Mini branches into world of caravanning with Cowley model

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by Cameron Bird

Mini has followed up their reveal of the Clubvan concept at the Geneva Motor Show in March with an even bigger announcement: it has created a caravan.

The automotive company has named their newly designed caravan the “Cowley”, and it includes everything you need to pitch in comfort. There are two sleeping berths, a twin-burner stove, a water tank with pump, and a solar module to charge the on-board battery.

There is also a power connection included which feeds a refrigerator, TV and DVD player, and a stereo system. It’s hard to believe they were able to fit all of this into such a small caravan, but Mini seems to have pulled it off.

Click here to see more images of the Mini-designed caravan

Small and quick

This Cowley caravan is so remarkable because of its tiny stature when compared to the standard caravans on the UK market. Mini describes the idea as: “Maximum touring pleasure on a minimal footprint.”

The eye-catching trailer is only 12 centimetres wider than the Mini Clubman from mirror to mirror and it weighs under 300kgs. This allows the caravan to enjoy supreme mobility on the roads, and also allows your Mini towcar to handle about as well as usual.

Drawing inspiration

While the small caravan designed by Mini may seem like a revolutionary idea, the company clearly took inspiration from…

Read more 

Caravanners forced to evacuate flooded East Anglia park

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by Tom Lowenstein

Caravanners staying in a popular Northamptonshire holiday park have been forced to evacuate after monsoon rains caused dangerously high levels of flooding.

More than 120 residents and holidaymakers at the, ironically named, Billing Aquadrome were forced out of their caravans and holiday homes on Monday night (April 30th) after a flood warning was issued by the Environment Agency.

People are now being allowed back onto the site, though the Agency is advising against it and has warned those that do return to be on their guard against rising water levels.

Volunteers from the Red Cross have assisted the homeless, setting up temporary accommodation at the nearby Lings Forum leisure centre in Weston Favell.

Around 100 people spent the night there again on Tuesday, before the Environment Agency gave holidaymakers permission to return today. However, it has warned that more rain is forecast and another evacuation could be inevitable.

Environment Agency Manager Norman Robinson, said: “This is a very difficult time for the occupants.

“Although we’re letting people back on site at the moment, they do need to be aware they could be evacuated again this evening.”

Northamptonshire County Council is running the centre at Lings Forum with assistance from the British Red Cross and it will remain open for as long as needed.

Volunteers pitched in to help the stricken caravanners and residents of the site, with a dedicated team working in shifts from Monday evening.

Pauline Mahon, a service manager at the Red Cross’s fire and emergency support service in Northamptonshire, revealed that her team of volunteers had worked all evening to help those who had to flee the flood waters.

“We’ve been supporting people emotionally, as it is a distressing time. Since no entry is allowed at the park, we have also been trying to help though who have had to leave behind vital belongings which they need in their everyday lives,” she said.

The Environment Agency is advising that people only return to the site to collect essentials and has said the flood warning will be in place for the next few days.

TomTom launches caravan-specific sat nav device

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by Tom Lowenstein

If you’ve ever been towing your caravan while following the directions on your sat nav only to have to make a detour because the route it plotted was unsuitable, then you will definitely understand the value in TomTom’s latest product.

The sat nav specialist has unveiled a brand new device designed exclusively for caravanners and motorhome owners and it aims to make this problem a thing of the past.

TomTom’s Go Live Camper & Caravan device not only plots routes that are tourer friendly, it also has a wide range of vehicles pre-installed so it can accurately chart arrival times and routes depending on their height and weight.

It will also point out places of interest and is pre-loaded with caravan sites and services across the 45 European maps it features.

Marielke Nieuwerth-van den Akker, product manager at TomTom, said that many of the company’s customers had been in touch to say how useful a caravan-specific sat nav device would be.

“The launch of the Go Live Camper & Caravan puts an end to unnecessary detours and unwanted surprises,” she said.

“Not only does it calculate the very best routes, it is also a great source of relevant information on the journey.”

The TomTom Go Live Camper and Caravan sat nav will go on sale “soon” for an RRP of £349.99 through the TomTom website. If it proves popular, this product is expected to be rolled out into a wide range of electronics shops across the UK.

Caravan Tax: Budget rebels set up petition to scrap VAT rise

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by Tom Lowenstein and Chris Jefferies

The uproar caused by the Government’s decision to impose VAT on caravans shows no sign of dying down and now an MP has launched a cross-party petition against the policy in the House of Commons.

Diana Johnson, the Labour MP for Hull North, announced on Saturday (April 28th) that she was launching the petition against a policy she believes will damage jobs and put the successful caravan industry in jeopardy.

She says that it could potentially mean thousands of people will lose their jobs from the caravan industry, which employs many hundreds of people in East Yorkshire alone.

In a show of solidarity, Ms Johnson was supported by Hull East MP and former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott, as well as Hull West MP Alan Johnson and Karl Turner, MP for Hull East.

“We’re asking Hull people to get behind caravan workers and their fight for local jobs,” she said.

“This Commons petition against the caravan tax is part of our cross-party campaign, using every means at our disposal, to persuade Ministers to withdraw this unfair and destructive tax.”

However, even if the Government refuses to withdraw the tax, Ms Johnson believes that, because it was voted in by such a small majority of MPs, it could be thrown out if as few as 15 politicians change their minds and vote against it.

“It needs to be stopped as soon as possible,” Ms Johnson added.

How will the caravan tax affect tourers?

The proposed rise from 0% to 20% VAT would affect all static caravans, as well as the Bailey Retreat range of leisure homes and the Welsh-made Fifth Wheel touring caravans – as we reported on CaravanTimes earlier this week.

The National Caravan Council, the body that represents the UK caravan industry, has estimated that 7,000 jobs could be put at risk by the Government’s plans, both in caravan production and running holiday parks, while the direct cost to British tourism could exceed £120million per year.

John Lally, Director General of the NCC, said: “If people don’t buy caravans, a whole chain reaction is put in place and without a doubt holiday destinations across the country will feel the pain.”

To sign the petition online and lend your support to the caravan industry, click here.

Lincolnshire caravan site gets expansion green light

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by Tom Lowenstein

A leisure park in Lincolnshire is celebrating after getting the green light from councillors to go ahead with its expansion plans.

Grange Leisure Park in Mablethorpe had submitted two planning requests, one to expand its site and another to built a state-of-the-art cafe and the planning committee at East Lindsey District Council have given both requests the ok.

The old building will now be knocked down to make way for a striking new, contemporary cafe that will come complete with outdoor seating and a car park, the East Coast Target reported.

In a further boost for the local tourism industry, four new static caravans are to be added to the site.

Coastfield Leisure Ltd, who own the Grange Leisure Park, have also submitted plans for 55 new touring pitches, toilet and shower blocks and a new reception area.

The planning committee were very impressed with the new designs, and councillor Steve O’Dare went as far as to tell the newspaper that he wished there were more buildings of its kind.

Lincs Design Consultancy’s Andrew Clover, who drew up the plans for the cutting edge development, said that the design would bring the cafe back to life while contributing to the local economy.

“The regeneration of the site will reinstate an important tourist attraction, which is within the heart of the newly created Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park,” he said.

Meanwhile, a caravan park in Sussex has revealed it is shipping £17 million worth of rocks from Norway in a bid to prevent further coastal erosion of its neighbouring beach.

Tyre check tips offered for spring caravan holidays

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by Chris Jefferies

With half term fast approaching, families up and down the country will be considering dusting off their tourer for a caravan holiday.

And what with the dreadful weather of the easter period, there’s every chance that it could be the first caravan getaway of the year.

With this in mind, CaravanTimes has been talking to the insurance experts at Towergate to get some valuable advice for how to prepare for this first trip after winter.

There are many things to consider, but the state of your caravan’s tyres might be the most crucial part of your pre-holiday checks, since they are the only part of the caravan that is in contact with the road.

As Edward Cross from Towergate explained, “You need to maintain the tyres on your caravan in the same way that you do for your car. Some people do allow their caravan tyres to endure a longer life than perhaps they should.

“With caravan tyres, it’s important to make sure that they’re in good condition, not perished and at the right pressure.”

He added that poor tyre maintenance can lead to nasty accidents, such as a puncture or even a blowout while towing, which can lead to damaged wheel arches, as well as shredded tyres.

For more advice from Towergate on how to look after your caravan tyres, read their original article: Giving your caravan tyres a spring health check.

Fifth Wheel Company slams government over caravan tax

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by Tom Lowenstein

Welsh caravan manufacturer Fifth Wheel Company has added its voice to the growing criticism surrounding the Government’s so-called Caravan Tax.

While a section of the caravan industry currently pays a reduced sales tax, as of October VAT will be introduced to the industry and all static caravans and fifth wheel tourers will be subject to the levy.

Now the family-run company, which was only recently praised by the Government for offering quality apprenticeships to local youngsters, has hit out at the potentially damaging impact the move will have on its business.

Though the company has come through the recession relatively unscathed and is eyeing further growth, sales director Adrian Parry-Jones is concerned that the tax will ruin all their hard work.

“This year we are celebrating our ten year anniversary. We survived the recession and our business is going from strength to strength as we continue to grow and innovate,” he said.

“The government’s proposal to apply 20 per cent VAT is a big concern for us as potentially this levy could add thousands of pounds to the purchase price of our tourers and have a devastating effect on our business.”

For anyone considering buying one of the company’s caravans, Mr Parry-Jones advised that they place their order before the October 1st deadline to avoid the extra cost.

Friendly Club launches motorhome try-before-you-buy scheme

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by Tom Lowenstein

Have you ever thought you might prefer not having to hitch up your caravan before heading off on your jollies and quite like the idea of just hopping into your tourer and driving off instead?

If so, then the Camping and Caravanning Club’s new scheme could be perfect for you.

The Friendly Club has launched a new try-before-you-buy scheme that takes the risk out of buying a motorhome by letting you take one on a test trip to get a feel for it.

There’s no doubt that buying a motorhome is a major investment and not a decision to be made on a whim, so the Privilege Scheme hire service allows you to do the necessary research before you part with your hard-earned cash.

More than 100 companies in the UK have registered their motorhomes with the Club’s scheme so there are plenty to choose from, and each vehicle comes with a guide that entitles the user to discounts on pitches the Club’s sites with their hired tourer.

VIDEO: A closer look at the Bailey Orion Evo-4 electric caravan

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by Chris Jefferies

Bailey Caravans and the University of Bath have come up with a new type of caravan designed to suit people who prefer to stay on sites with electric hook-ups, the Orion Evo-4.

In this video we hear from Simon Howard, who explains how Bailey have managed to cut weight and cost whilst maintaining desirability. We also find out the effect this has on this caravan’s internal specification.

With environmental issues becoming a growing concern, the lighter weight of the Orion Evo-4 could make it appealing.

The Evo-4 weighs roughly 100kg less than the Orion 430-4 model that it is based on, giving it an MTPLM of 1,149kg, and this brings the cost down to the £12,500 mark, meaning it is also a good choice for those looking to save money.

CaravanTimes also caught up with some potential buyers at the London Caravan Show to get their thoughts on the newest addition to the Bailey family.

Film4 caravan movie Sightseers to premiere at Cannes Festival

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by Tom Lowenstein

Visitors to the Cannes Film Festival are more used to seeing multi-million pound yachts than caravans, but this year will be different.

British movie maker Film4 is set to give debuts to two of its latest creations at the event this year, and dark comedy Sightseers is set to be one of the stars of the show.

The film centres around young couple Chris and Tina, who set off on an English caravan trip in high spirits only for things to go badly wrong.

Starring co-writers Steve Oram and Alice Lowe as the ill-fated couple who find their dream holiday turning into a nightmare, Sightseers promises to give festival-goers a unique insight into the world of British caravanning – something not usually given much thought on the French Riviera.

It will makes its debut alongside Walter Salles’ eagerly-awaited movie adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s seminal beat novel On The Road, while another Film4-funded movie The Curse will also appear at the festival.

Film4 boss Tessa Ross said: “We’re really thrilled … On The Road, Sightseers and The Curse represent the incredibly broad range of wonderful talent and stories that Film4 works with – we’re so proud of the films.”

Strictly stars James and Ola Come Dancing at Caravan Club summer ball

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by Tom Lowenstein

This June is the Caravan Club’s 105th birthday and to mark the occasion a star-studded summer ball is being thrown.

Strictly Come Dancing stars James and Ola Jordan are on the guest list for the event and will be showing off their moves on the dance floor of the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

This year, the event will be in aid of the Leukaemia Lymphoma Research, and the charity’s president Sir Ian Botham will be on hand to host an auction that will help raise funds for the organisation’s sterling work.

Along with these celebrity appearances, the Club have arranged a night of spectacular performances in the vein of Last Night of the Proms.

Silks Aerial Ballet will put on a stunning show and the British Military Band are also set to appear, before the group Mixed Feelings turn up the volume for an evening’s dancing.

Grenville Chamberlain, the Caravan Club’s chairman, said that although the evening will be a wonderful celebration of the Club and caravanning, it also has a serious purpose.

“The Club and I would like to take the opportunity to raise money for a very deserving chosen charity, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, whose mission statement is ‘Beating Blood Cancer’,” he said.

VIDEO: What makes Alde heating a must-have for Dunster House Concordia?

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by Chris Jefferies

Alde heating has been a must-have for luxury caravans for some time but what sets it apart from other brands?

In this video CaravanTimes sits down with Dunster House to find out why they have chosen to use Alde heating systems across their new Concordia range.

Marc Millard explains how Alde is different from other caravan heating systems and points out it is the closest you can get to a home heating system, as well as being the most energy efficient.

We also find out how this system makes it comfortable to go caravanning all year round, even in the winter months.

Prices in the Dunster House Concordia range start at £17,995 and MTPLM weights range from 1,360kg to 1,580kg


For a virtual 360-tour of the Dunster House Concordia Serenity, click here