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NEW PASSENGER VEHICLE FOR PARK LIFE

Posted on November 4, 2024

The latest electric passenger vehicle for holiday parks has arrived in the UK, bringing with it a focus on quality and comfort.

From turfcare manufacturer Toro, the Vista passenger vehicle is available with seating options for four, six or eight passengers, and is already being noticed on the UK racing scene as the passenger vehicle of choice to travel the British Touring Car Championships circuits with MB Sports driver Jake Hill and his team.

Holiday park owners will particularly like its smart look, quiet operation and speed. It can travel up to 16 miles per hour and there’s the option to place the vehicle in eco or performance mode at the flip of a key switch. As Jake says: “It’s nippy, fast and streamlines operations. Being able to accommodate eight passengers means we don’t need to leave people standing at the gate for as long.”

The Vista boasts a sturdy frame design, ample storage, cargo-enabled fold-down rear seats and a lightweight cargo bed for luggage and independent suspension. And there are several accessories available to further enhance comfort, including an optional canopy for weather protection and a folding windscreen.

The display scene clearly shows the hour metre, battery level indicator, estimated charge time, gear indicator, speedometer, and diagnostic fault codes. But what is particularly appealing about the Vista is its HyperCell battery system, which has been designed with an integrated Battery Management System to extend life and allow the batteries to communicate with each other for the utmost efficiency.

And you don’t need to remove the batteries to charge them, there are onboard chargers, so all you need to do is plug in to the nearest wall outlet.

Reesink UK Ltd
01480 226800
www.reesink-evehicles.co.uk

CELEBRATIONS FOR FAMILY’S FIFE HOLIDAY PARK

Posted on November 4, 2024

Above: THOMAS AND MAGDALENE WALLACE with their sons Alan and Tommy with their impressive celebration cake.

Forty years of providing first-class holiday experiences in Scotland were celebrated in July by members of the Wallace family, owners of Pettycur Bay Holiday Park in Kinghorn, Fife. Thomas and Magdalene Wallace with their sons Alan and Tommy together acquired the 47-acre site - with its sweeping views across the Firth of Forth - in 1984.

Since then, the family has invested much time and energy into creating a highly acclaimed park destination providing a host of top-quality visitor attractions. Their reward has been to see year-on-year increases in visitor numbers to the park’s 600 privately owned and rented holiday caravans, plus many regional and national tourism awards.

The park also includes the four-star Bay Hotel, and all guests have use of facilities such as a modern leisure centre with pool and sauna, restaurant, and extensive children’s activities. Pettycur Bay has also become very well known to viewers of BBC Scotland which for three years has made the park the star of its observational documentary “Life on the Bay”.

The popular series captures the spirit of happy holiday life at the resort from the perspectives of everyone involved, including the Wallace family and their staff and guests. The park’s anniversary year will see further new facilities and attractions introduced, including the development of eleven luxury holiday apartments in its grounds.

Pettycur Bay Holiday Park
www.pettycur.co.uk

CUMBRIA COUPLE CELEBRATES VISITENGLAND’S TOP 100 RECOGNITION

Posted on November 4, 2024

Rachael and Ian Gowing from Kirkby Stephen are thrilled after their holiday business, Pennine View Park, was named one of Britain’s top accommodation providers by VisitEngland. The park received this year’s ROSE award, recognising exceptionally high quality standards.

The accolade was presented by Lady Victoria Borwick at a special ceremony in Newbury, Berkshire. Rachael, a former Red Bull events organizer, launched the park in 2017, with Ian leaving his construction job to join her. They transformed a former railway yard into a premier holiday destination. Pennine View Park has achieved a five-star grading from VisitEngland and is shortlisted for Cumbria Tourism’s Holiday Park of the Year in 2024.

The park, which includes 80 pitches for campers and touring caravans, has also added cozy timber glamping pods. The couple opened The Engine Shed, a family bar converted from an old railway goods shed, featuring outdoor seating and a street-food inspired menu with live music events.

Now among the top 100 businesses recognised by VisitEngland, the ROSE award highlights their commitment to providing an exceptional experience for guests. Rachael expressed pride in this recognition, emphasising that it reflects not just the park’s facilities but also the warmth and hospitality of their team.

“We’re already receiving bookings for next year, with many guests returning or coming through personal recommendations,” she noted.

Pennine View Park
www.pennineviewpark.co.uk

HOLIDAY PARKS CALL FOR REFORMS IN UPCOMING BUDGET

Posted on November 3, 2024

The British Holiday and Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) has outlined a series of reforms it hopes the Government will address in the autumn budget, set for 30 October. Representing around 3,000 parks across the UK, BH&HPA’s proposals focus on boosting regional economies, supporting jobs, energy sustainability, and improving low-cost housing options.

In its submission to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, BH&HPA highlights four key areas where reforms could be made without financial loss to the Government, aiming for significant national benefits. Debbie Walker, BH&HPA’s Director General, emphasised the potential for growth through planning reforms that would allow holiday parks to expand and invest, while residential parks could offer more affordable housing for retirees, freeing up larger family homes.

The association is also calling for VAT reductions to help UK parks remain competitive with international tourism markets, making domestic holidays more affordable amid rising living costs. BH&HPA’s energy reforms propose expanding grid capacity to support the use of sustainable technologies, such as electric vehicle charging points and heat pumps.

Additionally, they urge the Government to address skills shortages in rural and coastal areas by providing long-term training and employment opportunities. With UK holiday parks and campsites contributing £7.2bn to the economy and supporting over 226,700 jobs, BH&HPA hopes the upcoming budget will pave the way for further growth.

Association members will have a chance to digest the implications of the budget on 4 November (12 noon – 1pm) during a webinar arranged by BH&HPA with tax advisers RSM.

British Holiday and Home Parks Association
www.bhhpa.org.uk

BEVERLEY HOLIDAYS SCORES AWARD HAT TRICK

Posted on August 13, 2024

BEVERLEY HOLIDAYS is really proud to be part of these awards which aim to celebrate and recognise all the success and talent that is out there in English Riviera’s thriving tourism business community

Beverley Holidays in Paignton has kicked off the Euros season with its very own hat trick after scoring big at Torbay Weekly’s Naturally Inspiring Business Awards 2024.

The family-run holiday park group was named Tourism Business of the Year for the third year running, while also winning the Inspiring Employer of the Year award category. Beverley Holidays proved that it remains at the top of the staycation game 66 years since it opened its doors, overcoming tough competition from a high calibre of companies across Torbay.

The award wins follow hot on the heels of an exciting series of investments throughout 2024 aimed at taking the holiday experience to the next level and recognising Beverley Holidays’ hardworking team. Earlier this year saw the launch of its largest lodge offering to date, with £250k invested in a brand-new top-of-the-range Collection Hot Tub lodge collection comprising sumptuous 3-bedroom sea-view lodges.

Furthermore, 2024 also saw the family-run holiday park group place a major focus on employees’ well-being with the introduction of a bumper benefits package and brilliant Beverley Holidays’ perks. Beverley Holidays is really proud to be part of these awards which aim to celebrate and recognise all the success and talent that is out there in English Riviera’s thriving tourism business community.

TRUSTED SITE TRANSPORTATION

Posted on August 7, 2024

In order to get the job done properly staff need the right equipment and when it comes to being fast and efficient across large sites, your team will thank you for the STAR Capella Work Machine from Reesink e-Vehicles.

This buggy is already preferred by venues across the UK, from lugging mannequins, balls and airbed walls for training, fulfilling housekeeping duties for the 46-bedroom lodge and supporting the gardens maintenance team at London’s Tottenham Hotspur campus, to the grounds maintenance of Wales’ Three Cliffs Bay’s five-acre holiday park.

It’s also trusted by Royal Dornoch Golf Club in Scotland to carry defibrillators to provide quick potentially life-saving treatment. All this goes to show the machine’s sheer versatility. Add to that the fact that, ultimately, it’s a really solid transportation option. Three Cliffs Bay is a case in point, it now has plans for expanding the job requirements of the Capella vehicles and hiring them out to guests to navigate the site with ease for the duration of their stay.

But why, exactly, is this such a good choice for those in the leisure industry and industrial sites? It all starts with a 48v 5Kw motor and the choice of two high powered Lithium-ion batteries (charged via an on-board Lester charger). With a 450A AC Curtis controller and direct drive, the Work Machine offers a range up to 60 miles going at a maximum speed of 20mph for the ultimate productivity from an electric vehicle.

Market-leading when it comes to its towing capacity, it has a hydraulic lift rear cargo utility box with an impressive 670kg (1477lbs) carry capacity and then there’s the option to customise the body to suit the venue’s requirements and workload with a cargo box or van body, with or without a full cab.

For example, the van body is available as an insert inside the cargo tray with rear facing double doors; or a larger replacement for the tray, with drivers side double opening doors, makes it ideal for carrying refreshments, food stores, linen or goods. When it comes to providing your team with a load-lugging, easily organised and reliable method of transport, look no further than the STAR EV Capella Work Machine to get the job done fast.

Reesink UK Ltd
01480 226800
www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MARTYN’S LAW?

Posted on August 7, 2024

Compass Insurance takes time to tell us about something a little different than the usual world of insurance but about some legislation that, potentially, could affect many parks.

WHAT IS MARTYN’S LAW?
To give it the correct title, the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill is a piece of legislation contained within the King’s Speech last November. It has recently completed a public consultation and the Home Office will respond on this in the near future with a view to pushing the Act through Parliament in the current term.

It will be applicable across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. This Bill has its origins in the Manchester Concert Bomb attack in 2017, where alongside 21 others Martyn Hyett lost his life. Since the attack, a campaign has been led by Martyn’s mum to pass a law requiring hospitality and retail venues to improve their awareness of and their level of security against terrorist threat.

WHAT WILL MARTYN’S LAW DO?
Through Martyn’s Law premises will be better prepared, ready to respond and their staff will know what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. It will enhance public safety by ensuring there is better preparedness for, and protection from, terrorist attacks. This will be done by mandating, for the first time, who is responsible for considering the risk from terrorism and how they would respond to a terrorist attack at certain premises and events.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME?
The proposed law will require any venue with a capacity for over 100 people to carry out certain measures and assessments to be able to lawfully conduct their business. There are several requirements for a venue to fall under the jurisdiction of Martyn’s Law, including:

• Premises and events must be open to the public.
• The premises’ purpose must be listed in the bill – these can include retail areas, events venues, entertainment, and leisure venues, etc.
• Premises must have capacity for at least 100 people.
• Premises may be a building or location with clearly defined boundaries and access routes (by permission).
• Temporary events like festivals are also included in the bill, where they need permission to enter and a capacity of more than 800 people.
• It is proposed that there will be a standard tier (100 to 799 capacity) and an enhanced tier (over 800 capacity).

THE TERRORISM (Protection of Premises) Bill is a piece of legislation contained within the King’s Speech last.

STANDARD TIER
Under Martyn’s Law, the standard tier is a baseline measure for venues with a capacity between 100 and 799. The Bill will aim to set out low-cost, practical, and effective measures to help improve preparedness in case of an attack. This may include sharing information, providing additional training for staff, and creating a preparedness plan to ingrain certain practices.

Examples include locking doors to prevent easy progress through a venue, or providing enhanced first-aid training to staff members so they can provide vital care before the emergency services arrive. Currently, the standard tier of Martyn’s Law is under consultation before it can be formalised.

This is because the law needs to provide a proportionate response that is possible for smaller venues to achieve, without being a burden. This balance is essential, as the law is designed to protect people, not penalise businesses because they don’t have the infrastructure or budget to meet the new requirements.

ENHANCED TIER
Larger events and venues, with 800+ capacity, will fall under the enhanced tier of Martyn’s Law. The enhanced tier has additional requirements to fulfil, largely in recognition that there is the possibility for more serious ramifications of a successful attack at a larger venue, like the number and severity of injuries, and the difficulty of a response on a large scale.

Measures under the enhanced tier include taking ‘reasonably practicable’ actions to reduce the risk of a terrorist attack and reduce the physical harm caused, keeping, and updating an assessed security document and designating a ‘senior member’ of staff for the venue or event.

THE PROPOSED LAW will require any venue with a capacity for over 100 people to carry out certain measures and assessments to be able to lawfully conduct their business.

SO, WILL THIS REALLY AFFECT ME?
Most clubhouses, bars and cafés will have a capacity of over 100, especially if outside tables/seating are included (which must be when calculating capacity!) and any members of staff that are involved in serving in this area at the time should also be included. From time to time, we receive requests from parks to cover festivals, displays or exhibitions that may exceed the 800 attendance mark. Below are some of the covers that may be relevant to members when Martyn’s Law is passed.

• Material Damage and Business Interruption
• Terrorism cover is very rarely purchased by holiday parks as terrorist attacks most often occur in cities and major towns.
• We are not suggesting park owners rush out and buy this as the proposed legislation does not impact a park’s decision to purchase this cover.
• Employers’ Liability (EL)
• Standard EL cover will include a limit for terrorism – usually £5 million for any one claim.
• Public Liability (PL)
• Standard PL will also include an inner limit for terrorism, usually £5 million for any one claim.

Once this legislation is passed, if members have a qualifying venue, then they will be required by law to carry out the necessary risk assessments and implement any necessary risk controls. So, this isn’t the law yet, but it could be pretty soon and it’s helpful to know what might be coming down the track.

One final note – there are plenty of ‘deals’ being offered from training companies at the moment with comprehensive-looking packages and services available. Our advice is to ignore all of them at this stage! The full parameters are not known at this time and the legislation is still being formulated.

Compass Insurance
0344 274 0876
www.compassparks.co.uk

SUPERIOR POOL WATER QUALITY

Posted on August 7, 2024

The allure of a sparkling, pristine pool can significantly elevate the appeal of a holiday park. Good water quality in a holiday park pool is not just about aesthetics; it is crucial for health, safety, and guest satisfaction. Ensuring that the pool water is clean and safe can directly impact the number of bookings, as families and individuals seek out locations where they can relax without health concerns.

Maintaining excellent water quality in a holiday park pool involves regular and precise monitoring. This is where the Lovibond® MD110 comes into play. The MD110 is a robust, user-friendly photometer designed for accurate water testing. It provides reliable results that are essential for maintaining the chemical balance of the pool, ensuring that harmful bacteria and contaminants are kept at bay.

Covering all the main pool water tests such as free & total chlorine, pH, total alkalinity etc the MD110 is also equipped with Bluetooth® connectivity, enabling seamless data transfer and storage, which is particularly useful for holiday park staff who need to keep detailed records of water quality. This ensures that any deviations from the optimal chemical balance are quickly identified and rectified, maintaining the pool’s safety and clarity.

Guests are more likely to book a stay if they are confident in the safety and cleanliness of the pool facilities. Positive reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations about the exceptional pool quality can drive higher occupancy rates. In contrast, reports of poor water quality can deter potential visitors and harm reputation.

By investing in reliable water testing equipment like the MD110, holiday parks can ensure their pools remain inviting and safe. High standards in pool maintenance reflect a commitment to guest welfare, setting a holiday park apart from the competition and fostering long-term customer loyalty.

Lovibond Water Testing
01980 664800
www.lovibond.com