David Bellamy – a champion of green holiday parks
As the sad news of David Bellamy’s death reaches us, we at Caravan Industry & Park Operator take a look at how the environmentalist and botanist laid the foundations for a greener attitude to holidaying in the UK. David Bellamy OBE was a regular face on TV since the late 60s, when he was interviewed after the Torrey Canyon disaster struck – an oil tanker ran aground between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and David, then an ecology lecturer at Durham University, was on hand to discuss the impact of the spillage with John Craven. He later said of Torrey Canyon: “Many lessons were learnt and are still being learnt. It was probably the first time that words like environment and conservation were voiced on the media, later to become so commonplace.” David Bellamy Conservation Awards David lent his name to the environmental awards which have been given to holiday parks across the country which have worked hard on the conservation of the natural environment. He said in 2010: “We started the awards in 1997. I went around to goodness knows how many caravan parks trying to get across the importance of natural history and biodiversity – although we didn’t call it ‘biodiversity’ in those days. At the start, we audited 100 of them, assessing their impact on the environment “And I was amazed. There were so many super places. We soon found that people were very proud of their natural surroundings – all the wild flowers, rabbits, squirrels, even dragonflies. They were proud of having them. They were doing my job for me. “I thought the award scheme might run for a couple of seasons – but it has been going ever since.” Holiday parks strived to become members of this prestigious club and those who achieved their awards could proudly state that they were putting nature first in their parks – a huge draw for eco-conscious customers. One recent award included Stonerush Lakes near Looe, which won a gold David Bellamy award for careful management of the lakes, and also of the extensive native hedging which provides habitats and food resources for wildlife. David also highlighted the large areas of high pollen-bearing wild flowers which provide vital foraging for endangered honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators. David wrote many scientific papers and books and was a familiar face on TV as he appeared on both his own shows and as a guest on many more. In later years, David’s controversial views on climate change were criticised and he said there was no scientific proof that global warming was down to human activity. David said that campaigners had exaggerated the effects of CO2. His TV career dwindled following his comments although David continued to work as a conservation champion across the globe. Caravan Industry & Park Operator editor Victoria Galligan said: “David’s enthusiastic, eccentric image and distinctive fluffy beard made him a well-loved, recognisable and approachable person and he will be sadly missed by many who, like me, grew up watching him on TV. He was a real inspiration for viewers to think more carefully about the environment and our impact on it. He wasn’t afraid to shy away from what he believed in – although many disagreed!” David, who died aged 86 yesterday, 12th December 2012, leaves five grown-up children and was a grandad. His wife Rosemary died last year. Photo: Century Books
Truvox Supplies Floorcare Machines To Caravan Parks
Truvox International Ltd is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of commercial and industrial floorcare machines, based in Southampton, England. Meeting the needs of a wide range of markets including healthcare, education, leisure, and facility managers, Truvox works directly and indirectly through a network of dedicated dealers based across the UK and worldwide. Truvox began producing electric polishing machines in the early 1960s, and has continued to innovate, developing a suite of machines designed to streamline cleaning and maintenance of hard and soft floors. These range from vacuums to escalator sweepers and air movers, but Truvox technology leads the market in three main areas: • Scrubber dryers – the Multiwash has long been the most popular model in this range across a variety of sectors. Highly valued for its versatility, it can wash, scrub and dry hard and soft floors in a single pass. In its latest cordless form, the Multiwash 340/Pump Battery provides even greater flexibility. • Single-disc rotaries – the Orbis range is truly comprehensive, with machines for stripping, scrubbing, wet and dry polishing and shampooing. Orbis rotaries are economical, versatile and powerful enough for the toughest floorTruvox Floorcare Machines maintenance demands. • Carpet extraction – These machines can remove the most challenging stains. The Hydromist line-up caters for users’ various priorities, whether that is large area cleaning or upholstery, or spray extraction alone or combined with brushing. • Vacuums – the VTVe, a compact and manoeuvrable tub vacuum and the Valet Battery Upright II which is a cordless upright vacuum are reliable, easy to use and ideal for when customers are present. Also in the range is the Valet BackPack vacuum that is lightweight and ideal for vacuuming in confined areas. Truvox also offers Cimex three-brush technology, the most effective technique for cleaning floors, whether for scrubbing, polishing or restoring carpets through encapsulation of embedded dirt.
Arccan – 15 years as the shade & shelter specialists
We have been designing and supplying quality shade structure for the last fifteen years – we install our structures throughout the UK as well as any location in the World. We now have available forty standard pre-engineered tensile fabric structures in a number of sizes, including hypars, barrelvaults & cones – sails, walkways, entrance canopies, umbrellas (central post and cantilever), single pitch, stand-alone & lean-to, all available in a wide range of fabrics and colours with steel finishes including galvanising, polyester powder coating and epoxy painting We also supply bespoke tensile fabric structures – our design department uses the latest CAD programs to create models for customer approval, we then carry out structural analysis to ensure that they will withstand the worst possible weather conditions and by manufacturing and installing them to exacting standards most models will have a life-expectancy of over 25 years. We now supply retractable awnings, lean-to verandas, retractable pergolas & bioclimatic pergolas with rotating louvred roofs. These structures are manufactured in Italy so have great flair and quality, motorised models have Somfy actuators and all support frames are in aluminium for a long maintenance-free lifespan. New to our range are aluminium framed lean-to and stand-alone shelters with glass and polycarbonate roofs – toughened glass, self-cleaning glass, solid polycarbonate or structured polycarbonate roofs to suit all needs. Key points for the shade structure: All structures are warranted for ten years We install throughout the World We offer an aftercare, maintenance and cleaning service We can supply infra-red heating, LED lighting. Our CAD department is happy to design and engineer any component or structure to customers’ requirement Website – www.arccan.com Twitter – https://twitter.com/arccanshades LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/arccan-shade Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/arccanshades/
A Successful Holiday Park Innovation Show for 2019 and 2020 Plans
The Holiday Park Innovation Show has closed its doors for another year, but that doesn’t mean it’s over yet… Before we officially say goodbye to the Holiday Park Innovation Show 2019, we thought it was only right that we emphasise our fantastic achievements. We are so proud to have pulled this event off, and are looking forward to making the show even better for next year. Find out some of our biggest achievements, hear some astounding testimonials, and find out what our plans for 2020 are! All this will be disclosed right here, so read on for more… Facts and Figures From the Show We have been blown away with the feedback we received from our show, and have put together some stats from the questionnaires and emails we sent out. Firstly, our leisure, hospitality and tourism shows altogether welcomed 17,890 visitors, which was a massive 27 percent increase from last year! Within the Holiday Park Innovation Show alone, our visitors held job titles which could be best described as: ● Holiday Park Director, CEO or Founder: 33% ● Business Development Manager/Director: 15% ● Campsite Owner: 21% ● Leisure Centre Director: 3% ● Marketing, Advertising, PR and Social Media Managers: 16% ● Operations, Booking Services and Customer Relations: 5% ● Holiday Park Food and Beverage Services: 7% Out of these attendees, 90 percent are hoping to attend the 2020 show. This comes as no surprise when we consider that 70 percent of visitors said meeting exhibitors was the most beneficial element of the event. When it comes to our exhibitors, over 96 percent have said they are happy with the diversity of the visitors, bringing new business opportunities and leads. In fact, directly after the show, 66 percent of exhibitors confirmed they would be doing business with visitors, and 34 percent were in discussion with potential buyers about future business. Due to this, 85 percent of exhibitors have already re-booked for 2020! What Did Our Exhibitors Have to Say? Overall, we had a lot of positive feedback from our exhibitors, and we really wanted to share with you some of these amazing comments: ● Sutton Hospitality – Alex Sutton: “We’ve had a very successful experience, speaking to landowners and farmers. Overall, it’s been a great success for us.” ● Holiday Let Furnishings Ltd – Rachel Conroy, Director: “We decided to increase the size of our stand this year in a better more central location. It has paid off, as there has hardly been a minute of the show that we haven’t had visitors at our stand. The quality of leads has been very promising. We have already reserved our stand for next year! Thank you to the very helpful Prysm team.” ● Fowler Revolution – David Randall, Sales Manager: “Good atmosphere, friendly staff, great footfall!” ● GPT Waste Management – Donna Liebernberg, Waste Solutions: “Lovely show, enjoyed the company of all our visitors.” ● EDSB Fire & Security – M. Solomon: “We found the show extremely rewarding, and met some excellent businesses.” ● Ecoknit Towels – John Balladon, Sales Director: “Well organised, very helpful and friendly staff, busy – plenty of diverse exhibitors.” ● Arleigh International – David Wood, Sales Rep: “Very interesting show, lots to see in a friendly environment.” ● Caravan Park Electrical Service Ltd – Ted Waring, Director: “Very impressed with the organisation and general layout of the show. Already re-booked for 2020!” ● NCC Benevolent – Melanie Day, Manager: “The HPI show provided a great platform to introduce the NCC Benevolent Fund to the industry; we were thrilled to be a charity partner.” Plans For Next Year’s Holiday Park Innovation Show In today’s modern world, the holiday park industry changes every day, so staying up-to-date with the latest consumer trends is ever-important. Due to this, we strive to make each year’s show better than the last, to ensure that our visitors get the necessary tools they require to improve their hospitality offerings. For next year’s show, we are capping the size, so that we can focus on the exhibitors we have, and on making the whole experience as useful as possible. With this in mind, we have a couple of new ideas up our sleeves, which we hope will make the day even more beneficial for our visitors and exhibitors. These include an awards ceremony stage, where we can showcase our amazing nominees, and their products and services, in front of a live audience. We would also like to put an emphasis on our Panel Debates, which proved to be a very popular fixture, by expanding our range of debates across each show. Want to Exhibit Next Year? Want to exhibit at next year’s show, at the NEC, Birmingham on 11th & 12th November? We’d love to welcome you into our community of exhibitors, so don’t hesitate to get in contact with the Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show Event Director, William Mansfield: ● Email: william.mansfield@prysmgroup.co.uk ● Phone: +44 (0)117 929 6087 Alternatively, if you want to visit, then stay tuned for our FREE tickets, which will be available to apply for very soon!
Still waters run risks – preventing legionella in caravan parks
In a caravan park, the only thing that you really want to be static is the caravans. You certainly don’t want any areas of your domestic water systems to be static, as Gary Nicholls, MD of legionella risk experts Swiftclean, explains. Legionella bacteria, a naturally occurring bacteria found in water courses, thrives in static water, especially in warmer weather, and it can multiply in pipework and water tanks, especially those which are not sufficiently shaded from sunlight and protected from solar heat gain. Keeping your water supply clean and free-flowing is essential to prevent the proliferation of Legionella bacteria and colonisation of the water system. Exposure to this contaminated water (through inhalation of contaminated water droplets) could have the potential to cause Legionnaire’s Disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia, with initial ‘flu-like’ symptoms occurring which would become progressively worse in individuals that have a higher susceptibility because of age, illness, immunosuppression, smoking etc. The legal responsibilities of a property manager or owner in respect to legionella risk management and control are spelt out in L8, the Approved Code of Practice and guidance on Legionnaire’s disease (fourth edition), issued by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). The main focus of the current version of the L8 code is on; risk assessment requirements; responsibilities of the Responsible Person; the control scheme; the review of control measures; and duties and responsibilities of those involved in the supply of water systems. Each organisation should appoint a competent person under the law, known as the Responsible Person, who must understand and carry out your legal obligations in preventing legionella. This Responsible Person has a number of specific responsibilities which help to fulfil the obligations to provide a safe environment under general health & safety law. This applies to employers, landlords and certainly to those overseeing a caravan park of any description. These responsibilities are designed to ensure that suitable precautions are taken to prevent or control the risk of Legionella proliferation and exposure. As part of those responsibilities, you are required to identify and assess any sources of risk; to manage those risks, (which might include cleaning and remedial work); to prevent or control any risks (which might include making sure that tanks are shaded from direct sunlight); and you must keep accurate and detailed records of all the actions that you take to prevent and control the risk of legionella. Accurate record keeping is essential, as it protects the property manager as much as the users of the water system. For this reason, the role of the Responsible Person should also be clearly outlined. The first step towards compliance is an up to date risk assessment, in which you should identify any areas where water can remain static. Installers can be critical in identifying ‘dead legs’ in water systems, which may occur when pipework has been altered to remove a water outlet such as a shower, a sink or even a stand pipe. Water can ‘sit’ in dead ends of pipework, stagnating and providing the ideal conditions for legionella bacteria proliferation; so these dead ends should be removed to enable water to travel through every part of the water system, with no static areas. Dead ends typically occur in properties whose pipework has been changed over the years; so if your site has been reconfigured or vans have been moved, it is essential to ensure that the revised pipework has no dead legs and that water can circulate freely through every part. If you make even minor amends to the pipework, you will need a new risk assessment. Some caravan parks have a built-in legionella risk factor – seasonal occupancy. If you have caravans or park homes which are unoccupied for weeks at a time, the water in their pipework will inevitably be static for long periods, risking the development of legionella bacteria. This will also be the case in year-round occupied homes if a tenant or owner leaves and there is a period of several weeks or more before a new occupant moves in. When letting or selling property to new tenants, it is now vital for the landlord or freeholder to ensure that the water supply is clean and healthy. If a property or water system has been unused for some weeks, the water should be tested for the presence of legionella bacteria and the system thoroughly and safely flushed before use. This means running taps, showers etc. and flushing toilets to ensure a good turnover of water. If you have a camping section adjacent to a caravan park, with communal toilet and shower facilities, don’t forget that these will also need regular flushing and must be covered by the risk assessment. Most importantly, this flushing should be conducted without the generation of spray and preferably should be done before any cleaning teams enter the building. Ironically, they are often the most vulnerable to infection after a period in which water has been static for some time. Legionella control is designed to protect residents, staff and visitors alike. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act and COSHH Regulations there are severe penalties for failing to comply with L8. The Responsible Person can be prosecuted if found to be negligent, and in the case of a death from legionella, this can result in a custodial sentence. The organisation itself can also be prosecuted, and unlimited fines can be imposed, as we have seen in cases of legionella outbreaks in UK hospitals over the years. If you have cold water tanks, these should also form a key part of your risk assessment. In the design and installation of water systems, consideration should be given to shading water tanks and protecting them from the effects of solar gain, and it should be possible to drain them completely if needed. We recommend checking water tanks periodically, at least annually, to make sure that they are free of insects and vermin such as pigeons, squirrels and rats. The structural condition of
Johnsons helps make happy holidays with recent plant supply
Johnsons Whixley, one of the UK’s leading commercial nurseries, will help people enjoy even happier holidays after supplying plants to a £1m transformation scheme at a holiday park. North-Yorkshire based Johnsons supplied more than 4,000 plants worth a total of £22,000 to the Hoburne Naish Holiday Park in Hampshire. Included in the delivery were more than 2,000 shrubs and 21 varieties of grasses. In partnership with renowned holiday park operator and developer Hoburne Limited, Johnsons provided stock including a wide variety of grasses, shrubs, hedging and herbaceous plants. Situated on the clifftop with breath-taking sea views, the site combines the very best of coastline and countryside, from sandy beaches to picnics in the nearby New Forest. The holiday park has recently undergone a significant refurbishment of its leisure and entertainment complex, with its family-friendly dining area and improved public spaces, and the design-led regions with comfortable seating options. Attractions also include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna and on-site brasserie, along with adventure golf, a multi-sports games arena and play areas for children of all ages. The park includes a new development of luxurious holiday homes, set in design-led landscaped areas and offering sea views across to the isle of Wight. In total, Hoburne has spent £6m on giving each of its seven-holiday parks in the South West a facelift. Ellie Richardson, marketingco-ordinator for Johnsons, said: “We are delighted to have contributed a substantial number of plants to help revamp the Hoburne Naish holiday park. Holidays are a very special time for people, full of relaxation, and we hope we can play our part in ensuring visitors have a happy and memorable time amid glorious surroundings.” Mark Preston, Director of Hoburne Properties added “we have been delighted by both the quality of the stock and the level of service we have received from Johnsons, and the feedback from our holidaymakers and owners regarding their first impressions of the recently developed areas has been nothing but complimentary. We look forward to working with Johnsons on some exciting projects we have lined up for this coming winter across our parks”. www.nurserymen.co.uk
Huck Nets Make Play An Adventure For All
The innovative range of purpose designed rope and net play equipment from Dorset-based Huck Nets is guaranteed to make every playground an adventure. It is a popular feature in many parks and playgrounds across the UK and Europe. Huck Nets world-renowned rope and netting is integrated into much of their play equipment. Being manufactured mostly of rope and timber it is ideally suited to outdoor natural play environments. Every element has been designed to allow children’s imaginations to run wild and to give free rein to their natural urge to be active. There are various climbing elements such as climbing pyramids, jungle bridges, net ramps, rope ladders and tunnels, an impressive range of individual and group swings, trampolines, hammocks and aerial runways. Each play system comes with a wide range of different structural design elements in every shape and colour that will blend harmoniously into virtually any adventure landscape. One of the best examples is their rope adventure courses. Hammocks, rope ladders and wobble swings all make use of their strong and durable rope. They also have a great selection of rope net pyramids, scramble nets and climbing ropes, as well as a selection of Bird Nest Trees. At the core of the Birds Nest Tree series is the original HUCK Bird’s Nest® – a round close-meshed basket with a base shaped to form a nest and a steel ring wound round with rope. It is the perfect edition to any outdoor playground and provides a climbing element to complement ground-based play like trampolines and swings. Their outdoor range also includes a fantastic selection of inclusive play equipment. On offer is a l range of obstacle-free play equipment such as swings with safety seats, hammocks and trampolines. The swing has large flat and upright seats to invite people to get moving.The climbing equipment is low enough for children to enjoy climbing regardless of their mobility level. Huck’s Rolli trampoline has been designed for wheelchair users. It has sloping edge panels to enable the surface level trampoline to be accessed safely and easily. An accompanying person can also stand in direct contact with the wheelchair user if required. Alongside, Huck offer a full installation and maintenance service for new and existing outdoor and indoor play areas. Their team will carry out simple repairs to netting, replace worn-out netting and/or equipment, or can work with you to completely refurbish the play area. For information on Huck ’s range of play equipment and their supporting design and installation services call 01308 425100 or email sarah.reynolds@hucknetting.co.uk.
Navigating Insurance Claims
Making an insurance claim should be relatively straightforward, but there are things that can complicate the process. Delays in the resolution of a claim can cost a park business money. In the worst-case scenario a claim may be rejected altogether. The following top tips from Compass illustrates what park owners and managers can do to ensure that their claims experiences run as smoothly as possible. Read your policy! Different providers offer different covers and all insurers revise their policies from time to time, so it’s important to check: • policy terms, conditions, excesses, restrictions and inner sub limits • the accuracy of your Sums Insured amounts – If you’re not confident to make a valuation of your business assets, the best people to advise on re-building costs are RICS qualified quantity or building surveyors • automatic reinstatement of Sums Insured after claim. Claims service Some providers are much better than others at responding to claims, especially under emergency conditions. Consider: • reputation – ask other park owners and managers which providers they would recommend for their claims service • insurers that run a UK-based dedicated in-house claims team, manned by trained and experienced specialists • insurers that offer a 24/7/365 emergency response service • insurers with strong experience of managing worst-case (disaster) scenarios • insurers that have access to a wide network of the specialist service providers and suppliers that may be required to resolve your claim • those who employ AEs – a good insurance account executive (AE) will help in terms of claims delivery, especially in an emergency. • those that may be able to make interim/advanced claims payments for large-scale, expensive claims. Keep in touch It’s very important to let your insurer know about any changes made to your business as and when they occur to avoid under-insurance (see more information below). A good rule of thumb is to always tell your insurer what you tell your accountant. Speed and evidence The sooner you let your insurer know about a claim the better. Find out who you will need to contact, how to contact them, and any relevant timescales. The more information you can provide your insurer with in relation to a claim the better. Do what you can to help by taking photographs, gathering witness statements, recording the time, location, weather conditions, keeping damaged goods, etc. Your insurer will be able to elaborate on this basic list on a case-by-case basis. Keep up-to-date records Parks need to understand their legal responsibilities and keep evidence to show that they are adhering to them. If this evidence isn’t up-to-date and available, an insurer may be unable to defend a park business against a claim. And while we’re talking about record-keeping, ensure your insurance policy documents are kept safe and in a location where they can be accessed by relevant staff members as required. Sensible business management Sometimes it’s easier for a park’s maintenance team to manage remedial/reparation works. Keeping spares of parts and equipment that is vital to day-to-day operations, especially when these items cannot be quickly replaced, is also practical. Consider additional cover Protecting yourself, your staff and your business against claims won’t always begin and end with a commercial policy. It will sometimes be appropriate for a park to take out additional covers, e.g. Business Interruption and Directors’ & Officers’ cover. Speak to your provider for more information. Don’t under-insure! Whether deliberate or not, park owners and managers need to be aware that if they are under-insured, their insurer will not automatically pay out the full cost of a claim. Instead they may apply a calculation which reduces the claim amount by the percentage they were under-insured by. For example, if a building is insured for £200,000, but its true rebuild cost is £400,000, an insurer will be quick to identify the fact that the building was only insured at 50% of its value. This means that only 50% of a claim may be met in the event of a loss. There are any number of ways that a park could find itself under-insured. Examples include: • if you haven’t had your park’s material assets professionally valued for insurance purposes in the last three years • you are now VAT registered • you are carrying more stock now than when you took out your insurance policy • you’ve altered or extended your park premises • you haven’t factored in replacement costs for (e.g.) gates, fences, car parking areas, roads and pathways etc. • you haven’t factored in the costs of professional fees such as an architect or surveyor • you haven’t factored in costs such as site clearance or access – particularly where your business might need, for example, a crane of heavy plant to help with remedial work because of the claim. As aforementioned under-insurance can present itself mid-term. Keep your insurer up-to-date to avoid this. Beware the impact of customer claims Park businesses shoulder an element of risk when it comes to their customers’ insurance cover. The bigger a customer’s loss, the bigger the potential impact upon the park business. In the worst-case scenario, where total losses occur and multiple insurance providers are involved, a park’s operations can be severely affected. The way in which some parks try to take some control over their destiny in this regard is to become an appointed representative or introducer appointed representative of an insurer provider they trust. This allows them to respectively sell or introduce an insurance product to their customers within the parameters of financial regulation. For further support on preventing claims and to hear more about our market leading 24/7/365 Major Incident support, please contact the Compass team on 0344 274 0277.
Competition – Stay safe on the winter roads with a Nextbase Dash Cam
Need an extra pair of eyes on the road this winter? The new Nextbase Dash Cam can be just that! As the nights draw in and the weather deteriorates, driving can become a challenge, especially if you are towing a caravan or driving a motorhome. But, Nextbase the leading and award-winning Dash Cam manufacturer has pioneered a world first in in-car technology with the launch of Emergency SOS mode in its Series 2 Dash Cams that aim to make your winter drives safer by acting as an independent witness to any such incidents – proving non-fault where necessary. Nextbase’s Series 2 range includes the 322GW; the world’s first Dash Cam with Emergency SOS, which ensures your journey is safer than ever before. It will alert the emergency services to your location in the event of the accident and send on crucial medical data to aid efficient treatment. A vastly upgraded 2.5” IPS HD touch screen for menu selection and playback provides the ultimate user experience. The 322GW is also compatible with the Nextbase Rear-View Camera Modules to add a second camera. Personalise your Dash Cam and choose one of 3 different rear camera views from Rear, Cabin or Rear Window view. Keep your stationary Caravans and Morothomes safe with it’s Intelligent Parking Mode. This automatically records any bump or physical movement on the vehicle when left unattended. This is an option that can be selected in the menu of EVERY new Series 2 Nextbase Dash Cam. As soon as you park and your ignition is turned off, the Dash Cam will automatically switch into “parking mode” by shutting down everything except the G Force sensor. The sensitivity of the G force sensor is then increased dramatically. Key features: 1080p HD resolution at 60 fps, 2.5” HD IPS touch screen, 140° viewing angle, 10Hz GPS Module, AutoSync, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi via MyNextbase Connect and PC/Mac software – MyNextbase Player. More information can be found about the Nextbase cams here: https:// www.nextbase.com/en-gb/dash-cams/322gw-dash-cam/ To be in with a chance of winning both Nextbase Series 2 322GW RRP: £99 Nextbase Rear- View camera RRP: £49 and 32GB U3 microSD Card RRP: £20 CLICK HERE and answer the question!
