Camping and Caravanning Club appoints new director

Posted September 10, 2010 by

by Chris Malone

The Camping and Caravanning Club has promoted finance manager Sabina Voysey to the role of finance director.

She has been with the group for nine years and said she is looking forward to leading a 15-strong team.

Ms Voysey will be charged with looking after the finances of the Camping and Caravanning Club Group, the club and its units while assessing and monitoring the impact its subsidiaries have on the club.

“The club provides a challenge to the management team in terms of ensuring that the organisation is managed as a business, whilst acknowledging that it is still a club, run by its members for its members,” she said.

Her promotion comes into effect immediately and follows an announcement that the club is set to invest £29 million in its 110-site network over the next five years.

These are “ambitious plans” that will require the club to perform well operationally if they are to succeed, Ms Voysey added.

The Camping and Caravanning Club operates a Siteseeker application on its website, which allows caravanners to choose a park that is right for them.

Auto Sleepers premiere new caravan range at NEC show

Posted September 10, 2010 by

by Holly Tribe

Auto Sleepers are launching their first ever range of caravans. The release is due to coincide with 2011 season launches from big name caravan manufacturers at the NEC Caravan and Motorhome Show in October.

Auto Sleepers has been the exclusive domain of motorhomes since 1961, but due to an increasingly buoyant caravan market, the company are diversifying and branching out into the touring caravan field.

The new range will be named ‘AS Caravans’ with three models available at Marquis dealerships from the beginning of October, with a fourth to follow in February next year.

The three models are all single axle tourers with rear end washrooms and have been named Mayfair, Kensington and Grosvenor.

The Mayfair model will be the only fixed bed option whilst the entry level two berth Grosvenor houses two single berths at the nose end.

We predict Auto Sleepers will pitch its new range to the higher end of the market, and while prices haven’t yet been confirmed the high spec finish and regal names of these ‘vans are likely to have a princely price tag to match.

Auto Sleepers have been successfully constructing motorhomes using sandwich sidewall method with GRP front and rear panels – a method which should translate well to touring caravan build.

Check back soon for photos, layouts, prices and weights.

Caravanners pull together to escape flood

Posted September 9, 2010 by

Caravan owners in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, have been forced to move their mobile homes after torrential rain.

The equivalent of an entire month’s rain has fallen in the area within the space of just a few days, the News Letter reported.

Lisnaskea Caravan Park boss Pearl Duncan told the newspaper that the site had dealt with the situation by everyone pulling together.

“We had a lot of people here still enjoying their holidays when this happened, but thankfully everyone is on dry ground now,” she said.

“The flood peaked at around 12:00 BST and then began receding slowly again.”

According to the report, the park was flooded after the heavy rain caused the Colebrooke River to burst its banks.

Ms Duncan explained that it was the worst flood she had seen in 11 years of working at the site, but that the residents all worked to help each other out.

In other news, Warwickshire-based Allens Caravans has completed a £2 million investment in its Leedons Holiday and Residential Park and has pointed out that caravans are becoming popular places for people to spend their retirement.

Caravan finance up dramatically

Posted September 9, 2010 by

by Chris Malone

Brits have been buying caravans in their droves this summer, according to new figures from IM Financial Services Leisure.

The firm arranges finance for mobile home buyers and has noted a threefold increase in business during the warmer months of 2010.

It reported that loan applications were up 270 per cent on 2009 figures, which divisional manager Nelson Drinkwater puts down to a resurgence in the UK tourism industry that has seen more people commit to taking staycations.

“The main motivation for buying a touring caravan or a motorhome is often to take a larger number of short breaks throughout the year in the UK,” he explained.

“Although there is an initial outlay, the cost of each holiday is obviously much less than staying in a hotel or rented cottage – and makes spur-of-the-moment getaways much easier.”

Mr Drinkwater added that the firm was surprised at the scale of the resurgence, which began in early spring.

The expert noted how local economies have been boosted around the UK’s 3,000-plus campsites.

In other news, Visit County Durham has noticed a marked increase in visitor numbers to the area in the past 12 months.

2011 Swift Caravans: New products double Lawns sales to 3.5 million

Posted September 8, 2010 by

by Marcus Dubois

Swift Caravans has received early confirmation of the popularity of its newest ranges after achieving record sales last weekend. The firm saw over £3.5million worth of sales in just two days at the Lawns Caravan Show at Cottingham near Hull.

The Lawns show was the first opportunity for the public to view the new models, though over 110,000 people were known to have visited the Swift website following the press and dealer launch of the new range. As reported on Monday, the turnout for last weekend’s Caravan Extravaganza was the best in two decades and thousands of visitors were present to take a closer look.

Caravan Times took a video tour of the new Swift and Sterling models and found a radical new exterior and interior treatment which the company believes will “shape the future design of touring caravans”. Much of the design stems from the firm’s construction of motorhomes and the standout new feature is a panoramic sunroof window over the lounge area.

Swift’s commercial director Nick Page believes that the caravanning public are eager for new and modern designs.

“We were confident we had some revolutionary new products – but the speed at which the public have latched on to these new designs via our web site shows record levels of interest” he noted after the show’s figures were announced.

“To achieve this level of retail sales less than two weeks after the launch clearly demonstrates a massive pent up demand for a more modern design of tourer. This gives us great confidence going into the major show at the NEC in October”.

Click the image below to be taken to our video review of the 2011 Swift range

Woman still in caravan two years after floods

Posted September 8, 2010 by

by Chris Malone

A former BBC broadcaster has been living in a caravan on her land for two years after flooding enveloped her home and destroyed a footbridge that provided her access to the village across the river.

According to the Northern Echo, Eileen Carr’s only means of getting basic supplies now involves making a nine-mile round trip from her home on the bank of the River Derwent to nearby Consett.

Iron Bridge, which allowed her to cross the river, was swept away in September 2008 and a number of disagreements with the local council have held up its replacement.

The council reportedly has another bridge ready to be erected, but claimed it could not put it in the same spot due to it breaching the privacy of a neighbour.

It then offered Ms Carr £200 for a patch of land on which it wants to build a jetty, even though the 59-year-old says an independent evaluation valued it at £4,000.

A further disagreement over the amount the local authority wishes to pay to rent land for plant machinery has held up the process even more.

Meanwhile, the Daily Post has revealed that caravan enthusiasts in north Wales have been given free breakfasts to encourage them to buy local produce

Caravan tourists in North Wales given free breakfasts

Posted September 8, 2010 by

by Chris Malone

Caravanners in north Wales have been reportedly enjoying free breakfasts thanks to a drive to get people buying local produce.

The Conwy Rural Partnership and Rural Development Plan have teamed up to offer complimentary bacon, eggs, bread and rapeseed oil to visitors to summer festivals and caravan sites.

According to the Daily Post, people have been given a treat to encourage them to try the tasty dishes the local area has to offer.

As well as freshly-made rolls, packets of ready-to-cook breakfasts were handed to attendees at events such as farmers’ markets.

Those heading to tomorrow’s (September 8th) Conwy Farmers’ Market will be in with a chance of getting their hands on one of 50 free breakfasts and will be able to browse and purchase an array of local foods.

The scheme is run by Annog Cyf and spokesman Dafydd Gruffydd explained that organisers are sure that “once people get a taste, we are confident they will be back for more”.

In other news it has recently been revealed that a Consett woman has been left living in a caravan since flooding swept away an iron bridge and ruined her home.

Video of stolen caravan rammed into police car

Posted September 7, 2010 by

by Holly Tribe

Click here to see video footage of the incident

A thief who stole a caravan and deliberately reversed it into a pursuing police car has been convicted for dangerous driving and vehicle theft.

Footage of the incident was captured by a camera installed onboard the pursuing police vehicle and shows the moment the stolen caravan was reversed into the stationary car, ripping off a rear bumper before speeding away.

The constabulary vehicle was rendered immobile with steam coming from under the bonnet and an estimated £3000 worth of damage was caused.

The towcar used to commandeer the caravan was a four-wheel drive Daihatsu which was registered stolen from a home in Mackworth on 5th August last year. Police were alerted to the theft when they received a phone call from a concerned neighbour who witnessed the vehicle being attached to the Avondale caravan and driven off.

Police pursued the stolen caravan through the streets of Alvaston at speeds of up to 40mph as it swerved over the road and was driven the wrong way round a round-about.

Terence Hall, 22, was arrested on the day of the incident and has been convicted of vehicle theft, dangerous driving, and driving while disqualified and ordered to serve thirty months in jail.

According to the Derby Evening Telegraph, when sentencing, Recorder David Farrell QC said: “If someone was driving along that road in a proper manner and you were driving the way you were, you could have killed them or seriously injured them.”

Hall’s brother, Kevin, was also sentenced to 20 months in a young offenders’ institution for his involvement in the robbery. He is said to have been following the chase in his van, but voluntarily stopped behind the police car.

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Bailey Caravans fit new bumper to 2011 Unicorn and Pegasus models to combat stone dents

Posted September 7, 2010 by

by Marcus Dubois

Earlier this summer a number of our forum users expressed concern as to whether road chippings and stone dents could cause cosmetic damage to the new Alu-Tech models from Bailey Caravans.

In an edition of our consumer programme Talkback we spoke to Bailey marketing director Simon Howard who revealed that as part of a two-tier solution the firm would be developing a front bumper. And today after speaking to Bailey, we can confirm that a bumper design has been added to all 2011 Bailey Unicorn and Bailey Pegasus models.

A forum user sent us a picture alerting us to how the new bumper design appears on the Bailey Unicorn. Sporting a three-striped decal which echoes the colour scheme of the Unicorn logo, it swoops up on either side to protect those areas likely to be bombarded by loose chippings on the road.

Bailey confirmed that aside from the three prototypes displayed at the official launch, all of the retail Unicorn models will carry this front bumper as standard. The bumper will also be fitted to all 2011 Pegasus caravans, but is not available on the Olympus range.

There has been no word as yet from Bailey as to whether owners of early Pegasus models will have the option to have the bumper fitted at their local dealership.

Bailey will be displaying the Unicorn alongside the full Alu-Tech range at International Caravan and Motorhome 2010 at the NEC in Birmingham. The show takes place from 12-17th October and is the largest caravan event in the UK.

Click below to watch the original interview with Bailey marketing director Simon Howard

Lunar Caravans expand dealer network for 2011 models

Posted September 7, 2010 by

by Holly Tribe

Fans of Lunar Caravans are being rewarded for their support with the addition of four new dealers to the company’s retail network.

Located throughout the UK, Lunar has selected vendors that are committed to providing customers with “expert guidance, advice and support from collection through to service”.

Lunar’s sales and marketing director, Martin Henderson explained the company strives to select retailers that are knowledgeable and passionate about touring. He said: “We have had a tremendous 2010 season and thanks must be given to our retailers. The service they offer to our customers really is first class, making the ownership of a Lunar caravan even more pleasurable”

Lunar have been building ‘lightweight luxury’ caravans for over forty years and celebrate the forthcoming 2011 season with the introduction of two new models and four redesigned layouts across the Stellar, Lexon, Clubman and Delta ranges, which will be showcased at the newly appointed dealerships.

Take a look at our in-depth report on the new 2011 models here.

The four additional outlets will bring the company’s network of nationwide dealers to 59. The new retailers for Lunar’s 2011 lightweight luxury collection are:

Clwyd Caravans & Leisure Ltd, Ruabon, Wrexham
Grants (Craigmills) Caravans, Dundee, Angus
MG Caravans Ltd, Todmorden, Lancashire
Venture Caravans, Watford Gap, Northants

In other news, Bailey Caravans have also recently added four additional retail outlets across the UK in anticipation of interest in its 2011 models, including the all new Bailey Unicorn.

Lawns Caravan Extravaganza draws record crowd for the show

Posted September 6, 2010 by

by Chris Malone

If there was ever any doubt over the strength of the caravan industry during the recession, then it may have been dispelled by the crowds at a recent trade show.

The turnout for last weekend’s (September 4th and 5th) Caravan Extravaganza at Cottingham’s The Lawns was the best the event has seen in two decades, according to the Hull Daily Mail.

Thousands of visitors turned up to check out the products of 17 of the UK’s top caravan and motorhome manufacturers.

More than 100 touring caravans and 150 caravan holiday homes were on display at the event, which was described as the “biggest outdoor trade show in the caravanning calendar” by Coachman Caravans managing director Jim Hibbs.

“The response has been great – I have been doing this for 20 years and I would certainly say this is the busiest yet,” he told the newspaper.

Mr Hibbs added that he would be surprised if many of the large manufacturers at the event did not meet their sales target.

After a break today (September 6th), the show will continue at the same venue as the 35th HERCMA Caravan Trade Show until September 9th.

2011 Lunar Caravans: prices and layouts

Posted September 3, 2010 by

by Holly Tribe

Ever popular with the caravanning public, Lunar Caravans offer up some great new models and features in their 2011 collection. There are two new additions to the line-up and four existing ‘vans have undergone significant layout changes.

New features for Stellar/Lexon and Clubman/Delta models

New heavy duty corner steadies and a remote control fob to control the alarm and the LED awning light are introduced on all the new 2011 models. Inside, roof lockers have removable shelving in the front lounge areas and a there’s industry leading 6’5″ of headroom throughout. Lightweight aluminium frame lift-up front beds are fitted in some models and there’s now a TV satellite connection point inside the battery box.

Lunar hope to raise the bar in touring luxury with their Clubman/ Delta models which come installed Alde’s wet central heating system for 2011, bringing them in line with Bailey Caravans new top end Unicorn series in terms of central heating and thermal efficiency performance.

Exclusive to Delta models

Underslung 40 litre water tank with auto switchover, an impressive 180 litre capacity fridge/freezer, AL-KO branded jack and added roof strength for air-conditioning unit installation some exclusively in the two twin axle Delta models.

Click here for a more in depth review on what else has changed for 2011.

Layouts and prices