Caravan park owners to learn fate

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The owners of a caravan park near Stokesley in Cleveland will soon discover whether they will be allowed to add an increased number of pitches.

The Toft Hill Farm site in Kirkby has applied for permission to house 15 further static caravans, with Hambleton District Council Development Management Committee set to vote on the matter tomorrow (January 7th).

According to the Gazette Live the application has been met with opposition from local residents, who have held meetings to discuss the issue.

The planning consent form asks for permission to change agricultural land into space for all-year-round static caravans for holiday use, as well as the construction of an amenity building.

“It really is a big issue for the village,” objector David Chadwick told the news provider.

“Between 50 or 60 people turned up to a meeting to discuss it. There are only 90 households in the village.”

Meanwhile, caravan owners have been urged to check their tyres, with mytyre.co.uk highlighting the dangers of unsafe treads on icy and snowy roads

Skidding most drivers’ nightmare

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Caravan owners familiar with dealing with the UK’s unpredictable weather when towing their mobile home around may be able to empathise with the respondents to a recent Mytyres.co.uk poll.

The survey of almost 1,000 motorists found that more than half (55 per cent) of drivers in the UK rated skidding on wet roads as their “worst nightmare”.

Breaking down on the road was second on the list, while just three per cent of motorists were concerned about getting a puncture while on the road.

According to the online resource, an increasing number of drivers are putting off replacing worn tyres, which increases their risk of skidding out of control, especially on wet roads.

It explained that the recommendation is to replace tyres before their tread wears down to 1.6mm, which is also the legal minimum.

However, the firm suggested that sensible drivers should start to consider replacing them when there is around 3mm left as it is best to err on the side of caution.

Meanwhile, the company has advised motorists to take care when driving on the roads this week, due to the snow and icy conditions being experienced by the UK.

Take care of tyres during snowy period

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With the UK set for more chilly weather and the potential for further snow, motorists are being warned about treacherous conditions on the roads.

Mytyres.co.uk has suggested that now might be a good time to ensure that the tyres on cars, caravans and motor homes are both legal and safe as they could make the difference between arriving safely and an accident.

There are a number of checks that should be carried out, including tread depth, tyre pressure, the spare wheel, valves and uneven wear.

Tread depth should be kept well above the legal minimum of 1.6mm, while tyre pressure should be set at the manufacturer’s recommended level.

Meanwhile, the spare tyre should be in good condition and all air valves should be free of dirt as this can let air out.

Uneven wear may be a sign of misalignment and drivers should have this rectified to avoid needless expense in having to buy new tyres on a regular basis.

In other news, a recent Mytyres.co.uk poll found that 55 per cent of drivers rate skidding on wet roads as their worst motoring nightmare.

Havoc on roads likely after severe weather warnings

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Caravan owners planning on taking a trip this week may wish to reconsider after the Met Office issued severe weather warnings for almost all areas.

A heavy snowfall has caused havoc across the UK, with the south of England particularly affected.

The rest of the week is set to be slightly less blizzard-like, but snow is likely to remain a problem, with ice on the roads a possibility.

The east of the country has been warned to be aware as there is a high chance of more snowfall in these areas.

Flash warnings of severe or extreme weather are issued when the Met Office has 80 per cent or greater confidence that events will occur within the next few hours.

Several have been issued today, with London and the south-east being told to expect up to 20cm of snow to fall tonight (January 5th).

Meanwhile, a woman has been left sleeping in a friend’s caravan in Scotland for 17 days after heavy snow blocked her route home from a pre-Christmas shopping trip.

Woman spends white Christmas in caravan

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A Scottish woman was forced to spend Christmas and New Year in a friend’s caravan after her route home from a festive shopping trip was blocked by snow for more than two weeks.

Kay Ure, who lives at the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage at Cape Wrath on the north-western tip of the UK, was unable to return home after a shopping trip two days before Christmas.

The 54-year-old shares the cottage with her husband and together they run a cafe in the remote location.

However, her return on December 23rd was impeded by heavy snow, which meant that husband John was unable to drive the 11 miles from their home to the jetty where they keep their boat.

As such, Mrs Ure was left stranded in a friend’s mobile home in Durness for the entirety of the festive period and has yet to return home.

Mr Ure explained that the couple are used to being snowed in but admitted it is the first time they have been separated since moving from Glasgow to the remote part of Scotland several years ago.

The UK has been hit by snowy conditions over the past few weeks and the Met Office has warned residents in the Highlands to expect more snow and icy roads today (January 4th).

Saffron Walden caravan fire mystery

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Police and fire officials in Saffron Walden are investigating after a caravan parked in a lay-by caught fire.

The mobile home was situated on the B1383 when flames took hold of it on New Year’s Day at around 14:30, Saffron Walden Weekly News reported.

Local police officer Paul Curtis told the newspaper that it was unclear why the caravan had caught fire, but that it appeared to have been in a well-kept condition.

He revealed that the blaze was well underway when fire crews arrived on the scene but “fortunately there were no cylinders involved and the incident was dealt with in just over an hour”.

Caravan enthusiasts heading to the area could stay at Home Farm Fishery in Little Walden, which ukcampsite.co.uk describes as “simply outstanding” for those with a passion for fishing.

Its five pitches allow visitors to camp next to the two lakes and enjoy angling either as beginners or for sport.

Dutch artist creates garden caravan

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Caravan enthusiasts may soon be able to get their hands on a unique model created by a Dutch artist.

Kevin Van Braak, originally from Amsterdam, has transformed an old 1976 Contructam Caravan into a mobile garden, complete with synthetic animals and trees, the Daily Mail reported.

The design saw the mobile home stripped of its interior and cut down the middle to allow it to fold out almost flat.

It is capable of seating up to 15 people and the grass and trees are made of silk, while the artificial animals on show are stuffed.

The 33-year-old explained that he plans to sell the piece and suggested that many people actually prefer his “garden” to the real thing.

“I find that these days people go camping wanting to be closer to nature but in the end the experience is artificial,” he told the newspaper.

However, according to figures from VisitEngland, UK tourism experienced a strong year in 2009, with a 15 per cent year-on-year rise in August.

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Conwy Valley caravan site sees numbers rise

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The Riverside Touring Park in Betws-y-Coed, Conwy Valley, which offers caravan spaces, has reported a rise in numbers for 2009.

Conwy Valley in north Wales has seen a surge in tourism across the board, with hoteliers and holiday park owners alike benefiting from the growth in the number of people holidaying in the UK, the North Wales Weekly News reported.

Riverside managing director Edward Goddard told the paper: “Riverside Touring Park, which reopened in 2008 after a £3 million redevelopment project, has recorded a 20 per cent increase in visitors this year as staycationers have flocked to Snowdonia for holidays and short breaks.”

The park, a short walk from the centre of Betws-y-Coed, is a Caravan Club affiliate and offers 60 pitches for touring caravans.

The recession has prompted many holidaymakers to stay closer to home and explore what the great British countryside has to offer.

In the past year the number of visits by UK residents to Europe decreased by 14 percentage points from 55 million to 47.3 million, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Caravanners are a boon to local economies, figures show

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Caravan Club members contributed £400 million to rural tourism economies across Britain last year.

The figures were based on shopping, eating out, buying local produce and visiting local attractions.

Around £322 million was spent in England, £40 million in Wales, £36.5 million and Scotland and £1.5 million in Northern Ireland.

Nick Lomas, director of marketing for the Caravan Club, said: “With over 1.5 million caravanners, motor caravanners and trailer tenters in the UK, in 2009 all the talk was of the resurgence of the Great British holiday with value for money playing a major role in the family decision-making process.

“The 2009 local economy figures prove exactly how popular and cool caravanning and the great outdoors really is. All the signs are that rural economies are set to benefit even further in 2010,” he added.

Membership figures for the club in 2009 exceeded all previous records and were a 24 per cent increase on 2008’s figures.

Satnav voted most significant motoring moment of the decade

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The introduction of widely available satellite navigation systems has been heralded as the motoring moment of the decade by website Carsite.co.uk.

Caravanners whose holidays were blighted by missed turns and dodgy maps were handed a reprieve at the turn of the century when satnav devices entered the market.

Comprised of a small computer and a global positioning system, the gadgets ended over-reliance on maps and potentially reduced the number of arguments regarding directions.

Carsite’s Alistair Jeff said: “Despite occasionally hearing of satnav devices sending drivers in completely the wrong direction, in most cases they’re entirely accurate and a fantastic gadget that has totally changed the way we get around.

“You realise how significant an invention is when you can’t imagine making a complicated journey without one,” he added.

The satnav has become so commonplace that even some mobile telephones have the technology. The TomTom UK & Ireland application – intended for use on Apple iPhones – is the second-highest grossing application in Apple’s iTunes app store.

Caravan site Parkdean offers New Year’s resolutions

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Holiday park operator Parkdean has constructed a list of suggestions for caravanners to use as their New Year’s resolutions.

The firm suggested that 2010 would offer holidaymakers a chance for a fresh start and that it is a time to look to the future.

One of the first things on the list was to get fit, which the company claimed is a good way of making yourself feel better.

This ties in with losing weight and stopping smoking – both of which can be beneficial to your health.

It may also be a great time to change your outlook and Parkdean hopes its customers will try to enjoy life more in 2010.

“The saying goes ‘we only live once’ so why not make the most of it. Spend some quality time with your friends and family or enjoy a nice family holiday,” the site operator advised.

Meanwhile, the firm recently noted that the Scottish Highland town of Nairn was rated second in Tripadvisor’s list of top destinations for 2010.

AA: ‘Christmas accident rate falling’

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The AA has revealed that the number of accident insurance claims has fallen in the past week as the warmer weather approaches the south.

Just 529 claims were registered yesterday (December 23rd) compared to 644 on Monday December 21st when the icy weather began in earnest.

Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, said: “The worst of the weather seems to be receding in many parts of England, reducing the risk of a collision due to icy conditions – although Scotland is still in a tight wintry grip.

“Caution is vital – it’s far better to delay your journey and arrive late, but safe,” he added.

Black ice was identified as a “hidden enemy” and all caravan drivers should take caution when making journeys in this weather.

Earlier this week transport minister Sadiq Khan criticised the apparent lack of gritting on British roads.