by Chris Jefferies
As Bob Dylan once sang “the times they are a-changin” and here at CaravanTimes we are changing with them.
Over the past three years since we first launched CaravanTimes TV, we have seen a massive surge in people viewing our website on new-fangled gadgets such as iPads, iPhones and Android smartphones.
In fact, one in five of you will be using a snazzy new device like this to view our site and get the latest updates on the world of touring.
But until now you couldn’t watch our video content on a smartphone or tablet, and many of you have been in touch to point that out and suggest that we get our act together.
With that in mind, we have recently done some technical tinkering with the site, which means that you can now watch all the latest videos on the go.
Simply click, or indeed tap, on the ‘TV’ tab at the top of this page to watch our latest videos.
The timing couldn’t be better, as over the next few months we will have some exciting video exclusives that you won’t want to miss.
And now you can watch them wherever you are, be that in a caravan, in a field or even on the way to work.
This is just the latest in a series of improvements we are making to CaravanTimes this summer – watch this space for more updates in the near future.
Origins of the word caravan revealed by high court judge
Attendees at a hearing in the Court of Appeal in London were treated to a fascinating tale of the humble origins of the caravan yesterday (July 24th), during a ruling on a planning dispute.
Bonnie Smith has been accused of breaching a court injunction which was meant to prohibit her from moving another caravan onto the site where she lives.
In delivering his judgment on the dispute, Lord Justice Rix was eager to note that the argument centred on the meaning of the word ‘caravan’ with Ms Smith claiming that the new structure only housed shower and toilet facilities.
The judge produced a footnote on the etymology of the word as part of his written statement.
“‘Caravan’ is derived from the Persian ‘karwan’, so that its first meaning is a company of merchants or pilgrims travelling together,” he explained.
“In its origin at any rate a caravan could not come as a single unit, and it does not seem that there was any conception of the caravan being a place of abode.a ‘caravanserai’ is an Eastern inn with an inner court where caravans rest.”
The court subsequently upheld the ruling, noting that the structure was not technically a caravan.
Caravan Club plans for Stonehaven park meet local resistance
The Caravan Club could have a fight on its hands to push thorugh plans to redevelop an Aberdeenshire-based park after a councillor launched a campaign to oppose the proposed work.
A planning application for the Queen Elizabeth caravan park in Stonehaven was submitted to the local council last month.
The plans will see the site undergo a £1.75 million revamp with improvements made to hard standings, the current toilet block and children’s play area amongst others.
It had hoped to have the site ready to welcome tourers for the 2013 season, with the Aberdeenshire Council set to rule on the plans.
However, Stonehaven and District community councillor Phil Mills-Bishop has condemned the scheme, which he believes set out to develop the site on a designated floodplain.
“There are many deficiencies which will affect those residents of Cowie who have not been aware,” he told the Mearns Leader.
He added that no flood risk assessment had been done and, under current plans, the site would be closed during the important tourist season of Hogmanay.
Other concerns focused on plans for onsite waste disposal facilities and the presence of combustible elements.
The plans are the latest to hit opposition from council figures, with officials in the parish of Brereton voicing similar concerns over a 43-pitch site in the Cheshire region.
Man ‘allergic to technology’ moves into caravan to escape modern life
by Niki Greig
An ex-computer technician has abandoned modern living to live in a caravan in the remote countryside in order to escape radiation waves.
Phil Inkley, 36, claims to be suffering from Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity, a condition that means that his life has become unbearable due to radiation from Wi-Fi, mobile phones, microwaves, computers, phone masts, TVs and even batteries.
He says the condition is the bane of his life: “I’ve lost my social life, love life and work because I’m always ill and can only handle being in remote areas with little radiation so because of this, money is tight.”
The final straw came after visiting friends in the city which caused him agonising pain and he decided to move into the woods.
When winter arrived, bringing the cold weather with it, his friends clubbed together to buy him a caravan which he now resides in.
Many caravanners dream of jetting off with their caravan in tow and setting up camp in an unknown forest, living life one day at a time, but for Phil it is a necessity.
He now uses as little technology as possible, becoming almost self sufficient by growing his own vegetables in the woods next to the caravan. He seldom ventures into built up areas, only doing so if it is essential.
Caravanners are most annoying road users survey says
Summertime may be a season to savour for caravanners up and down the country, but new research has found that, when it comes to other motorists, the sight of a tourer is likely to rev up stress levels.
The assessment comes after insurance firm Admiral questioned 2,000 motorists planning to go on car trips this summer about what stresses them out most on these road journeys.
While 46 per cent of respondents listed traffic jams as their biggest frustration, another 29 per cent pointed to other road users as a source of stress.
And, when quizzed on which type of road users got their blood boiling most, a resounding 39 per cent placed caravans top, with tourers deemed more frustrating than lorries, which only 36 per cent of respondents listed.
This frustration could stem from a potential lack of experience amongst caravanners, with research showing that one in five towers may have only taken up the pastime in the last six months.
Admiral managing director David Halliday believes it is up to the individual driver to take steps to ensure he remains calm on the road.
“The key to minimising stress on your car journey this summer is effective planning,” he said.
Police appeal for information on caravan raids in the Scottish Borders
Lothian and Borders police have launched an urgent appeal for information related to two recent raids on caravan parks located in the Scottish county of Roxburghshire.
The break-ins took place in the early hours of Friday (July 20th), with thieves hitting six caravans at the Lilliardsedge site located near the quiet village of Ancrum, according to the Southern Reporter.
A further three tourers were also raided at the Jedwater park site, which is based four miles south of the town of Jedburgh.
No holidaymakers were harmed in the incidents, with initial reports indicating that the thieves had set their sights on stealing television sets from the caravans in question.
Police from the region are now calling on anyone with any information related to the crime to come forward.
Caravanners have already been reminded to increase the security of their tourers after two caravans were stolen from a Lincolnshire site in the space of two days last month.
Welsh caravan park celebrates top marks for third year running
by Niki Greig
A Welsh caravan park is celebrating after winning a five-star rating for the third time in as many years.
Min y Don Holiday Home and Touring Park in Harlech on the Cambrian coast achieved a 98 per cent rating from Visit Wales inspectors.
The 15-acre site is set below Harlech Castle and is just a stone’s throw from one of Wales’ best beaches with many pitches enjoying a view of the castle or Mount Snowdon.
Sue Middleton, who runs the park, was honoured that the site had been recognised by the tourist board and said: “We are blessed with a fantastic setting.
“Many people, who have visited the park in touring caravans and motor homes in the past, have gone on to buy a luxury holiday home here because they love the area so much.”
The site was also judged the best maintained site in The Caravan Club Site Awards 2009 and has even been honoured with the prestigious accolade of twice winning the national Loo of the Year Award in the last four years.
This could be down to a recent £2 million redevelopment of the park which saw the instalment of a new toilet block, with full disabled facilities and private bathrooms.
New Bailey Unicorn range of luxury caravans to arrive in September
by Chris Jefferies
Bailey Caravans has confirmed that its best-selling Unicorn range will be getting an upgrade this summer.
The new range, which has been named the Bailey Unicorn Series II, is due to arrive at dealers across the UK in September.
Boasting the company’s award-winning Alu-Tech construction process, this range is expected to be highly popular among discerning caravanners.
The original Bailey Unicorn range was launched in the summer of 2010 with the aim of adding even more luxury to the Bailey collection.
Since then it has become Bailey’s best-seller, with the seven layouts accounting for 30% of all ‘vans made by the Bristol-based company in the last 12 months.
Bailey has promised that the new Unicorn range will take the Alu-Tech philosophy a stage further, offering more “accessibility and desirability”.
What’s more, the slogan “seeing things in a different light” hints at significant developments in terms of design.
Further details are being closely guarded, but be sure to keep checking back with CaravanTimes closer to the official launch date for more updates on this exciting new range.
UPDATE: Click here to watch a video showing inside the new Bailey Unicorn II
Residents move into caravans to make way for Olympic officials
by Niki Greig
Creative homeowners in the Olympic boroughs have hit on an innovative way to make money during the Games.
Enterprising residents in areas such as Deptford and New Cross are moving out of their homes and into rented caravans to make way for Olympic officials from Austria.
Whilst others are heading to stay with family and friends or even jetting out of the country to avoid the Olympic upheaval, Yolanda van Steen, who normally lives in Deptford, has recently taken up residence in a caravan.
She will stay there for the duration of the Games, reports the Lewisham & Greenwich News Shopper.
Yolanda is set to make around £2,000 a week in rent from her property and will use it to pay off some debts and cover the cost of renting the caravan.
It does have its drawbacks, however, as the caravan is situated seconds from Gatwick airport: “Aeroplanes fly over every 60 seconds but you get used to it,” she told the local paper, adding “obviously the financial reward is always a bonus.”
Yolanda also sees it as her way of contributing to the Olympics, “It just seems a nice thing to do and doing our bit for the Olympics.”
The Olympic guests, including members of the Austrian Olympic management team and on-call doctors will stay for up to two months and bring in revenue of up to £100,000 to residents and the local economy.
Caravan lay-by stop ends in gas cylinder chaos
A Shropshire-based caravan was at the centre of a major road incident in the sleepy town of Broseley last week, after a gas canister attached to the tourer set ablaze.
Police were forced to seal off the Lodge Lane road in Benthall for around 90 minutes while firefighters attempted to tackle the flames, which were venting from the top of a 47kg propane gas bottle in the caravan.
According to the Shropshire Star, the owner of the tourer was not present at the time of the fire, having left the caravan in a lay-by before going off to run an errand.
Upon returning though, the owner in question was presented with a horrific scene, which had to be carefully handled by the emergency services.
Watch manager Alastair Humphries from Much Wenlock fire station said: “We began cooling the cylinder with water and closed off Lodge Lane.
“We kept a check on the temperature of the cylinder with a thermal image camera and when it was cool we removed it to a safe area.”
The incident is the second caravan-related incident to occur in the region this month, after a tourer overturned at junction 7 of the M54.
Owner arrested following ‘suspicious’ caravan fire
A caravan owner, currently on holiday at a small park in Haslingden, Lancashire, has been arrested on suspicion of deliberately setting his own tourer on fire.
The 43-year-old man was apprehended following the blaze, which took place in the early hours of Thursday morning (July 19th) according to the Lancashire Telegraph.
Police and firefighters were called to the scene at around 4:10am but could do little to save the caravan which was reduced to nothing more than a metal shell.
Fortunately, no one was harmed in the fire, shortly afterwards police arrested a male suspect, who was later confirmed as the tourer’s owner.
“A 43-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the fire, and is believed to be the occupant of the caravan,” a police spokesman told the news provider.
“He is being held on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.”
A local firefighter added: “The fire is suspicious in origin, and is being investigated by the police.”
The blaze comes in the same week that firefighters were forced to deal with a caravan fire at a site in the Shropshire town of Broseley.
Caravan fire causes 13 hours of delays on the M6
by Niki Greig
A car driver was being treated at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire for serious head injuries on Saturday (21st July) after a lorry collided with the caravan he was towing.
The devastating crash, which happened just after 4am on Saturday morning between Stafford services and Junction 15 northbound of the motorway, completely destroyed the Sprite caravan and caused the lorry to burst into flames.
The fire was so intense that the lorry still ablaze when ambulance drivers arrived on the scene and resurfacing works had to take place to repair the carriageway.
A spokesman from the West Midlands ambulance service said “Crews arrived on scene to find a lorry had been in collision with a car and caravan. The car and caravan were significantly damaged in the incident.”
The works caused huge tailbacks of up to 10 miles, and this resulted in major delays being reported by many travellers, with the traffic eventually clearing at around 5pm.
The lorry driver was treated for minor injuries and released from hospital, while the caravan owner, who is believed to be in his thirties, remains in hospital with serious head injuries.
Motorists stuck behind the crashed vehicles vented their anger on Twitter, with some reporting that it took three hours to go just three miles.
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