by Chris Jefferies
Last month, you may have read a story on Caravan Times about a man who was paralysed after eating a pork chop that was cooked on his caravan stove.
Now, we’re very happy to report that father of three Darren Ashall from Chorley in Lancashire, is on the road to recovery, according to the Lancashire Evening Post.
After five months in hospital, Darran has been released from intensive care and he is adjusting to life at home, the local paper added.
Despite still suffering some of the side-effects of listeria meningitis, the bug he caught from the ill-prepared chop, the plant operator is in good spirits.
“I am definitely getting better. The feeling of going out in the fresh air after being stuck indoors for months was amazing. The first thing I did when I got home was eat a bacon buttie – I’d been really longing for one after being in hospital for so long,” he said.
Darran is one of just 200 people worldwide to have been diagnosed with this rare disease, which he caught after failing to cook his meat properly on a caravan stove.
He is also due to appear on Channel Five’s The Wright Stuff Extra to talk about his experience, which he hopes to write up as a book one day.
The local paper also reports that Darran is hoping to return to work once or twice a week in the near future.
Caravan owners are advised that the symptoms of meningitis are similar to those of the common cold. To find out more information, support the search for a vaccine or get a symptom card, please visit the Meningitis UK website.
In focus: The new Elddis Avante 372
by Chris Jefferies
Continuing with our ongoing look at the new 2012 offerings from Elddis Caravans, the Avante range has seen a series of adjustments and new features, including the return of the L-shape bed in the 372 and a new lightweight water heater on all models.
As the largest range in the Elddis collection, there is a fairly good chance that you may spot a few Avantes on your travels this summer.
For touring couples, the 372 is the most compact and affordable option on offer, including an L-shaped bed in the front, which offers more kitchen and living room space during the day.
The overall layout is largely similar to its sister model, the Xplore 302, with a compact wet-room with shower in the rear.
Elddis‘ clever use of space includes a pull-out sink, which slides out from the wall to slot into place above the toilet cistern. This space-saving bathroom layout can also be found in the 646 model.
When it comes to using the shower, you will find that this model heats up much quicker than previous Avantes, thanks to the new lightweight Whale water heater.
Elddis claims that this heater can brew up enough water for two showers from a standing start in just half an hour, with a reheat time of only eight minutes.
The 372 is being introduced as a replacement for the 362, while the 462 remains as a larger option for couples looking for a two-berth tourer.
Best of the rest
Elsewhere in the range… Read more 
Are you impressed by the model or do you prefer the previous Elddis range? Share your thoughts in our forum.
Man injured as caravan flips on A55
by Chris Jefferies
Emergency services were called out to the A55 last weekend (July 10th), after a car and caravan overturned on the busy dual carriageway.
The incident, which took place at lunchtime, resulted in a man being taken to a nearby hospital with head injuries that were believed to not be serious, the Liverpool Daily Post reports.
A spokesman for the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “We attended an incident at 1.23pm on the A55 where a car and caravan had overturned on their sides.”
This crash comes as a warning to inexperienced drivers thinking of towing long caravans with unsuitable towcars, as high winds on exposed sections of motorways can cause severe handling problems.
In other news, a caravan was also involved in an accident with a lorry on the M5 last week (June 8th) resulting in tailbacks for more than 30 miles, the Weston, Worle and Somerset Mercury reports.
In focus: The new Elddis Xplore 504
Earlier this week, Caravan Times brought you key details and exclusive photos from the launch of the 2012 Elddis range. With so many new introductions to cover, it’s now time to go in-depth and look at some of the models with the most changes – starting with the Xplore 504, the replacement for the popular 540 model.
Like every other model in the entry-level range the Xplore 504 comes with a Whale Mark II underfloor space heater, freeing up more interior space. Yet what Elddis has done with this extra space is quite clever.
On the old Xplore model the space heater took up half of the space of the wardrobe. This year the 2012 version has extra room for storage, meaning you could even fit two people inside.
Furthermore, the storage space has been moved from the bedroom and is now situated next to the near-side door.
This results in extra space opposite the fixed double bed, which Elddis has turned into a dedicated vanity unit. A basin and a mirror are accompanied by a pair of bathroom style cabinets – ideal for getting ready in the mornings. As a result the bathroom and shower area now has even more space as well.
In keeping with the main theme from the rest of the Elddis 2012 range… Read more
Lancaster caravan site proposed for Williamson Park
by Chris Jefferies
A large park in the city of Lancaster could be partially turned into a caravan park and camp site in order to boost local tourism, it has been suggested.
Several local organisations are looking at commercialising Williamson Park, and the council-approved Lancaster Cultural Heritage Strategy report has suggested creating a caravan and camping site on the land, the Lancaster Guardian reports.
It has been argued that the city is currently punching below its weight and cannot attract similar visitor numbers to York or Chester, despite its comparable heritage attractions.
The report said: “It is widely acknowledged that our heritage offering is at least as good as Chester or York but that we have been let down by under-investment and a lack of a coherent approach and message.”
Caravan site options in Lancashire are currently fairly limited, with the Caravan Club only operating two parks in the county – Blackpool South and Burrs County.
Buyers warned of influx of stolen European caravans
Would-be caravan owners have been warned to be on the look-out for stolen tourers, as the number of illegal vans coming in from the EU has risen sharply.
This ‘influx’ comes after the laws were recently changed allowing wider caravans to be towed on the UK’s roads, according to the Association of Chief Police Officers’ Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS).
European gangs are reported to be stealing desirable tourers and destroying their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) before importing them to the UK to sell on to unsuspecting caravan lovers.
Anyone who is considering buying one of the estimated 25,000 caravans that are sold in the UK each year should check that the VIN is intact and that the tourer comes with all the relevant paperwork, including the original registration document.
Tim Booth, leisure vehicle officer at AVCIS, said: “Criminals are taking advantage of the UK’s new demand for European vehicles.”
Other top tips offered by AVCIS include:
- Don’t be tempted to buy a bargain. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!
- Review the chassis stamp to see if it has been removed or altered completely.
- Ensure that the original registration document is provided. Unlike UK caravans, European caravans are registered as trailers so must have an official log book.
- Ask the seller for identification and proof of their address. They may be reluctant to provide this if something shady is going on.
- And finally, if you’re still not sure – ask to see photographic evidence of the seller using the caravan. Few caravan users wouldn’t have photographic records of their travels.
Plans for cliff-top caravan bar scrapped after locals speak out
Controversial plans for a setting up a bar in an Airstream caravan on the top of a cliff have had to be abandoned after 40 local residents voiced their objections.
The owners of the Atlantic House Hotel at New Polzeath in Cornwall had planned to set up the temporary bar and beer garden, but were forced to pull out at the eleventh hour, the Cornish Guardian reports.
Local opposition mainly focused on the fact that the plot in question was registered as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Other objections included the health and safety implications of allowing people to drink alcohol so near a cliff edge and the impact that regular visits from drunken revellers could have on the area and the wider environment.
Had the proposals been voted through, then the makeshift venue would have been able to sell alcohol on this spot from 11am to 10pm every day until the end of October.
It was hoped that visitors would be allowed to enjoy a drink in the classic silver Airstream caravan, while enjoying the view, with additional picnic benches included as part of a fenced-off area.
The u-turn was so late that the tourer had even been delivered to the site opposite Atlantic Terrace, which was going to be called the Doom Bar.
Polzeath resident and campaigner Diana Millington, told the local paper: “This is amazing news. It shows the hotel does have a concern for the local people.”
What do you think about the idea of having a caravan converted into a cliff-top bar? Join the debate in our forum
Caravanning in Europe? Spanish motorways get higher speed limits
Caravan owners heading to Spain this summer will be able to drive a little bit faster without breaking the law, as a three-month reduction of the maximum speed limit has come to an end.
Back in April the Spanish government took the move to reduce the maximum speed limit on motorways from 120kph (75mph) to 110 mph in an effort to reduce fuel costs.
However, it has reversed that decision today (July 7th) meaning that Spanish holidaymakers will be able to get to their destination camp site that little bit quicker.
Fuel consumption will no doubt be at the front of many caravan owners’ minds this summer, with fuel prices going up across Europe, so many may choose to keep their speed down anyway.
Spain is the number one most popular overseas destination for UK tourists, with a quarter of all our overseas car hire taking place there.
The Caravan Club has 20 different sites in Spain for touring holidaymakers to choose from, ranging from Camping Playa Joyel in the northern region of Cantabria to Camping Cabo de Gata and Camping Cabopino among many others on the south coast.
VIDEO: Chris Gosling’s Caravan Diary – Great Yarmouth Caravan Club Site
Fans of Chris Gosling rejoice! The former Caravan Channel presenter decided to hang up his microphone a year ago, but fear not – you can now watch his new show “Caravan Diary” right here on Caravan Times. Chris has teamed up with us to show you the best campsites and attractions from around the UK.
The Caravan Club’s Great Yarmouth Racecourse site is easy to reach – just follow the racecourse signs and you’re there. This week Chris takes a tour of the facilities on offer – 115 pitches include hardstandings and sandy grass pitches.
The family-friendly attractions of Great Yarmouth are just a short stroll from the site. But if you fancy some quieter time then visitors can find a sandy beach just 300 yards away. And check back next time when Chris and Dot enjoy a day at the races!
If you’re looking for a break with a bit of everything, you could do worse than visit the Caravan Club site at Great Yarmouth. And this week Chris Gosling did just that as he tours the area in his latest Caravan Diary.
Caravans picked out as ‘best of British’ manufacturing
Chris Jefferies
A top Tory MP has said that caravans are the best example of great British manufacturing in his Humberside constituency.
David Davies MP plumped for tourers, as manufacturers such as Swift, Coachman, Burstner and Dethleffs are all located in the north-eastern county.
This remark comes in response to a new campaign from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, called Made by Britain, which is asking MPs to highlight the important role that manufacturing plays in their local areas.
Caravan manufacturing is one of the largest industries in the Humberside area, and according to the Office for National Statistics manufacturing as a whole accounts for 17.1 per cent of all the jobs in Hull, compared with the national average of 10.2 per cent.
Since the 2009 downturn led to the loss of 1,500 jobs in the industry, caravan manufacturing has started to rise again, with 80 jobs being created at static caravan maker Victory Leisure Homes alone.
Elddis Caravans 2012 range: new models and layouts
Elddis Caravans has launched new models in all five of its ranges for 2012, with the Crusader and Buccaneer brands getting a complete overhaul. Invited members of the press got a close-up look at the new vans at the Consett headquarters yesterday (July 4th).
Caravan Times was there to get the first shots of the new interior and exterior features, and we can report that there have been a large number of changes with the aim of reducing weight and improving durability.
The new Xplore, Avante, Odyssey, Crusader and Buccaneer models all retain their own distinctive style. Xplore buyers will get a sleek, new all-white design, while added curves are the key features among the Avantes.
The Odyssey range benefits from lowered weight and one new layout, while the Crusaders feature grey design flourishes. Finally, the luxury brand Buccaneer has an all-new grey look, to compliment the GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) body and underskin, which saves weight and makes these tourers even more scratch resistant.
Elddis fans can expect to see these new vans on display at the Lawns Show in September, with the models arriving at dealers and being made available to order at the same time.
Prices range from £10,779 to £13,599 in the Xplore range; Avante tourers are available from £13,599 to £17,599, while Odyssey starts at £17,749 and goes up to £19,949. In the Crusader range prices go from £20,299 to £23,799, while the Buccaneer range starts at £23,999 and goes up to £26,999.
Elddis Caravans 2012: What’s new
The new range from Elddis has three key themes to it: Weight, weight, and weight. With caravan buyers feeling the pinch from rising petrol prices, having a lightweight and cheap-to-run tourer has never been more important. For this reason, the Consett-based ‘van makers have taken several steps to strip yet more weight off their new range. As Managing Director Rob Quine puts it, “Weight is key for us”.
The biggest change is the introduction of the Whale underfloor heating system on the entire Xplore range and the Avante 372. This frees up more space for cupboard storage and significantly reduces the weight.
Weights are also down across the entire Avante range, with the best-selling 540 model now weighing almost 12 per cent less than it did in 2010.
Camping and caravanning: Good for your child’s health?
Parents taking their children on a camping and caravanning holiday are well-aware of the health benefits of taking an outdoors break, a survey has revealed.
New research from the Camping and Caravanning Club shows that 84 per cent of adults believe that a camping style holiday is good for a child’s health, while 73 per cent say that it is something that every child should experience.
The kids seem equally keen, with 87 per cent of young survey respondents saying that camping in the countryside makes them feel really happy.
Furthermore, caravanning enthusiasts are so keen on taking in the great outdoors on a family holiday, that 59 per cent think it should be taught in schools as part of the National Curriculum.
The study, which was undertaken by researchers at Liverpool John Moores University, comes as part of the Club’s ‘Real Richness’ report.
Robert Louden, director general of the Club, said: “There is a lot of evidence to show that not only can camping improve a child’s behaviour, but it can also make them more attentive and interested in the world around them.”
Earlier this year, the Club released a report showing that 79 per cent of children who had never been on a camping holiday said that they would like to try it.
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