Three Certificated Location owners received their awards at Westminster today when their small but beautifully formed caravan sites were named as the CL of the Year 2007 winners, as voted for by members of The Caravan Club. The Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MBE MP, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism, presented the awards during The Club’s annual Parliamentary Reception.
Certificated Locations (CLs) are privately-owned, maximum 5-van sites found across the UK, many in idyllic and remote locations on farms, country estates and beside inns, which can provide a valuable tourism income stream for local communities. These awards are presented at the House of Commons in recognition of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act (1960) which enables The Caravan Club to grant certificates to landowners to operate CLs.
The roll call for the CL of the Year Awards 2007 is as follows : -
- 1st Ian and Janet Kelly, Birch Hill CL, Ellesmere, Shropshire
- 2nd Keith and Alison Rogers, Keal Lodge CL, Lincolnshire
- 3rd John and Iris Lamb, Leadketty CL, Perth & Kinross
The winning CL, Birch Hill, in the beautiful Shropshire countryside is run by Ian and Janet Kelly, ably assisted by their 4-year old son and the family’s golden retriever! The Kellys are active caravanners and have operated the CL since 2002 when they returned to Ian’s 200-year family roots in the quiet farming community of Ellesmere. They have enjoyed welcoming Club members, many of whom have become firm friends, ever since.
“Winning the prize is a great compliment and has made us reflect on what our visitors find special about Birch Hill,” said Janet Kelly. “Our winning formula is a great location with a warm welcome, and we take pleasure in sharing what we have with others. We are particularly pleased to have won the prize in The Caravan Club’s Centenary year.”
The runner up in the national awards, Keal Lodge CL, is only a five-minute walk from the pretty, historic Lincolnshire village of Deeping St James with its pubs and restaurants, good local shops and riverside walks along the river Welland. CL owner Alison Rogers says that visitors make the most of the great location and appreciate the feel of this beautifully tended, secure site.
In third place, picturesque Leadketty CL, has a two acre pond and two islets which are home to a wide variety of birdlife including mute swans, kingfishers and even ospreys. Nearby Dunning village supports a hotel, two shops, a bakery and three small restaurants. The local bowling club and golf club are available to members and all the locals make caravanners welcome. With so much to see and do in the area, Club members are frequent return visitors to this popular Scottish site.
Club Chairman, Grenville Chamberlain, commented: “The Caravan Club’s network of around 2,500 CLs remains an extremely popular choice for many of its one million caravanning members, while for many rural communities CLs provide valuable tourism income. With the introduction of online voting in 2007, the number of members taking part in the competition increased by over 300% so the winners can be justifiably proud of their achievement in being in the top three”.
CL OF THE YEAR 2007 WINNERS
NATIONAL WINNERS
1st
Major and Mrs Kelly, Birch Hill, The Cross, Ellesmere, Shropshire SY12 0LP
2nd
Mrs A Rogers, Keal Lodge, Back Lane, Deeping St James, Peterborough PE6 8RS
3rd
Mr J Lamb, 7 Holding, Leadketty, Dunning, Perth PH2 0QN
REGIONAL WINNERS
South West
Mrs F G Hood, Penolver, Kea, Truro TR3 6AJ.
Cotswolds & South East
Mr and Mrs D Bennett, Oakleaze, South Cerney Road, Cirencester GL7 6HT
Northern
Mrs K Wellock, Seat House, Eshton, Skipton BD23 3QL
Wales & West Midlands
Mr and Mrs B D Regimbal, Hillcroft, Hill Lane, Kilgetty SA68 0QT
Middle England & East Anglia
Mr and Mrs J Gotts, Gotrans, Grub Street, Happisburgh, Norwich NR12 0RX
Scotland
Mrs M Blythin, Blowplain Farm, Balmaclellan, Castle Douglas DG7 3PY
CATEGORY WINNERS
Best New CL
Mr and Mrs J Rabbitts, Lorne Hill Farm, East Garston, Nr Hungerford, Berkshire, RG17 7HR.
Best Public House CL
Mr D Murray, The Royal Oak, High Street, Snitterby, Gainsborough DN21 4TP
Best Farm CL
Mrs K Wellock, Seat House, Eshton, Skipton BD23 3QL
Best CL for Fishing
Mr I G Steed, Cottington Court Farm, Sholden, Deal CT14 0AR
Most Picturesque CL
Mr and Mrs P Kalinowski, OakLea, Kirkby-on-Bain, Woodhall Spa LN10 6YY