Encouraging start as London caravan show pulls in the crowds

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by Tom Lowenstein

With the dust still settling after this year’s Motorhome, Caravan & Camping Show came to an end on Sunday, the event’s organisers have revealed that it proved even more popular than they had hoped.

Bringing to an end the drought of shows in the south, it became the first event of its kind in the capital for six years and the anticipation showed.

Across the six days the show spent at its new home in the Excel London, a total of 43,356 visitors made their way through the doors to see more than 600 different caravans, motorhomes and holiday homes on display.

The total attedance figure well surpassed what the organisers were anticipating, with the number of brand new caravan models on display, such as the Bailey Retreat and the new Venus caravans, attributed as one reason for its success.

Other highlights of the show included the appearance of celebrity chef James Martin who entertained the crowds at the Cookery Theatre with his trademark Saturday Kitchen banter.

Strictly Come Dancing stars Vincent and Flavia also wowed onlookers by dancing the ‘Argentine Tango’ as part of the Caravan Club’s Club Day festivities.

Simon Coe, exhibition project director, commented: “Staging a new show at a new venue is always a challenge but we’re delighted to have hit our attendance target and feedback from many visitors has been encouraging.”

Next year’s Motorhome, Caravan & Camping Show is scheduled to be held between February 12th and 17th 2013.

Fireman warns caravanners after man dies in blaze

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by Tom Lowenstein

A fire safety manager has advised caravan owners to take extra care after a 40-year-old man from Liverpool died in a blaze in north Wales last week.

Alan Jones was staying at the Abbey Farm site in Llangollen when his caravan became engulfed in flames on Monday 13th February.

Following the tragedy, senior fire safety manager at North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Gareth Griffiths, offered his condolences to Mr Jones’ family and urged caravan owners to be careful, the Denbighshire Free Press reported.

“Caravans are potentially more hazardous in a fire than a house because they are smaller and more confined – it is essential a smoke alarm is fitted to give an early warning of fire,” he said.

Fires can occur at any time and it is important that people remain on their guard to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe, he added.

A post-mortem into Mr Jones’ death has been opened and then adjourned until a date for an inquest can be fixed.

Teesdale caravan park plans likely to get go-ahead

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by Tom Lowenstein

The North East could soon boast a new caravan site after planning officials recommended proposals in Teesdale for approval.

Paul Barkes is hoping to get permission to develop his land at Thorpe Farm, off the A66, into a deluxe tourist park that would feature pitches for 38 touring caravans and 14 camping pods as well as 65 static caravans and an amenity block.

The site already has a tearoom, shop and country park and the plans would see this extended into a bigger tourist destination with the multi-million pound development, the Teesdale Mercury reported.

Mr Barkes’ plans have been met by opposition from Rokeby Park land agent William Salvin, who believes the development will undermine the park and the historic significance of the nearby Mortham Tower.

However, should the plans be rejected when they go before Durham County Council’s planning committee on Thursday, Mr Barkes already has permission to build a touring caravan site alongside 16 chalets and holiday cottages.

Winter caravanning tips offered for reducing fire risks

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by Chris Jefferies
During the winter when the weather is at its coldest, the brave hardy souls who carry on caravanning will surely be very grateful of their trusty heating systems.
However, over time a battered old heating system can become a liability and indeed a fire hazard if not properly checked and regularly serviced, as Towergate Insurance has recently highlighted.
Most caravan heating systems run off butane or propane gas fuel and these are both highly inflammable substances.
For this reason, the broker suggests that caravan owners regularly check their gas pipes and make sure that heating vents are not covered up with damp clothes, in order to avoid a dangerous gas leak or even a damaging caravan fire.
Towergate insurance expert, Edward Cross, said: “We don’t insist on regular checks but we suggest it. We do get fire claims and gas explosions do occur. This tends to come from faulty gas bottles and connections. We would expect people to maintain their tourer and have it regularly serviced.
“We are not prescriptive about it, but if people are not looking after their tourers then it can get to the point where there is a fire hazard. At the end of the day, you have an obligation to look after your caravan.”
For more advice from Towergate on how to avoid a blaze in your tourer, read their original article: Top tips for reducing the fire risks of winter caravanning

Raw material costs force Bailey Caravans into 1.5 per cent price rise

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by Tom Lowenstein

Bailey’s of Bristol has announced a review of its pricing structure that will see the average price of a caravan increase by 1.5 per cent.

Following a productive six months in which sales have been ahead of last year, the caravan manufacturer has decided that it must raises prices in response to increases in the cost of components and raw materials.

The recommended retail prices (RRP) on its models have now been amended to factor in the changes, though the Bailey Retreat Willow and Sycamore, and the Orion 450-6 and 530-6 models will all remain the same, coming into line with the new structure before their launch.

Price rises will affect the rest of the Bailey Orion range, as well as all Olympus, Pegasus and Unicorn models, although prices will remain unchanged on Bailey’s Approach SE motohome range.

As a result of the changes, the delivery charge on all models has increased by £20 to £565 and Bailey has ended the free four-year extension on its bodyshell integrity guarantee, which has now been replaced with a cost option.

The company’s fixed price servicing plan will also be discontinued to be replaced by the standard retailer price tariff.

All vehicles bought before Monday’s changeover date (February 20th) will still comply with the previous warranty and servicing agreement and there are still a limited number of pre-price change vehicles available from retailers.

RRP prices in the Bailey Caravans touring range will now start at £12,995 for the entry-level Orion 400-2, rising to £21,995 for the twin-axle Unicorn Barcelona and Pamplona models.

What do you think of this decision by Bailey? How important is your caravan’s warranty to you? Share your opinion in our community forum

Swift Caravans sales top £16m after triple spring show boost

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by Tom Lowenstein

Last week’s Motorhome, Caravan and Camping Show helped Swift Caravans sell a total of more than £16 million worth of caravans and motorhomes during the spring shows, it has been announced.

The Excel London show was a fitting conclusion to the spring season of caravan shows, with sales for Swift surpassing the £8.7 million mark.

Standing in place of the usual February Caravan Show at Birmingham’s NEC, the Excel event stood out as the most successful for Swift, but other shows in Manchester and Glasgow were also popular with the punters.

The three new layouts in the entry-level Swift Challenger Sport proved to be a strong draw at all three shows as well.

With the current economic climate and contending with two new venues, caravan makers had to be on their toes when it came to presenting to new audiences but these figures from Swift make for encouraging reading.

Nick Page, commercial director of the Swift Group commented that the company initially entered 2012 with a degree of caution following a challenging Christmas period, but sales through January and February “compare very favourably” with those last year.

“We are taking this as a clear indicator that Caravan holidays are still proving to be the most popular way of spending your leisure time,” he said.

Friendly Club launches Camping in the Forest brochure with prize draw

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by Tom Lowenstein

The latest Camping in the Forest brochure has been published by the Camping and Caravanning Club.

Covering all 20 of the Club’s fantastic forest sites across the UK, the brochure tells you everything you need to know about taking your caravan to one of the forests.

To celebrate the launch of this season’s brochure, the Club has also announced a prize draw that will see everyone booking a summer seasonal pitch at one of its forest sites this year entered for a chance to win a £1,800 seasonal pitch for 2013.

Sites director at the Camping and Caravanning Club, Bob Hill, said: “Our Camping in the Forest sites offer picturesque camping pitches.

“Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway in the seclusion of the trees, a relaxing break or an activity-packed family holiday, we have the perfect holiday for you.”

Seasonal pitches are available at 18 of the 20 forest sites so they are perfect for caravanners who do not want to tow, he added.

The Camping in the Forest sites, previously known as Forest Holidays sites, are all based on idyllic Forestry Commission land and between them have been awarded 40 David Bellamy Conservation Awards and Green Tourism Business Scheme Awards.

North London residents object to Harrow caravan park plans

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by Tom Lowenstein

Plans to build a caravan park in the greater London borough of Harrow have been met with fierce opposition from local residents.

Broadfields Country Club in Headstone Lane has drawn up initial plans to build a 2.2 hectare caravan and camp site in Harrow, which will feature as many as 75 pitches as well as an office and toilet blocks.

Acting on behalf of the club, Lamont Planning Associates has submitted an enquiry to Harrow Council which will judge what environmental considerations need to be considered, but no firm plans have been drawn up yet, the Harrow Observer reported.

Residents of the borough have reacted angrily to the proposals, however, with the newspaper reporting that its mail room was “flooded” with letters after it ran an initial story about the proposals.

While complaints covered all areas, from fears about noise, traffic and crime to worries about the effect on property prices and the local environment, Lamont Planning Associates’ Roger Pidgeon believes there is nothing to object about at the moment.

“There are no plans drawn up except where to outline what land is concerned,” he told the newspaper.

“The next step will be obviously for those residents’ views to be read and then we will have to look at whether any of them have valid planning concerns.”

Swift Caravans teams up with Calor to create the Calorvan

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by Tom Lowenstein

A Sterling Eccles Sport 586SR is heading on a tour of the UK, but it looks a little bit different to the average model you might find at your local caravan dealership.

Gas company Calor, with a little help from the Swift Group and Salop Leisure, has converted this particular caravan into an all-new ‘Calorvan’.

Fully branded in the company’s distinctive gas-bottle red, the Calorvan is travelling the length and breadth of the UK in a marketing tour designed to promote the company’s connections to the caravan industry.

Following its launch at the Motorhome, Caravan & Camping Show this week, it is all set to attend events and shows across the country, with a website, Twitter and Facebook page all documenting its travels.

Paul Madge, Calor’s leisure accounts manager encouraged people to keep their eyes peeled for the bright red caravan.

“It’s a great opportunity to show our commitment to the leisure industry and demonstrate Calor products and services,” he said.

Commercial director at Swift Group, Nick Page, agreed: “The Calorvan will definitely grab everyone’s attention and will help promote caravan ownership up and down the country.”

Kenmore Caravans announces launch of West Yorkshire Caravan Show

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by Tom Lowenstein

The West Yorkshire Caravan Show kicks off next week in Mirfield with retailer Kenmore Caravans displaying a range of caravans from Elddis, Buccaneer, Coachman and Lunar.

Starting on February 21st and running until March 5th, the dealership on the A644 Huddersfield Road has a range of special deals on across the show with caravanners able to take advantage of some great discounts.

Anyone buying a 2012 model Elddis or Buccaneer model will get £750 off for the duration of the show, while a £190 solar panel is included free of charge as part of the deal.

The exclusive new Elddis Crusader Diamond Jubilee caravan will also be on display at the show, giving those who haven’t seen it yet a chance to have a look.

As well as free refreshments offered all day throughout the show, Kenmore is also using the show to launch a new discount scheme that offers five per cent off accessories for the next 12 months.

Caravan Club drops Elvaston Castle site from its network

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by Tom Lowenstein

The Caravan Club has announced that Elvaston Castle has been removed from its network of sites.

It now appears as though the site will be redeveloped into a hotel and golf complex after the local council decided to take control of the land.

Based in Derbyshire, the site had been operated by the Caravan Club for more than 40 years but in recent times the quality of the site had declined and the Club felt it did not meet the high standards it sets for its members.

In a statement announcing the loss, the Club said: “The cost to maintain this site has become unacceptable and we no longer believe it is an acceptable standard for our members.”

Pitches had to be taken out of service as its quality declined and the council has taken the decision to redevelop the site.

The Club will now send letters to anyone who had a booking at the site this year offering alternatives.

VIDEO: How Sprite Lite has redefined the compact, entry-level caravan

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by Chris Jefferies
Swift Caravans has launched a new lightweight caravan range, based on their classic Sprite collection, but with weights reduced by more than 100kg.
Embracing the trend for back-to-basics caravanning, the new Sprite Lite models offer three affordable layouts that are ideal for use on modern caravan sites.
In this video feature, we meet the team behind this new lightweight range as well as hearing what the public had to say about the Sprite Lite at the London caravan show.
Prices in the Sprite Lite range start at just £9,910 and MTPLM weights range from 1,036kg for the Sprite Lite 2 to 1,137kg for the Sprite Lite 5