Is dog waste an issue on your land? It’s a foul subject…
Dog waste is a problem that we see on private property, public open spaces, parks, communities, beach fronts, woodland and areas of natural beauty. The irony of something that does naturally biodegrade being placed in a single use plastic bag is hugely problematic. To tackle the growing number of dog owners who fall foul of the law, TiksPac are now working with landowners and councils across the UK. A survey of these areas measured a 60% decrease in dog fouling complaints on average and a 50% decrease in in overall littering in the same areas. Supplying 5 countries, 7000 stations across landowners and 26 million 100% biodegradable and fully compostable bags a year, Tikspac is leading the fight to remove single use plastic and protect community space in a positive way. Tikspac solution not only cleans up your land, it gives a positive message to your visitors and is a huge benefit to the environment. The dispensers hold 100 per cent compostable and biodegradable dog waste bags which are free and accessible 24/7. The idea is aimed at those who have forgotten to bring dog bags with them, as well as those who have a sense of community and are willing to clear up in their area. RibbyHall Holiday Park said: “While most dog walkers realise the importance of picking up after their pets, there is a small minority who are giving others a bad name. “The new stations provide free bags for those pet owners that need encouragement to use them. They have proved extremely popular in our holiday park in Blackpool in the 2 years that we have Come and visit us on Stand No H612 to find out more at the Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show at the NEC on November 6th and 7th 2019 to find out more. www.tikspac.co.uk dogsolutions@tikspac.co.uk
Wales park brings medical lifeline to local community
Staff and the family owners of a mid Wales park were joined this month by local village residents for a training session in vital life-saving skills. It followed the recent installation on Warren Parc in Powys of a defibrillator, bought by the family-owned business following a series of successful fundraising events. Led by volunteers from the Welsh Hearts charity, the session showed how the new equipment could be used to save the life of a person suffering cardiac arrest.Available to holiday guests and the local community, the fully automated unit provides simple audio instructions which allow its use even by those with no medical experience. Julia Warren-Kyle, co-owner of Warren Parc, said the defibrillator could make a crucial difference, especially in summer when busier roads could delay the arrival of an ambulance. The park was helped in raising the £1000 cost of the equipment by owners of the 100 holiday caravans and lodges who attended the fetes and other special events staged over the past year: “The equipment is, of course, something which we hope will never be needed – but we are mindful of its life-saving potential, especially in a remote rural area,” said Julia, a former nurse. “Sudden cardiac arrest is a major killer in Britain, and a close-at-hand defibrillator on the park could dramatically increase a person’s life chances. “It will be available round-the-clock on the park to anybody living in or visiting the area, and will help to give everyone peace of mind,” she added. Julia is helped in the running of the park by her husband Neil, and it first started welcoming guests over 45 years ago after being established by Julia’s parents Ivan and Elizabeth. Based in the picture-postcard Dovey Valley near the market town of Machynlleth, the ten-acre park is just a short drive from some of Wales’s finest sandy beaches. The family’s care of the natural world has been praised by botanist David Bellamy who once again this year presented the park with his prestigious Conservation Award at its top gold level. Professor Bellamy made special mention of the many wild flowers and other high pollen-rich blooms which provide vital foraging for honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Helping to make Warren Parc as welcoming to wildlife as it is to human guests is groundsman Trefor Davies who first joined the park 30 years ago straight from a local school. Trefor’s dedication and hard work were celebrated at the recent medical training session with the presentation to him by the family of an Exceptional Service Award. The award is the highest honour given to outstanding park personnel by the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, the park industry’s professional body. Trefor lives in the nearby village of Penegoes with his wife Shelly, and is an enthusiastic volunteer with the Corris Vintage Steam Railway, Wales’s oldest narrow gauge railway. There is more information about Warren Parc on its website at www.warrenparc.co.uk
Legislation on air conditioning in sports facilities
Using the facilities at a gym or leisure centre will inevitably lead to sweat, whether through a workout or after a trip to the sauna. In order to avoid overheating, a well-maintained air conditioning unit can help during a rigorous exercise regime in order to improve performance. But what is the optimum temperature for your leisure facility? What legislation is in place to keep clients’ workouts at the optimal temperature? We explore the matter, as well as looking into the risks poor temperature control can pose to gym-goers. Duty of care In regards to the Health and Safety Executive, there are currently no established regulations that target gym or leisure centre temperatures specifically, although the generic health and safety legislation covers the vast majority of other safety requirements at the gym. So despite there being no fixed regulations which apply specifically to indoor leisure spaces, we can base an estimate upon the minimum workplace temperature requirements as an estimate to establish how we can achieve the optimum temperature for these environments. The Approved Code of Practice recommends 16°C as the base level for a workplace, with work requiring “rigorous physical effort” at 13°C. Again, this isn’t a legal requirement, but it gives an idea of what an optimum temperature is for comfortably engaging in physical activity. Take a look at these guidelines on optimum temperatures provided by Sport England, tailored to fitness and exercise spaces: • Fitness Gym – 16°C to 18°C (60°F to 64°F) in the summer, with “comfort cooling” as needed. • Studios – 18°C (64°F), with a slight summer rise acceptable. Risks of high temperatures in the gym When your gym is too hot, you are likely to have worked up a sweat before you even get going on your session. Plus, it’s a risky activity; dehydration and heat stroke are notable risks of working out in an overheated gym. But even just sweating too much can be a problem. We Be Fit notes that while over-sweating can cause gym-goers to notice an extra pound of weight loss at the end of their workout, the weight lost is fluids from sweating and will be negated with a drink. The article suggests that working out in an overheated gym for a long period can result in a 50% less effective workout! All that sweating for nothing. Risks of low temperatures in the gym While it’s unlikely that your gym will be too cold, this does happen sometimes and it is just as problematic as sweltering away in a poorly ventilated gym. My Inner Go produced some conclusions regarding the pros and cons of working out in a cold environment and found that chilly temperatures brought with it a higher risk of injury. This is because muscles tend to seize up in the cold (which is why warming up before physical activity is so important). The website offered a great analogy for cold muscles: consider them like Play-Doh! When Play-Doh gets cold, it goes stiff and doesn’t stretch, it just snaps. But warm Play-Doh is stretchy and flexible. How to keep gym and leisure centre temperatures perfectly regulated To maintain a gym’s temperature, the function of each room and the nature of the activity being carried out should be considered. Investing in an efficient, responsive air conditioning system will help regulate a comfortable temperature within the building. Working out in the most suitable environment will help you to get more out of each session, so keep customers feeling comfortable by monitoring your air conditioning unit and adjust it as necessary. If the gym starts to get a reputation for being freezing cold or too stuffy, gym goers will quickly turn to other establishments. MKM Acquires Leading HVAC Oceanair
WPL wins holiday park wastewater contract
Wastewater treatment specialist WPL has won a contract to provide onsite wastewater treatment at a holiday park in Cornwall. The underground installation at Juliots Well in North Cornwall will replace the existing septic tank and includes a WPL HiPAF (high performance aerated filter) modular treatment plant. Civil engineering specialist Aqua-Tech Consultancy made the initial contact with WPL and together the parties arranged a client visit to see a similar installation at Home Farm Holiday Centre in Somerset. The new 1,230 population equivalent system will process up to 181m3 wastewater per day without impeding on the site’s sweeping views of the Cornish landscape. WPL’s technical director, Andrew Baird, said, “WPL has a strong track record in providing wastewater treatment for sensitive locations where integration with the landscape and the expectations of visitors are top priorities. “We are very pleased with this contract win, which will meet the needs of this stunning site now and into the future as visitor numbers increase. We are already working in close collaboration with the client and consultant to understand the specific needs of Juliots Well and deliver the best value whole-life cost.” Design considerations include ensuring that the stringent Environment Agency effluent discharge permit for biological oxygen demand, suspended solids and ammonia is met. The system will also accommodate variations in load as visitor numbers rise in the peak season and fall in the winter months. Juliots Well Holiday Park is a rural retreat set in 33 acres of countryside near Camelford and is owned by South West Holiday Parks, part of the Worldteam Limited group. Installation of the full treatment system is taking place at the end of the 2019 holiday season. WPL will supply three biological treatment tanks and two final settlement tanks along with a flow measurement chamber with monitoring equipment. A global system for mobile communications (GSM) will be incorporated into a special control panel covering blowers, sludge pumps and a high-level alarm. An extra-large kiosk will house the controls and will feature a flashing alarm beacon. World team Limited’s managing director Josh Donald said, “We are passionate about providing our visitors with a first-class experience, while ensuring that we minimise our impact on the landscape and the environment. “The opportunity to see a similar WPL treatment system in operation has been very helpful in visualising the project. I look forward to seeing the new system in place and serving our customers as we grow.” www.wplinternational.com
High quality Fire and Carbon Monoxide alarms offered from Aico.
Aico, an Ei Company, is the market leader in domestic Fire and Carbon Monoxide protection, pioneering new technologies and offering high quality Fire and Carbon Monoxide alarms. All alarms have been designed, developed and manufactured at the Ei Electronics factory in Shannon, Ireland. Alarms meet UK and European standards and offer a wide range of sensor types to guarantee every home is protected. Each alarm is tested multiple times before leaving the factory ensuring quality in all of our alarms They recently supported Gas Safety Week, as part of their ongoing commitment to raising awareness of gas safety and Carbon Monoxide throughout the UK. While Carbon Monoxide is usually associated with domestic fossil fuel burning appliances, incidents and deaths can also occur in caravans. Faulty gas cookers, boilers, fires or petrol-powered generators can be a source of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Carbon Monoxide has been linked to deaths where people have moved gas and charcoal barbecues into tents and other enclosed spaces. When caravanning or camping, these enclosed spaces can cause Carbon Monoxide to build up to levels that can kill very quickly. Protect yourself by taking a Carbon Monoxide alarm with you. Aico has several educational materials available such as a pocket-sized guide to Carbon Monoxide Awareness and three short animated infographics.These can be found on their website. www.aico.co.uk/technical-support/guides-publications Tel: 01691 664100 Website: www.aico.co.uk Email: enquiries@aico.co.uk
Rhuddlan Holiday park is already good to go!
It’s not very often when a new site becomes available for a holiday park, with planning permission ready to go, in such a desirable area. North Wales is fast becoming the staycation destination of choice for the North West’s growing population. With easier and easier access 2 minutes away to the major road to the coast, the A55, this site is a great opportunity for someone to really make their mark from the ground up. The 4.5 acre (1.8 hectare) site is under 45 minutes from Chester and Snowdonia surrounded by beautiful farmland and a short walk to Rhuddlan Castle and the nature reserve. It has planning permission for 28 touring caravan pitches and 6 chalets with associated drainage and amenities, including buildings. Other attractions close by are the seaside towns of Prestatyn and Rhyl, Offas Dyke Footpath, Snowdonia National Park offering Zip World (the longest zip line in Europe) Surf Snowdonia Wavegarden (an inland surf lagoon) Conwy, with its stunning Castle 20 minutes away, all within easy driving distance of the site. Stuart Askey of Pure Residential and Commercial said; “All Planning, legal and pre commencement conditions have been met so it is now ready for someone to purchase the site and put their ideas into practice for a brand new leisure park facility in a stunning part of North Wales.” The site location is Oakleigh House Waen Road, Rhuddlan, Denbighshire, LL18 5RT. For further information email Stuart.Askey@purecommercial.co.uk or call 07788 145047.
Holiday parks – trendspotting for the 2020 season
As the ever-changing landscape of the tourism sector evolves at pace, editor Victoria Galligan catches up with industry experts to find out what holiday parks should be doing to draw in visitors for the 2020 season… If there was a crystal ball to predict what would be big in tourism in two or three years’ time, then I’m sure many of you would be clamouring after one so you could plan ahead and guarantee a fantastic return on investment. Pouring money into a park’s infrastructure, facilities and providing the entertainment which will prove a draw to customers both new and familiar usually pays off – but thanks to the changes in the economy, technology and standard of living which the UK has experienced over the past decade or so, parks need to be bang on trend to beat the competition in the booking stakes. This is where market research and sharing best practice comes in. Of course, every park is different and what attracts customers to one site may put off the regulars at another. But finding out what your customers want and need could mean the difference between a mediocre season and a great one. And looking around at the competition may give you a steer – even if it’s in a completely different direction! When it comes to the 2019 season Rod Tucker, MD of Hoburne Holidays which operates eight holiday parks across the south and south west of England, said when it comes to unit sales both ends of the market are looking healthy. Rod said: “We are currently seeing a lot of activity at the entry level and luxury end of the caravan sales market, with plenty of interest for high quality used caravans and lodges, which we anticipate carrying on into 2020. We expect the UK ‘staycation’ holiday trend to continue in 2020, due to the uncertainty of the economic climate.” Changing demographic of holiday park visitors Thanks to the rise of online booking, holiday prices can be compared quickly and easily – which is having an effect on holiday prices. Rod said: “In holiday rentals, people are becoming continually more price conscious and this is reflected in pressure on holiday prices. However, the recent issues at airports and the weakness of the pound continues to support the demand for UK holidays.” Rod said that although more and more grandparents are footing the bill for family holiday homes, the younger market is increasing too as large group breaks prove popular. He added: “We are seeing a wider range of age groups at our holiday parks across the holiday rental and holiday home sales markets, although the main trend in caravan and lodges sales continues to be grandparents buying holiday homes to share usage with their children and grandchildren. “There are many more younger people looking at our product than ever before and increasing demand for three and four bedroom caravans and lodges, reflecting the trend of extended families holidaying together, as well as groups of friends.” Ready Camp, operated by The Camping and Caravanning Club, have found that since the first appearance of glamping, the industry and accommodation continues to evolve at high speed – becoming more inventive and quirky to suit a range of customer needs. This shows no signs of slowing down, as more and more glamping opportunities surface, offering unique holiday experiences. With that comes an extremely competitive online marketplace. The team there said that continuous product enhancements and exceptional service will lead the way to a successful 2020 season. Meanwhile, Ready Camp’s coastal locations and the north of England continue to exceed on capacity. The most significant change the brand has seen is the number of units required for a single booking, with many customers now booking two or more tents at a time for friends and family. Fun – whatever the weather The demand for family entertainment is clearly growing and this provides the perfect opportunity for parks to offer activities which can rival other parks throughout the year. With a focus on health and wellbeing, many parks are investing in infrastructure to create long-lasting facilities such as running tracks, football pitches and tennis courts which can double up as event spaces. Rod said: “We are investing in more varied types of entertainment such as BMX demonstrations, cinema screenings and ‘party in the park’ events, which can be held outdoors if the weather permits.“ One answer to the ever-changing Great British weather problem is to ensure your indoor provision is top-class, says Rod: “We have been looking to weatherproof our holidays with park facilities so people can holiday with us whatever the weather. We have extended our opening season to 11 months per year to accommodate off-peak business, and owners are subsequently using their units much more and getting more use out of their investment. “Indoor swimming pools, leisure facilities, good entertainment, bars and restaurants all give holidaymakers and owners a great holiday experience all year round.” Some don’t like it hot! It’s not just the poor weather which is affecting park trends – Willerby has noticed a growing demand from customers for air-conditioning in its holiday homes and lodges, which is not surprising given that the UK is experiencing increasingly warmer weather throughout the year. Willerby’s latest model, the Vogue Classique, is the perfect example of the brand’s continued commitment to innovation and listening to its customers’ needs as air-conditioning is proving a key selling point for customers. Karolyn Charles, 49, from Stourbridge, West Mids, was the very first customer to own a Vogue Classique and said it was the air-conditioning facilities that ultimately swayed her decision. She explained that this feature would not only make a huge difference for her and her partner, but also for their 12-year-old Dalmatian who has struggled in previous heatwaves. Not only has Willerby noticed a rise in customers requesting air conditioning, but research carried out last year for Mintel’s Camping & Caravans UK report highlighted a rise in people opting for pet-friendly holidays
Making the fuel switch to ground source heat pumps
Stephanie Gregory, Director of Marketing, the Kensa Group, on why ground source heat pumps are the future of sustainable heating… Owners and operators of holiday and leisure parks could be saving thousands in energy costs and generating a profitable additional income stream by adopting renewable heating options. With many park sites being without access to mains gas, energy sources are often limited to more expensive and carbon intensive electricity, oil or LPG. However in light of UK Parliament passing a motion declaring an ‘environment and climate emergency’, UK businesses will need to make significant changes to their approach to energy in order to reduce their environmental impact, and help the UK achieve net zero carbon targets by 2050. One quick and easy way to achieve this is by switching from fossil fuels to low carbon heating. The lowest carbon heating solution is ground source heat pumps. By producing three to four times more heat energy than the electricity they consume, and with the growing decarbonisation of the electricity grid owing to increased contributions from wind, solar PV and hydro, ground source heat pumps carbon footprint is continually diminishing. The efficiency of ground source heat pumps provides more than just carbon savings; crucially for businesses it also provides running cost savings, and maintenance savings; energy bills are effectively reduced by a third. It is due to the efficiency and carbon benefits of ground source heat pumps that Government pays the highest tariff for owners of the technology via the Non Domestic Renewable Heat Incentives (RHI); for businesses, this provides a 20 year guaranteed quarterly income – the RHI is in place until 2021. The free and constantly replenished energy extracted from land or water sources by ground source heat pumps can be used to fulfil the heating and cooling requirements from single units to multiple buildings, as well as commercial processes, all year round. Fuelled by ease of planning, many ground source heat pump schemes feature clusters of holiday accommodation. Kensa Heat Pumps, the UK’s dedicated manufacturer – and number one supplier – of ground source heat pumps, has designed the ‘Shoebox Heat Pump’ with smaller dwellings in mind. Perfect for lodges or chalets, the Shoebox is small and quiet, and so can be installed inside the dwelling occupying minimal space. By installing individual ground source heat pumps inside each dwelling connected to communal pipework, rural businesses will receive fixed Non Domestic RHI payments based on deemed energy usage, avoiding the headaches that many with metered biomass systems will be familiar with. Furthermore, the communal pipework, pioneered by Kensa as ‘Shared Ground Loop Arrays’, an advancement in Fifth Generation District Heating, reduces ground work costs. The individual ground source heat pumps can operate independently, receive their own energy bills, and if required, switch energy supplier. Ground source heat pump systems can also be easily integrated with existing electric renewable technologies and battery storage, allowing rural business owners to become more self-sufficient. Many entrepreneurs are also using ground source technology to diversify their businesses, utilising surplus electricity to provide heat energy for new business opportunities. For more information on ground source heat pumps, see www.kensaheatpumps.com
Smart housekeeping saves holiday parks £30k a year
For every park operator there are key stages to generating customer satisfaction. The welcoming reception staff, the immediate availability of the unit and that unit’s spotless presentation are three of them. Get that right and (barring unforeseen disasters!) a five-star rating is on its way. Smart Housekeeping is a new service offered by Godfrey Group Facilities that delivers the latter two of those three key demands by providing high quality cleaning, exceptional hygiene and environmental standards and real time reporting of performance and progress. Maintenance issues are notified every change- over day to allow for remedial work to be quickly instigated so minimising potential delays. Health and Safety compliance issues are recorded with all records being instantly available for inspection. It could save an operators £30,000 per year! Operating in partnership with park operators, Smart Housekeeping provides a designated site manager who ensures that the work of all cleaning staff is checked before handover, that staffing levels reflect weekly operational demands and if required, the smooth transition of staff via fully compliant Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations. Pricing includes a Time-Stamped Reporting System, all cleaning staff costs including wages, pension liability, sick pay, holiday entitlement and employer’s liability insurance. All PPE, uniforms, equipment, material, radios, recruitment and training, HSE requirements and personnel management issues are also included. Having saved that substantial overhead cost, Smart Housekeeping then looks to ensure that it makes a contribution to the park operator’s own brand standing. The risks of cross contamination ruining a customer’s holiday experience are reduced by the rigorous application of colour-coded cloths. All cleaning products are safe for use with septic tanks and water consumption is reduced by the use of smart mop systems.– Of course only commercial grade cleaning equipment is used ensuring thorough cleaning, fewer breakdowns and the essential perception of overall professional service that reflects holiday parks’ own standing. Costs are transparent – ranging from £32.00 for a two-bed caravan to £129.00 for a six-bed, two-storey lodge. These charges need to be taken in the context of the potential savings from the costs of the existing cleaning provision. The operator has no capital expenditure requirement on cleaning equipment, no material costs, a much reduced HR and payroll requirement and, perhaps most importantly, they are not incurring excessive and inefficient levels of staff costs in the inevitable low-demand periods. Given the difficulties in recruiting reliable cleaning operatives, retaining good staff on an annual basis is completely understandable. However, those staffing levels are designed to meet the demands of maximum occupancy. They are wholly unnecessary and very expensive when occupancy is low. Matching staff required to occupancy levels is something that a nationally operating business such as Smart Housekeeping can cope with much more easily and the subsequent savings are passed back to the operator in the charging annual system. The average annual saving across our existing customer base has been calculated as being an astonishing £30,000 per annum. Does it work? Well the comments for two of our industry’s leading operators suggest they at least they are convinced: “Godfrey Group Smart Housekeeping has worked in partnership with Darwin Escapes consistently over the last 5 years.” Drew Campbell, Darwin Escapes “Godfrey Group are our preferred choice for Housekeeping.” Gary Molloy, Leisure Resorts Now remember we spoke of a welcoming reception on arrival. Well the following quote shows that Smart Housekeeping might be able to help there too! “They have taken so much of the repetitive, time-consuming work from my desk I feel I can really get down to improving the park’s customer offer and profile. Which is what I really want to do.” LC, Leisure Resorts For more information, please contact Godfreygrp.co.uk Photo: Godfrey Group Facilities’ Jo-Anne Stubbs (Finance Manager), Andrew Godfrey (MD) and Dave Saxon (Business Manager)
