Latest News

New CarJacking Scam

Just last weekend on Friday night we parked in a public
parking area. As we drove away I noticed a sticker on the
rear window of the car. When I took it off after I got home,
it was a receipt for gas. Luckily my friend told me not to
stop as it could be someone waiting for me to get out of the
car. Then we received this email yesterday:
 
'WARNING FROM POLICE
BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR
VEHICLE--NEW WAY TO DO CARJACKINGS (NOT A JOKE)'
 
Heads up everyone! Please, keep this circulating... You walk
across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You
start the engine and shift into Reverse.  When you look into the
rear-view mirror to back out of your parking space, you notice a
piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you
shift into Park, unlock your doors, and jump out of your car to
remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your
view. When you reach the back of your car, that is when the
carjackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take
off. They practically mow you down as they speed off in your car.
And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car.
So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your
money, and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are
now compromised!
 
BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED.
If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just
drive away. Remove the paper later. And be thankful that you
read this e-mail. I hope you will forward this to friends and
family, especially to women. A purse contains all kinds of
personal information and identification do of cuments, and you
certainly do NOT want this to fall into the wrong hands.
Please keep this going

Carbon Calculator

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With a touring caravan you…
– can go away just about wherever you want
– always have your own luxury accommodation
– always have a choice – peace and quiet “on your own” or the fun of a party with friends and family
– have hassle free holidays - no airport checking in problems, you go whenever you want.
With a touring caravan, holidays can now be just a weekend, a week, a whole month, or more – as long as you want, but it doesn't need lots of planning.
Whilst you're away, you can change your mind about where you want to go at the last minute. Don’t like a particular area? Then just hitch up and find somewhere nicer. Look for Star rated quality touring parks. Join The Caravan Club or The Camping and Caravanning Club and enjoy their wide range of parks and facilities.

National Camping & Caravanning 2008
Check back here soon for the official dates for 2008. Again it is hoped as many people as in previous years will venture out with their caravan, motor caravan or tent. It really is the perfect opportunity for first timers as well, so if you are interested and want to know more check out the website. If you are planning to join the thousands of others don't forget you can register at the website as well.

Visit the National Camping Week website:
National Camping Week Website

Caravan Break In
A Caravan at Greenbraehead Farm, Hawick, has been broken into but police say nothing appears to have been stolen – although the cost of repairs has been estimated at around £450.

It happened sometime between February Friday 15th and Sunday 17th. Police have appealed for information.
Can anyone help the Police in this matter. Please call the local Harwick Police station.

Safety on site

Caravan safety isn't just about towing sensibly. Careful planning and packing can reduce the chances of a holiday mishap, as Nigel Donnelly explains.

Caravan holidays should help you relax, but a simple oversight can ruin your enjoyment. That's why it is so important to be prepared for unforeseen hiccups and hurdles. When they happen, you'll be able to sort them with a minimum of fuss.

Plan ahead
While you're loading up your van, the last thing on your mind is where the nearest A and E department will be. However, a few minutes spent on the web before you leave will save what could turn out to be valuable time in case of a medical emergency. Find out the locations of the hospital, emergency dentist and dispensing chemist nearest your destination. Many sites clearly post this information in reception, but small sites may not. Think of it as essential kit that adds nothing to the van's weight.

While you're online, it also makes sense to get the contact details of the sites you'll be staying at while touring and leave them with a neighbour or family member. That way if your mobile phone is switched off or, as is so often the case, signal quality on your site is rotten, someone will be able to leave a message for you at reception if there's an emergency at home.

No more Caravaning for Mrs Beckett

The Foreign Secretary was only installed in her high-profile job in May 2006. Margaret Beckett is supposed to be normal. She is happily married to Leo; she eats sweets in bed on Sunday mornings; and she likes caravanning holidays.

Presumably Margaret Beckett will be off on a caravanning holiday soon. Mrs. Beckett would be adhering to her traditional pattern of caravanning round France with her husband Leo for the summer now that parliament has broken up. The Foreign Secretary is to embark on a gastronomic tour of Europe in her caravan. Because she is now a player in international politics, for security reasons, the caravan will be escorted at all times by special branch officers on her caravan holiday to France although it is not clear whether they will be staying in the caravan.

It seems that the new Foreign Secretary has been forced to postpone her caravanning holiday around Europe with husband Leo, and it now looks politically impossible for her to take time off while the Middle East crisis rages on.

The Foreign Office is refusing to comment on reports that Mrs Beckett is postponing her caravan holiday while the crisis continues.

A spokesman said: "She is remaining engaged on this. She will go on holiday when she decides the time is right."

The Becketts are taking their holiday in France every year. But she insists: "We've been caravanning in Britain lots of times. We took the van to the party conference in Blackpool one year. It poured with rain, but one of the things we like about a caravan is that you can just pull into the side of the road when you want a cup of tea and, even if it's pouring, you're under shelter."

Margaret Beckett and her husband, Leo, recently bought a smart new van, with running water, a burglar alarm and very comfortable sleeping arrangements and Windsor Jacquard curtains. The minister says: "The new one has got a bigger sofa and a bigger fridge, reasonably plush fittings and very comfortable sleeping arrangements. We never say we go camping - we say we go caravanning, because I reckon when you've got a fridge, a shower, central heating, double glazing and a reasonable sized cooker, you can't say you're roughing it,", laughing.

Mrs. Beckett says it can take days for the caravanner to prepare for a trip. "There's always something broken and lots to restock." “But, once on the road, the caravan is liberation.”

About Camping in Spain

There are numerous campsites throughout Spain, covering a wide quality and price range. For some it provides an opportunity to experience the natural environment at first hand. For others it is an economic form of accommodation. Permission from the local police and landowner is essential for off-site camping if there are not more than three tents/caravans or ten campers in one place. Regulations demand that off-site camping is in isolated areas only. Although there are a number of small touring sites, Spain Camping EU primarily covers the larger companies, who provide much higher standards. Camping on the beaches is discouraged although often practised, in the summer. Many local by laws expressly forbid camping on beaches, so a registered site would be the most sensible and trouble free solution. The majority of campsites are located close to the ocean, and are also more numerous near the natural parks which are well organised, a fee has to be paid to a warden nearby and there may be a small store where basic provisions can be purchased. You will find campsites in Spain are divided into three categories - First, Second and Third categories - depending on the level of facilities available.

About Camping in Austria

There are roughly 500 camp sites in Austria, all of which may be entered without any major formalities, approximately 160 of these sites are equipped for winter camping. Reductions for children are available at most sites, and also for members of FICC, AIT and FIA upon presentation of the "International Camping Card". It is advisable to take along the camping carnet ( customs document ). Fees are charged based on the usual international scale for parking caravans, motorbikes and cars. The parking of caravans without a traction vehicle on or beside the public highways ( including motorway parking areas ) is strictly prohibited. Caravans with a traction vehicle can be parked beside the public highways, if the parking regulations are observed. Some of the mountain roads are closed for caravans.

Note: When camping in private grounds, permission from the landowner, police and municipal council is required.

Your Pet In Europe - Beware

Warning Pet passports lead to surge in dogs dying from foreign diseases

A growing number of British pets are catching deadly diseases on foreign holidays as more animals travel with their owners on the "pets' passports" scheme introduced four years ago.The School of Tropical Medicine in Liverpool said that reported cases of some animal diseases picked up on holiday had doubled since 2002.Last year 37 pet dogs - almost half of the 84 tested at the school - were found to have leishmaniasis, an incurable disease passed on by sandflies in Mediterranean countries.The figure is more than double the 17 dogs that caught the disease on holidays in 2002. Symptoms include weight loss, eye disease and kidney failure.Other diseases that have shown increases of about 100 per cent include babesiosis and ehrlichiosis - blood diseases spread by ticks - and heartworm, a parasite passed on by mosquitoes.Brian and Jean Coleman, from Tyneside, were shocked and heartbroken when Hamie, their much-loved West Highland White terrier, died after contracting babesiosis when they were on holiday recently in south-west France."He was only 16 months old and had brought so much joy into our lives," said Mr Coleman, 55, a retired teacher.Hamie was "perfectly fit and healthy" last month when the Colemans left to spend the Easter holidays at their cottage in the Dordogne.The dog became seriously ill, however, shortly after the family returned home to South Shields and, after developing distressing symptoms, was taken to a vet and put on a respirator."We knew Hamie couldn't go on like that and that we had to tell the vet to stop the respirator," Mr Coleman said."It was awful. I never thought we would lose our little friend in such a terrible way. We were shattered by his death."Vets estimate that about 300 dogs nationally were known to have caught diseases abroad last year. They fear that many more cases go undiagnosed or unreported.As millions of Britons prepare to fly abroad for their summer holidays, Dr Jackie Barber - a veterinary parasitologist - warned pet owners that they should be aware of the risks."It is heartbreaking for owners when their pets catch these diseases and, in many cases, die. People must realise that it is a very real threat."Babesiosis, which has claimed the lives of at least two dogs since the Easter holidays, can kill pets within days, while other diseases have incubation periods of months or years.Dr Susan Shaw, a senior lecturer in veterinary science at Bristol university, said: "Animals have no immunity to the infections and there are no vaccinations. It is crucial that pet owners use preventative measures, such as repellents to stop the insects biting and spreading the disease."The situation is made worse by the fact that many British vets are unfamiliar with the diseases. Most vets refer the pets to tropical medicine schools, sending blood samples for analysis.Doctors fear that the diseases could be passed on to other animals back in Britain - and possibly to humans, although there is no evidence that this has happened.Most of the exotic diseases are picked up on beaches and in woods and gardens in Mediterranean countries including France, Spain, Italy and Greece.Dr Barber said: "We don't associate Europe with tropical diseases in humans, but for animals it is as if they were travelling to somewhere like Africa."The School of Tropical Medicine, which mainly treats human diseases but works closely with Liverpool University's veterinary department, has set up a diagnostic scheme, Testapet, to help vets to detect the exotic diseases.The Government's passport for pets scheme was set up in 2000 to allow animals to travel to Europe when their owners went on holiday. The scheme has been extended to cover North America and up to 150,000 pets are expected to travel abroad this year.Sandy Trees, a professor of veterinary parasitology at Liverpool University, said that owners should ask themselves whether they really needed to take their pets abroad.A spokesman for the British Small Animals Veterinary Association said: "It is vital that pets are checked as soon as they come back to Britain if they show any signs of sickness."British dogs are particularly susceptible to babesiosis because, having never encountered the disease, they have no resistance to it and can die within days of the symptoms appearing."I'd never heard of it and I was shocked when I did some research into it," Mr Coleman said. "If we had known about this we would never have taken Hamie to France."I hope our terrible experience can serve as a warning to other pet owners: if you are thinking of taking your dog abroad, don't."

Why the British carry on camping

More and more Britons are packing their tents and heading for the countryside. So how did camping become cool?

Boy scouts, hippies and soggy tents.

Camping used to have a bit of an image problem. But no longer.

Mintel recently reported a "surge" in short-break camping holidays while membership of the Camping and Caravanning Club has increased by 10% in the past three years.

Camping has become more palatable to people who like the principle of enjoying the great outdoors but want to retain some home comforts.

Purists may shudder at the thought but tents have become more hi-tech and fashionable while some campsites have embraced luxury unashamedly. Campers can show off their Ted Baker blow-up mattresses, Cath Kidston sleeping bags or Mongolian-style yurts, which are round, domed tents.

Jonathan Knight, author of Cool Camping: England, said the intervention into the market by top designers had introduced an element of style to the traditional camping weekend.

Although his research suggested many campsites were still below par, with primitive toilets, an adjacent motorway or noisy bars, some have pushed up the standards.

The designers have made it cool but the popularity is because more and more people are living in towns and cities, many without a garden or outdoor space, and camping offers them an antidote to urban life."

He said the increased number of summer festivals meant more young people were camping, and for people who may have said goodbye to Glastonbury, the tent was being taken down from the loft and dusted off.

But is the camping concept moving too quickly away from its fundamental principles?

Mr Knight said: "I'm sure some camping purists would be aghast at floral print tents and the option to stay in luxury yurts.

"But if you go out and see all different kinds of people camping happily side by side, then people who appreciate the great outdoors would be happy for others to get the bug too."

Music Ban

Traditionalists would applaud his choice for coolest campsite in England. Blackberry Wood in Sussex gives each camper a clearing in the wood for the tent, logs to sit on and space for a campfire. Radios are banned.

One camper enjoying the silence, Tim Johnson, said: "The campfire has been a central part of our lives for thousands of years.

"Now we're missing out on that, living in double-glazed houses with central heating systems and air-conditioned cars.

"You can gather round a campfire with smoke in our faces and there's something very relaxing about that."

But the changes to the camping experience are not all about modernising or back-to-basics.

A campsite in the Isle of Wight run by Vintage Vacations promises an authentic 1960s experience, with original American Airstream trailers and vintage radios.

8th January

We asked the Department for Transport for their interpretation on the law as it applies to seatbelts fitted in motorhomes, this article gives the essence of the information that they gave us:

There is currently no legal requirement to have seat belts fitted to side-facing seats or seats that make up the accommodation area in motor caravans.
Regulation 46 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986: as amended states motor caravans first used on or after 1st April 1982 but before 1 October 1988 shall be equipped with anchorage points for the driver's seat and specified passenger seat (if any); and for motor caravans first used on or after 1st October 1988 shall be equipped with anchorage points for the driver's seat and any forward-facing front seat.
You can download a copy of the SI at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2001/20011043.htm.
However, this does not preclude manufacturers fitting seat belts to forward facing or rearward facing seats within the accommodation area if they wish to do so.
Where seat belts are fitted they must be worn.

Club Weathercall

Regional and national weather forecasts supplied by the Met Office for today and up to ten days ahead.

For every call made the Club receives a contribution from Weathercall, which is invested back into sites and services.

All Club Weathercall forecasts five days ahead for the local area, plus a UK national outlook for days six to ten and a summary for the month ahead.

For a forecast by telephone call 09068 021 040 (60p/min) and select the region you require.

Club Weathercall by SMS - For a 5-day outlook for your chosen town or city delivered to your mobile. Text CLUB 5DAY + TOWN/CITY you require to 83141.

EU Driving Licence...

Click here to read the new Towing proposals for introduction by 2012

17 July 2006: Statement regarding Top Gear

The Caravan Club would like to state that the Top Gear caravanning item shown on Sunday 16th July was not filmed at a Caravan Club Site and The Club was not involved with any aspect of the filming.

The Club’s Press Office was approached by a member of the Top Gear production team who stated that Messrs Clarkson, Hammond and May were in fact en route with the caravan and in need of information relating to towing and general caravanning.  As a professional and responsible organisation The Club provided ‘Getting Started’ information leaflets as it would to any prospective or existing caravanner.

However, Mr Clarkson disputed the procedure for reducing or avoiding ‘a snake’, The Caravan Club’s guidelines of taking your foot off the accelerator and gently decelerating are correct and have been rigorously and independently tested by researchers at the University of Bath.

The Club’s advice to counter instability by gently reducing speed is both a safer and ultimately a more effective measure.  When correctly matched to the towcar, correctly loaded, and sensibly driven, there should be very few if any circumstances when caravan instability will occur even to a moderate extent, and The Club’s advice on driving technique will rapidly and safely correct any minor problems.

On a factual note, the overall winner of The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Competition in 2006 was the Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDi XE and  the Kia Cerato 1.5 CRDi GS was in fact the Under £13,500 class winner.  Care should always be taken to ensure car and caravan outfits are correctly matched adhering to The Club’s 85% kerbweight recommendation to ensure optimum towing safety and capability.

The Caravan Club’s aim of ensuring quality and balanced media reporting remains, as was the case with the BBC Breakfast News coverage on 6th July.

If you would like to register your views with the BBC regarding the item on Top Gear, the number is 08700 100 200, email www.bbc.co.uk/feedback/ or write to ‘BBC Complaints’, PO Box 1922, Glasgow G2 3WT 

Sleepers to Stump Up

Motorhome users who overnight in the rest areas of Portuguese motorways are to incur an extra charge of 50 Euros if their stay exceeds 12 hours.

Motorway Tolls in Austria

Tolls are to be introduced on Austrian motorways for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. The start date will be 1st November 2003, if the necessary technical equipment is in place by then, or 1st January 2004.
Charges will be on a per km. basis (15.6 cents for 2-axle, 21.8 cents for 3-axle vehicles). That’s respectively about £1.70 and £2.40 per 10 miles at current exchange rates. On those stretches where in the past one-off tolls have been levied, such as then Brenner and Tauern Tunnel, a higher per km. toll will apply in place of the separate payment.
Users of affected vehicles will have to buy a small sensor unit (5 Euros) from filling stations, motorway service areas or toll stations. There is the option to charge up the unit with credit, as with a phone card, or to have payments collected via a credit card account.
Users of vehicles of less than 3.5 tonnes will, as previously, have to purchase a vignette to use the motorways.

Drivers are to be charged £2 to use a new stretch of motorway in a move sparking fear of tolls being put on every road in Britain. It will be the first time people will have been charged on a UK motorway and driving groups call it another unfair tax on motorists.
The 27-mile new road, opening next January, is a by-pass to the jammed M6 near Birmingham. Drivers will choose to stay on the old M6 or pay to use the by-pass.
Lorry drivers will pay £5 on the by-pass, built for £800 million by an Australian-Italian consortium and operated by Midland Expressway. Industry experts predict the move will encourage the Government to introduce tolls on the M25 and motorways around Edinburgh, following the decongestion charge in London.
A government report announced last month outlined plans for ‘distance charging’ of trucks, depending on weight and miles traveled, from 2006. It is likely to be offset by a diesel duty cut. But, there is unlikely to be any such concession for private vehicles drivers.
Tony Blair’s key transport adviser, Professor David Begg, has said he wants drivers to be charged for using every road in the country. The AA’s Paul Watters says: “The Government is likely to run into a lot of opposition if it tries to charge for using the M25, which has been paid for through taxes.”
Edmund King, of the RAC Foundation, said: “The M6 toll road and the congestion charge in London will make the Government think the motorist has been softened-up towards road charging. But our research shows that drivers will only accept limited road charging if it is accompanied by cuts in fuel duty and other transport costs.”
The new road, between Colshill and Cannock, will have toll-booth near either end. Drivers will pay by cash or credit card.

A ROYAL CONVERT TO CARAVANNING

On June 10th the Earl of Wessex visited Wales as the Royal family traveled all over the country to support a British tourism day. He visited four attractions in the Brecon Beacons including Brynich Caravan Park at Brecon, Powys, finalists in last year’s Calor Gas awards.
Confessing that he had never been in one before, Prince Edward accepted an invitation to see inside the caravan of some holidaymakers from Cheshire.
“This is fantastic!”, the Earl said, astonished at what could be packed into such a tiny space.
Tourism generates £6 million per day for Wales and employs 10% of the workforce. The tourist industry has been hard hit by the aftermath of September 11th, the recent war and SARS as well as foot and mouth – this is the first time so many senior royals have joined together to back a single campaign.