by Daniella Almeida

Caravan site in North Somerset looks to update ‘tired and dilapidated park’

Purn Holiday Park in Bleadon, North Somerset, submitted a planning application to North Somerset Council on Monday in an effort to extend its clubhouse and swimming pool, among other things. The appeal comes as an effort for the park to grow from “tired and dilapidated” into a “contemporary entertainment complex.”

The holiday park is owned by the Highbridge-based company West County Park Homes and, it could be said, is quite behind in the times in terms of appearance and recreational facilities.

The proposal comes with the plan to not only extend the clubhouse and swimming pool, but to also create an all new reception area, restaurant and bar, as well as enlarge the on-site shop. This with the idea of catapulting into the 21st century in mind.

The plans also include new toilet and washing facilities as well as a complete renovation to the roof, windows, and outside walls. These walls are to be decorated with wooden cladding.

In the design and access statement submitted to the council, Shattock Associates, the park’s agent, said: “These works have been designed to link the existing swimming pool complex with the clubhouse and shop complex, and to generally improve the entertainment and relaxation hub of this caravan park.

“This will drastically change the appearance of the centre from a tired and dilapidated state to a state-of-the-art, contemporary entertainment complex.

“This is a massive investment in a somewhat tired holiday campus that will be a huge boost to the tourism industry in North Somerset,” the statement reads.

If the application is approved, new jobs in the local area will be created, according to the agent.

You can view the application on the council’s online planning portal here.

by Joe Jeffrey

Peter Matheson travels a further 3,500-miles on tractor with caravan and faithful dog in tow

You may recall last summer CaravanTimes reported on Peter Matheson, who drove from Scotland to Norway on an 8,000-mile caravan journey with a difference as part of his very own Tractor Bumble charity drive. The ex-policeman from Inverness decided – in his infinite wisdom – to tow his Elddis Crusader Sirocco by tractor with just his trusty pet Labrador, Amber, for company.

Well, Peter has since decided to do it all again and has just returned from a tour of Ireland – all in the name of a couple of more good causes.

The 3,500-mile trip, in a bid to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society and the Teenage Cancer Trust, saw Peter push his tractor, affectionately named Annie, even further to the extreme, beginning his journey at Larne Harbour in Co. Antrim and completing a drive which saw him finish a full lap of Ireland – a journey which took two months to complete at his tractor’s top speed of 15mph.

Similar to his journey to Norway last year, the spritely 51-year-old had no concrete plans other than to complete the journey – a move which saw him make his way from north to south and back again, whilst enabling him the opportunity to meet generous people on the way, as he told The Irish Post.

“The people really made it,” he said. “I had so much great support along the way. The Irish people really lived up to their reputation of being welcoming.”

“The people in Ballymaloe House were incredibly generous. They were holding a garden festival and invited me to stay for the weekend and I managed to raise 500 euros there alone.”

In total, Peter managed to raise more than £2,000 through his efforts, with charitable donations continuing to flood in by way of his fundraising website, which can be found here.

You’d think that, two journeys later, Peter would want to put his feet up, but it really seems as though there’ll be no slowing down.

“Next year I’ve something big planned but I don’t want to give too much away yet,” Peter said. “But I’ll be doing something afloat!”

To take a look at Peter’s journey in pictures, visit his Facebook page here. Meanwhile, if you want to donate to a worthy cause or two, click here.

by Daniella Almeida

New touring caravan park proposed for Addlethorpe rejected

A caravan site in Addlethorpe, Lincolnshire, proposed to provide “a luxury rural venue, not a holiday park” has been turned down by the East Lindsey planning committee.

The aforementioned pledge was made by Sally Hobbins at the East Lindsey’s planning committee on Thursday in support of her application for 33 pitches to be allowed on land to the rear of Ormsby Lodge, off Mill Road.

The application, as detailed on CaravanTimes previously, proposed for the caravans to complement an angling lake that is operated by Hobbins and her husband. The lake has increased in popularity among residents and visitors alike after being loaded with £30,000 worth of fish.

Despite the appeal of the caravan site and the added recommendation of planning officer Jane Parker, the committee turned down the proposal seven votes to five.

It’s believed that the council objected to the application because the residents of Addlethorpe have already seen their fair share of caravans with 573 pitches in a small village of just 123 properties.

In a written presentation, ward member Councillor Colin Davie said his opposition was because it risked “destroying the separation of the tourist coast of Ingoldmells and the agricultural and rural nature of Addlethorpe.”

Councillor Jim Swanson also argued that the “cumulative effect” of more caravans would be “too severe.”

On the other hand, Councillor Tom Ashton proposed postponing any decision until further discussions were held. His motion was shot down, however, and the resolve to turn down the park remained.

Hobbins now has the choice to submit a revised application or lodging an appeal which would be heard by an independent inspector at a later date.

by Joe Jeffrey

Alde is giving away ten Alde Smart Controls in a great new competition

Caravan heating specialist Alde is offering you the chance to win one of ten Alde Smart Control devices in a competition to mark being voted the number one heating system in Germany for the seventh year running.

The König Kunde Award, as bestowed upon Alde by German motorhome magazine, Reisemobil International, was voted on by the magazine’s readers who are obviously satisfied with Alde’s range of heating products which have been in existence since the company was founded in Sweden in 1949.

And now, Alde is offering ten lucky caravanners or motorhomers the chance to win their very own Alde Smart Control in a great new competition.

Alde Smart Control enables you to operate your heating using an app on your smartphone or tablet that emulates the control panel interface inside your caravan or motorhome wherever you are and, for that matter, wherever your vehicle is – as long as both have a mobile signal.

All that’s required to be in with a chance is to follow @Alde on Twitter and to Retweet the competition by 12 October. So head over now for your chance to win.

by Daniella Almeida

Homeowner shocked to find young fox in the most unlikely of places in their own back garden

It seems even animals are caravan fans, following the discovery of a clumsy fox found with its head stuck in a discarded campervan wheel in a back garden in Hounslow, London.

The seven-month-old cub was found by a homeowner, who has not been named, on Sunday morning with what could only be described as an the worst headache ever.

The female fox cub decided to approach the discarded campervan tyre and soon became properly stuck inside the middle metal part.

The homeowner was shocked to see the fox struggling for freedom when he looked out into his garden and, immediately set himself to free the cub.

When that proved unsuccessful, the homeowner contacted the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) who arrived in time to help the poor creature.

Officers from the RSPCA arrived and released the fox. RSPCA inspector, Lauren Evans, said: “This young fox was found head-first and stuck in the middle of this old wheel.

“There is no way she would have been able to get free without help,” Evans concluded.

The fox is thought to have been one of this year’s fox cubs.

In an effort to be more conscious of wild animals and the environment, we here at CaravanTimes encourage all caravan owners to be more mindful disposing of their property.