Published at 09:50, Friday, 30 October 2009

A SLALEY caravan park is celebrating after winning two prestigious awards for both tourism and ecology.

Springhouse Country Park has been granted four-star status by the Northumberland Tourist Board as well as achieving the David Bellamy Gold Award for the ecology of the 35-acre site.

The awards come after a major programme of investment and refurbishment at the park.

The site was taken over by Blue Sky Resorts in spring last year. The new managing company invested £275,000 on improved facilities including rewiring, installation of a new water and sewerage system, refurbishment of the toilet block and reception blocks, and paving at the entrance to the site.

The redevelopment work was met with angry comments from some residents when wet weather delayed completion.

Caravanners reported a muddy, churned up site and some drove straight home after seeing the mess.

But the problems were soon rectified once the wet weather cleared up and residents could enjoy their improved facilities.

General manager at the park, Andrew Blackie, said: “When Springhouse was acquired by Blue Sky Resorts it was in a very run-down state.

“Since then, the company has invested time and money to upgrade the facilities and improve the landscaping. These two accolades are recognition of how much progress we have made.”

The plan now is to improve the site even further and Mr Balckie added: “Our goal is to achieve five stars and in the coming months we plan to invest in a number of further improvements to the site, including the layout of the park and the installation of wireless Internet and CCTV.”

Springhouse has also recently struck a deal with Hoseasons Holidays, which agreed to hire 15 caravans at the site for its own customers.

Mr Blackie said: “This new venture has been a roaring success and since March it has attracted more than 350 visitors to the park, many of them from France and Germany as well as other European countries.”

Springhouse has 79 fully-serviced pitches for static caravans and 20 for touring caravans, as well as facilities for tents.

It recently got planning permission to extend the opening season from March 1 through to January 31.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk