BBC to tour UK with Airstream-inspired Listening Project caravan

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by Joe Jeffrey

Listening booth will record conversations of UK public as it tours length and breadth of UK

The BBC has taken the wraps off a new mobile recording studio, inspired by the iconic Airstream caravan.

Designed by London-based JaK Studio, the portable booth was commissioned as part of BBC Radio 4‘s the Listening Project after a Royal Institute of British Architects-run international competition.

Styled in the shape of a speech bubble, the travelling studio will travel across the UK recording conversations with people across the country, which will then be broadcast on the BBC.

Design features incorporated include a polycarbonate skin with lights at the rear that will react in time to conversations happening within the booth.

RIBA president Stephen Hodder said: ”The Listening Project Booth is a brilliantly witty project and a great piece of product design. It was the unanimous choice of our competition judges and I’m sure will inspire those who see it on the road and share their stories within it.”

Jacob Low, partner at JaK Studio added: ”To be selected to design an environment for such a unique and special project has been a privilege and a pleasure. Beyond the practicalities, we wanted to create a booth that celebrated the power and intimacy of conversation. From the reactive light sculpture that visually captures the dynamics of speech to the home-from-home touches that make the interior space a cosy cabin in which to retreat.

”For the ensuing months that the speech bubble booth will be on the road, it will be the definitive place for people to share with us the story of their lives, and we’re thrilled that they will be doing so in an environment that represents so many heartfelt moments of our own.”

The BBC seem to have taken a liking to all things Airstream as late – let’s just hope that, when touring across the country, they don’t travel with passengers in the back.

To check out a video highlighting what to expect, see below.

VIDEO: Motorhome overturns due to tyre blow out

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by Justine Iorga
Motorhome in Louisiana overturns on a motorway and it’s all caught on a dash cam
Recent dash cam footage released has us cringing as a motorhome heading down a motorway overturns due to a tyre blowout in Ascension Parish, Louisiana.
Louisiana State Police troopers were called on Monday to the scene of the accident. Crash scene investigators said the motorhome was heading westbound on Interstate 10 in the left lane when one of the tyres blew out causing the motorhome to veer into the median, striking the cable barriers. The vehicle then proceeded to tip over and slide across both eastbound lanes.

The driver, 69-year-old Royce Denmon, of Kilgore, Texas, and his passenger sustained only minor injuries in the crash, but it definitely seems like it could have been a lot worse had there been more traffic or passengers in the motorhome.

The whole crash was caught on the dash cam of the witness, 30-year-old Jonathan Mendel of Metairie, who was driving a lorry headed in the same direction as Denmon. He was able to pull his rig vehicle onto the shoulder of the road and call 911.
While we’re glad to hear that the driver and passenger are doing fine after the crash, we can’t help but think that Denmon was driving a bit carelessly. By the looks of the video he seemed to be going pretty fast, a lot faster then he should have been going especially with the size of the motorhome.
Be sure to check out the video for yourself below.

Caravan and camping parks urged to provide shelter for homeless

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By Claire Lawson

Lincolnshire based organisation asks for caravan and camping parks to provide accommodation to the homeless

Following on from a cut in funding to help the homeless, and with many hostels across the country becoming full to capacity, homeless support group, East Coast Homeless Outreach UK (ECHO), has called for caravan and camping parks to provide accommodation for homeless people.

The idea to provide the homeless with somewhere to stay at caravan and camping parks comes from ECHO founder, Paul Jackson, following offering his spare tent to homeless people last year.

After placing an advert for a spare caravan and then being donated one by a Grimsby firm, the charity is now approaching various sites by telephone, asking if people can stay following a recent successful pilot at West End Farm in Weston-super-Mare.

Owner of West End Farm, Chris Clarges, who invited a homeless man to stay at his site, spoke of the benefits of inviting those with no fixed abode to stay, saying: “We had a young man with mild learning difficulties come and stay with us for two to three weeks. He gave me a hand with work shovelling gravel and so we reduced the cost of him being here, it was great all round. We didn’t mind him helping out,” he said.

“We are a family run site and it is something we would do out of season. We would also have to be selective of who we take on, we have to think of the people who are paying first,” Clarges went on.

With caravan season in full swing and an increase in bookings at many parks, it may become more and more difficult for ECHO to find accommodation as campsites enter into their busy seasons, but they are set to persevere.

Skin cancer specialists issue warning to public ahead of summer sun

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By Claire Lawson

Skin cancer experts hit the streets to urge the public to stay safe this summer

Skin cancer specialists have hit the road to speak upon the dangers of too much exposure to the sun without adequate protection.

In an effort to raise awareness about the effects of the sun on the skin, skin cancer nurse specialist at Poole Hospital, in Dorset, Juliet Hatley, was among a number of experts hitting the street last week to enlighten the general public as part of a national awareness campaign.

The advice given highlighted the astonishing fact that, sadly, 12,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma each year, with the best forms of protection being wearing sunglasses, brimmed hats, keeping your clothes on and using sun cream with a factor no less that 30 which should be reapplied every two hours.

On protecting oneself from harmful sunrays, nurse, Hatley, said: “The two most important messages for sun protection are don’t get burnt and don’t get a tan.

“People should pay particular attention to moles on their skin and check regularly for any changes in size, colour and shape as well as symptoms such as itching or bleeding, or patches of skin that feel scaly, bleed or develop a crust and which do not heal. Prompt assessment by the GP is crucial for detecting and treating skin cancer,” the expert continued.

With regards to checking your skin for any signs of irregularities, Hatley went on to say that
for those with sensitive skin, including babies and toddlers, the best protection is to stay covered and keep out of direct sunlight.

So before you head out in your caravan this summer, make sure you take everything you need with you to protect you and your loved ones against the dangers of the sun, wherever your caravan takes you.

Study reveals road rage is on the increase

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by Justine Iorga
Research conducted by carwow reveals motorists in the UK seem to let their anger get the best of them on the roads
Most, if not all, motorists know road rage is something that is just inevitable – especially when you’re on the receiving end of it for simply towing your caravan.
And now, research undertaken by the UK’s largest new-car buying platform, CarWow, has revealed that 81 per cent of British drivers have been a victim of road rage and one in five British drivers have actually got out of their car to confront another driver. If that wasn’t bad enough, five per cent of victims reported they had been physically attacked and four per cent claimed their car had been damaged as a result of road rage.
The figures gathered to make us all feel like crazies were taken from a survey of 1,000 UK drivers, and reveal a worrying trend for the increase of frustration on Britain’s increasingly crowded roads. Almost half of motorists found city driving to be the most frustrating, whilst one in four said that motorway journeys were sure to get them riled up.
The reason behind the rage was broken into rankings, with 74 per cent claiming it was because of bad driving, 30 per cent saying other drivers are too slow and six per cent getting road rage because another driver got angry at them.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists’ Head of Driving Standards, Pete Rodger, spoke on the recent study, saying: “This research highlights a common problem on UK roads, and no matter how you look at it, driving dangerously to try and teach someone a lesson is never the solution. We’d recommend plenty of forward planning, give other drivers room, stay in control and try to stay calm – everybody makes mistakes.”
So – although it’s not even a possibility, we’re sure – let’s make a mental note not to let our anger get the best of us when heading out with the caravan this summer. And make sure you watch out for those crazies!

Park Holidays UK pleas for a tourism minister

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by Justine Iorga
Park Holidays believes that Britain’s tourism deserves a full time tourism minister following Conservative general election victory
Park Holidays UK is insisting that David Cameron creates a new full-time post of tourism minister in his coming cabinet reshuffle.
With Britain’s tourism industry contributing over £127 billion to the economy annually, whilst providing jobs for over three million people, according to Park Holiday’s company director, Tony Clish, it seems only fair that the industry should have a champion in government.
“For the past few years, the role of tourism minister has been a part-time post in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and was a role which included other duties. I believe the time has now come for change, and that a ministerial post should be created in government for someone whose portfolio is focussed exclusively on tourism,” Clish said.
He continued: “Such a move would demonstrate the government’s wholehearted support of this industry’s successful efforts to help revitalise Britain’s rural economies. A tourism minister could help ensure that Britain is properly publicised overseas as a holiday destination with a view to increasing our volume of foreign visitors.
“There are also a host of other issues which the minister could address, including the state of our road infrastructure upon which many people rely when they go on holiday.
“A minister might also wish to examine whether Britain’s tourism industry is competing on a level playing field with other countries in mainland Europe.”
The role suggested would be to ensure that UK tourism is properly promoted overseas, and to create the conditions in Britain which would ensure the sector continues to grow.
What do you think? Will this plea actually be heard? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Have you won a Garmin nüvi 2599LMT-D?

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by Joe Jeffrey

Read on to find out if you’ve won a snazzy Garmin nüvi 2599LMT-D in one of our latest competitions

A few weeks ago, we ran a competition giving you the chance to win a Garmin nüvi 2599LMT-D, guaranteed to lead you down the right path as you set off on your adventures with your leisure vehicle.

The nüvi 2599LMT-D, which will be winging its way to one lucky winner, comes loaded with a whole host of features, including detailed maps of Europe with free lifetime updates, digital traffic to alert you to nasty traffic jams, as well as driving directions which incorporate recognisable landmarks so you don’t miss your turning. Active lane guidance with voice prompts to guide you through exits or interchanges is also included to make your journey that much easier.

The nüvi 2599LMT-D also provides you with the opportunity to sync it to your smartphone, allowing you to take hands-free calls through its integrated microphone and speaker. Not only that, but you can also access the Garmin Link app, which corresponds with both your phone and your sat nav to deliver exact pinpoints to where you’ve pitched up, as well as providing detailed information about points of interest, weather updates, live traffic feeds, speed watch safety camera updates, as well as allowing you to check-in through social media to keep your friends and family up to date with your journey – all from the palm of your hand.

All you needed to do to be in with a chance of winning was to like our Facebook page and provide us with your details. To say the competition was popular would be an understatement, but unfortunately there could be only one winner and we are pleased to announce it is:

Lisa Fernandez

Congratulations, Lisa. We’ll be in touch soon.

Don’t despair if you didn’t win this time round, we’ll be announcing more competitions very soon, so keep it locked on CaravanTimes so you don’t miss the opportunity to win next time.

Meanwhile, if you’ve still got your heart set on a Garmin nüvi 2599LMT-D, or another Garmin device, make sure you head over to Garmin’s official site now to see what’s on offer.

Prolific killer caught in caravan hideout after 56 years on the run

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by Alice Scarsi

Frank Freshwaters, accused of manslaughter, has been found by the authorities in his caravan in Florida after over half a century on the run

A man charged with manslaughter has finally been found by authorities after over 50 years on the run – in his caravan.

Frank Freshwaters, 79, who killed a young father in a car accident in 1957, had managed to avoid finishing his prison sentence up until now, instead living as a fugitive for 56 years, after escaping from prison twice. Freshwaters assumed multiple identities during his time spent on the run and lived in several different states in the US to remain off radar, prior to pitching up in a caravan where he was found.

The killer’s escape sat dormant since the last time the authorities had been tipped off about his whereabouts in 1975, until last February when a cold case squad caught wind of the case.

“There was no ‘one tip.’ I just started a cold case squad, and I assigned a full-time deputy to it, who was a fresh set of eyes on these old cases,” U.S. Marshal Pete Elliot told Newsweek.

“Back in the ’60s and ’70s, we had a number of escapes out of Ohio. These individuals were never caught.”

The cold case team was able to track Freshwaters, who was living under the alias of William Harold Cox in his caravan, to Melbourne in Florida. Arresting the fugitive was then an easy job: “He gave it up right away, admitted who he was. He said his time was up,” said Elliott.

Indeed, after a 56-year-run, Freshwaters must have been tired of hiding. His life as a fugitive can be traced back to 1957, soon after being sentenced for manslaughter. Following violating his probation, he was later sentenced to 20 years in the Ohio State Reformatory – the same prison where The Shawshank Redemption was filmed – where he was able to plan his escape after gaining the trust of prison guards. Unlike the movie, however, no spoons were used during the escape. Caught again in 1975 in West Virginia, the inmate managed to escape his way out of prison once again, and had been on the run ever since.

It seems as though the case of the man hiding in a caravan has had more of an effect than previously thought, with Elliott adding: “With this new Cold Case Unit at work, we are reopening many old fugitive files with the hope that we will continue to have the success that we have seen in these last few months,” he said.

Justice has finally been served. Or has it? Do you think searching for a 79-year-old man was a waste of money and resources, or does he deserve to finish off the rest of his twilight years in prison? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Archaeology experts against Ellesmere caravan site plans

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By Claire Lawson

Archaeologists address issues concerning Ellesmere caravan site build

Further developments have surfaced off the back of the proposal to build a caravan site in Shropshire, near to Ellesmere Castle – this time by archaeology experts.

Having already gained over 40 official objections and a momentum-building campaign entitled ‘No to Castlefields caravan park, Ellesmere’ with hundreds of members opposing the plans, the Council For Archaeology (CBA) have also stated they are against plans to bring a new caravan park to Ellesmere.

This opposition from the CBA comes shortly after building consultants, Richard K. Morriss & Associates, claimed that plans for a new park would have no impact on the surrounding area.

The CBA deems the visual impact on the site as “wholly inappropriate” following Euro Source and Find Limited’s proposal to turn the Castlefields car park into a caravan park for 30 touring caravans, 24 static caravans and a two storey building for staff accommodation.

Representative of CBA, Rob Lennox, spoke of the proposal, saying: “The application documentation contains a major omission in neglecting to consider that the site is within the Ellesmere Conservation Area Boundary.

“The tranquillity would be adversely impacted by the change of use, and the landscape quality would be impacted through both visual impact of the caravans and the detraction from the overall aesthetic of the Castlefields.” he continued.

The CBA also claims that the value of the caravan park outweighing impacts on the site are false and that the car park and picnic area add amenity value for visitors.

“The applicant claims that the economic value of the proposals would outweigh the impacts on the site. We consider the strength of this claim is overstated and that the proposal does not represent a substantial economic gain for the area and would nonetheless be offset by the loss of revenue from the car park.” said Mr. Lennox.

The CBA has put forward the claim that the application was unsustainable in line with the National Planning Policy Framework.

What do you think of this on-going issue and which side do you agree with? Let us know below.

The CaravanTimes guide to the oddest general election polling stations in the UK for 2015

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by Joe Jeffrey
CaravanTimes takes a look at some of the quirkiest polling stations across the UK, including the trusty caravan

Following six weeks of frantic campaigning and kissing babies, it’s a fight to the finish in one of the closet general election calls ever. Will Cameron be calling in the removal men, or will Miliband be munching on bacon rolls and comfort eating in his second kitchen? Will we see another coalition government, or will one politician take home the prime ministerial prize? Those questions remain unanswered, although one thing is pretty certain – tomorrow morning we will wake up the possibility of a new government.

Millions of people across the UK will be heading out in their droves today to vote in the UK general election, but it’s not just town halls, schools and local council buildings that are serving their purpose and getting in on the act to enable UK constituents to cast their vote. For some, especially those living in more rural areas of the UK, makeshift polling stations of a more strange variety are providing a lifeline for local residents to allow their voice to be heard.

The rules surrounding the UK’s 50,000 polling stations are simple; they should be accessible, identifiable, be the right size to meet the needs of the local electorate and provide privacy for voters. In order to secure your vote this time around, polling stations have been set up across the land and will be open for those eligible to vote in the UK to do so until 10pm this evening. Here, CaravanTimes takes a look at some of the oddest polling stations we’ve seen this year so far.

Pubs
If ever you needed an excuse to go for a pint, now’s your chance. In what makes for a refreshing change – in every sense of the word – some pubs across the UK, including the Dolphin Inn in Gillingham, Kent, will be opening their doors early from 7am to enable punters to make their voice heard. We’re not entirely sure whether you’ll get served at this time, but planning is everything people, so make sure you turn up after 11am if you need to mull over a pint and quench your thirst before making that all important decision.

Sports venues
Supporting your local team, perhaps, goes hand in hand with supporting your local MP, which makes sporting venues across the country an ideal choice for the discerning voter in you. And many sports venues are getting in on the election frenzy in order to provide the perfect place to allow some to root for their choice of political party. One such place is Hallam Football Club’s Sandygate in Sheffield, home to the world’s oldest football ground. The ballot boxes aren’t just reserved for the game of two halves though, with the cricket club pavilion in Little Bardfield, Essex, playing their part too.

Places of worship
Mahatma Ghandi once said: “Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is.” And how right he was. We’re not saying he was referring to polling stations here, but many places of worship across the land will be opening up their doors to welcome all comers looking to place a cross on their ballot paper. Christianity is far from the only religion whose buildings will be put to use though, with many other places of worship opening up their doors to enable members of their local communities to vote, including Bradford’s Shree Hindu Temple and the Central Synagogue in Marylebone, London.

Launderette
We’ve lost count of the number of times MPs have had their dirty laundry aired in public, but now it looks as though the Ace Launderette in Oxford could work in their favour, having opened up once again to accept people’s votes for the general election 2015. Amidst the service washes, washing powder, spinning drums and random loose socks will be ballot boxes for locals to help decide the next prime minister. The only question that remains is will the Conservatives remain on a repeat cycle?

Caravans
We’ve certainly saved the best for last here folks. It goes without saying that we all know how caravans serve their purpose when it comes to getting out and about and exploring all the UK has to offer, but they’re not just used for leisure purposes. For many living in more remote and rural regions in the UK, caravans have provided an ideal opportunity to make their vote count for decades. Although it does pain us to say that instances of casting votes in caravans are on the decline, including in the remote region of Coulags in the Scottish Highlands, where its caravan polling station was deemed not fit for purpose last year following health and safety concerns after over 30 years. Never fear though, villages such as Kenton in Suffolk haven’t banned theirs and are still towing the caravan into action as can be seen below.

So there you have it – some of the country’s quirkiest poling stations. Wherever you’re located, it seems there’s certainly somewhere for everyone to cast their vote today. Let us know if you’ve done the deed and what your polling station is like in the comments below.

Jodie Kidd for BBC Top Gear presenter role?

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By Joe Jeffrey

BBC reportedly in talks with Kidd, according to reports

The BBC is reportedly in advanced talks to sign the next three co-presenters for its popular mainstay show, Top Gear.

According to the Sunday Express, Top Gear’s co-creator Andy Wilman, who has since quit the successful series, was allegedly overheard discussing a shortlist, consisting of Guy Martin, Philip Glenister and well-renowned caravan-hater, Kidd, stepping in to replace Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May following their departure earlier this year.

Kidd may seem like a bit of an odd choice for a testosterone-fuelled show such as Top Gear, but she has long been on the list of bookies’ favourites to take the reigns of the flagship BBC2 show since a rehash of the programme was announced.

Currently presenting Channel 5’s The Classic Car Show, the ‘model’ looks to have shown off one more credential which would place her in high esteem for taking over from Clarkson et al – her dislike of caravans. In a rant to the Express newspaper, the 36-year-old form Surrey described caravans as a “total pain” and called for them to be banned from single-track roads – a sentiment which caused outrange across the caravanning community.

The BBC has so far declined to comment, but here’s your opportunity to. What do you think about the possible decision for Jodie Kidd to co-present Top Gear?

Coachman Caravans invests in future of UK workforce

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by Alice Scarsi

Coachman bets on new generation ahead of general election, and is set to welcome a new apprentice onto its squad

One of the UK’s leading caravan manufacturers, Coachman Caravans, will reach a record number of apprentices employed this month following welcoming a new apprentice into its fold.

The new addition to Coachman’s apprenticeship programme comes amidst the 2015 general election campaign, bringing apprenticeships to the fore nationally, with all major parties pledging their commitment to create thousands more apprenticeships for young people. It also marks Coachman’s long-standing efforts to build upon its growing workforce, with the latest hiring meaning apprentices make up an impressive 3.5 per cent of Coachman’s 167-strong workforce in Hull, East Yorkshire.

Election aside, it seems as though Coachman is already working towards their own personal goal, investing in both the future of its business and the caravan industry, evidently demonstrating a growth in confidence within the sector.

The new trainee is set to be based in Coachman’s maintenance department, where he will learn his trade on the job, whilst continuing to undertake qualifications at Hull training provider, HETA.

Coachman’s HR manager, Diane McDermid, highlighted how important the apprenticeship programme is for the future of the manufacturer, having introduced the scheme back in 2008: “Since the scheme started, we have recruited twelve apprentices and supported them with in-house training and college courses, so that they can gain formal qualifications as well as practical skills.

“Three former apprentices have now gone on to full-time roles within the business. Two work on the production line, in the Furnishing and Exterior gangs, whilst the third works in the Laminating Department. So far, our apprenticeship programme has been a great success and we would definitely encourage other businesses throughout the region to offer these opportunities to young adults.”