Objectors hold up caravan park plans

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Local objectors look to have put paid to hopes of building a caravan park at an Ayrshire beauty spot.

According to the Ayrshire Post, plans to create space for 93 static caravans and 49 tourers have generated 432 letters of complaint to the local authority.

The decision will now be passed from South Ayrshire Council’s regulatory panel to the full council because of the level of objection.

The large facility would stretch along more than a kilometre of coastal road and locals feel that the natural beauty of the area would be compromised.

However, Mark White – the man behind the plans – has promised to plant a screen of trees and create a pond to help enhance the scenery.

Local MSP John Scott is against the plans and said that although tourism would receive a boost, the site would have a “detrimental impact” by obstructing locals’ views of the Carrick Hills.

Popular attractions in Ayrshire include the former home of Scottish poet Rabbie Burns, as well as ferry rides to the numerous islands off the coast.

Caravan site owner hit with massive tax increase

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The owner of a Devon caravan site could be forced out of business by a tax bill larger than his season’s takings.

Raff Cooper, who owns Marldon Tor, told the Herald Express that his summer income amounted to around £3,000 this year.

Despite this, he is facing rates of £5,600 after the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) rateable value was reassessed for the first time in five years, which has made him consider selling the site.

“They are asking for money that we simply do not have or even have the prospect of earning. This summer the most we had was seven caravans here at one time,” Mr Cooper told the newspaper.

He questioned how such actions would impact the local tourism industry, suggesting that it could “bring it to its knees”.

The site’s monthly bill was £50 for 2008/09, but has shot up to £290 for the next year.

The VOA said any ratepayer with questions over their new assessment should head to its website, where they will find useful information and guidance.

Caravan owners staying in Devon may wish to head to Crealy Great Adventure Park or try a tree-top assault course at Go Ape! in Haldon.

Static caravan owners ‘dodging council tax’

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Static caravan owners often use their holiday home for weekends or extended breaks away from the pressures of life, but some are overstaying their welcome, it has been reported.

Critics have spoken out against the growing number of people using caravans as their permanent place of residence, claiming they are taking what they can from the local area without contributing.

This is because caravans are currently not subject to council tax and owners are able to stay in them for around three-quarters of the year without breaking the rules.

BBC News recently reported that Conwy councillor Bob Squire is among those speaking out on the issue, after a number of site operators began pushing for 12-month occupancy.

He told BBC Radio Wales’ Eye on Wales programme that a number of caravan park residents had applied for bus passes, despite supposedly being on holiday.

“We also found that there were people claiming housing benefit, there were people on Jobseeker’s Allowance,” Mr Squire explained.

A number of caravan park residents had even been added to the local electoral register, the councillor revealed.

Meanwhile, the Sentinel recently reported that a Staffordshire school is planning to create a unique learning area inside a caravan.

Stay at Hammonds Wood Campsite and help the environment

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A national newspaper has reported on an out of the ordinary campsite in East Sussex.

The Guardian’s Neil Jewitt stayed at Hammonds Wood Campsite for a weekend and explained how the unique facility operates.

It was bought by tree surgeon Joc Hare, who decided to purchase the land as a way of ensuring more saplings are planted.

The site offers free accommodation in return for a few hours’ work, with the eventual aim of turning the land into a fully sustainable and operational wood supplying timber for building and burning.

“Quirky” and “rustic” are two words used to describe the facility, which has an open kitchen for guests to use, complete with a stove fashioned from an old wheel barrow.

It has hot and cold running water, but the campsite’s bath is located a few feet off the ground – an old cast iron model perched on a tree branch and offering guests the chance to cleanse themselves while surrounded by nature.

Earlier this month, the Guardian suggested camping is a good way of keeping carbon emissions down while still enjoying a holiday.

Chris Malone

Pixie Lott: how camping helped my career

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Pop star Pixie Lott has spoken of how camping holidays helped her become a celebrity singer.

The 18-year-old has found fame this year, but revealed it might never have happened had she not enjoyed her trips away with the Brownies so much.

She explained in the Sun that the skills learned when camping and skiing helped her become independent, which encouraged her to progress her career.

Lott is supporting Girlguiding UK’s Changing The World campaign and said she was “astounded” to hear how tens of thousands of Guides, Rainbows and Brownies are volunteering to help charities across the world.

“Each of the 18 charities who teamed up with Girlguiding UK created a project so the girls could pick an issue that mattered to them and then do something to make a difference,” the songstress told the newspaper.

In total, the initiative has helped raise a total of more than £750,000, leading Lott to encourage would-be world-changers to join the movement.

Girlguiding is currently celebrating its centenary year, with a celebratory camp organised for July 2010 expected to welcome around 5,000 UK guides.

Family-owned caravan park nominated for award

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A family-run caravan park in Devon is in with a chance of scooping a prize at what has become known as the area’s tourism Oscars.

Ladram Bay Holiday Park in Otterton is run by the Carter family and has been shortlisted for the South West Tourism Excellence Awards, the Exmouth Journal reported.

Founded on a former farm seven decades ago, the family has grown the site from a small camping facility to a large holiday park, where guests can rent a luxury caravan, bring their own or sleep in a tent.

It is already highly decorated with the Green Tourism Business Scheme and Jurassic Coast Quality Business Scheme both having bestowed honours on the site in the past.

“Ladram Bay was one of just five finalists to make it through to the last stages of judging, beating hundreds of other parks in the south-west,” said general manager Claire Williams.

She added that the park has enjoyed a “bumper year” in terms of visitor numbers.

Guests can enjoy the use of the swimming pool, entertainment centre and private beach, while the site also has its own restaurant and kids’ activities.

Ladram Bay will be up against Woodovis Park, which is also shortlisted in the awards.

Norfolk’s haunted caravan

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A Norfolk website has been exploring the area’s ghost stories ahead of Halloween on Saturday (October 31st).

According to EDP24.co.uk, a family taking a caravan holiday in Yarmouth were surprised to find a guest already in the mobile home they were renting.

The spectre kept them awake all night by constantly prodding them as they fell asleep, eventually driving them out of the caravan and away from the campsite.

While the story may be superstitious nonsense, the online resource advised holidaymakers to be wary of caravan B77 if staying in Yarmouth.

Other stories involved phantoms in King’s Lynn public library, a group of Viking ghouls attacking Ludham Bridge each April and a giant rat – said to be Satan’s henchman – that lives in Thorpe railway station in Norwich.

Caravan sites in Norfolk include Kelling Heath, Seaview Caravan Park and Pinewoods Holiday Park in Wells-next-the-Sea.

The latter of these offers beach huts available for hire, while kids may enjoy the trampolines and mini golf.

Gandhi-inspired man chooses caravan life

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A national newspaper has examined the life of a man who decided to give up using money and live in a caravan.

Mark Boyle, founder of the Freeconomy Community, initially decided to try living for free for a year after watching a video about Gandhi, according to the Guardian.

He decided to follow the Indian politican’s example and “be the change he wanted to see” by giving up what he thought was wrong with the world – cash.

Mr Boyle suggested that the use of money has separated consumers from the source of their purchases to such an extent that they are unaware of their impact on others.

On his first day of living for free, he prepared a meal for 150 people made from foraged and waste food.

Throughout his time living in a caravan, Mr Boyle has also survived by growing his own fruit and vegetables and bartering for food.

He uses a solar-powered laptop and mobile phone and cycles to work in the city [what city?] every day.

The Freeconomy Community is aimed at helping people to save money, learn skills and reduce their carbon footprint.

Devon holiday park in line for gong

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A Devon holiday park could scoop a regional prize after being nominated ahead of hundreds of other facilities.

Woodovis Park has been shortlisted out of more than 300 competitors in the Holiday Park of the Year category of the South West Tourism for Excellence Awards.

The five-star facility, run by John and Dorothy Lewis, now hopes to be confirmed as a winner at a prize-giving ceremony next month.

Located on the border of Devon and Cornwall, the site is just a few miles from Dartmoor and close to numerous beaches.

It has a heated swimming pool, sauna, spa pool and shop, which sells freshly-made produce every day.

Caravans, tents and motorhomes are all welcome, with the owners keen to accommodate families and couples.

“It reflects the quality of our park and the outstanding contribution that our staff make by going that extra mile for our guests,” Mr Lewis said.

According to Tourism Cornwall, the area is ideal for walkers, surfers, sailors, foodies and those looking to unwind.

Glastonbury camping tickets sell out quickly

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Music and caravan enthusiasts snapped up a limited number of tickets released yesterday (October 26th) for next year’s Glastonbury festival.

According to efestivals.com, passes for the five-day event, which is one of the country’s largest celebrations of music and culture, were not on sale for long.

Taking place from Wednesday June 23rd 2010, the festival will welcome thousands of revellers – many of whom will stay in caravans and tents.

Weekend tickets went on sale for £185 plus £5 booking fee and £4.95 postage but quickly sold out, with next year marking the event’s 40th anniversary at Worthy Farm in Somerset.

Recent headliners include Muse, Jay-Z, Bruce Springsteen, Blur and Neil Young.

However, when the festival first opened its gates in 1970, the line-up was somewhat different, with T.Rex, Keith Christmas and Al Stewart on the bill.

The festival’s opening year was tinged with sadness as attendees made the trip knowing that music legend Jimi Hendrix had passed away the previous evening.

Coachman Caravans pleased with progress

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Coachman Caravans has been celebrating a successful appearance at the International Caravan and Motorhome Show.

The event, which took place earlier this month in Birmingham’s NEC, allowed the firm to sell 410 mobile homes.

This translated to sales of approximately £6.8 million, with new designs helping to boost the figure brought in by its traditional favourites.

Managing director Jim Hibbs explained it is a marked turnaround from a year ago, when the firm was suffering from the recession.

“The results from this year’s NEC show are extremely positive and the best that we have ever experienced,” he said.

Mr Hibbs added that the 2009 event felt like a turning point for the company and the industry.

He said the firm would be working hard to ensure next year is as successful as this.

Those who missed out on the Birmingham event can head to the Manchester Central Caravan and Motorhome Show, which takes place from January 21st 2010.

VIDEO: Ten per cent rise in sales at International Caravan and Motorhome 2009

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It is the largest show for caravan and motorhome enthusiasts in the UK, drawing the biggest crowds and the best names in the industry. International Caravan and Motorhome is held at the NEC in Birmingham, and this year saw attendance at the show increase by just over 10%.

Exhibitors also enjoyed increased sales, with the biggest caravan manufacturers selling over £6m between them on the first day. The show was boosted by two exclusives this year, one from a established caravan manufacturer and the other from a relative newcomer. Bailey Caravans used the event to showcase its all-new construction method called Alu-Tech, with the first model called the Pegasus. The reaction from showgoers has seen Bailey achieve record sales. And log cabin manufacturer Dunster House revealed their ultra-modern caravan called the Stealth.

We tracked down the Show Director Sam North who spoke to Caravan Times about the increased attendance and the new exhibits on show this year.