Scottish caravan park owner fined

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A Scottish caravan park owner has found himself in hot water after carrying out work he had been explicitly told not to undertake.

Crofthead Caravan Park owner Gordon McCormack pressed ahead with upgrades to an access road to his Blairgowrie site, despite being told that he would have to submit details of any planned work prior to it beginning.

According to the Press and Journal, neighbours complained about the work beginning on passing places on the road to the site, which had achieved consent for an extra 60 caravans in 2008.

Fiscal depute Hannah Kennedy reportedly told the court that Mr McCormack had gone against the council’s wishes.

“The council served a stop notice on the site and spoke to the owner to halt the works on February 27th, 2009,” she revealed.

Ms Kennedy added that the site owner then went ahead with work on a platform and wall just a week later.

Mr McCormack was fined £1,500 for his actions, with sheriff Kevin Veal suggesting that the punishment would send a message to others in similar situations.

In other news, planningresource.co.uk has revealed that a Berkshire caravan park owner’s appeal against a decision ruling that he could not add an extra mobile home to the site has been upheld.

UK tourism is relying on the British

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The number of Brits taking holidays in the UK has risen in the last year, while fewer foreign nationals are choosing to stay in the country.

According to recent figures from Eurostat, the industry as a whole suffered during 2009, with a two per cent drop in overnight stays.

The number of nights spent in the country by non-residents fell by 7.8 per cent, although the blow was softened by a 2.2 per cent rise in Brits holidaying at home.

According to the Association of Independent Tour Operators, some of the results are unsurprising.

Spokesperson Ian Bradley explained that the staycation trend meant that a rise in British holidaymakers was not unusual, but that the foreign national figures were “certainly a higher drop than we would have expected”.

He suggested that if Britain is to compete with other European nations then it will have to do more to encourage visitors, despite the fact that it is one of the continent’s best performers in terms of tourism.

“We’ve got to concentrate on the amount of sites that we have, the heritage that we have, the quality of food, the sights that you can see,” Mr Bradley said.

Attractions nominated for Rough Guide to Accessible Britain Awards

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Caravan owners considering organising a summer break may be interested in an upcoming tourism awards ceremony.

The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain Awards will be presented to firms which display a good attitude towards being accessible, inclusive and inspirational attractions.

Nominees have been put forward for a range of categories including Best Family Venue, Best Free Venue and Best Action Venue.

Caravan enthusiasts may be particularly interested in the family section, which will see London’s Science Museum compete with the Eden Project in Cornwall and Legoland Windsor for honours.

Science Museum head of audience research and advocacy Kate Steiner explained that the facility is “delighted” at being put forward for such an illustrious gong.

The museum has a policy in place that helps deaf and disabled visitors and Ms Steiner explained that staff “strive to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are taken into account when designing services” to create an inclusive culture.

Celebrities turn out for Boat and Caravan Show

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Visitors to the Boat and Caravan Show in Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre were welcomed by a host of celebrities on the first day at the show. Caravan Times was present to hear TV presenter and interior designer Linda Barker open the Caravan Club’s stand at the event, which began on Tuesday (February 23rd) and lasts until Sunday.

The former Changing Rooms star was on hand to greet the first to arrive at the show, while Watchdog and Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury and TV chef James Martin also made appearances at the exhibition. Countryfile star Bradbury gave an inpromptu question-and-answer session on the Caravanning and Camping Club’s stand and was a hit with vistors.

As well as caravans and boats, the expo contains a full range of equipment for helping adventure lovers make the most of the outdoors.

Rangemaster is hosting a cookery theatre, where James Martin will be giving a display of outdoor cooking today (Thursday 25th).

The show features caravans from a range of manufacturers, which can be found in the Practical Caravan Hall. Among the brands on offer will be The Swift Group, Elddis, Lunar, Vanmaster and Eriba, while Bailey of Bristol unveil the Olympus to the public.

Caravan trips to the country could benefit kids

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Brits have been encouraged to take their kids to the countryside to help boost their understanding of life.

The suggestion could see more parents book up for caravan trips in order for their children to experience the great outdoors.

Parents and schools should help kids learn through providing new experiences, the Countryside Foundation for Education suggested.

New research from the University of Hertfordshire showed that a number of middle-class parents are nervous about allowing their children to explore rural areas, mainly due to fears over safety.

Rural geography senior lecturer Debbie Pearlman Houghie recently discussed the issue at the Countryside Recreation Network Conference’s Education In The Outdoors event and called for parents to step out of their comfort zone.

However, Countryside Foundation for Education chief executive officer Gary Richardson said that he has not noticed a decline in the number of middle-class families visiting the countryside.

“In fact this year the numbers for a lot of our key events are increasing quite dramatically,” he added.

Mr Richardson explained that taking kids into the great outdoors can be a beneficial experience that teaches them the basics of life.

Another Devon caravan park set for investment

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Last week we reported how Byslades International Touring Park is set for a £5 million investment into refurbishing facilities. Now we can report another Devon caravan park has been given the green light, this time for a £2.5 million investment into its facilities.

Brixham-based Landscove Holiday Park is set to add 101 mobile homes to its cliff top site on Gillard Road, the Herald Express reported.

However, Torbay Council went against the wishes of Brixham Town Council in granting permission for the move.

Fears over the visual impact of the site in an area of outstanding natural beauty led to some councillors expressing their lack of support for the project.

Despite this, Torbay Council voted in favour of the move, putting 26 conditions in place that owners Park Holidays UK must adhere to in order for work to begin.

The provisos reflect residents’ views on traffic volume, sewage and the impact on the environment and local wildlife.

Some councillors were in favour of the move, with Kevin Carroll telling the newspaper that “it is a great vote of confidence” for the town that someone wants to invest so much money.

In other news, the St Albans & Harpenden Review has revealed that a court case has begun surrounding a farm owner’s intention to create three caravan pitches on his land.

Farm owner goes to court over caravan site

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A farm owner in Ardens Rise, St Albans, has launched a battle to be allowed to continue to host three caravan pitches on his land.

Michael Connors has found the local council unwilling to extend the permission for his gypsy caravan site as it is challenging the government over how many pitches it is expected to have in the area, the St Albans & Harpenden Review reported.

A public inquiry into Mr Connors’ complaint has begun and an argument was put forward by Sandridge parish councillor Geoff Churchard, who said that the St Albans area is expected to take on an unfair allocation of gypsy and traveller caravans.

“Back in 1980 we became the first district council to allocate places for gipsies and travellers,” the newspaper reported him as saying.

As such, the council now feels that it is still expected to site a disproportionate number of travellers in comparison to other areas, he added.

In other news, the Herald Express recently revealed that the green light has been given on a £2.5 million investment into a Devon caravan park.

The Haulfryn Group will build over 100 timber-clad static caravans in Paignton as part of a project to develop the area’s caravan holiday parks. It has been said the new development will create 24 full-time and 20 part-time jobs.

Caravan owners foot the bill for fraud

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British caravan owners are having to foot the bill for insurance fraud, it has been revealed.

According to the Caravan Club, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association has said that the UK’s caravanners are being penalised for a rise in the number of false claims.

Technical services manager Steve Foulsham told the organisation that unlawful claims have meant that policy providers have been forced to up their prices to avoid losses.

“We are at the point where insurers have said ‘enough is enough’ and decided they need to retain some kind of profitability,” he said.

The average cost of insuring a caravan in the UK is £564.69, according to Office for National Statistics Retail Price Index figures.

This represents a 19.6 per cent rise from January 2009 and may be down to the fact that fraud cost the UK economy around £2 billion during 2009.

In other news, the National Caravan Council has told politics.co.uk that raising the maximum width of UK caravans to 2.55m this year may put British manufacturers at a commercial disadvantage compared to their European counterparts.

Peter Andre wows caravanners at Park Holidays UK resort

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Female caravanners at Park Holidays UK‘s Seawick Holiday Park recently had some eye candy to enjoy when pop star Peter Andre performed at The Venue.

The hunky singer played a number of his classic songs, as well as a few new tunes from his new album.

Katie Price’s ex-husband showed he’s still got it by drawing a crowd of girls of all ages, with Park Holidays UK noting that the audience went weak at the knees when he announced his gratitude for their support over the past few months.

“Just wanted to say how great Peter Andre was on Friday. When we all saw him I think it made my daughter’s year,” one customer told the firm.

She added that the whole experience was hassle-free, from collecting tickets to getting drinks at the bar.

Meanwhile, Park Holidays UK has been busy booking up other acts for the rest of the summer, with Same Difference and Portlan due to appear in July and August.

NCC: Government should delay caravan regulation change

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The National Caravan Council (NCC) has warned that the UK’s manufacturers could lose out to their European counterparts if the rules on the maximum width of mobile homes are changed this year.

Increasing the maximum width of mobile homes from 2.3m to 2.55m during 2010 would put British-based caravan makers at a disadvantage as they would not be able to start making them for around a year, the NCC told politics.co.uk.

The government is considering implementing the change as soon as this spring, but the NCC wants the alteration to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to be delayed until 2011 at the earliest.

NCC director-general John Lally told the online resource that UK manufacturers are not currently in a position to start making the larger vehicles.

He added that many European firms already make 2.5m caravans and that this could see them gain a major advantage in the UK market.

The body is also concerned about how the added width will affect access to rural caravan parks and create problems for recovery vehicles, storage units and suppliers.

In other news, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association has told the Caravan Club that mobile home owners could be footing the bill for an increase in fraud.

New food attraction in Yorkshire

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Caravanners heading to Yorkshire this year may decide to have their fill of some of the county’s finest food.

The area has been embracing its local produce and foodies will revel in the choices available, according to James Lohan, co-founder of luxury and boutique hotel firm Mr & Mrs Smith.

“Over the last few years particularly, we’ve noticed that sophisticated foodies are being enticed by a growing array of gastronomic delights,” he said.

Visitors to the area can now be guided on their culinary quest by the Yorkshire South Food Trail, which was recently launched by Yorkshire South Tourism.

Covering the areas of Barnsley, Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham and parts of the Peak District National Park, the trail will keep caravanners busy as they sample the gastronomic delights of the area.

Mr Lohan also suggested that Harrogate, Semer Water and Ribblesdale are all worth a visit for those looking to enjoy the fine food on offer.

He added that Yorkshire has always had a tradition for being great for moorland picnics and country pub grub.

Check the weather before setting off

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Caravan owners planning a trip in the next few weeks should remember to check the weather forecast before setting off.

According to recent figures reported by Sainsbury’s Car Insurance, a third (33 per cent) of drivers fail to do this before leaving home – a tactic that could see them run into trouble after a winter of snow, ice and sleet.

Furthermore, more than a quarter (27 per cent) do not even clear their windscreens of frost or mist before setting off, putting them in danger of an accident caused by poor in-car visibility.

The Met Office has predicted more snow in many areas and Sainsbury’s Car Insurance has suggested that drivers should remain vigilant to keep themselves and their vehicles safe.

“UK motorists have a typically stoic approach to driving in wintry conditions and if they start to become complacent and think the worst weather is behind them, they could increase their chances of having an accident in the coming days and weeks,” Sainsbury’s Car Insurance manager Ben Tyte said.

He added that it is important to take steps to ensure your own safety and that of others, especially during the colder months when the risk of accident may be heightened.

Vauxhall recently suggested that motorists have their car serviced to avoid costly repairs after a particularly harsh winter.