Refresh of Juniper Close 61

When the old, long since closed, Solihull Social Club had a bar at Chelmsley Wood Station, it made profits that needed to be invested for the benefit of the officers and staff that used it. One investment was a new caravan at the Haven flagship site of Devon Cliffs near Exmouth.

The caravan, a Willerby Winchester was purchased new in 2005. It has been well used since then and is now in its 18th year. Understandably the caravan is tired and in need of repairs. As the clubs that purchased the various properties in still in existence, have long since closed, these retreats are maintained and kept running from the payments of those that use them. As these are run by volunteers as not for profits clubs, the rates are far cheaper than you would otherwise by able to holiday at the locations, and designed simply to cover the running costs. There isn’t sufficient funds within the Devon Cliffs accounts to purchase a new caravan or even revamp the current one.

Luckily through the trio of properties that now make up the Bournville Lane Club, a small amount of money has been pooled to refresh the Devon Cliffs caravan. This blog will track the progress of these improvements which will take place over the 2022, 23 & 24 seasons.

First steps at the start of 2022.

To begin we have replaced the flooring in the living, dinning room and kitchen, hallway and both bathrooms. We have used hard wearing flooring to replace the old carpets.

The 18 year old settees have been replaced with brand new free standing quality settees from DFS with a long guarantees that provide security. These have both been treated to prevent damage.

The mattress in the main bedroom has been replaced with a quality Ikea Hovag pocket sprung mattress.

Other additions:

• New rotary washing line to dry clothes in better weather

• New mirrors in both toilets

• New fitted blind in the shower room

• Two new toilets

• Replacement radiators for older rusting ones

• New fitted towel rail

Coming later in 2022

• Fitting window blinds throughout the caravan

• Removal of old curtains and net curtains

• Replacement of wall panels in twin rooms where paper has been ripped off the walls

Future improvements (2023/24)

• New carpets in all bedrooms to complete change of flooring throughout

• Replacements of all switches and sockets

• Painting of caravan inside and out

• New kitchen