When was Castle Ward caravan park awarded 4 Star Rating?

The request was successful.

Dear Northern Ireland Tourist Board,
Emails being circulated in December 2010 by Castle Ward caravan park of Strangford, Co. Down, in order to entice customers to make use of the 'new' facilities, and presumably justify recent huge increases in fees, claim: 'As a result of a number of site updates Castle Ward is delighted to have received a Northern Ireland Tourist Board 4 Star Caravan Park Rating.'

The information required is: On what precise date was Castle Ward Caravan Park inspected by NITB officials for the purpose of granting said park NITB 4 Star rating?
On what precise date did Northern Ireland Tourist Board officially grant Castle Ward Caravan Park a 4 Star NITB Caravan Park Rating?
What is the full criteria as laid down by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board for the granting of a 4 Star Caravan Park Rating?

Yours faithfully,
Ms. Emma Thurrick

Arlene Jones,

Dear Ms Thurrick

Thank you for taking the time to contact the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) regarding Castle Ward Caravan Park.

We at NITB value feedback from all tourists, be they domestic or international and actively follow up on complaints. We recognise the need to influence the owners of tourism products and services to work towards the provision of world class visitor experiences.

Whilst NITB does not have any statutory or other authority to regulate the operation of caravan parks, we do, in conjunction with the National Tourist Boards of England, Scotland and Wales, operate the British Graded Holiday Parks Scheme with the British Holiday and Home Parks Association and the National Caravan Council. A copy of this scheme may be viewed on www.nitb.com

We do recognise that much of this scheme needs to be updated and I am pleased to advise that work is currently underway across the United Kingdom regional areas to review its content.
The research that is being undertaken will review the scheme and in particular the criteria for what constitutes the star grading for a park. Northern Ireland will participate in this trial and thereafter the findings will go into the public domain for consultation. Given the nature of this activity it is likely to be a further twelve months before the new scheme is available. The timescale is unfortunately outside of NITB’s control.

I have passed your complaint to the independent inspector who will respond to you with their findings.
I will pass any correspondence received from the manager of the site as soon as I can.

In the meantime if you have any further comments or queries please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Thank you

Kind regards,
Arlene Jones

Arlene Jones
Visitor Services
028 90 441 583
[email address]

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Dear Arlene,

Thank you for your prompt reply, however, does this therefore mean that no such 4 Star award has been given to Castle Ward caravan park by NITB as claimed in the December 2010 emails as circulated to customers, many of whom already have outstanding unresolved issues with the owners?

Yours sincerely,

Emma Thurrick

Arlene Jones,

Dear Ms Thurrick

I have spoken to our independent inspector who is on holiday but will return next week and will be in touch with you.
He had a look at Castle Ward Camping and Caravan Park but did not grade it he told them the criteria of how to get a four star but until the work has been completed it will not be graded. I hope this answers your question but the independent inspector will be in touch with you next week and will be able to answer any other questions.
Regards Arlene Jones

Arlene Jones
Visitor Services
028 90 441 583
[email address]

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Dear Arlene,
Thank you for clarification, even if it has been disturbing news. At best I suppose the National Trust falsely claiming in a circulated email: 'As a result of a number of site updates Castle Ward is delighted to have received a Northern Ireland Tourist Board 4 Star Caravan Park Rating.' qualifies as misrepresentation, and/or blatant fraud. Astounding really but not surprising. Thank you once again for your valued assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Emma Thurrick

Peter Donnelly left an annotation ()

Many thanks to Emma and Arlene from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board for highlighting this serious issue of spurious claims made about Castle Ward Caravan Park aby its owners the National Trust Northern Ireland. These people appear to think they are above the law and can do or say what they like. In the space of about 12 months there has been an increase in site fees of approx 94%, yes, 94%. The conditions last year in my opinion, were for the most part during my time, disgustingly filthy and dangerous. Now we have an attempt to lure customers with false claims. Shocking and surprised in the least.

Northern Ireland Tourist Board

I understand from NITB, you have a query about the star scheme in relation
to Castle Ward. As I administer the British Graded Holiday Parks Scheme
in NI, perhaps you could phone me and I can give you the up to date
information on this park.
John Hill
British Graded Holiday Parks Scheme
c/o 58a Millbay Road
Islandmagee
Larne
BT40 3RG
Tel. 028 9338 2111
Mob. 07747 030347

Malcolm Morrison left an annotation ()

Yes indeed most interesting news add this to it they were claiming it was a 2star site last year now i find out it wasnot. it hadnot any stars at all from the tourist board and they are saying its a 4star now. What fairy tales the nt can make up.

Malcolm Morrison left an annotation ()

Yes indeed most interesting news add this to it they were claiming it was a 2star site last year now i find out it wasnot. it hadnot any stars at all from the tourist board and they are saying its a 4star now. What fairy tales the nt can make up an this lot has about £100million of our money for them pile of stones up at Bushmills.

Dear Northern Ireland Tourist Board,
Thank you for your message. Please excuse the lateness of my reply I've been away on business.
Another former customer of the National Trust Castleward Caravan Park has made contact and told me the Caravan Park will not be inspected for any NITB grading until after the work has been completed. Could this be clarified please? I assume the grading will not only be based on the upgrades as there are other various problems, pitch sizes etc. I believe after complaints, Health and Safety officials visited the Park last year after which awnings were no longer permitted on some of the pitches etc. Could you confirm if the National Trust had the 2star NITB rating they were claiming to have? I've read recently there was no grading at this Caravan Park. There was a 60% increase in fees last year and another huge increase this year, all this for a Caravan Park with no grading seems very much like profiteering, and most certainly it is fraud to make such wildly untrue claims for financial gain as has been made by the National Trust. All of this brings the Northern Ireland Tourist Board into disrepute as well I would have thought. The National Trust owe their customers and their members a huge unreserved public apology and compensation.

Yours faithfully,

Emma Thurrick

Northern Ireland Tourist Board

Emma,
The British Graded Holiday Parks Scheme is voluntary and Caravan Parks do
not need to be in it unless they wish and fill in an application form.
Only graded parks can advertise their park using the Star award, which is
accredited by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
Castle Ward Caravan Park has not been in the scheme for many years and
therefore I have not been involved with this site for many years. They
have now applied to join in the scheme again and the park will be graded
when it is open for business in the spring. The park will be graded with
the new facilities in use.
I hope this answers your query and again, I would reiterate, I have had
no involvement with the National Trust for many years.
John
John Hill
British Graded Holiday Parks Scheme
c/o 58a Millbay Road
Islandmagee
Larne
BT40 3RG
Tel. 028 9338 2111
Mob. 07747 030347

--- On Fri, 21/1/11, Emma Thurrick
<[FOI #56814 email]> wrote:

From: Emma Thurrick <[FOI #56814 email]>
Subject: Re: Castle Ward Caravan Park
To: [email address]
Date: Friday, 21 January, 2011, 11:23

Dear Northern Ireland Tourist Board,
Thank you for your message. Please excuse the lateness of my reply
I've been away on business.
Another former customer of the National Trust Castleward Caravan
Park has made contact and told me the Caravan Park will not be
inspected for any NITB grading until after the work has been
completed. Could this be clarified please? I assume the grading
will not only be based on the upgrades as there are other various
problems, pitch sizes etc. I believe after complaints, Health and
Safety officials visited the Park last year after which awnings
were no longer permitted on some of the pitches etc. Could you
confirm if the National Trust had the 2star NITB rating they were
claiming to have? I've read recently there was no grading at this
Caravan Park. There was a 60% increase in fees last year and
another huge increase this year, all this for a Caravan Park with
no grading seems very much like profiteering, and most certainly it
is fraud to make such wildly untrue claims for financial gain as
has been made by the National Trust. All of this brings the
Northern Ireland Tourist Board into disrepute as well I would have
thought. The National Trust owe their customers and their members a
huge unreserved public apology and compensation.

Yours faithfully,

Emma Thurrick

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Martin Cassidy left an annotation ()

Emma really must be thanked for bringing this appalling issue to light, so to must Arlene from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board be thanked, and not forgetting John Hill for his revealing insights.
More information can be obtained on this site Northern Ireland Tourists disTrust of National disTrust http://nationaldistrust.blogspot.com/

My own Freedom of Information request asking about the National Trust Castle Ward Caravan Park planning application and approval for new buildings already completed in December 2010 can be viewed here on What Do They Know: http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/na...

Emma Thurrick left an annotation ()

Interesting to read both here at whatdotheyknow.com and NdTNI National disTrust of Northern Ireland http://nationaldistrust.blogspot.com/, the National Trust Castle Ward Caravan Park has not been a 2Star NITB graded caravan site since 2004, nor will it have a 4Star NITB rating until later in the year if it succeeds at all, and interesting to read the National Trust continues to claim Castle Ward Caravan Park is a 4Star caravan site which it is not. This all does seem to qualify as misrepresentation, and/or blatant fraud. All of this now plunges the Northern Ireland Tourist Board into disrepute as well. The National Trust owe their customers and their members a huge unreserved public apology, a return of fees and compensation. This is all very upsetting, and an utterly shameful episode involving the National Trust and NITB. Disgraceful behaviour by both the National Trust and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.