. The caravan was ideal as it has a separate bedroom for him. He loved it.

“The caravan was great because it was his with his own bedroom at the rear, somewhere that he knows.”

Inspector Ian Stephen from Cowdenbeath Police Station said: “This is a distinctive caravan, it is 20 feet (6.35metres) long, white and with a blue stripe.

“If anyone sees it, we’d ask them to contact us.”

Those with information have been asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Camping and Caravanning Club launch improved app for smartphones and tablets

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Improved app released by Camping and Caravanning Club

The Camping and Caravanning Club has updated its popular SiteSeeker app – used for planning escapes to Club Sites, Camping in the Forest Sites and Certificated Sites – and has now launched a new app called Out & About for members interested in social camping too.

Already containing details on more than 1,600 UK caravan parks and campsites, the SiteSeeker app, which has already been downloaded by 150,000 campers, caravanners and motorhomers, has now been improved to allow users to filter and browse sites by pitch type, facilities and location.

The app can also track user location and suggest local campsites for holidaymakers currently on the road, as well as advice for those new to camping, and information on joining the Club.

The SiteSeeker app is now supported by an all-new app aimed at social camping too. Called ‘Out & About’, it lists details of all Club Meets, Rallies and Temporary Holiday Sites.

Simon McGrath, Camping & Caravanning Magazine’s editor-in-chief, said: “The improved SiteSeeker app, and the all-new Out and About app, represent a great leap forward for campers planning a UK holiday.

“Whether they’re campers researching a full-facility UK Club site, or Club members considering social camping for the first time, the two apps are a fabulous resource, providing them with information at their fingertips on their smartphone or tablet, and making camping more accessible than ever before.”

Both apps are available for download from the Google Play and App Store by clicking here.

Caravan businesses urged to improve customer service at consumer rights seminar

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

New business seminar held to highlight need for quality customer service

A consumer rights seminar attracting 130 delegates from caravan parks across the Heart of England and Mid Wales to Shrewsbury Town Football Club’s Greenhouse Meadow Stadium has called upon leisure vehicle businesses to improve customer service for caravanners and motorhomers across the UK.

The seminar, titled ‘In it Together’, focused on new consumer law regulations introduced on October 1, 2015 and the drive to retain and win new business through improved customer service.

Speakers included Salop Leisure’s joint managing director Mark Bebb, Tozers Solicitors’ managing partner Paul Kelly, Swift Group’s customer operations manager Julie Clark, ABI (UK) Limited’s operations director Paul Clackstone and Compass Insurance’s managing director Dave Sheath.

“I passionately believe that we, as an industry, need to improve the customer service associated with selling touring caravans, caravan holiday homes and luxury lodges,” said Bebb. “All parts of the supply chain have their own responsibility which they need to take seriously if we are to drive improvements.

“The seminar helped to highlight areas where we could all improve service levels. Everyone in the supply chain relies on each other to deliver great customer service and by all doing a better job we will ultimately sell more caravans.”

The seminar comes as Bailey of Bristol has announced a series of new initiatives set to provide more emphasis on customer service aftercare as part of its Project Aurora Programme, as detailed here yesterday.

Black pudding wars come to Lancashire caravan park

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Battle of the black puddings hits Lancashire caravan park

A North Lancashire caravan park is to stage a black pudding ‘beauty contest’ in a bid to avoid upsetting customers who can’t agree on the authentic recipe.

Moss Wood Caravan Park near Lancaster says it has so far avoided stocking black pudding in its new park shop because of conflicting views among holiday guests.

But whilst suppliers of genuine Eccles cakes, ginger parkin, Lancashire cheese and local beers have proved uncontroversial, the county’s most famous food is stirring deep feelings.

According to park director Henry Wild, customers have pointed to a number of different producers as the sole source for black puddings made the traditional way.

Now, the park has decided to settle the dark dilemma democratically by holding a black pudding pageant in which guests can vote on their favourite.

The pudding getting the largest rating of approval, based on both its appearance and taste, will be crowned as the shop’s officially adopted brand.

Owner, Wild, hopes the result will put an end to the good-natured disagreement among some guests before a black pudding war breaks out across a park best known for its peace and tranquillity.

He said: “With many parts of the county having their own black pudding makers using slightly different recipes, it’s not surprising that this issue has ignited strong feelings.

“It also comes at a time when black puddings have recently stepped into the national limelight by being labelled a “superfood” which is low in fat, meat-free, and high in iron and calcium.

“We have realised that this is not a matter on which we are able to pass final judgement, so we have decided to hold blind tastings in order to establish the best-liked brand.

“I hope this will finally put an end to the inflamed passions around this subject, and that future breakfasts on the park will be enjoyed in an atmosphere of peace and harmony,” added Wild.

Moss Wood was established 40 years ago by Blackpool-born Syd Wild, and is now run jointly by him and his son Henry – both of whom have disbarred themselves from the judging process.

Bailey implements new customer service initiatives as part of Project Aurora Programme

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Bailey concentrates on providing even more emphasis on customer service aftercare courtesy of Project Aurora

In an age where competition is rife and customer service is key, it is rather important to bring your A game to the table when looking to stand out from the crowd – and for that matter sell caravans and motorhomes. And now it looks as though Bailey of Bristol, renowned for its quality customer service ethos, have done just that with the implementation of a series of new customer service initiatives to enhance owner satisfaction as part of the company’s Project Aurora Programme, including emphasis on a new retailer training scheme.

In spite of Bailey’s encouraging customer service performance, as is evident by the number of awards bestowed upon Bailey from within the leisure industry over the years, the company is, it says, appreciative that more can be done to further improve customer satisfaction in the future and has been taking active steps to do so. Consequently, in the event that customers experience a problem with their caravan or motorhome, the company is now in a much better position to support its Retailer Network to respond to any issues to minimise any possible inconvenience to the vehicle owner.

Central to this is a national Retailer Training Programme which will be hosted in a dedicated new in-house training centre over the coming months. The training courses cover a wide range of subjects for retailer service technicians aimed at familiarising them with Bailey products and enhancing their ability to undertake the more common repairs. To provide additional guidance in this area Bailey has also produced a series of ‘how to’ videos which are available for retailers to access and download from an on-line library.    

Should more complex vehicle repair be required, such as that caused by storm or road accident damage, Bailey has commissioned a new eight-bay service centre at South Liberty Lane staffed by a team of fully qualified technicians to carry out this work. This facility is supplemented by a fully equipped rapid response vehicle which, where necessary, will attend to vehicles on retailer premises, storage facilities or even on customers’ driveways.

Commenting on this new investment managing director Nick Howard said: “Customers are generally accepting that from time to time there may be issues with a product, particularly one as complicated as a caravan or motorhome. Naturally our goal is to prevent these problems from occurring in the first place but if they do occur then it is vital that we, in conjunction with our retailer network and our supplier partners, respond to them as quickly and efficiently as possible”.

“We believe that these new customer service initiatives will allow us to do this more effectively as we look to enhance the overall enjoyment that our owners receive from their Bailey leisure vehicle” he added.

What do you think of Bailey’s new initiative? Let us know in the comments below.

Highlands park introduced electric cars for guests to use

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Toots the Twizy proves popular at Highlands holiday park

A West Highlands holiday park praised for its conservation work has now moved up another gear – by making available an eco-friendly electric car for its guests to use.

Caravanners staying at Sunnyside Croft in Arisaig – about 35 miles NW of Fort William in Scotland – will now be able to explore the region in a quirky Renault Twizy.

The fun electric car, which can reach a top speed of 50mph, has a range of about 40 miles between re-charges, even on the steep, twisting Highland roads around the park.

The Twizy has been christened ‘Toots’ by business owner Julie Bryce whose park was once again this year awarded the prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

It was 14 years ago that Julie and her husband Ian swapped their Glasgow building contracting business for a rural lifestyle with their family on the 45-acre croft on the Road to the Isles coastal route.

Six years ago, they decided to dedicate a part of the croft with dramatic sea and mountain scenery to 40 pitches for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents.

They also determined to run their new enterprise along sustainable lines, and to do what they could to ensure that the park was as welcoming to wildlife as it was to guests.

Initiatives include the dedication of wildlife corridors around the edge of the park, and the creation of wildlife habitats from brash heaps for insects and small mammals to bird boxes.

Making his 2016 award, David Bellamy applauded the scores of native trees planted by the couple, and their maintenance of the traditional hedgerows, both providing valuable wildlife habitats.

He praised too the moves made to minimise energy usage across the park, including the use of recycled glass “eco-wool” to insulate the toilet and shower building.

Julie and Ian said that they were both extremely delighted with the news that they had received the top gold level of the David Bellamy Conservation award for the fourth year in succession. Julie said: “We are always looking for new eco-friendly ideas with a bit of a difference which visitors will enjoy, and our new Twizy fits the bill perfectly!”

“Although a lot of our guests arrive with touring caravans or in motorhomes, many prefer a smaller, niftier type of transport to get around during their holiday.

“And because there’s no noisy engine in the Twizy, you feel much closer to the natural surroundings whilst knowing that carbon emissions have been cut drastically,” she continued.

The head-turning car will be available for guests to hire at around £25.00 per day, and can be used to access many hidden gems in the area which are beyond the reach of larger vehicles.

Sunnyside Croft is a member of the Eco Travel Network, a not-for-profit company which owns and insures lightweight electric vehicles for self-drive hire.