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MOTORHOMENEWS

~ A personal take by Christopher Macgowan on tourism, travel and motorhomes.

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Tag Archives: Caravan Times

The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home Show.

09 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by chrismacgowan in Travel

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#motorhomes, camc, caravan and motorhome club, Caravan Times, Christopher Macgowan, Glencoe, kinlochewe, motorhome, motorhomenews, Nick Lomas, Scotland, stardust, William Coleman

Caravan Times’ William Coleman caught up with CAMC Director General Nick Lomas at the show.

LINK TO CARAVAN TIMES

By William Coleman

On the opening day of the Scottish Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home Show we caught up with Nick Lomas, The Director General of The Caravan and Motorhome Club. We spoke with Nick about The Club’s sites in Scotland that are pitched on locations that film fans will certainly recognise.

Nick also gave us the rundown on The Club’s ‘Adventure Outside’ campaign which will include the Cycle Fest. We have a full article of CAMC’s CycleFest.

For those who love films here are a few of The Club sites that have been given the Hollywood treatment. Some of these are contenders for list of all time greats. The films are good too.

The Highlands: Film- Stardust

Kinlochewe Club Site

Set at the bottom of the rugged slopes of Beinn Eighe and along the shores of Glen Docherty, Kinlochewe Club Site is somewhat famous on the network. The Site played host to the stars of 2007 romantic fantasy film Stardust; including Robert de Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer, when it was used as a base camp for filming in this beautiful region. Kinlochewe offers a slower pace of life and is a great spot to wind down after a busy day outdoors exploring the surrounding mountains. This Site is also popular with bird lovers trying to get a glimpse of the golden Eagle at nearby Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve.

From £18.70 per standard pitch per night based on two adults sharing

Glencoe: Film- Skyfall

North Ledaig Caravan Club Site

Home to one of the most famous battles between Scottish Clans, Glencoe also played host one of the most recognisable Special Agents in the country. Featuring in the 2012 film Skyfall, the childhood home of James Bond, Skyfall Lodge, was set and filmed in the natural beauty of Glencoe. For 007 fans, combine a visit to this stunning landscape with a stay at the North Ledaig Club Site. This 30-acre Site is located on two miles of sandy beach and has been awarded the David Bellamy Conservation Award. The Site is ideal for those who love watersports and is only a 40 minute drive to Glencoe.

From £20 per standard pitch per night based on two adults sharing

Fort William: FIlm- Harry Potter

Bunree Caravan Club Site

Deemed one of the most iconic film locations in Scotland, Fort William and the surrounding area welcomed the magic of the Harry Potter movie series for over ten years of filming. Muggles will recognise the infamous Rannoch Moor in the area, where the dementors boarded the Hogwarts Express in the first instalment of the final movie. The West Highland Line also runs through Fort William with services from Edinburgh and Glasgow and will be familiar to Potter fans as the route of the Hogwarts Express. For those looking to be close to all of the enchanted action, Bunree Club Site offers a great pit stop. The Site is only a 20 minute drive from Fort William town centre and is on the water’s edge of Loch Linnhe.

From £17.50 per standard pitch per night based on two adults sharing Mon-Thurs during mid-week discount periods

Perth: Film- Braveheart

Balbirnie Park Caravan Club Site

Situated just north of Edinburgh, Perth plays host to the filming location one of the most iconic Scottish movies of all time, Braveheart. Some of the best known scenes of the 1995 classic starring Mel Gibson, were filmed at Loch Leven in Perth including the famous mountain walk of William Wallace after the killing of Mornay. For the perfect Scottish getaway this year, combine a trip to Loch Leven with a stay at nearby Balbirnie Club Site only a 30 minute drive away. The Site is set within 400 acres of parkland and is a popular stop off point on the network with hikers, cyclists and dog walkers.

From £13.50 per standard pitch per night based on two adults sharing Mon-Thurs during mid-week discount periods

SOURCE: William Coleman of “Caravan Times”

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Interview with Caravan and Motorhome Club peeps.

27 Saturday Jan 2018

Posted by chrismacgowan in General

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#motorhomes, Brian Morgan, camc, caravan and motorhome club, Caravan Times, Christopher Macgowan, Glasgow, Jamie Taylor, Manchester, Matt Allwright, motorhome, motorhomenews, NEC, Nick Lomas, William Coleman

SOURCE: Caravan Times

Interview Exclusive With CAMCs Head Of Communications And Events

By William Coleman

Last week I ventured up to Manchester to the Caravan and Motorhome show to speak first hand with senior members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club about what they had in store for their members during 2018.

So with both the Scottish and Birmingham NEC Caravan and Motorhome shows only a handful of weeks away I wanted to speak with The Club about how they prepare for the show and what it means to them to have such a presence. As an industry leading holiday provider I feel they do a great job with communicating with their customers, and the public in general. So here is my interview with CAMC’s very own Brian Morgan.

The Club always have such an impressive stand and presence at the shows. How far in advance does the planning start?

It’s an ongoing process, we exhibit at both NEC shows, Manchester and Glasgow, as well as a number of outdoor shows and events throughout the year. We are always in ‘show mode’!

What goes into making sure you have something for everyone at the show?

We make sure we have details of all Club products and services available for show visitors, we can help them from the very first stages with inspiring them to choose the right leisure vehicle for their touring group, to sharing ideas of where they could have their adventures and giving them help and advice along each step of the way and, of course, make their actual holiday bookings for them. Our show staff have such a vast amount of knowledge and experience and they love being at the shows and talking to people. We really do have a great team, not only at the shows but at head office and throughout the site network.

It is quite clear that The Club invest heavily in listening to their members, how can members communicate with you so they are heard?

It’s really important for us to listen to our members to hear about what they want and need from us. We have our Club Together forum with over 400k registered users, our social platforms are a great way for members and future members to interact with us, we carry out regular research and surveys with our members to hear from them – first-hand – about their views. Our Magazine is also a great source of information for members. And, most importantly, we act upon this information we receive. We provide over 60 relevant member offers (everything from discounts on outdoor clothing, fuel discounts, unbeatable ferry offers), our ongoing sites investment programme, we represent the members views through parliamentary channels and other associated bodies such as Transport for London and the FIA to name but a few.

As Matt Allwright said at the Manchester show, ‘there’s nowhere our members haven’t been’ and we are keen to provide the platforms for members to share their knowledge and experiences as they, in turn, inspire others to have great adventures.

At the Manchester show you had Matt Allwright open the show and do a acoustic set with his band ‘The Walnuts’. Will we see Matt again in Birmingham this February?

Yes! Matt will be with us on Club Day (Tuesday 20 February), he will again be hosting a series of informative forums for show visitors. Matt is a Club member and really enjoys getting away with his family in his campervan.

The shows are a fantastic way for members, new and old, to have face to face interaction with key members of The Club. What aspect of meeting the public do you enjoy the most?

You will always find me at the front of the stand, encouraging people to come and say hi to our team. I really do enjoy that aspect of my job. It’s so important to get to meet and talk to people, face to face, you can’t beat it.

And lastly what can we expect from you guys at this years Glasgow or the NEC shows?

We are heading to Glasgow soon, it really is a terrific show. We will be opening the show on Club Day with our Director General, Nick Lomas, the show Director, Jamie Taylor, and there will be a performance for show visitors by a really talented local quartet called the Capella String Quartet, so if anyone is in the area, come and say hi. And then we are at the NEC, Matt Allwright will be with us and we will have an exciting announcement to make, so make sure you are there on Club Day!

Source: Caravan Times

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

People are falling back in love with touring in the UK.

20 Saturday May 2017

Posted by chrismacgowan in General, This and That, Travel

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camc, caravan and motorhome club, Caravan Times, Christopher Macgowan, harvey alexander, jusy go, motorhome, motorhomenews, Tom Leaning, touring


Harvey Alexander interview: People are falling back in love with touring the UK. The Director of Marketing at The Caravan and Motorhome Club has been talking at length with CaravanTimes

by Tom Leaning of Caravan Times

CaravanTimes recently caught up with Harvey Alexander, Director of Marketing at the Caravan and Motorhome Club, who has just returned from participating in the JustGo motorhome re-location programme with his family.

Mr Alexander also discussed what he attributes the Club’s record year (2016) to, in terms of member retention and acquisition, what he believes clubs and organisations can do to continue this growth and how the Club is attracting younger members.

Here’s the interview transcript below:

“We picked up a motorhome from a company called JustGo, and drove it back through Italy, Switzerland and France, stopping at 4-5 of our sites along the way, and brought it to the UK where it will spend another year touring the UK.”

On how long the holiday took and what the highlights were:

“So, you can take anywhere from up to 14 days. We took 5 days. Some of the highlights were just the driving through Italy and Switzerland, which was inspiring. It wasn’t a chore at all. When you think of driving around the M25 on a bank holiday, it sends a shiver down your spine. But when you’re out there in a motorhome, you’re high up and you’re touring and you’re really stopping wherever you feel you want to. It was just amazing. We stayed at some really stunning sites: one on the edge of Lake Como, where you’re literally by the water, lovely surroundings, there’s mountains in the background, the kids were playing football outside the motorhome, as they do. And then, from there we went on through Switzerland and ended up in the Morvan forest in France – again, one of the most stunning landscapes you’ll see. And we stayed at this tiny little site, with probably 20 or more pitches; just a really lovely setting in the forest, a fishing lake at the bottom of the site. [It just us] the ability to escape the pace of everyday life, to simplify things and get back to nature – it was just incredible, a real treat.

On the JustGo motorhome re-location programme:

“JustGo offer this to anyone who wants to try and drive a motorhome across Europe. They do it every year to bring their new fleet back to the UK, and we did it as a bit of a trial for our members to really see how we can make that the best experience it can be, in terms of getting the right routes for people, and giving them the opportunity to build their memories.”

On what he attributes the CAMC’s record year (2016) to, in terms of member retention and the acquisition of new members:

“It’s really interesting. We’ve seen record amounts of new members joining. Also, we’ve seen 90 per cent of existing members staying with The Club. And I suppose what’s most important to us is the fact that we’ve had a record amount of members touring our sites network across the UK. So I think it really comes down to our members loving what they’re doing, and enjoying it so much that they’re extending their season. Our last quarter of 2016 – October, November, December – was one of our best last quarters ever. So, it’s just incredible. We’ve got 40 per cent of members coming in who own a motorhome now, which is really interesting because they’re changing the dynamic and we’re seeing that motorhomers tour later into the season, which is great. So, we need to make sure that our sites are ready for the caravanners and the motorhomers, trailer-tents, whoever wants to come, but making sure we’re always staying relevant for that touring member.”

On what clubs and organisations can do to make sure these positive results continue:

“Well, I suppose the key thing, in this digital age, is we’ve got to keep inspiring people to get out there and enjoy the great outdoors. It’s about recharging. We attribute quite a lot of the increase down to shorter breaks. We have members who love their summer holidays with the Club or their Easter breaks, but it’s also down to the members who decide on a Friday night who say “d’you know what? Let’s just go away for a few days this weekend. Let’s recharge. Let’s get back to nature, and enjoy ourselves” rather than getting caught in that daily grind. We all feel that it all goes too quick and you’ve never got enough time to do anything, but I find myself if you just put that bit of effort in to just stop, go away – it doesn’t even have to be that far – I live in Rochester and we’ve got some wonderful sites around Kent. I go to Daleacres in Hythe or Bearsted – they’re literally 45 minutes away. But what it means is we can go and we can be in the middle of a lovely countryside park, within for 40 mins to an hour, where we’re just enjoying time as a family.”

On attracting younger members:

“I think that if you go around any of the shows and you look at these caravans and motorhomes, they’re anything but basic. They are homes from home. Some of them offer more luxury than their own homes. And I think that the fact is with all the latest mod-cons where you’ve got the proper heating in there, you’ve got cooking facilities, you’ve got digital [equipment] in there. It just helps people enjoy the great outdoors without feeling compromise. We’ve just come off the back of sponsoring the UK surfing championships down in Cornwall. The age group there is obviously not a typical age group for the Club, but they all love Club sites, they all love being part of the Club because we’ve got 40-odd locations that are near the greatest surfing resorts across the UK. So, I think it’s about being relevant for members and those people thinking of joining and creating that relevancy for them because there has been a stigma attached in the past that [the Club] was just for retired people, but I’m 40+ with a young family, and I guarantee you the best holidays we have are when we get the motorhome out or the caravan and we go down to the coast and we just have a great weekend.”

On falling back in love with the UK:

“We have recognised that people are starting to enjoy the UK more. They’re falling back in love with the UK. And that’s really the spirit of the Club in terms of touring. So, I think it’s important to recognise that, that they’re so much on our doorstep to explore.”

For more information about the JustGo motorhome relocation programme, visit:  

Just Go

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Visitors to CCM Show soar in 2017.

28 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by chrismacgowan in Exhibitions and Shows

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Caravan Camping and Motorhome Show 2017, Caravan Times, Christopher Macgowan, John Lally, motorhome, motorhomenews, NCC, Tom Leaning


SOURCE: CARAVAN TIMES

Written by Tom Leaning.

Consistent national media coverage reflected the interest caravans, camping and motorhomes have around the country.

 

The Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2017 finished on 26 February with over 94,000 visitors through its doors: 7,023 more than 2016. The weekend peaked with 25,349 visiting the show on Saturday and over 45,000 visitors attending across the two days of the weekend.

The show’s media coverage reflected the nation’s interest in caravans, camping and motorhomes, with Radio 2’s Chris Evans championing the event during last week’s breakfast show, and ITV’s This Morning presenting a range of products on London’s South Bank during its live broadcast.

Despite midweek gales disrupting roads and public transport in the Midlands, exhibitors still reported strong sales figures from the event. Director of Sales and Marketing for Auto-Trail, Scott Stephens reported that “show sales have highlighted how many customers are entering into motorhoming which is a great sign for the industry on the whole.” The announcement of a re-brand by The Caravan Club to The Caravan and Motorhome Club – which was broadcast through a Facebook Live RSS Stream by CaravanTimes – also reflected the growth in motorhome ownership.

The caravan industry also confirmed a positive result. Unveiling a one-off Joules-designed touring caravan, Lunar’s UK Sales Director, Lee Roberts said that he saw “good footfall throughout the show, complemented by a great buying audience, making this February’s show the best yet.” The Coachman Caravan company reported an increase of 22 per cent in retail sales compared to the previous year. Elliot Hibbs, Managing Director said “2017 has been positive for the industry as a whole and we have enjoyed an increase in demand for our product range.”

Swift showed its S-Pod 4 holiday lodge for the first time and reported strong interest. Nick Page, Group Commercial Director commented that “this has been our most successful February show for years with retail sales increasing by 26 per cent on touring caravans and 34 per cent on motorhomes.”

Launches included the Sonic Supreme 810SC by Adria. Managing Director, Slavica Sterk said: “The show has strengthened Adria’s position in the market,” suggesting that while products are not traditionally launched at the February show, overall public response surpassed expectations.

Omar Park and Leisure Homes unveiled the Wessex Hideaway lodge and were very pleased at the general interest across its lodges. Peter Berwick, the Group Sales and Design Director said that the show is “an opportunity to showcase top end models across the Wessex and Omar brands and gives us the chance to get valuable feedback from customers.”

Camping equipment brand Vango created a great buzz in Hall 5 thanks to the AirBeam Challenge, letting members of the public race against the clock to inflate a full sized tent. Vango saw record sales again at the show, with the Kela II DriveAway Awning and Inspire 800XXL eight-berth tent leading the way. Ivan Davies, Account Manager said that “the show really launches our year.”

“The February show’s attendance endorses the optimistic outlook for our industry, which continues to grow,” said John Lally, CEO – NCC Events Ltd. “We are also pleased to see that the demographic of those attending the show continues to diversify, with engagement from those new to the industry.”

A whole host of celebrities took to the Discovery Theatre stage throughout the show. Appearances included Ben Fogle, Barney Harwood, Kate Humble, Julia Bradbury and Sam Quek. Live cookery demonstrations from Monica Rivron, Selasi Gbormittah, Welsh chefs Mike Bates and Colin Gray also graced the stage.

Displays included the Lego® caravan, which featured in a Facebook Live RSS stream organised by Guinness World Records, and the highly popular Dog Agility arena. Additional attractions for visiting families included trampolines in the Bounce Zone, bushcraft workshops, climbing wall, artificial caving and a virtual reality of Europe’s longest zip wire in the North Wales LIVE area, and a Woodland Assault Course in partnership with The Woodland Trust.

The Motorhome and Caravan Show is at the NEC from 17 to 22 October 2017 and The Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show returns 20 to 25 February 2018.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Poole Farm CL in Devon wins first prize

30 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by chrismacgowan in Sites

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Caravan Times, Christopher Macgowan, CL of the year, CLOY, motorhome, motorhomenews, The Caravan Club

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The Caravan Club is proud to present this year’s CL of the Year Award

The Poole Farm Certified Location (CL) in Devon has taken The Caravan Club’s most prestigious award for certified locations.

CaravanTimes was delighted to be in attendance to see owners David Hunter and Diana Smith receive their award in the House of Commons from Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, The Rt Hon Sajid Javid.

The CL is defined by The Caravan Club as privately-owned, maximum five-van sites. They can be found scattered across the UK and are mainly set in idyllic and remote locations including farms, country estates and beside inns.

The CL s are extremely valuable to the surrounding community as they provide important additional income for local communities. The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act (1960) enable The Caravan Club to grant certificates to landowners to operate CLs and each year, they recognise the top sites across the UK at their annual Parliamentary Reception.

This year’s winners Diana and David were ecstatic with winning the award after once upon a time when they themselves had their hand in the honey jar of sweet sites around to The Caravan Club’s CLs in their motorhome ‘Winnie’:

“Before buying the Poole Farm we had a motorhome called ‘Winnie’ and we loved visiting The Caravan Club’s CLs, dreaming of one day owning and running our own. So when the opportunity arose we designed it to our own tastes and preferences, thankfully our visitors seem to share these with us,” they commented.

Diana and David continue to take pride in their site and have always taken on advice from those who visit, not concerned about the competition as much as just creating a friendly environment to suit guests – is this the key to their winning ways?

“Over the three seasons that we have been open we have welcomed comments and suggestions, many of which we have implemented. It is so rewarding to receive positive comments and see returning visitors, many of whom have become friends,” they continued.

Long existing Carrs Hill CL owners Grant and Gillian Turnbull enjoyed a runner’s up position, followed by the third place and last year’s runners up Brunette Cottage Caravan Park CL in Ty Broughton, owned by Paul and Helen Clarke.

http://www.caravantimes.co.uk

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

Caravan Club to install Wi-Fi on 66 sites by August

18 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by chrismacgowan in Technical

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Caravan Times, Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, The Caravan Club, Wi-Fi

20140418-161018.jpg

Tablets, laptops, WiFi enabled smartphones and caravan holidays go hand in hand these days

Tom Walsh http://www.caravantimes.co.uk

The Caravan Club is set to install Wi-Fi on 66 of its sites in the next four months. Officials announced that it recently received all completed site surveys which allowed work to commence during April.

Meathop Fell Caravan Club Site is the first to receive an upgrade but many more are planned for the coming months.

The Club expects the work to be finished by mid-August but has urged patience as working in an outdoor environment can be continually unpredictable and there could be setbacks along the way.

Visitors are being warned that the affected sites will experience some outages of the Wi-Fi service but the Club is aiming to keep these problems to a minimum.

Some sites are expected to take much longer than others, with Meathop Fell being the largest job of the entire project.

Members can access the full list of sites on the Caravan Club’s website where the scheduled dates are also ready to view.
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

Alde heating smartphone app unveiled.

22 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by chrismacgowan in Technical

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alde, Caravan Times, macgowan, motorhomenews

20140222-084035.jpg

We keep hearing there is an app for everything. This time it turns out it might be true. Fresh from the NCC Caravan and Camping show, the Alde Start-App is the new feature you can download on your smartphone which controls the heating in your caravan or motorhome, fitted with the company’s heating system.

“Alde Start-App liberates you by allowing you to operate your heating while you’re out and about, enjoying your holiday,” said Leigh Marsden, Development Director at Alde International. “When you get back to your vehicle, it can be nice and warm already, with a hot shower waiting.”

That does sound tempting and the app works on essentially any smartphone, as the Alde Start-App system is compatible with all GSM compatible devices and allows the user to receive live updates from their fitted, heating system.

We should add that the app is made to work exclusively with later Alde 3010 boilers and all 3020 boilers. The Alde Start-App is free and can be downloaded for iOS and Android from app stores this April.

What will they think of next?

Source: Damien Sharkov of Caravan Times

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

Wooda Farm Holiday Park, Bude.

07 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by chrismacgowan in Sites

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Bude, Caravan Times, Christopher Macgowan, Cornwall, motorhomenews, Poughill, Tom Walsh, Wooda Farm Holiday Park

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Cornwall and the West Country now boasts yet another Caravan Club affiliated park.

Wooda Farm Holiday Park, near Bude, has become the latest addition to the Club and can be enjoyed by members looking to enjoy the picturesque scenery in the south-west of England.

The park is an absolute must for caravanners visiting the area as it is situated overlooking the magnificent Bude Bay and just a short drive to the village of Poughill. Visitors will be able to enjoy a host of amenities on-site as Wooda Farm is equipped with a coarse fishing lake, tennis and badminton courts and an adventure playground, great for people travelling with children.

There is much to do around the area as well as people can visit popular attractions such as Poundstock Gildhouse and Hartland Abbey. Cornwall is also home to a host of impressive beaches with Bude itself being a great seaside town to visit.

Source: Tom Walsh of Caravan Times

The number to call is 01288-352069

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

NORMANDY HOLIDAY HOMES.

18 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by chrismacgowan in General

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caravan, Caravan Times, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Diana Johnson MP, Hull, Jack Beresford, motorhomenews, Normandy Holiday Homes, VAT

20120718-144104.jpg

Caravan tax and wet summer put Normandy Holiday Homes at risk.
SOURCE: Caravan Times
by Jack Beresford

Normandy Holiday Homes Ltd, a company synonymous with the manufacture of static caravans, has become the latest firm within the industry to suffer from serious financial hardship after it was announced that the company had been placed into administration. The move comes after the business, which is based in Hull, experienced a notable slump in export orders from across Europe, with the decline linked to the ongoing eurozone crisis, which has broadly affected spending in the region.

This combined with financial difficulties for other caravan component manufacturers and reduced supplier demands to create a set of economic conditions that made it difficult for Normandy Holiday Homes to operate in, resulting in a steep 40 per cent drop-off in sales. Last week, the firm was forced to make 19 redundancies and as many as 25 more jobs could now also be under threat, with joint administrators Andrew Mackenzie and Bob Maxwell of Begbies Traynor admitting job losses were likely.

“We are actively marketing the business for sale, however the reality of the situation is that further redundancies are inevitable as the business simply can’t pay the wages of the staff at present,” Mr Mackenzie said. “Our focus now is to recover as much of the creditors’ funds as we can, as well as ensuring as many of the workforce as possible remain employed.”

The story echoes that of another Hull-based caravan maker, Willerby Holiday Homes, which earlier this month was forced to cut 193 jobs from a workforce of almost 700 amid growing economic gloom for the UK industry. Both firms have suffered in the wake of a dreadful summer for the UK holiday park and caravan retailer industry, with unit sales proving weak in the face of poor weather conditions, which have seen some sites close for the season amid waterlogged conditions.

Next year could prove equally tough, with plans afoot to introduce a standard five per cent rate of VAT on static caravans from April 2013.

While a step down from the previously proposed rate of 20 per cent, Hull MP Diana Johnson has already warned that the charge will put the industry and the jobs within it at further risk.

Christopher Macgowan
twitter: motorhomenews

THE CARAVAN TIMES.

14 Sunday Aug 2011

Posted by chrismacgowan in Places

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BBC, Caravan Times, Christopher Macgowan, Isle of Wight, Lawrence Bate, The Caravan Club

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The BBC will be filming a documentary about the changing nature of family holidays this August, reported The Caravan Times. Touring families will have the opportunity to submit their stories and be part of this exciting programme, filmed on the stunning shores of the Isle of Wight. Before the viewing public jump on the bandwagon, why not take the chance to explore one of Britain’s most mystical isles?

In the heart of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the village of Newchurch on the Isle of Wight offers a haven for mainland city slickers seeking a piece of the great outdoors. Set in flat, green and luscious meadowlands, the Southland Caravan Club site is the perfect base for exploring the island, which measures up at a petite 13 miles long and 23 miles wide.

Just three miles from the site lie the sandy shores of Sandown and Shanklin, with soft waves that make the area perfect for families. History and architecture enthusiasts relish the culture that can be found at their fingertips, often just a short walk from the Southland Caravan Club site.

Newchurch village is host to a Norman church that receives many an admiring glance from local residents and visitors alike. For those that prefer more energetic pursuits, activity buffs will find themselves greeted by a smorgasbord of activities, with horse riding, windsurfing and sailing all within a short drive of the site. There really is something for everyone.

With ferries from Portsmouth taking as little as 35 minutes, the Isle of Wight offers hassle free travel and sandy shores that rival their Mediterranean counterparts. Lawrence Bate, Director of Marketing for The Caravan Club, sees the Isle of Wight as one of the top tips for this summer, “With vast expanses of greenery, soft, sandy beaches and fresh country air, the Isle of Wight presents itself as an attractive holiday destination for one and all.” he enthuses.

If you would like to be a part of this groundbreaking documentary, contact The Caravan Times at editor@caravantimes.co.uk to submit your story.

Christopher Macgowan
twitter: motorhomenews

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