Essex theatre company appeals for caravan

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An Essex theatre company is appealing for a caravan to use as a backstage area for its large cast.

The Clavering Players is putting on its first pantomime production for more than two decades, but is desperate for an area for the stars to change in during the show, the Saffron Walden Reporter revealed.

The organisation is staging its version of Cinderella at the Clavering Village Hall from January 7th to 9th and recently scooped awards at the Cambridge Drama Festival.

Cast member Ian Miller revealed to the newspaper that it has been difficult but fun going from serious acting to pantomime comedy.

“It’s quite a challenge because there’s a lot of singing and dancing which many of us haven’t done for a while, but we’re all show-offs so it should be fine,” he said.

The topical script was adapted by the cast, who are under the direction of Jennie Scott-Reid.

Essex caravan parks include Fen Farm Caravan & Camping Site, which has room for up to 30 caravans or motorhomes and is pet-friendly.

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Highland town high on the list of 2010 destinations

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Caravanners heading to the Scottish Highlands next year could visit one of Tripadvisor’s top five destinations for 2010.

Parkdean, which operates 24 award-winning holiday sites around the UK, noted that the travel website had Nairn at second place in its list of the best places to visit in the coming 12 months.

The list was constructed using information from the Tripadvisor website, with particular emphasis on destinations that have improved their online presence in the past year.

Nairn was bested only by Mexico’s Troncones and features both a beautiful seafront and harbour, as well as two championship golf courses.

Added to that is a range of shops and museums and Parkdean suggested that caravan owners could stay at its Nairn Lochloy Holiday Park during their visit.

The scenic site features an indoor swimming pool, children’s play area, crazy golf and other facilities.

In other news, Parkdean recently suggested that those heading to the new surf reef in Dorset could stay at one of its three nearby sites.

Caravan owners fined after blaze

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Two Wolverhampton men have been charged with illegally disposing on caravans after a local resident reported them to the Environment Agency.

Brothers Carl Mitchell Nedic and Christopher Tony Nedic set fire to their mobile homes at a caravan park owned by their parents, the Birmingham Mail reported.

When agency officers arrived on site, they noted that the caravans had been set alight directly below overhead high-voltage power lines.

Both men admitted to disposing of the vehicles without the proper environmental licence and received fines totalling around £10,000.

Environment Agency officer Kevin Heede explained that caravan park owners have a responsibility to deal with their waste in the proper fashion and warned that the organisation would pursue any similar cases in the same manner.

Telford Magistrates Court ordered each to pay a fine of £1,800, costs of £3,327 and a victim surcharge of £15.

Meanwhile, the Plymouth Herald recently revealed that a caravan fire at a travellers’ site in Laira may have been started by children.

Caravan converted into cinema

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A Cotswolds man has converted his five-berth caravan into a cinema in his back garden.

According to the Cotswolds Journal, Oddington resident Robin King has installed two bona-fide cinema seats in the mobile home, where he enjoys his large collection of classic movies.

Since completing the conversion around a year ago, Mr King has staged more than 25 screenings for elderly residents in the local area, with many of the 1,500 movies he owns having been made between 1935 and 1965.

As well as using the caravan for screenings, he also visits community centres and old folks homes, where extracts from some of his rarer films – including a colour version of Casablanca – are enjoyed by audiences of up to 80.

The former estate agent explained that he gets a sense of satisfaction if an elderly person says his screenings have brought back memories.

“You can’t beat that. It’s the pleasure of hopefully giving pleasure to somebody else [that makes me do it],” he told the newspaper.

Casablanca was released in black and white in 1942 and starred Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine – proprietor of Rick’s Cafe.

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Caravan thefts in Ashburton

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Ashburton caravan owners have been targeted during a series of break-ins in which £7,000 worth of equipment was stolen.

According to the Herald Express, the thieves hit 30 caravans in a night-time raid on the Outdoor Experience site.

In total, 27 jockey-wheel assemblies and 22 towing stabilisers were stolen, with police speculating that the criminals may have parked a vehicle on the hard shoulder of the A38 while they completed theft.

Detective constable Jim Spencer asked anyone who saw anything suspicious on November 20th to come forward with information.

It is thought that the thieves may have had some expertise after a further break-in occurred last week, with a Jubilee Ambassador caravan window going missing.

The initial crime is believed to have taken place between 17:10 on Friday November 20th and 07:30 the following day, with CCTV footage failing to capture any of the intruders.

Meanwhile, the Cotswolds Journal recently revealed that a local man has converted his five-berth caravan into a home cinema.

Corrie heads to caravan park

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Caravanners who holiday at Windermere in the Lake District may have noticed a bit of a hullabaloo on the site recently.

This is because Coronation Street was on location filming what is believed to be the demise of Joe McIntyre.

In the soap, the kitchen fitter has debt problems and is set to attempt to fix them by faking his own death when a tragedy occurs and he loses his life for real, the North West Evening Mail revealed.

Furthermore, those staying at Windermere who watch the show – set to be aired in the new year – might recognise one of the detectives investigating the accident as 51-year-old caravan park manager Chris Dodd.

While not running the holiday site, Mr Dodd has been pursuing an acting career, working as an extra for the past nine years.

“My granddaughter is a big Corrie fan and she’s really looking forward to seeing me on the telly,” he told the newspaper.

According to Museum.tv, the show celebrated its 49th anniversary earlier this week (December 9th).

Swift updates campervan models

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Motorhome and caravan maker Swift has opted to upgrade its Sundance and Bessacarr E400 ranges.

The changes, which will affect both interior and exterior, have markedly improved the vehicles, with each line-up now featuring six models.

Visitors to the Boat & Caravan Show, which is taking place at Birmingham’s NEC from February 23rd to 28th 2010, will be the first to be given the chance to purchase the motorhomes.

Swift Group commercial director Nick Page explained that the changes take the Sundance and E400 ranges “to a new level”.

“To help people who want to renew their motorhome in the current climate, they provide outstanding value and comfort for a very affordable price in a sector of the market that will grow in a recession,” he said.

Prices have been increased by around £1,000, depending on the model purchased, bringing the range to £35,000 to £44,000.

Meanwhile, the firm will also reveal a new model – a two-berth end kitchen – in the Sprite range at the same event.

Ethical travel becoming more popular

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While caravan enthusiasts may have been looking after the environment for years by foregoing high-polluting flights and enjoying the UK countryside in mobile homes they can use over and over again, more Brits are taking an ethical stance when it comes to holidays.

According to TUI UK, people are beginning to take the threat of climate change seriously and taking more responsible steps while on vacation.

Managing director for the UK and Ireland Dermot Blastland explained that while consumers will always take holidays, three out of five (60 per cent) would rather use companies that are eco-friendly.

“The challenges for tourist destinations are clear – you have to plan for climate change. For hotels, the sites for new hotels should take into account the changing climate and new developments must be robust,” he suggested.

A recent Ethical Traveller study found Argentina, Belize and Ghana to be the most ethical destinations in the world for 2009/10.

However, Brits wishing to enjoy a break next summer without contributing to climate change could head to a caravan park in Cornwall or Devon, where they are likely to enjoy the sun and seaside.

Caravanner evicted from home

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A man who lived in a caravan and wooden home he built for himself on council land in Hampshire has been evicted.

Handyman Richard Sharp built the residence from recycled wood and has been living at the site for around six years, the Hampshire Chronicle revealed.

However, after complaints from Winchester City Council, he has twice been removed from the area.

The newspaper revealed that local residents are upset that the 59-year-old is being “harassed” as he has become a much-loved member of the community.

Mr Sharp constructs various products from recycled wood, selling them on to locals to scrape a living.

He explained that he composts his waste and uses water from a nearby farm for washing and drinking.

Since being removed from the caravan and shed, the site has been vandalised, with rubbish being discarded on it – something Mr Sharp claimed never happened when he lived there.

The council explained it has a duty to enforce planning laws and while it has considered offering the handyman subsidised accommodation, he stated he does not see why the taxpayer should have to subsidise him when he can live in his old home without them doing so.

Meanwhile, Pencelli Castle Caravan Park in Wales has won an award for being family-friendly, BBC News revealed.

Kelling Heath Holiday Park to welcome caravans

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Brits looking for somewhere to visit in their touring caravan next year may be interested in a trip to Kelling Heath Holiday Park.

The site welcomes caravanners and campers, while still offering woodland lodges and luxury holiday homes.

It has just announced a number of themed breaks for next year, including Retro Weekend, Back to Nature and Health & Fitness.

Likely to be one of the more popular attractions is the Food & Wine Weekend, which takes pace from February 26th until March 1st and allows guests to enjoy an evening meal and Sunday lunch at the site’s Woods Restaurant.

Locally-sourced ingredients and an imaginative menu have helped the eatery develop a sterling reputation, which is complemented by the rather long wine list and good service, the holiday park explained.

Those bringing their caravan to the Food & Wine Weekend will be asked to pay £30 per person on top of the usual rate, which includes two complimentary bottles of wine.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that just one extra vote in favour of a new leisure development in Tewkesbury has ensured that the £100m project will go ahead.

Nafferton caravan proposal shunned by councillors

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A proposal to place a residential caravan and stables near Nafferton in north Humberside has hit a snag after local councillors objected to the idea.

According to Nafferton Today, the parish leaders are concerned that it might set a precedent for building on greenbelt land in the area.

The applicant’s agent Fennel, Green & Bates had argued that the caravan was similar to those seen on many commercial sites and would offer low-cost accommodation for agricultural workers.

Approval would mean the Quinn family, who made the application, would be allowed to live a “nomadic” lifestyle in their caravan, while operating the stable block and pony paddock.

However, council chairman Andrew Oliver reportedly said the plans were “not in keeping” with the area – a statement backed up by councillor Fiona Trewarha, who added that it could encourage others to apply to build on greenbelt land.

Meanwhile, one News and Star reader has come up with a novel idea for helping flood-hit Cumbria residents avoid spending Christmas in a caravan.

Len Moore suggested that home insurance companies could send elderly, disabled or unemployed residents to Spain, Malta or Cyprus, where he claims alternative accommodation will be cheaper than in the UK.

New insurance concept ‘could drive down cover prices’ for caravanners

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Caravan owners who are frustrated by rising insurance premiums could see the benefits of a new concept being offered to young motorists, it has been claimed.

Drivers between the ages of 17 and 25 are to be given the chance to get cheaper cover if they agree not to take to the roads between 23:00 and 05:00.

The idea is to help cut down on claims and involves a device called i-kube, which imposes an automatic £45 charge each time the motor is used between these hours.

It is the brainchild of Motaquote and RSA Insurance Group and, if successful, could help bring premiums down for other drivers, according to Association of British Drivers spokesman Michael Humphries.

However, he raised questions over the viability of the scheme, suggesting that young motorists would likely stop using the tariff as soon as they found cheaper cover elsewhere.

Mr Humphries suggested that if the idea failed, it could simply end up pushing up prices for young drivers.