by Chris Jefferies
The Caravan Club has announced record-breaking numbers on their annual bookings day, which has attracted more than 30,000 reservations in the first hour alone.
As we reported last week, the 2012 booking system was opened at 9am this morning (7th December) and despite this sudden surge in popularity, the improved Caravan Club online booking system experienced no technical difficulties.
By 4pm, the Club had taken more than 58,000 bookings, meaning they are on course to easily break last year’s record of 60,000 in a single day.
The deposit-free booking system has attracted much controversy over the years, with some members complaining that it encourages speculative reservations that can be easily dropped at the last minute.
With this in mind, the Caravan Club has introduced a new system for 2012 whereby anyone who fails to turn up three times without giving 72 hours notice of their cancellation will forfeit their ability to book for the next 14 days and lose all their forward bookings as well.
What’s more, anyone leaving early will incur a charge of one night’s extra stay, unless they have given 72 hours notice.
However, this doesn’t seem to have deterred the annual booking frenzy, which is further proof of the burgeoning popularity of caravanning.
Lawrence Bate, the Club’s director of marketing, says “A series of improvements have been made throughout the year to ensure members are able to make their bookings in a timely and user-friendly manner. The signs are showing that 2012 really will be the year of caravanning!”
Elddis Caravans proud to be different with BPW chassis
Most caravan manufacturers in the UK use the Al-Ko chassis for the basis of their tourers, but Elddis Caravans are proud to be different.
The Durham-based ‘vanmakers are the only major brand in the UK to work with German chassis builder BPW instead and have been explaining why they have chosen the alternative technology.
Claiming that their exclusive partnership gives them a superior chassis to every other caravan on the market, Elddis says that the BPW Swing Vtec technology makes hitching and towing both easier and safer.
Offering a cantilever design, the Swing Vtec is said to improve stability and cornering to provide smoother towing as the axle swings towards the road surface when turning to maximise tyre contact with the road.
All Elddis Crusader models and every tourer from the luxury Buccaneer range come with the BPW Intelligent Drive Control (iDC), which is also an optional extra on the Avante and Odyssey ranges.
Acting as an electronic stability programme would in a car, the BPW iDC reduces critical snaking when driving while preventing brakes locking with its Failsafe technology.
Shropshire caravan park gets green light for 18-pitch extension
Caravan park owners in Ellesmere, Shropshire, are celebrating after the local council granted them permission to expand their site.
Having become accustomed to turning caravanners away at the door because they were full to capacity, the Robin Newnes Touring Caravan Park will now be able to nearly double its capacity after it extends from 20 pitches to 38.
Using delegated powers, officers at Shropshire Council gave the park’s owners the go-ahead to begin the work, which will also increase the site’s washroom as well as installing solar panels, the Shropshire Star revealed.
In a report submitted to the council, the applicants said that because the park’s high standards were proving so popular visitors were regularly being denied the opportunity of staying at the site.
“We are confident that the development will not adversely impact upon the rural environment, the amenity of local residents and the local highway conditions,” the statement said.
IAM offers caravanners advice for towing on wintry roads
Northumberland caravan park gets go-ahead after two-year delay
Following more than two years of delays, a new caravan and camping site in the North East finally looks set to be given the green light.
It was back in August 2009 when Northumberland Estates first submitted its planning application to transform a former RAF Boulmer administration site in Longhoughton into a new caravan park, the Northumberland Gazette reports.
Having been postponed because of technical objections from the Environment Agency and Northumbrian relating to sewage capacity at the nearby treatment works, the plans have now been recommended for approval by the Northumberland County Council’s planning committee.
Objections still remain from local residents and Longhoughton Parish Council, relating to the economic viability of the park as well traffic and pedestrian safety.
In its report, the planning officer wrote: “It is considered that the proposal fulfils a gap in the local market for walkers and cyclists travelling along the Northumberland coast together with the high demand for touring caravan pitches.”
Concerns remain over the proximity of the potential 62-pitch tourer park and 50-pitch campsite to the neighbouring sewage treatment plant, but planning officers have concluded that these do not justify refusal of the plans.
Win a cartoon of you and your caravan drawn by the Guardian’s Matt Buck
by Chris Jefferies
With December underway and snow on the ground in many parts of the UK, the countdown to Christmas Day can finally begin in earnest.
If you’re panicking about finding the perfect present to get the caravan enthusiast in your life, then Towergate Insurance may have the ideal solution.
The brokers have teamed up with former Guardian cartoonist Matt Buck to give away a professional caricature, as drawn by Matt himself.
To get you in the mood, Matt has been drawing a series of caravan cartoons, which have taken on a distinctly festive theme of late.
The latest cartoon includes some slightly unusual visitors to a caravan park, looking a bit bemused at their strange new surroundings (click here for full-size image).
Anyone hoping to win a professional caricature for their loved one this Christmas can enter the competition for free over on the Towergate website, but you’ll need to hurry – as the competition closes on Friday 9th December.
Bailey Approach motorhome range passes Euro safety tests
The new motorhome range from Bailey Caravans has won acclaim for its safety standards, after passing the strict European tests needed to achieve EC Vehicle Type Approval.
Fans of motorhomes will now be able to get behind the wheel of one of Bailey’s Approach SE vehicles with complete confidence after it was deemed to comply with the most stringent of regulations.
Conformity of Production systems also received verification – this ensures that all models produced by Bailey will comply with the European legislation.
This initiative works in conjunction with the National Caravan Council certification scheme, which ensures that all caravans and motorhomes comply with legislation, standards, and health and safety codes of practice.
Following Bailey’s own strict testing procedure, the company slightly tweaked the new tourer however.
While its patented Alu-Tech bodyshell performed well in the examination, it has since been slightly modified, with Bailey re-designing the floor, furniture and under-locker lighting after the tests identified some room for improvement.
The Bailey Approach SE has been nominated for the CaravanTimes 2011 Innovation Award. To vote for your favourite tourer, caravan park and dealer, and be entered into our prize draw to win an Amazon Kindle, click here.
Local companies bid to re-develop former Essex caravan park
Caravanners in East Anglia will soon have one more destination to head to, with a decision to be made shortly on which company will acquire the lease to develop a new caravan park in Essex.
Competition to run the caravan park is heating up, with seven companies in the running to develop a site in Burnham-On-Sea, the Burnham and Maldon Standard reported.
Maldon District Council agreed to lease the land at Millfields back in July and began soliciting bids from organisations who are experienced in managing caravan parks.
The land at Burnham-on-Crouch was formerly a touring and static caravan site, and the council are hoping that it can be turned back into a thriving destination for caravanners.
Today, councillors will finalise the lease arrangement for the land, with officers recommending that a 99-year lease be offered to the prospective bidders.
It is hoped that by re-developing the land the local economy will receive a kick-start from the boost in tourism.
Gardening recognition is blooming marvellous for Lancashire caravan park
A Lancashire caravan park is celebrating after being awarded a Silver Gilt in the North West in Bloom competition.
Wyre Parks’ Claylands Caravan Park was recognised for its fantastic floral displays and landscaping in the awards presented by Radio Lancashire’s Stephen Lower, the Garstang Courier reported.
The award follows a string of gongs recognising the impressive work of the caravan park on the banks of the River Wyre, which has been run by Fred and Margaret Robinson for over 50 years.
Over the years, the four-star Camping and Caravanning UK park has picked up two David Bellamy Conservation Gold Awards and was awarded Caravan Holiday Park of the Year by Northwest Tourism in 1998.
The Foxhouses Holiday Home Park which is also operated by Wyre Parks picked up the same award at the ceremony, which was held last week.
The company’s Andrew Brewer told the local newspaper: “The management and staff were delighted to hear of our success and with quality standards at caravan and holiday home parks increasing steadily, we are thrilled that our hard work has been recognised.”
The awards demonstrate that the parks are continually improving and striving to maintain the highest standards for visitors to the area, he added.
COMPETITION: Vote for your 2011 Caravan of the Year and win a Kindle
Update: Thank you for all your responses, this competition is now closed.
by Chris Jefferies
Every December, caravan enthusiasts are bombarded by recommendations from ‘so-called’ experts who claim to know what was the best caravan of the year, but only one poll is based on the experiences of the caravanning public.
Yes, it’s that time of year again when we ask you, the CaravanTimes reader, to vote in our annual Readers’ Awards poll.
This year there’s even more reason to get involved and vote for your favourite, as we are giving away our biggest Christmas prize hamper yet.
Vote in all seven categories below to be in with a chance of winning loads of exciting prizes, including:
- A 2012 classic caravan calendar, including 12 vintage prints
- A copy of Andrew Jenkinson’s latest book The Story of Sprite Caravans
- And our top prize – a Wi-Fi enabled Amazon Kindle
This competition is only open to CaravanTimes members, but non-members can sign up for free by simply entering their e-mail address.
The poll will close at midday on Friday 16th December when we will notify the lucky winner and the four runners up, and the presents will be sent out just in time for Christmas.
Have fun voting and good luck!
Update: Thanks for all your entries, this competition is now closed
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
1. To enter a Caravan Times competition you must be:
(a) UK resident; and
(b) 18 years old or over at the time of entry
(c) A Caravan Times member.
2. Competitions are not open to employees (or members of their immediate families) of Caravan Times, or any other subsidiary of Adfero.
3. No purchase necessary.
4. Only one entry per person.
5. No responsibility can be accepted for entries that are lost or delayed, or which are not received for any reason.
6. The winner will be selected at random by the editor of Caravan Times, whose decision is final.
7. The closing date is as specified in each competition, and we reserve the right to amend the competition details at any time.
8. If you win a competition, we will notify you by e-mail. The organiser’s decision will be final, and no other correspondence will be entered into.
9. No part of a prize is exchangeable for cash or any other prize.
Airstream to launch new five-berth family caravan at London show
by Chris Jefferies
Airstream Europe has announced a brand new addition to its iconic range of silver bullet tourers in the form of the five-berth International 685.
Due to be launched at the NCC Motorhome, Caravan and Camping Show in February, this model will offer a slice of classic Americana that is big enough to accommodate larger families.
The 685 is the first European Airstream caravan to feature a bunk bed arrangement and the triple bunk in this model is certainly out of the ordinary.
Instead of simply stacking all three bunks on top of each other, the middle bed is set at a right-angle to the other two, resulting in more headroom for all the youngsters in the back.
Better still, the bathroom door can double up as a solid dividing door when opened by 90 degrees, meaning that parents can enjoy added peace and quiet in the front of the tourer.
A family affair
As you would expect from an Airstream, the build quality of this tourer is unrivalled, with Italian-made aluminium alloy framed beds that are at least six-feet long.
A convertible double bed in the front end, a nearside kitchenette and an offside bathroom complete this unique layout.
This new model has been five years in the making and was designed in reaction to customer feedback from larger families, following the launch of the International 684 in 2006.
Michael Hold, sales director for Airstream Europe, said: “The interest over the years in a large family-orientated European Airstream has always been there and now we can deliver a travel trailer that comfortably fulfils the requirements of a family of five.”
Any aspiring Airstream owners will need a seriously heavy-duty towcar though, as you can expect this twin-axle caravan’s MTPLM to be in excess of two tonnes.
What’s more, the new family-sized Airstream will not come on the cheap – prices start at an eye-watering £59,980.
However, if this is within your price range, then you can place your order now for spring delivery, or if you’d prefer to wait until you can see one for yourself, then head to the NCC Motorhome, Caravan and Camping Show, which runs from February 14th to 19th at the London Excel Centre.
Airstream has been nominated for the CaravanTimes 2011 Heritage Award. To vote for your favourite tourer, caravan park and dealer, and be entered into our prize draw to win an Amazon Kindle, click here.
Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes
Former Discover Leisure employees start up caravan service centre
This troubled economy has stolen more than its fair share of jobs, but after a hard-up caravan and motorhome retailer closed it doors for the last time this year four workers refused to take it lying down.
The out-of-work employees from the former Discover Leisure outlet in Oakmere decided to set up their own business when the company they worked for went into administration in October.
Now Roger Firth, Nichola Floyd, Gary Stevenson and Andy Roberts are the proud owners of A&E Leisure, a company which carries out caravan and motorhome services and repairs, just down the road from the old Discover Leisure site in Chester, the Northwich Guardian reported.
Speaking to the local newspaper, 28-year-old Roger said: “Sixty-nine staff lost their jobs when the old Harringtons site closed down.
“A&E Leisure was born more out of necessity than anything – we all needed a job and needed money coming in so we got together and thought ‘let’s have a go at it’.”
Now the old servicing team from Discover are back together, they just need the customers to bring them business.
Who knows, if all goes well maybe they will be able to save more than just their four jobs.
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