Somerset caravanning couple narrowly escape death by carbon monoxide poisoning

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By Claire Lawson

Married couple have lucky escape after ignoring CO warnings

A couple sleeping in their caravan have narrowly escaped death following ignoring a carbon monoxide alarm warning, alerting them to CO poisoning – and going back to bed.

Somerset couple, Rick and Jeanette Wills, were fast asleep when the detector sounded due to a faulty gas fridge, but, instead of leaving their caravan, decided to open their windows and go back to sleep.

Mr Wills explained their potentially hazardous reaction saying: “I couldn’t smell anything, so I took the alarm off the wall and put it under a pillow to stop the noise.

“As an afterthought I opened all the windows, including the skylight. When we woke in the morning we both felt awful.” he continued.

The incident comes shortly after the launch of the CO – Be Alarmed Campaign, warning caravanners of the dangers of CO poisoning and how to recognise the symptoms associated with it, including headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness.

The silent killer that is carbon monoxide is especially dangerous as it has no colour, taste or smell and is produced by appliances that use gas, oil and wood.

Marc House, community safety prevention manager, explained: “Carbon monoxide is potentially fatal and even low-levels of the poison can cause lasting damage to your health.

“It’s as vital to have a working carbon monoxide detector in your caravan or campervan as having a working smoke alarm.”

Mr Wills commented on the incident, realising he and his wife are lucky to be alive, Saying: “I looked at the gas fridge and the flame was white. If the CO detector had not gone off we would almost certainly have died.

“I would advise everyone to get a detector. We should never have stayed in the caravan – we were only saved because the alarm went off and I opened the windows.”

It is great to hear that CO poisoning failed to claim two more victims’ lives, however we here at CaravanTimes fail to condone Mr Willis’ action of simply opening the windows and going back to sleep. If your CO alarm sounds, leave your caravan immediately. And if you don’t have one, get one now. It could save your life.

BBC Top Gear to open co-presenter auditions to the public

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By Josh Budd

The famous car show is opening auditions to the public, in search of a motoring enthusiast to work alongside Chris Evans

Newly appointed Top Gear presenter Chris Evans has announced a worldwide competition to win a spot as co-presenter on the popular motoring television show.

Appearing on BBC’s The One Show, the BBC Radio 2 DJ explained that he is on the search for talented and enthusiastic individuals to accompany him.

Prospective candidates must create a thirty-second video, showcasing their enthusiasm, charisma, and, most importantly, their passion for motoring, in order to be up for consideration. Evans explained: “It should just be you, to camera from the waist up – no stunts, no gimmicks, just you talking to camera.

“We will whittle these auditions down, and invite the best people to a live audition with me and the production team.”

Evans strongly emphasised that the auditions are open to everyone, irrespective of experience. He said: “Male, female, old, young, it doesn’t matter. The one thing that does matter is you’ve got to have a real appetite for cars, and you’ve got to know something about cars.

“You’ve got to know something about cars,” Evans continued. “You can be a mechanic, you can be an amateur racing driver, you can be a guy who’s a fireman but has been building his own Land Rover in his shed for five or 10 years… but you’ve got to know about cars.”

News of this exciting opportunity has reached every corner of the globe, as Evans reported that the BBC has even received audition tapes from Kazakhstan.

Chris Evans has confirmed that the successful candidate will be joined by himself and another co-presenter, who Evans guarantees will ‘100 per cent’ be female. Former model, Jodie Kidd, is currently being tipped to fill the role, which would make sense considering her recent rant concerning caravans.

The BBC2 motoring show, postponed due to a controversial dispute between recently sacked presenter Jeremy Clarkson and producer Oisin Tymon, is set to return to BBC2 in March or April of next year.

Top tips for first time caravanners

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By Emily Boneham

From jargon busting to embarking on that first trip, being new to caravanning can seem rather daunting at first. So, if you’re new to caravanning, read on to find out how you can make the most of Britain’s favourite pastime

It’s pretty much a given that, if you’re visiting CaravanTimes right now, you’re probably one of the 1.7 million people who already contribute to caravanning throughout the UK in one way or another. Either that, or you will be considering joining the ranks of those who do, and those that contribute an impressive £6 billion to the UK economy each year whilst exploring all the UK has to offer.

If you’re new to caravanning, however, the initial stages of preparing to set off and explore pastures new with the help of your trusty home on wheels can initially prove rather daunting, more so when it comes to the plethora of gadgets to get to grip with, laws which apply to taking to the road and jargon you’ve never even heard of – having trouble getting hitched was only a matter of finding the right spouse before, right?

Now, CaravanTimes is here to put your mind at rest before that first jaunt away in your caravan, so keep reading to find out how to make the most of your new found freedom.

Caravan Jargon

Before even beginning to contemplate leaving your armchair to set off on your first caravan adventure, if you’re anything like we were, you would have perhaps researched all aspects of caravanning in order to get the most out of your first trip. It’s not just deciding on where to go though, but rather more how to get there and knowing everything you need to know about your choice of caravan. And with pre-planning comes a whole new vocabulary of caravan jargon to get to grips with. Think you know your EHUs from your CDPs, or your jockey wheels from maximum authorised masses? If you’re new to caravanning probably not. Never fear though – jargon jitters can easily be solved with our handy Caravan Times‘ Slang Dictionary, so make sure you swot up to make the most of your adventure.

Your first site

Caravan sites closer to home are ideal for that first trip away in your caravan. Not only will travelling closer to home provide you with more confidence, but it will also allow you to arrive at your destination in broad daylight to help you make sure you’re all set up before the stars come out.

When it comes to choosing the right caravan park for you, a number of handy websites are now available which review and rate a number of parks across the country and further afield. Entering the name of an area of simple search phrases into your search engine such as ‘Devon caravan parks’ for example, should provide you with everything you need to select the right destination for you.

Licence to pitch

Before you set off on your first journey, make sure your driving licence is in date and allows for you to be able to tow, which should be the case as long as you have an ordinary category B car driving licence. This category allows for the towing of all vehicles with a tow car with a combined weight of up to 3,500kg so, unless your caravan is made from solid gold or you’re towing with a monster truck, you should be okay. Of course you should also remember to insure your caravan with a reputable insurance firm in the unlikely event that your caravan should encounter any bumps or scrapes along the way.

Tow Schmo

It goes without saying that towing your caravan for the first time may seem a little scary. Rest assured though, you’re not alone. Towing is not just an obvious essential when it comes to setting off on your journey, but something you need to feel comfortable doing. So, when starting off, remember to allow yourself more time and space for everything. It’s also worth noting that, when on the road, you will need to provide yourself with plenty of time to break earlier than you would when you haven’t got a caravan attached to the back of your tow car. You’ll also probably need to accelerate more slowly when in transit.

Other factors when towing, which are just as important, include taking corners wider than normal so your caravan doesn’t clip the kerb or cut corners, as well as observing the correct speed limits of a maximum of 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways. Also, make sure you don’t venture into the furthest right outside lane of a three-lane motorway, unless officially instructed to do so.

This list is by no way exhaustive and many other factors need to be taken into account when towing, including fitting adequate tow mirrors, ensuring your car’s number plate is displayed attached to the back of your caravan and making sure you have fully-functioning rear light panels, so make sure you do your homework before setting off.

Still not sure about towing? Never fear. Organisations including The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club offer professional towing courses throughout the year and at the many caravan and camping shows to help see you on your way.

Lost in space

The bag allowance on flights is a thing of the past for caravanners, but as you’ll soon learn, clever packing and weight checks are still good to know.

Space saving ideas include making sure crockery is stored in racks to avoid breakages and, instead of taking canned foods which weigh more and take up more space, try using packet foods.

Another handy tip to keep your clothes neatly hung up whilst in transit, is to simply clip them to their hangers with clothes pegs. You won’t want to arrive, only to find your neatly ironed clothes spread all over your kitchen after a bumpy ride!

When it comes to storing away heavyweight items including awning, ensure these are stored on the floor of your caravan central to the axle area for even weight distribution purposes. Place medium-weight items such as bicycles and plastic furniture either just in front or behind the heavier items for the same reason.

Hitching up

When taking into account the 1,001 things to consider when caravanning for the first time, making a checklist is key to ensuring nothing is missed. Before setting off from your driveway or reluctantly setting off for home after a hard-earned break away, it’s vital to ensure gas cylinders are switched to the off position, fresh and waste-water containers are emptied and that toilet cassettes are emptied in an appropriate, designated place. Ensure caravan windows, roof lights and all doors are securely closed.

Also make sure the handbrake is on and that you chock the wheels if you’re on a slope, before lowering the jockey wheel and locking into place. Raise all corner steadies before checking the caravan’s noseweight to ensure it’s acceptable and adjust the hitch height so it raises above your car’s towball. After reversing your car towards your caravan (hopefully with the help of a trusty navigator keeping safe distance), secure the hitch onto your towball and stow the jockey wheel after checking it’s coupled properly. Finally, ensure all electrical plugs and the stabiliser systems are connected correctly, making sure the cables won’t drag or tighten too much once you begin to tow. Then attach the breakaway cable or coupling, release the caravan’s handbrake remembering to remove any chocks, ensure the rear caravan lights are working and, hey presto, you’ll be on your way in no time. Phew. The above process may sound daunting to a newbie, but it should become second nature once you get into the swing of things.

Enjoy

Now that all of the hard work is over, it’s time to relax. And, once you arrive at your final destination, there will be plenty of time to do that. Don’t be shy though. Caravanners are known for their welcoming and friendly attitudes and if they’re anything like you will eventually be, once it’s been established that you’re new to the pastime, they’ll be offering even more hints and tips in no time to ensure you make the most of your new found hobby.

Finally, remember the above list is by no means exhaustive and there’s much more to learn before setting off on your adventure, so make sure you do your homework to have as enjoyable a trip as you can. All that remains to say is happy caravanning!

It would be interesting for our more experienced caravanners to let us know what they think the most important piece of advice to give to first timers would be; let us know in the comments section below.

Poston Mill Holiday Home and Touring Park in Herefordshire scoops gold in VisitEngland Awards

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By Josh Budd

Poston Mill in Herefordshire receives highest seal of approval in the 2015 VisitEngland awards for Excellence

Poston Mill Holiday Home and Touring Park has been awarded one of VisitEngland’s most prestigious and highly-esteemed awards for Excellence in the parks category.

Poston Mill, which is located in the very heart of the Golden Valley in Herefordshire managed to pip around 2,000 other holiday parks that were also up for consideration to the post, following renovating the holiday park from what was, twenty years ago, a farm, watermill and bakery. Since this time, co-owners Wayne and Sarah Jones, who run the park with help from their family, have gone on to renovate the 35 acres of farmland into a park, catering for anyone looking to pitch a tent or caravan within the serene surroundings.

Wayne and Sarah’s efforts have certainly not gone unnoticed; the park is growing more and more popular year by year, receiving fantastic reviews from their guests and being showered in various awards. In 2013, Poston Mill was awarded a gold five-star quality in tourism rating score of 97 per cent.

The Park has also received the David Bellamy Conservation Award every year for almost a decade, in acknowledgement of Wayne and Sarah’s efforts to protect and conserve the natural environment of the Golden Valley which makes Poston Mill so special.

Above all, Sarah and Wayne of Poston Mill pride themselves in creating a hospitable and welcoming atmosphere for their guests. Sarah said: “We feel very privileged to live and work in such a glorious part of Herefordshire, and from the outset we wanted to make this a park where guests would feel genuinely welcome.

“That’s why the VisitEngland award for excellence means so much to us, because it is based not just on the quality of the park, but also the standards of service we provide.

“I hope that one effect of our award will be to help other tourism businesses in the area by highlighting what a beautiful region this is to enjoy a truly memorable holiday,” she continued.

The park’s reputation has led to more and more people flocking to the family-run Herefordshire homestead every year, from Britain and from overseas.

If you are curious about that makes Poston Mill such a wonderful, award winning holiday park, or if you are looking for a quality getaway this summer, you can visit their website for more information.

Venture Caravans and Motorhomes unveils new Impressa motorhome range

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By Claire Lawson

Venture adds special edition Impressa motorhomes to range

Venture Motorhomes and Caravans has officially released a new line of motorhomes under the name Impressa.

The new range includes four new models – the 115, 155, 175, and 195 – priced between £39,199 and £43,999. The range is available in either a two-berth or four-berth option.

All new motorhomes are made using SOLiD construction technology and come with a ten year integrity and water ingress warranty. Each models comes complete with the Peugeot Boxer cab powered by a 115bhp or 130bhp.

Some of the exclusive specifications of all models include:

  • Cab air conditioning, passenger airbag and cruise control

    • DAB radio with Bluetooth connectivity
    Unique exterior graphics and silver dashboard trim
    Bespoke, lightweight Ozio upholstery upgrade
    Heating and hot water systems operating from gas and/or mains electric

“As they’re our first special edition motorhomes, we felt it was a great opportunity for us to do something a bit different,” began Dave Brown, managing director at Venture Caravans.

“We took a lot of time to study the market and choose the most competitive combination of price and specification.”

The models are unique and stylish with one-piece silver side walls in tough GRP and all four will be available from Venture’s branches in Daventry and Hitchin.

Check out the video below to get the full tour of the 115 model.

Dog enters national pet slimming competition after getting stuck under caravan

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By Emily Boneham

Hefty Spaniel Harley gets stuck under caravan before embarking on mission to slim

A Cocker Spaniel is on a mission to lose weight following becoming stuck under a caravan after piling on the pounds.
Harley the Cocker Spaniel from Edinburgh, is 60 per cent bigger than he should be at 4st 4lbs and is now entering a national pet slimming competition in an attempt to battle the bulge.
After years of piling on the pounds thanks to pizza and picnic foods, the final straw came for Harley’s owner when he got stuck under a caravan whilst chasing rabbits.

Owner Lisa Mitchell said: “Other people call him fatty, and Chinese and foreign tourists always stop us in Princes Street and take photos because they think he looks like a panda.”

Now Lisa wants to help her porky pooch enjoy a happier life and says she needs to stop pampering him.

“It’s also about educating us as a family. I need to stop feeling sorry for him as I feel guilty when I don’t feed him a treat,” she said.

There are a total of 17 animals from across the UK taking part in Pet Fit Club 2015, which is run by vet charity PDSA.

Among the 17 competitors is Bobby, the chocolate brown labrador from Dundee who is 100 per cent bigger than he should be at 9st 13lbs, whose owner, Marilyn Neave, says her mischievous pet just cannot be trusted around food.

The animals are now following programmes specially tailored for them at Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow PDSA pet hospitals as they compete to lose the greatest amount of weight.

Women set to cycle 150 miles for Oakley Waterman Caravan Foundation

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By Claire Lawson

Over 100 women plan to cycle to raise money for a special caravan charity

106 women have signed up to take part in the annual On Yer Bike bicycle ride in the hope to raise money for the Oakley Waterman Caravan Foundation.

The ride, which will cover 150 miles in total, will travel through Portsmouth, Havart, Chichester and Brighton and will start this Friday (19 June), finishing off on Saturday (20 June) at the HMS Sultan Summer Show in a welcome ceremony for all particpants.

The Oakley Waterman Caravan Foundation was set up following the tragic loss of Dave Waterman and wife Lorraine’s son, Oakley, to Rhabdomysarcoma – a rare form of cancer – at the age of six.
Oakley was first diagnosed with Rhabdomysarcoma in 2002 following the discovery of a tumor in his pelvis. The brave young kid went through extensive treatment therapy, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but unfortunately the tumor returned in 2005 and it was found to be inoperable.

The ride was set up by Gemma Glenton, who has worked for the charity for the past four years, and is aiming to raise £40,000 which will be used to buy a new caravan that will allow families with sick children to have a much-deserved holiday.

The ride, which has gained the support from the British Cycling Association, was a huge success last year, raising £20,000. This year looks set to be no different, with over 100 riders signing up for the ride within 24 hours of completing the previous ride last year.

Mr Waterman spoke of the support received so far, saying “The community – as well as people across the country who are now part of Oak’s Army – are getting behind us and it’s given us the drive to keep carrying on.”

To find out how you can help, visit the official Oakley Waterman Caravan Foundation website here.

The miniature Gidget Retro Teardrop camper… is not so miniature!

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By Josh Budd

Gidget presents their latest caravanning triumph showcasing their unique folding design

Australian-based Gidget have released their newest camper, reinventing and reimagining the classic teardrop campers of the early twentieth century.

Gidget’s new design includes a rather spectacular twist; do not let your eyes fool you, as the seemingly small, cramped and uncomfortable camper is in fact much more spacious and lavish than you might think.

The Gidget Retro Teardrop camper comprises of all kinds of hidden compartments, proving to be an extremely space efficient and surprisingly spacious caravan indeed.

The queen-sized bed can be folded out in a matter of seconds, and the rear of the caravan lifts up, revealing a neatly concealed sink and bathroom counter, complete with an easy-access built in fridge.

This tiny treasure comes with pressurized running water and numerous electricity ports – the 2015 version throws in a rotatable television and incorporates a skylight into the roof, enabling you to gaze up to the stars.

If that is not enough to sway you, Gidget’s miniature marvel starts at only £10,000, a vastly cheaper price-tag than that of the average camper van.

If you’re looking to find out more about Gidget’s latest wonder, you can visit their website.

Check out the video below to see the Gidget Retro Teardrop Camper in action!

Auto-Trail set to expand business facilities by 50 per cent

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By Josh Budd

Award winning manufacturer planning to expand

Auto-trail is set for expansion, in a move set to expand its Grimsby headquarters by almost 50 per cent.

The expansion will see 5,000 square metres added to the company’s 11,000 square metre empire, proving stark contrast to previous company woes and solidifying the company’s bounce back from 2002’s economic tumult.

The French-owned company has certainly been put to the test in recent years, with a previous economic recession forcing Auto-Trail to reduce its staff to only 99 employees, as their luxury caravanning range took a huge hit due to a dramatic fall in demand.

The Grimsby-based caravanning enthusiasts are now back on track however, with the company now enjoying a £55 million turnover, and re-employing their previously relieved workforce whilst planning to create more job opportunities for local talent.

Auto-Trail attribute their success to the rapidly increasing demand for motorhomes worldwide. Joint managing director, Stuart Turpin, commented: “Last year it was up by 22 per cent, and the year before that 18 per cent. This year is tracking ahead of last year. As an industry we are putting 10,000 motorhomes a year out.”

“This factory is peaking with production, and looking to the future it is a case of peak and then stand still, relocate or expand. We’re looking to expand here, where we have a good team and a strong operation.”

Auto-Trail are even branching out to Australia and New Zealand, where their brand has enjoyed growing popularity.

The company’s new expansion will consequently require a rethinking of how their caravan’s will be manufactured – moving towards a clinical car-assembly model to accommodate a range of 24 different vehicles, 45 different layouts, as well as to specific customer needs.

The popular caravan brand, Trigano, manufacture their caravans with Auto-Trail, and boast wide success in the UK, making 30 per cent of all UK caravan sales.

Turpin is optimistic about the future of Auto-Trail, looking forward to growing the company even further. He said: “Long term we could double capacity, but it won’t be a flick of the switch, it will be gradual. As we grow there will be jobs.

“I am extremely pleased with the growing popularity of all Trigano products within the UK. Looking forward, I, together with my team are very positive about the future. For that reason, I feel now is the right time to invest further and expand our UK production facilities in Grimsby,” Turpin continued.

The recent high demand for motorhomes isn’t the only contributing factor towards Auto-Trail’s thriving success; The Caravan Club have noticed Auto-Trail’s passion for manufacturing quality caravans, and has recently flooded their latest range with the highest praise.

It is good to see that the growing popularity in caravanning is having such a positive impact on the industry, helping create jobs and, more importantly, more caravans!

Petition started to prevent closure of popular Kent caravan park

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By Claire Lawson

Group bids to save caravanners from eviction from popular Whitstable site

A group of caravan owners have started a petition to prevent eviction from a popular caravan park in Whitstable, Kent.

The petition for the prevention of closure of the site, situated behind The Sportsman Pub, which has already received over 450 signatures, comes after the site’s landowner and brewery, Shepherd Neame, made the decision to close the site after 50 years, giving caravanners until 31 August to leave.

News surrounding closure of the site has come as a great shock to frequent visitors to the site who include teachers, nurses, and war veterans, who have utilised the site’s location and facilities for over 50 years, referring to the site as their ‘haven’ and ‘getaway’.

Caravanner and facilitator of the petition, Patrick O’Neill, explained: “This is people’s lives down here; it’s safe and the young and old respect each other and you don’t often see that in today’s society.

“We are like one big family and it’s devastating. There have been endless tears over the past few weeks and some of the elderly residents have not been able to sleep with worry as we don’t know what the future holds for our special community.

“It’s especially heart-breaking for the older people who have had invaluable support from each other here. I’m not sure how they will get on without that,” O’Neill continued.

A statement on behalf of Neame and Harris has since been released saying: “Following a joint review of the existing site, an exciting future is envisaged for the site.

“Representation has been received from the occupants of the caravans, so the brewery is now investigating all the relevant facts in order to establish the positions of all those involved,” it finished.

What do you think of Shepherd Neame’s decision to close the If you would like to sign the petition, click here.

Increase in festival leisure vehicle hire for 2015

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By Emily Boneham

Comfort over canvas is the order of the day for festival-goers in 2015

This summer, festival-goers could be more likely to get lost in a mass of campervans than tents, according to new research.

The increase in hire leisure vehicles getting ready to joing in with this summer’s festivities comes as campervan hire company, Unbeatable Hire, have announced bookings for Glastonbury have increased by 60 per cent compared to three years ago, whilst bookings for V Festival, Chelmsford are up 113 per cent since 2012.

Headlining the sudden surge for 2015, however, is the Latitude festival, with bookings up by an astronomical 433 per cent.

Unbeatable spokesman Renford Nelson said: “Our customers have said that staying in a motorhome at music festivals is not only a lot more fun than a hotel, but also cost-effective.

“Festivals generally make up ten per cent or more of our overall annual bookings, and 2015 looking even stronger with 15 per cent or more of the annual bookings.”

Motorhomes can be hired for around £100 a day during the summer, proving rather costly, but could you be tempted away from tradition in favour of comfort? Let us know whether you’ll be taking your four wheeled friend to a festival this year.

Majority of motorists oppose decision to discard paper counterpart driving licence

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By Josh Budd

New poll reveals that motorists do not want the paper counterpart to be abandoned

A new poll, carried out by Motorpoint, has revealed that the majority of British motorists are against the recent removal of the paper counterpart driving licence, implemented earlier last week.

Almost a thousand people took part in Motorpoint’s poll, with the results showing that 53.1 per cent of those surveyed stand in opposition to the recent changes.

The sudden changes have evidently left people confused, as those who are less IT savvy will be forced to grapple with the new online service that has now replaced the paper counterpart.

The government has since assured the public that the new changes made will save people the unnecessary fee of £20 that covers the cost of a new paper counterpart, and, with 445,000 paper counterparts going missing last year, it seems that the new online system will surely save our wallets.

Managing director of Motorpoint, Mark Carpenter, expressed his confidence in the government’s new scheme, saying: “Although the changes announced by the Government have caused some initial confusion over the medium to long term the new system once it has settled down should prove to be more efficient as well as cost effective for drivers.”

What are your thoughts? Have the new changes left you confused about where you stand with your driving licence? Are you sceptical about whether the replacement online system will save you time? Let us know!