Taking a look at the all-new Vision range for 2016 from Coachman

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by Joe Jeffrey

Coachman pulls out all the stops for the Vision range for 2016

To most seasoned caravanners, Coachman is renowned for its innovative, quality caravans – and 2016 looks set to be no different with the release of the company’s new Vision range.

Knocking those nasty myths about excessive weight back where they belong, the 2016 Vision range sees a significant reduction in weight, whilst also introducing a brand new innovative layout to the fold, by way of the Vision 570.

Taking what most of us have come to expect with caravan layouts and flipping it on its head, for 2016, Coachman’s five-berth Vision 570 – weighing in at 1525kgs – sees the introduction of not one, but two lounge areas, situated on either side of the caravan.

As we see in the video, the versatile layout makes great use of space, as well as an ideal opportunity for a comfortable family getaway, providing the opportunity for kids to have their very own space whilst mum and dad are also able to relax and holiday in style.

It’s not just the layout that adds to the family feel of the Vision 570 though, with the range’s light weights, as touched on previously, allowing even more family cars the ability to tow the Vision with ease.

To find out more about what’s new for 2016 with the Coachman Vision, check out our video above and let us now your thoughts.

Plan for a Langho caravan site has been rejected

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by Daniella Almeida

A controversial application to create a caravan park in Langho has since been rejected

A disputed application was placed to create a caravan site on land behind the Petre Arms in Langho, a small rural village in the Ribble Valley in Lancashire. After avid campaigning against the park by residents, councillors have given the site the red light.

The application called for 21 caravans, an outdoor play area, and a storage unit that would take up a majority of the already small land.

The development of the park was turned down by members of the Ribble Valley Borough Council on the grounds of the adverse impact it would have on the rural village.

On account of the rurality of the village, there would be no electricity, gas, or water supplied and therefore, generators would have to be used on the land. The noise, coupled with the odour, would emanate towards the school, community centre, church, and surrounding hotels.

Members also turned down the application on the grounds of traffic safety issues. Cars towing caravans would not have a clear view of traffic exiting the roundabout on the A59 and travelling down Whalley Road which is close to a bend.

The site, which could only accommodate 50 people, would bring with it an increase in the number of vehicles in an area that isn’t equipped to deal with too much confusion. These concerns raised by the members influenced the decision in the end.

Councillor Ged Mirfin said, in regards to the ultimate decision: “This decision was made after a long and detailed debate and it was certainly the right outcome for Langho for a host of reasons including the impact a development of this nature would have on residents, businesses, and the community.”

The final decision was made at a councillors meeting attended by the general public in the public gallery where several who had objected to the scheme watched on.

What was claimed to have been a recreational site was argued against by these objectors who said that they had evidence that the site was really a permanent/semi permanent site which violated the application.

The infringement upon the small community was entirely too much and the application was thrown out.

Xplore caravan range welcomes new six-berth layout for 2016

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by Joe Jeffrey

Six-berth layout added to full lineup of six Elddis Xplore caravans for new season

The Xplore caravan range has welcomed a new six-berth layout to its range for 2016, offering an ideal solution to caravanning with the whole family in tow.

The Elddis Xplore 586, featuring fixed bunk beds and a corner bathroom/dressing room to the rear, also comes complete with side dinette opposite the family-sized kitchen, which converts into a single bed with lift-up bunk. A final bedding option comes by way of the large, light and airy lounge area, the seats in which transform into a large double bed.

Additional Xplore layouts for 2016 include the two-berth Xplore 402, four-berth Xplore 304 and Xplore 574, a single five-berth Xplore 435, and the Xplore 526, joining the Xplore 586 in its six-berth status.

Still as light and competitively-priced as ever, with weights starting at 1,043kgs and OTR prices from £13,024, the Elddis Xplore range continues to be built with exactly the same SoLiD construction method than other more expensive caravans, and also comes with a ten-year water ingress and body integrity warranty. The weight of the range ensures that virtually any tow car is capable of towing it too.

Many new features are also available for 2016 across the range, including a new Whale Duo Control intuitive combination controller and space saving Rapid Heat-up 8 lite Whale heating, combined with Grade 3 thermal insulation, making the Xplore a range for all seasons.

Meanwhile, new luxurious ‘Cosimo’ upholstery with Ozio high-performance lightweight construction, complements the ‘Marone’ craftsman built cabinetry and contrasting ‘Fatasie brushed’ flus-fit kitchen units. The kitchen also features a luxurious granite effect deep worktop in Mineral Crème

Other features for the range include new overhead locker design with positive locking, AL-KO galvanized steel chassis, GRP underskin to the caravan floor, new Teleco Teleplus X2/39U directional aerial, new bathroom accessories and some updated new graphics featuring Kromex Elddis and SoLiD badges.

Pitch up this weekend for the Ashfield Gala

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by Daniella Almeida

The 2015 Ashfield Gala is a one day event filled with family-fun activities you can’t miss

The 2015 Ashfield Gala takes place this weekend Saturday 26 September from 12 midday to 6 in the evening and is filled with loads of activities sure to be fun for the entire family.

The event, which takes place in Nottinghamshire, was a direct creation of the Skegby community after the initial Ashfield fair was cancelled. The first gala event was opened last year to immense success and thus, a new tradition has begun.

The event is alcohol free and boasts a set of attractions to enchant the whole family. During their time at the gala, guests will be able to enjoy an inflatable laser-dome, dog show, face-painting, dance shows, tai-chi shows for the over 60s, vintage and classic cars, go-karting, a craft fair, petting zoo, and so much more!

Local traders will also have hot food and displays out for everyone to enjoy. Be sure to catch the free Punch and Judy Show this Saturday, as well.

The event will take place Healdswood Recreation Ground on Mansfield Road in Skegby, Nottinghamshire and is free for adults and children alike.

If you’re in the area, be sure to come out and enjoy the great gala. Travelers can look for places to pitch up by following The Camping and Caravanning Club‘s pitch up finder link here.

A closer look at the new 2016 Coachman range

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by Joe Jeffrey

Watch our latest video to find out what’s in store for Coachman for 2016

Upon being invited to Coachman’s headquarters in Hull to check out what they’ve got in store for 2016, CaravanTimes jumped at the opportunity.

Coachman promised us a look at the new season’s ranges as well as much more, and the company – known for their innovative steps in the industry – didn’t disappoint.

Increasing their range of caravans from 22 to 23 for 2016, whilst focusing on weight reduction meaning a standard saloon car is capable of towing a number of these, the new season looks set to be exciting.

Add lots of innovation, including a new layout courtesy of the front fixed bed layout in the Pastiche 470 and two lounge areas in the Vision 570, as well as new Alde heating, enhancements to Coachman’s ABC contstruction system and much, much more and we think you’ll find what Coachman has to offer pretty impressive.

Take a look at the video and let us know what you think in the comments below.

The Listening Project from BBC is coming to a Caravan Club site soon

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by Daniella Almeida

Burrs Country Park Caravan Club site will house The Listening Project next week and you can take part

The BBC’s radio initiative, The Listening Project, will be coming to
The Caravan Club‘s Burrs Country Park Caravan Club site and guests are invited to take part.

The next stop for the unique booth is Burrs Country Park Caravan Club Site, in Bury, Lancashire, next week (Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 September), offering up the chance for your own voice to be recorded and archived for years to come.

The Listening Project has been a fairly popular radio initiative for a short time allowing people to have important conversations with friends, family, and colleagues that they always wanted to have but never mustered enough courage to do so. Speakers are encouraged to ask questions, share memories, and confess secrets to their closest acquaintances.

The initiative looks to paint a unique portrait of our lives today and was created as a partnership between BBC Radio Four, BBC local and national radio stations, and the British Library.

All of these conversations held will be recorded and become part of an audio archive that is stored at The British Library so that future generations will be able to listen to the sound of your voice.

Some of these conversations may also be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Manchester.

The BBC have toured with their project throughout the length of the UK and will continue to do so with their next stop at the site.

The tour has taken place inside of a mobile recording studio inspired by the iconic Airstream caravan. CaravanTimes previously covered the details of “The Booth” which you can read about here.

To book an appointment for a conversation with someone you know, call the Listening Project team at 0161 228 2255 now. Once that’s done, be sure to book your stay at Burrs Country Club Caravan Club Site here.

Visitors welcome at Elddis open house this weekend

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by Daniella Almeida

The Elddis & Freedom To Go Factory Open Event is this weekend, welcoming guest from all over the UK

Elddis, in conjunction with the Freedom to Go campaign, will put on their annual Elddis & Freedom To Go Factory Open Event this Saturday and Sunday. Thousands of visitors from all over the UK are welcome to the North West factory to take a first hand look at the manufacturer’s production line and enjoy a whole host of activities that have been planned.

This year’s event is packed with with so much to do, setting the bar for the event to be even bigger and better than those of previous years. Just the plethora of guest speakers alone is enough to make this weekend the best yet.

Some of Elddis and Freedom to Go’s caravan and motorhome ambassadors will be at the affair, including the adventurous Meek Family who recently revealed plans for an all European year-long trip, as covered by CaravanTimes

Also set to be at the event include surfer Melodie King and The Grey Gappers, who have been active ambassadors of the campaign.

In support of the event, both The Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club will be offering up information on club services, membership, and general advice on getting started.

Some of the activities guests will be able to take part at the event involves getting practical advice on caravan towing and motorhome manoeuvring and the opportunity to learn how Elddis caravans and motorhomes are made.

Guests can see how and where the caravans are made by taking tours throughout the factory, the doors of which will be open all day during the weekend.

Be sure to check out the many demonstrations available to satisfy your technical questions by some of Elddis’ key suppliers such as Whale, ALDE, and E&P Level System.

Finally, check out the latest machinery and investments as well the reveals of the 2016 Season ranges for Elddis, Compass, Xplore, and Buccaneer. You can even purchase one this weekend with special Open Event offers!

Time is running out! Book now and don’t miss out on a fun filled weekend.

Concerns over caravan park plans for asbestos site

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by Joe Jeffrey

Plans to turn asbestos site in West Yorkshire into caravan site face fierce opposition

Controversial plans for an old asbestos site to be turned into a certified caravan park in West Yorkshire, have caused concern amongst locals opposed to the idea.

According to reports, owners of the old Acre Mill asbestos site in Hebden Bridge, Calderdale, have applied to the Camping & Caravanning Club for it to become a certified site for up to five caravans and ten tents, with basic facilities for chemical waste and the disposal of waste.

Local Lib Dem councilor, Janet Battye, who is also opposed to the plans said: “I’m really surprised that there’s any possibility of this happening. Although it apparently doesn’t need planning permission, there may well be Environmental Health concerns about any use being made of this site other than for grazing.

“People are still suffering the effects of the asbestos works and it’s at least insensitive to make such a use of this site.”

Hundreds of people in Calderdale have reportedly died from asbestosis after being exposed to the deadly dust, mainly contracted after working at the mill, which was subsequently sealed off and demolished in 1979.

Battey continued: “I’m writing to the Camping and Caravanning Club urging them not to go ahead with this. I hope that Calderdale Council and the Parish Council share these views and will take similar action.”

The AA releases an app that can help you decipher warning signs

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by Daniella Almeida

You’ll never be confused in your new tow car again with the release of the AA app

With a number of caravanners looking to buy new tow cars as we enter the new caravan season, the AA has released an app that is certain to help motorists decipher the warning signs in their new vehicles along with so much more.

The dread of seeing an unfamiliar symbol appear while driving is a feeling all too familiar with drivers around the world – and it’s even more worrying when we’re towing our caravan along. Now, with just one click, motorists will be able to identify what these symbols mean and supply themselves with the right information to take the appropriate action.

Among being able to decode these warning signs, the app also allows you to both report and track your breakdown so you know when the patrol will arrive. Other conveniences include the popular AA route planner, traffic updates, vehicle reminders for MOT, tax, insurance, and service dates, a fuel price checker, and parking space finder.

Details on around 1,000 warning lights are available on the app, so nothing will ever escape your notice again.

The AA averages around 17,000 warning light related call-outs a month, including more than 4,600 red lights. These numbers peak in the weeks following the new car registrations in March and September when users change vehicles.

In an AA-Populus survey of 21,201 AA members, the results found that more than half of drivers (53 per cent) would stop to check their handbook if a red warning light came on.

The results also found that over a quarter of drivers (26 per cent) would call their breakdown provider for assistance, men were more likely (9 per cent) than women (6 per cent) to turn the ignition off and on in the hope that the light clears, and women (13 per cent) were more likely to phone a friend or family member for advice than men were (2 per cent).

The most worrying fact from all of this is that four per cent of those surveyed would continue to drive before getting the light checked at a garage, thus risking their own safety and further damage to their vehicle. One per cent of those surveyed said they would ignore it flat out.

To make matters worse, more than 1 in 8 (13 per cent) respondents either don’t carry the handbook in the car or didn’t get one when they bought it. Used cars usually don’t have a handbook, either, so the app is the most practical option for all motorists.

AA breakdown patrol of the year, Max Holdstock said: “We often find that used cars don’t have a handbook and even if there is one many drivers never look at it. The AA app is a quicker and smarter way for drivers to check what their warning lights mean.

“Although most warning light symbols are standardised, many are not, and with some car dashboards resembling the Starship Enterprise, it’s no wonder that some drivers are left bewildered.

“If it’s a new vehicle, it’s often that they’re not familiar with a warning light; and, it it’s a second-hand car, sometimes because the handbook is missing.

“As a rule, red warning lights indicate a potentially serious problem, so stop the car as soon as it’s safe; and amber or yellow mean it’s ok to proceed but some action – servicing or repair – is required, so you should contact a garage as soon as possible.

“The free AA app or your car’s handbook can help decipher the warning light hieroglyphs, potentially preventing the cost and headache of a breakdown but, if you’re in any doubt, call for assistance,” he concluded.

The AA app is available for all iPhone users via iTunes and Android users on Google Play. What are your thoughts on the app? Do you think this will come in handy for your travels?

Leisure World welcomes Bürstner motorhomes into the fold

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by Joe Jeffrey

Bürstner brand comes to Leisure World to join stable mates Auto-Trail, Elddis, Roller Team and Tribute

The Leisure World Group has added Bürstner into its portfolio of motorhomes for 2016.

The premium German brand is now on sale at all three of its branches: Catterick Caravans in Richmond, North Yorkshire, Tyneside Leisure World in Birtley, Tyne & Wear, and Ebor Leisure World, in York, and will join Leisure World’s portfolio of motorhome brands including Auto-Trail, Elddis, Roller Team and Tribute.

In its capacity as the only Bürstner motorhome dealer in Yorkshire and the North East, the Leisure World Group is expecting the highly regarded German brand to attract a lot of interest in this area and, since rolling the brand out last week the company has already taken its first sale, namely the Nexxo Sovereign.

The Nexxo Sovereign is one of three Bürstner ranges available from The Leisure World Group, offering high quality and better value for money for 2016. All have a Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of 3,500kg, plus GRP roofs for better protection from those nasty hail storms.

Additional Bürstner models available include the Ixeo range, the first mainstream models with a drop-down, longitudinal bed over the front lounge (from £51,740) as well as the Ixeo Time Sovereign range. Nexxo and Ixeo Time Sovereign models are exclusive to the UK with a tempting package of additional specification which includes: leather upholstery, roll-out awning; new, 145-litre slimline fridge; new, wider entry door, plus an upgraded cab with satellite navigation. Prices start from £49,995.

Commenting on the arrival and sale of its first Bürstner motorhome, Matthew Kinsell, director of Leisure World Group said: “We have filled a huge gap in the Bürstner motorhome dealer network and look forward to helping more customers who want to buy from a local dealer in the north east of England.

“Having sold our first Bürstner so quickly, we’re looking forward to meeting more customers at our showrooms over the coming months, and at the NEC show in October,” he continued.

Ian Knowles from Bürstner UK added: “We are very impressed that The Leisure World Group has sold its first Bürstner motorhome so quickly, and are sure this will be the first of many.”

For more information, visit Leisure World’s official site here

What do you think of Bürstner motorhomes? Would you invest in one?

Lunar caravan sales increase by 75 per cent at The Lawns Caravan Extravaganza

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by Joe Jeffrey

The Lawns Caravan Extravaganza proves successful for Lunar’s 2016 caravan range

Lunar Caravans has enjoyed a positive start to the new 2016 season with an increase of 75 per cent on orders taken at The Caravan Extravaganza, held at The Lawns in Hull over the weekend of 5 – 6 September.

The best performing range was Clubman and Delta, achieving over 60 per cent of the sales, with new features within the range including a ‘Maxi Skyview’ roof light, soft furnishings, restyled kitchen and washrooms and the AL-KO Automatic Adjustment Braking system.   

However, the highlight of the show for Lunar was the performance of the new Delta RI which sold a total of five units. The four-berth Delta RI offers an innovative new layout, featuring a spacious mid washroom which leads to a rear bedroom with a transverse island bed with ‘Easy Action’ day/night mode, fittings for a wall mounted flat screen TV and an end window.

Also well received, and contributing directly to tourer sales, was Lunar’s innovative new optional island bed mattress extender. This padded mattress strip works in harmony with the transverse island bed and makes the total mattress length 6’4″ when in night mode without imposing on space in the caravan during daytime use.

Lunar’s national sales manager, Lee Roberts said: “This is a very positive response to the first public appearance of our 2016 caravan collection and fills us with optimism for the year ahead, and the NEC show next month.”

For more information on the 2016 range and to view the new Lunar film ‘A Leading Light’, visit Lunar Caravans’ official site here

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces features recyclable caravan made from trailer tent

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by Joe Jeffrey

Recylcable caravan features include compost toilet and vinyl floor made from records

From caravan bleak to caravan chic, circus caravans, to vintage mobile cinemas, it’s true to say that George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces has continued to enthrall caravanners with the show’s unique and innovative approach to building and converting leisure vehicles into something more unique than we’ve ever seen before – and series five looks to be no different.

The new series is starting the way we hope it continues, featuring a caravan twist courtesy of a completely recyclable caravan built from the ground up.

Using a trailer tent purchased for £120 from eBay as a starting point and woodchip paneling for the sides, Conwyn Lloyd Jones from Wales built his very own caravan after deciding his family needed a holiday. And the results are pretty impressive.

After purchasing the trailer tent, Carwyn, 42, set to work, using approximately 4,000 CDs sourced from a local recycling centre to clad the exterior, whilst the plastic used in the front door was made entirely from recycled plastic bottles.

Further environmentally-friendly techniques were used inside, including a compost, concertina toilet, featuring toilet seat made from old mobile phone cases melted together, which slides out when in use and can be stored away afterwards.

The innovation doesn’t stop there though, as Conwyn placed his own twist on creating a vinyl floor by using 12″ vinyl records stuck together, creating one of the strangest caravans we here at CaravanTimes have ever come across. Okay, so we’re not entirely sure about a compost toilet, but it’s certainly some creation.

To see a clip of what to expect, check out the snippet below, and make sure you tune in tonight to see the finished result. Alternatively, catch the episode on More4 here if you missed it the first time round.