The Caravan And Motorhome Club Caravan Design Awards

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By William Coleman

During the hustle and bustle of the October NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show the Caravan and Motorhome Club assemble a crack team of industry specialists to battle against the masses and review dozens of caravans for the Friday night award show. Now the dust has settled we have the results and a nifty little video.

Taking part in the Caravan Design Award testing is no small task. The grading starts on the Sunday before the show opens and the lucky judges stop have to get in, out and all round the vans until the Thursday of the show.

It is no easy task as the Club’s checklist for each category is extremely thorough to ensure that the right van takes home the win.

The awards are a major part of the show and is a great way for the public to get a real and, most importantly, impartial review of all of the top caravans and lightweight touring vehicles on the market.

For the second year in a row CaravanTimes’ very own Dan Cartwright has taken part to share his knowledge and love for all things caravanning. Dan was at the show at 8am and would end up back in his hotel for around 6pm, so it is a very full gig to say the very least.

Once all the results are in the Caravan and Motorhome Club spend an age in the back offices of the NEC correlating the results to find out who has won what category.

And your winners are….

Any Pop Top Caravan

WinnerEriba Touring Troll 530 Rockabilly
2nd Eriba Touring Troll 530 Ocean Drive
3rd Eriba Touring Troll 542 60 Edition

Any Caravan under £18,500

Winner Swift Sprite Alpine 2
2nd = Bailey Discovery D4-4
2nd = Xplore 586

Any Caravan £18,500 – £21,000

Winner Elddis Avanté 454
2nd Compass Casita 554
3rd Bailey Phoenix 640

Any Caravan £21,000 – £24,000

Winner Elddis Affinity 520
2nd Compass Capiro 550
3rd Knaus Sport & Fun Black Edition

Any Caravan £24,000 – £29,000

Winner Bailey Unicorn Black Edition Vigo
2nd Compass Camino 554
3rd Elddis Avanté 868

Any Caravan £29,000 – £34,000

Winner Knaus StarClass 565
2nd Bailey Alicanto Grande Estoril
3rd Elddis Crusader Supercyclone

Any Caravan over £34,000

Winner Knaus StarClass 695
2nd Buccaneer Barracuda
3rd BeauEr UK 3X

Any Family Caravan

Winner Bailey Pegasus Grande Messina
2nd Knaus Südwind 580 UE
3rd Adria Altea Avon 622DK

Any Large Family Caravan

Winner Elddis Avanté 868
2nd Knaus Südwind 580 QS
3rd Xplore 586

Any Two Berth Caravan

Winner Elddis Affinity 520
2nd Knaus StarClass 480
3rd Adria Altea Aire 492DT

Any Caravan over 8ft wide

Winner Knaus StarClass 695
2nd Bailey Alicanto Grande Sintra
3rd Adria Alpina Mississippi 623UC

Any Caravan with Dedicated Bed(s)

Winner Knaus StarClass 695
2nd Adria Alpina Mississippi 623UC
3rd Compass Camino 674

Two Berth Dealer Special Caravan

Winner Couplands Caravans- Bessacarr By Design 495
2nd Broad Lane Leisure Swift Fairway Platinum 480
3rd Glossop Caravans Coachman Festival 460

Three or Four Berth Dealer Special Caravan

Winner Couplands Caravans- Bessacarr By Design 835
2nd Glossop Caravans Swift Celebration 880
3rd Broad Lane Leisure Swift Platinum 850

Over Four Berth Dealer Special Caravan

Winner Glossop Caravans- Coachman Festival 630
2nd Glossop Caravans Elddis Chatsworth 868
3rd = Preston Caravans & Motorhomes
Swift Kudos 630FB
3rd = Preston Caravans & Motorhomes
Elddis Supreme 840

Nature Loving Park Given The Nod By MP

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By William Coleman

Residents and the family owners of The Elms retirement park in Lincolnshire won their MP’s vote of confidence this month for helping to protect the natural world.

Sir Edward Leigh MP visited the Torksey park to congratulate everyone on their success in winning the 2019 David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

Sir Edward, who represents the Gainsborough constituency, told park director Tracey Coulson that wildlife and conservation were subjects in which he takes a keen interest.

For that reason, he said, being able to visit The Elms to discover more about what has been achieved was an opportunity he very much welcomed.

Announcing his award, David Bellamy said that The Elms had created “a wildlife wonderland” in its 65-acre grounds, and fully deserved the scheme’s highest honour.

According to Tracey Coulson, the credit for the gold accolade needed to be shared with those who live in the 340 park homes at The Elms: “We are given the most fantastic support from residents for our conservation work, and many make their own important contributions to what we do,” she said.

“From harvesting rainfall in butts for watering plants to putting up bird boxes and feeding stations in their gardens, it all has a positive impact on the environment.

“Many say they chose to live here because of their love of nature and for unspoiled surroundings, so we’re so very lucky to have such an amazing green team working with us!” added Tracey.

Owned by the Kinch family’s for over 35 years, The Elms was selected for the gold award following an in-depth audit by David Bellamy’s wildlife assessors.

Among the many highlights mentioned were the large areas of wildflower plantings which provide vital foraging for endangered honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

Recently, the park installed three beehives of its own and is learning from a professional beekeeper how to care for them in a natural, chemical-free way.

Honey is occasionally harvested and sold on the park, and the money raised goes to support the appeal set up by residents to fund their minibus.

Professor Bellamy also praised the park’s installation of bird, owl and bat boxes throughout the grounds, plus the “bug hotels” which provide habitats for beneficial insects.

David Bellamy said that The Elms had also proved itself a good neighbour to the surrounding area, supporting many local charities, good causes and nearby schools.

As well as his main accolade, the park also received three extra commendations for protecting honey bees, taking care of its hedgerows, and creating new woodland habitats.

Tracey Coulson said that everyone at The Elms was thrilled to know that their wildlife and conservation efforts were being supported by Britain’s best-known conservationist.

She added that the family was delighted that Sir Edward had taken time out to discover more about the park’s policies to protect the natural environment, and to offer his congratulations.

There is more information about the park on its website at www.elmsretirementpark.co.uk

5 Star Park Rating In Shrewsbury

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By William Coleman

Great things are about to get even better for an award winning caravan and motorhome park in Shropshire as they retain their 5 Star rating by VisitEngland for the 20th consecutive year.

Having a high star rating can literally make or break a business, especially in the caravan world, so when it comes to keeping 5 stars for 20 years you know that the site owners and staff really know what they are doing.

One such park who believe in running a tight ship is Oxon Hall Touring Park, which enjoys a lovely parkland setting on the outskirts of Shrewsbury, is described as “a well maintained and presented park being ideally situated for exploring the local region and facilities” in the inspector’s assessment.

Highlights of the inspection were very good standards of ground maintenance throughout the park, very friendly and helpful staff and the park’s location close to all the amenities and attractions available in the Shrewsbury area.

When it comes to staff you cannot put a price on having the right people. Over the years I have come across some staff who are there to collect wages and see it as a 9-5. Where as the other side of staff are those who genuinely care about what they do and go well above and beyond to ensure you have the best holiday experience you can.

The report also noted “excellent, spacious gravel pitches with ample room for placing an awning” and “very good landscaping. Hedges and planted areas enhance the overall appearance of the park”.

Owned by Shrewsbury-based Morris Leisure, Oxon Hall Touring Park was named AA Heart of England Campsite of the Year for 2019, having previously won the AA Campsite of the Year for England in 2006.

The park is open all year round, has 100 all-weather pitches and is situated close to the town’s park and ride bus service, which is popular with people attending major events in Shrewsbury.
Edward Goddard, Morris Leisure’s managing director, said: “We are delighted to have retained a five-star rating from VisitEngland for the 20th year.

This rating recognises the quality of the park, the work and enthusiasm of the management team there and the important contribution that it makes to the local economy, which we estimate at more than £2 million annually.”

What makes a 5 Star site for you? Pitch quality, facilities, location, days out?

Autumn And Winter Touring Continues To Rise According To The Club

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By William Coleman

Proving that caravanning, campervanning and motorhoming are great holiday options no matter what time of year, Caravan and Motorhome Club members are continuing to embrace autumn and winter touring. A trend that seems to be spreading across the nation.

The Club have seen that their Autumn and Winter bookings for 2018 and 2019 went up by 7%, which if you consider their membership numbers that is quite a lot of happy winter campers.

To find out a bit more The Club took to social to find out what is getting more people out when the colder months come. They set up some online polls which showed that its members think there is much to love about touring during the cooler and quieter months.

Some 26 percent of Club members questioned said they enjoyed the autumn colours and 22 percent loved long walks on crisp bright days, with 35 percent enjoying the quieter sites and attractions out of season. Nearly 20 percent travelled out of season to appreciate the sheer beauty of the seasonal landscape.

The resounding sentiment was that whilst members want to get out walking and visiting local attractions, many also love the warm and cosy feeling of being in their campervan, caravan or motorhome over the autumn and winter months, whatever the weather might throw at them.

Top tips include:

  • Booking sites nearer to towns and cities so there’s plenty to do and see if the weather isn’t at its best
  • Avoiding muddy walks by visiting coastal sites, taking walks along the beach and going beachcombing
  • Take your winter jumper to snuggle in after a long walk in the beautiful countryside
  • Go ‘old school’ with a selection of board games if the weather outside is ‘frightful’!
  • Fire up your outfit a few days before you go to check all the heating and hot water works, check your tyres, gas and insulation
  • Don’t forget that Club campsites have great drying facilities if clothes get wet from winter walks – so take lots of change!

Harvey Alexander, director of marketing for the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: “Our members are an active and adventurous bunch so it’s no surprise that so many of them enjoy touring during autumn and winter, and we are striving to keep more and more of our sites open out of season to keep up with the demand.

“It’s great to hear how our members all get away their way – whether that be curling up with a good book and a nice cuppa in a cosy motorhome or braving the chill and camping in a national park so they can spend the days walking and cycling.

I’ve especially enjoyed hearing the tips that our members have for getting away in the cooler months, not just the practicalities of being prepared, but the lovely feeling they have of being safe and warm inside their leisure vehicles and benefitting from the great facilities we have on our sites.”

The Caravan and Motorhome Club offering something for everyone with pitches suitable for all forms of leisure vehicle and camping with tents.

On certain sites all across the UK they have their Experience Freedom brand with glamping yurts, pods, Airstreams and Swift S Lodges for those who want a bit more comfort when its a bit chilly outside.

The Annual Salop Santa Dash Is Almost Here

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By William Coleman

Over the past two years Salop Leisure have gone the extra mile to push the Spirit of Christmas with the charity fundraising Salop Santa Dash as well as other Christms events. This year’s event has something a “little” special added to it.

Salop are expecting around 500 adults and children to dress up and take part in the Salop Santa Dash, on December 1st, to help raise money once again to help a charity in need at Christmas time.

This year the money raised off the back of this event, which now seems to be an annual event for the caravan and motorhome dealership, will go to support the work of Shrewsbury Town in the Community. The charity is independent of the football club, self-funded and needs to raise £1 million a year to deliver 39 different programmes for people of all ages in the community.

The Salop Santa Dash will see all participants, who have to be dresses and Father Christmas himself, take on a 5 kilometer course which covers the wonderful grounds of Salop Leisure as well as the company’s Love2Live fitness and wellness centre and Love2Stay resort, where the event starts and finishes. For those in OK shape should be able to tackle 5k in around 25-30 minutes on an exercise machine, but I’d be quite interested to see how a Santa outfit hinders performance.

Once the Christmas themed race is done there will be a medal waiting for all those who manage to cross the finish line. Those who take part will pay a small entry fee of just £12, this is the price for adults taking part and will include a Santa suit.

Salop are keen on getting as many people from different walks of life to take part and urge businesses and groups of friends to form teams for this year’s Dash in an effort to build a competitive edge.

What makes this 2019’s event different from its predecessor, which you can read about here, is the addition of the Salop Elf Dash. This race has been designed for for children under the age of 8 who will have a 1.1 kilometer course to run. This race costs just £6 per child and includes an elf outfit.

The first event was held back in 2017 and has so far raised and contributed a total of £2,500 to Severn Hospice and the Zac Oliver Appeal.

Salop Leisure’s marketing manager Ed Glover said: “We love to see families taking part together in the Salop Santa Dash and this year, children under the age of eight can choose to do the Salop Elf Dash.

“The Salop Santa Dash is a great opportunity for people of all abilities to get active and have some fun together. What better way for families and groups of friends and workmates to get in the festive spirit?

“It’s also a great opportunity for runners and spectators to see the fantastic facilities we have here at Salop Leisure, Love2Stay and Love2Live.”

Ceri Nicholls, Shrewsbury Town in the Community’s partnerships and events manager, said: “We have been working with Salop Leisure for more than three years and it’s great to strengthen the relationship further by being the chosen charity for the Salop Santa Dash.

“We are really looking forward to being part of the day and to raising funds for the charity.”

The Salop Santa Dash and Salop Elf Dash are part of The Salop Christmas Adventure, a series of events and attractions that promises to be better than ever this year For full details of the programme, visit www.salopchristmas.co.uk.

Britain Popularity On TV Boosting Our Caravanning Tourism?

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By William Coleman

Is being British becoming popular once again? All the best actors are British, all the best shows are British and all the best caravan sites are British. Is Britain’s heavy TV and film presence bringing the masses to our lands for holiday?

Over the past few years Britain has been in the spotlight on TV due to, not Brexit, being featured in major TV shows and films. There has also been a large amount of TV shows that have focused on the caravan and motorhome world across all the major UK channels.

Recently there have been several high profile shows on British TV that have been about the caravan and motorhome world. Heck , even the Caravan and Motorhome Club even sponsored and took part in a couple of shows to help spread awareness of the lifestyle.

The first show that popped into mind, which aired shortly after me joining the CaravanTimes team, was the 5 Celebrities Go Motorhoming, camping and then finally caravanning. These kinds of shows are a great way to promote the idea of getting in a caravan or motorhome.

One of the main reasons that these shows work is they show the celebrities on a sort of “fish out of water” scenario with the added drama of them being first time users. If they can do it any one can I guess.

The shows really does plunge the actors in at the deep end and gets you reminiscing about your first few attempts of getting out in the van. The actors do get some help and training from CAMC’s finest teachers before they set off so they could operate safely but it is very much them taking on the world for a week. On the flip side of things it shows just how much fun and freedom you can have by owning your own leisure vehicle.

Another great show, which I was glued to, was the touring cooking show with Gino Di’Acampo, Fred Sirieix and Gordon Ramsey which went by the creative name; Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip.

The three chefs used a Pilote Galaxy G740, which eventually ended up stuck on a grass verge going up a steep hill when they were on their way to make mozzarella, to tour their home countries in search of native culinary delights. What a waste of a very expensive motorhome.

I enjoyed it because it brought back memories of driving across France and Italy in a motorhome and doing my best to east as locally as possible. Which you can do with ease with an on board kitchen.

These kinds of shows capture the adventures that can be had and from a very different perspective of people who do not usually use leisure vehicles for their holiday. Can you imagine Gordon Ramsay emptying a toilet cassette!

With so many channels willing to spend quite a lot of money to get actors into caravans and motorhomes is must be a reflection of how well the caravan industry is doing.

The boost in tourism off the back of these shows cannot be measured but they would not be continually produced if they were not doing wonders for ratings and sales.

Now if you look at how Britain is being portrayed on TV and streaming sites at the moment we are slowly becoming one of the most featured countries in TV and film. Experts have said that shows like Peaky Blinder, The Queen and Downton Abbey are having a huge impact on overseas visitors who are flocking to the UK off the back of these shows.

So add the internal shows about the caravan world and then the global shows it seems as though our tourism is in a good place despite some current large scale uncertainties.

Indoor Caravan Site In Pops Up In Bristol

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By William Coleman

At this time of year you’ll find a lot of sites closed for the ‘off season’ and the winter sites full to the brim. What about those of us who feel the cold but still want a caravan break? Look no further than the inside caravan site in Bristol.

At first glance I can see a lot of readers thinking that this is some sort of joke and you cannot have a real caravan holiday inside a warehouse in Bristol, hard to disagree, but that being said, it is very much real and I think that it’s a great idea.

For those who may not know the joys of getting out in the van, no matter the outside temperature, this indoor site can be a great gateway into the life. And ultimately it is spreads the caravan awareness.

So where has the idea for such an out there concept come from? Emma Reynolds is the mastermind and new site warden of this ‘reasonably priced’ alternative to hotels and apartment rentals.

Emma created her indoor pitches, named Towed Town Camping, inside a warehouse in Bristol where guests can book a break with a difference. Personally I love the idea and think its quirky nature is a winner and will certainly attract a lot of younger people who grow bored of over spending on single room hotels.

For those of you who have visited the wonderful Bristol you probably wouldn’t imagine that there would be a caravan site behind closed doors that is fully booked almost every weekend.

Emma wanted to find a different form of accommodation to help bring more people to Bristol for short breaks. During her maternity leave the former social worker decided on a change of career and saw a gap in the market that only a caravan could fill.

Following Towed Town Camping’s launch two years ago Emma has said business it booming and has been a great success. It could be due to it’s very cool vans and the fact that a night’s stay starts at just £49.

Pitched up in Bristol are 5 vans, all of which are of a bygone era and look like a classic museum line up.

Emma says: ‘My partner Freddy Wyatt, 34, and I saw a warehouse to let and I thought it would be cool to try something new. Our goal is to take under-appreciated buildings in great destinations and infuse them with a little bit of soul, so you can have an alternative to the standard hotel experience at more affordable prices.

‘I am originally from Great Yarmouth and worked on a caravan park when I was a teenager, so I suggested a caravan park.

‘It brings a sense of nostalgia and I imagine it is the same for other people who used to visit caravan sites as a child.

‘It is different, and we are breaking the conventional camping trip rules – it doesn’t have to be outdoors and you can camp in the city.

‘After researching and asking friends what they think, we decided to go ahead as many thought it was a great idea – they have previously paid up to £150 for one night in a basic hotel that requires a taxi to the city centre.

‘We aren’t claiming to be a fancy five-star hotel, it is more like a private room stay in a hostel.

‘While on maternity leave, I was thinking about how I can work without physically having to leave my children for 40 plus hours per week.

‘This new business venture was perfect for me as my previous job in social work can be difficult due to the world we live in. After I had my children, my outlook changed and shifted.’

Two of the five caravans have a small double bed and cost no more than £49 per night and the others with a king-size bed are £57 per night.

Alongside the 5 caravans there is a communal area that comes complete with a pool table and film collection for guests who want to relax inside the van with their feet up and a DVD on.

Emma added: ‘Before we opened, I thought it would mainly be 18 to 21-year-old visitors but we have all ages.

‘There is something here for everyone, some guests are working in Bristol so opt for a cheaper stay whilst others are stag or hen parties.

‘I love meeting different people and making their time in Bristol the best it can be. I love the creativity of our caravan park. We are always evolving to make it better.

‘We are currently in the process of opening a bigger caravan park in Bristol due to popular demand.’

I think that more of these dotted around the country is a very good idea. It makes a nice change to using an AirBnb and it could possibly get a lot more people onto forecourts who want to try the real thing.

To see more of what Emma has done you can view a full gallery on our Facebook page.

Swift Caravans Plan To Reduce Production Staff Numbers

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By William Coleman

Despite the industry seeing sales success Swift are reducing the headcount as they enter into consultation with staff in a bid to reduce vehicle production and cut costs.

In what comes as surprising news the Cottingham based leisure vehicle manufacturer, who currently has 1,100 employees, have said that Brexit, along with much wider political uncertainty has hit the motorhome and caravan industry quite hard.

Following the NEC show some dealers and manufacturers have reported some very strong sales numbers in the motorhome section, which leads me to believe that the difference in sales between the caravan and motorhome is getting smaller. But some companies are not faring as well.

Swift have said that the introduction of the new VED, Vehicle Excise Duty, which will see a buyers lumped with an additional £2,135 onto the bill of their first motorhome, has led to a slump in sales numbers across the board. This new VED is something that has a lot of people worried, and rightfully so.

Just a few short months back Swift announced that they had an increased turnover that had risen to £287.8m due to their increased sales numbers. Now 6 months on Swift have confirmed that they have entered into consultation with some of their staff as they begin to scale down their production of both caravans and motorhomes.

A spokesman at Swift who spike to Hull Live said: “The UK leisure vehicle sector continues to be a tough trading environment.

“Both the Touring Caravan and Motorhome markets are under pressure with wholesale and retail sales slower on both, influenced by external factors such as Brexit and the ongoing political and economic uncertainty surrounding this.

“There are also additional factors impacting on Motorhome sales such as the introduction of the new Vehicle Excise Duty.”

This is actually a bit of a shocker seeing as Swift Group is one of the UK’s biggest caravan manufacturers and one of the top selling brands. It makes you wonder how well other manufacturers are doing.

Swift’s spokesperson also added added: “As a responsible manufacturer, we actively respond to market changes and the challenges they present and our cost base is under constant review.

“Due to the ongoing turbulent political and economic climate, the Company has continued to face challenges and therefore it is proposing to reduce production volumes of Touring Caravans and Motorhomes.”

This past summer Howden MP, David Davis, spoke out about this new price hike following a visit at Swift. So it seems it is not just the leisure industry who are against such a high price jump.

For a very long time now motorhomes have been classed as private/light goods vehicles for excise duty purposes, mainly because they are built using ‘commercial goods base vehicle’ chassis.

This all changed on September 1st unfortunately following new EU regulations. The new regulations means that motorhomes with a declared CO2 value will now be taxed at the same level as cars.

Leading up to, and following, the new legislation the leisure world have feared what kind of negative impact this could have across the board.

Following the rocky political climate which has caused lots of financial woes and the new duty costs Swift has said it was time to take some staff to consultation.

“As part of the proposal, the Company is considering streamlining the business and we will enter into a consultation process with employees over the proposal,” says the consultation.

“The proposed actions are to ensure the Company is as fit as it can be for the challenges ahead.

“Our main priority at this time is to work closely with our employees throughout this period, working openly with integrity and offering guidance and support at every stage.

“The proposed restructure will not have a negative impact on the service we provide. We will ensure that the Company retains the capacity to meet the needs of our customers, now and in the coming months.”

Having spoken with a lot of the Swift team before I know that this is a move that they have not taken lightly. It is my hope that this is just a momentary lapse for them and they are able to get things back to the way they were at the height of their success.

Police Given New Laws To Deal With Unwanted Caravanners

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By William Coleman

Police will now be given the power to take action against travellers who use any land they want as their own personal caravan park no matter who owns that land. These new rulings will give police the ability to seize their leisure vehicles if they camp illegally on private land.

For as long as I can remember the area I live in has had issues with the travelling, not touring, community parking up wherever they want and causing a lot of disruption. It has become such an issue that most of the fields and parks have had to put in large grass verges to prevent them from pitching up. A cost which the local council has had to foot the bill for.

Another large issue that is often created by the travelling community is the sheer amount of waste and rubbish that they leave behind. It is this kind of thing that tends to leave people with a negative view toward caravans and travellers as a whole. Just to clarify, not all of the travelling community are like this.

I have had to set a few people straight before when it comes to tarring all caravan users with the same brush. It seems there is a number of people who are just ignorant when it comes to caravans and those who own them.

A lot of the negativity has stemmed from the police not really have any real power to stop travellers from staying wherever they want, thus deeming them kind of untouchable in the eyes of the law. This has led to the population being very angry and sometimes quite hostile toward the travelling community.

Now with the introduction of new laws the police will have the tools they need to deal with this issue and provide landowners with legal rights that they should have had a long time ago.

Police will now be able to actually arrest travellers as well as impound vehicles that are illegally parked on private land. It is now a criminal offence to occupy any land without permission with the intention of setting up home there.

The current law, which leaves landowners pretty much powerless as it sees this trespassing as a civil matter. This more often than not leaves the owner with a clean up costs, legal costs and sometimes a whole heap of garbage left over.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has now drawn up a proposal that will arm police with the power to strike instantly to remove the offenders and their property.

Priti Patel spoke with The Sun last week and said: “Unauthorised encampments can cause misery to those who live nearby, with reports of damage to property, noise, abuse and littering.
“The public want their communities protected and for the police to crack down on trespassers.
“Our proposals aim to ensure these encampments can be challenged and removed as quickly as possible.”

The aim is to have a similar system to that of countries like the Republic of Ireland where “unauthorised encampment” is a criminal offence.

The Home Secretary is looking to local councils, police forces, travellers, communities and the public for other views of how to deal with this situation.

Other ideas have included lowering the number of vehicles needed before police can act from six to two and giving officers power to direct offenders to official sites in neighbouring authorities.

These new changes to policing will allow police to remove those who are trespassing on or beside a road and increase the time during which offenders are banned from returning from three months to a year.

Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT), a leading national charity that works on behalf of all Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, said: “We completely oppose the Home Office announcement of a consultation on criminalising trespass. It is clear that the proposals would have a devastating impact on Gypsy and Traveller communities, who have been part of British life since before the 16th century, yet face some of the greatest inequalities of any group in England and Wales.

“The Home Secretary’s assertions that unauthorised encampments “cause misery to those who live nearby, with reports of damage to property, noise, abuse and littering” focus on the behaviour of a minority, yet tar all Gypsies and Travellers with the same brush. This is dangerous and discriminatory rhetoric. If property damage, noise, abuse and littering truly are the Home Office’s concerns, we know that there already exists reams of criminal law to prevent and punish this.

“It is no coincidence that this announcement comes in the wake of a general election. If there was a real appetite to address the issue of unauthorised encampments, the government would have invested in site provision. Yet, for over a decade we have seen little to no progress in this area. Criminalising families who have no place to go is inhumane and wrong.”

So it does boil down to the bad image a few within the travelling community have created. Not all travellers or gypsies, I hate that word, are the type who pull up in a Tesco car park and just cause issues and leave rubbish. Even if they do use car parks like this there is very little that can be done as this is technically public land.

But it is those who cause all these issues that people are concerned about and it is those individuals who should be concerned by these new laws.

Business Is Booming For Derbyshire Dealer Despite Political Uncertainty

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By William Coleman

It seems that despite the current comedic state of British politics and the uncertainty of a deal, or even leaving the EU, the sale or leisure vehicles in certain areas is still very much in good shape.

The big bad B word does seem to have split a lot of things down the middle when it comes to tourism. Half of those who love going to places across Europe now seem to be a bit wary of it and are actually staying in the UK for their holiday time.

In mid September I was in Munich I was asked several times a day by the locals about Breixt, to which I could not really give any real answer to. And I must admit I did grow tiresome of the constant questioning which did kind of sour me toward going back.

With all this turmoil going on it seems that the UK leisure vehicle industry is actually coming up quids in. Well, this certainly seems to be the case for Don Amott Caravans in Derbyshire.

Some recent sales figures for Don Amott saw them sell £3,000,000 worth of motorhomes in just six days! Which also shows how well motorhome sales are doing.

Speaking with Derbyshire Live Don Amott’s Chairman, Don Amott, has said he truly feels that the Brexit “crisis” is actually putting a lot of people off of holidaying abroad.

Mr. Amott feels that people opting to stay home for their holidays is being directly reflected in the company’s growing sales numbers.

The company saw huge sales numbers at the NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show in Birmingham. It is here where they made their £3m sales figure. Which surprised me as the show seemed a lot less busy. It seems that only serious buyers attended this time round.

I can’t help but agree, in part, with Mr. Amott. If you look at all the stress and kerfuffle that goes into air travel it wont take too much more to keep a much larger amount of UK residents home for their holidays.

When it comes to Brexit it does seem that leaving will have some kind of negative knock on effect on the value of the GPB and how you will then be received abroad. I mean, I have personally experienced it myself and we are still in the EU. It will be interesting to see how we are received once all is said and done.

The company also operates a series of leisure parks on the Lincolnshire coast, including Lakeside Park and Nettleton Park.

Mr Amott said that since January, the company had seen a 160% increase in sales of its luxury holiday homes and lodges, compared to last year.

He said: “We’ve found that the current national crisis is making people think twice about foreign holidays.

“They just don’t know how it will affect a number of issues, from airport chaos and passport control, to healthcare, insurance and driving abroad.”

Donn Amoot have been selling accessories, caravans and motorhomes for over 55 years. The company was founded Don’s father, also named Don, way back in 1963, where it originally started out by renting holiday homes on the east coast.

Mr Amott Senior became the first person in the country to start buying vans in bulk and today, the firm stocks hundreds of motorhomes and caravans.

Cities Need More Caravan Sites

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By William Coleman

Big cities like London, Manchester and Leeds are amazing places to visit but they do seem to have an overwhelming lack of caravan sites, London especially. With the industry getting bigger these areas can introduce a lot more people to the touring lifestyle and open up urban areas to a lot more UK based tourists.

Having lived in London for my entire life I was shocked to see just how few sites there are in and around town. There are a few dotted about but not as many as you’d think, which I think is just a totally missed opportunity.

Growing up I never questioned why we went to Devon or South Coast for our holidays, I just assumed it was for a change of scenery. As I got a little older I found out from my dad that is was simply due to a lack of variety closer to home, and the Death by Chocolate they served in the Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe team room.

Fortunately I had a childhood where we went away a lot to camp sites all over the South West and I got a real feel for the caravan holiday and spent a lot of time outdoors being active. The same cannot be said for a lot of people in and around areas of London. We also seem to have quite a lack of leisure vehicle dealers, maybe the two are linked?

So due to the lack of dealers and sites I think there is a huge hole in the market and lots of missed holiday opportunities for inner city people who may be totally unaware of how accessible these getaways are.

Due to how cost effective a caravan holiday can be a lot of our younger generations who may not be able to hop on a plane and go away can really benefit by choosing this holiday type. A lot of holiday for not a lot of spend.

Getting younger children out into sites has so many benefits for their health and ultimately their behaviour. It is better to keep them occupied and active than just sat on a computer or street walking, which is something I saw a lot of growing up with a lot of the people I went to school with.

Most sites you visit are surrounded by walking trails, woodland and a whole host of outdoor activities and theme parks that provide perfect days out and get the kids outdoors more. Something I think kids nowadays need a lot more of.

Aside from getting a lot more kids out and about you can also bring a lot of new business to the industry. If cities add more locations to go caravanning then the need for a dealership will become higher. A win win for the entire industry.

There are some caravanning locations in and around London such as the Abbey Wood and Crystal Palace Club sites and a few dotted around the border of Surrey and Kent.

Sites are few and far between in major city locations and I cannot think of an actual reason why. Maybe perhaps the areas are not seen to be green enough, which could not be further from the truth. I am about a 15 minute drive from pure countryside. Maybe it is the inner city driving that puts a lot of club and developers off, this I can see being an actual issue.

Whatever the reasons are, I think there is a lot of business and holidays that can be had with caravan based city breaks. If only there were more sites and dealers willing to fill this gap in the market.

New Site Developing In Sherwood Pines

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By William Coleman

New sites are always welcome and if I had my way there would be a lot more popping up around major places like London, Manchester and other cities. But for now I will happily wait for the grand opening of a new Sherwood Pines site.

The new site, currently in development by the Camping and Caravanning Club, which is set to be completed and open during the 2020 camping season is entering its final stages of development to ensure meeting it’s deadline.

The Nottinghamshire site will be run and managed by Camping in the Forest and will be in partnership with the Camping and Caravanning Club and Forestry England.

The brand new site will cover 20 acres of Forestry England woodland and will bring the total number of Camping in the Forest Sites to 16 across England and Scotland.

The site began its initial development in mid July of this year where the build team started the framework of the camp’s infrastructure. Upon completion the site will feature 150 pitches, including 63 hardstanding pitches, 18 of which will be super service and feature electric hook-up plus fresh water and waste drainage.

Ensuring to keep up with the ever evolving world of caravan sites the new park will also have 10 pitches for Ready Camp tents. These tents will be the cosy safari style glamping one that can sleep up to 6 people and have their own kitchen. These glamping wonders will be in a separate glade area and 12 glamping pods in two woodland glade areas, to cater for people without their own camping equipment but who are keen to explore the natural beauty of this famous woodland.

Other confirmed building works on the campsite include:

  • The development of a new amenity block and a dedicated children’s play area
  • The construction of bike and dog wash stations, plus a motorhome service point
  • The addition of 47 grass with electric pitches plus a larger number of grass only pitches
    Dedicated reception and workshop buildings

Nathan Goodyear, Director of Property and Development at The Camping and Caravanning Club, said: “Since we first started work on developing the site in mid-July there has already been some major changes such as creating the spaces for the hardstandings. Foundations are now complete for the new amenity block and reception and workshop too – it’s great to see it coming together.

“Sherwood Pines is a wonderful place to explore either by foot or on bike, with family activity trails, bush craft experiences, cycle trails for both families and mountain bike enthusiasts, Go Ape and a café that uses high quality locally sourced products. The campsite will be a great base to explore the area.”