Lake District: temporary campsite refused and pub bans camper vans

The Keswick Binfluencers, a volunteer group founded in June 2025, reported finding human excrement under a camping chair, dog waste in trees, and nappies left by visitors. The group has over 650 members. Cumberland Council has issued fixed penalty notices and removed illegal campsites. Visitor numbers in the Lake District fell by 1.5% in 2025 to 17.45 million.

In Wigan, UK, a caravan installed on private land without permission has remained for nearly two years. Local resident Colin Taylor has been trying to get it removed since September 2024. The council ruled that the costs of removal must be borne by the landowner, an 81-year-old woman who refuses to pay, saying she never authorized the installation.

Three Rivers District Council issued a 56-day temporary stop notice on August 28 prohibiting specific works on land in Loudwater where a plan to station four caravans is pending. The notice bans altering land levels, bringing materials for hard surfaces, and laying hardstanding. Breaching it can lead to prosecution with an unlimited fine. The planning application remains under consideration, with 87 objections submitted and a determination deadline of October 9.

The owner of The Poplars Caravan Park in East Runton has applied to North Norfolk District Council for permission to use the entire site year-round. Currently the park operates seasonally, with a winter closure except for 20 days over Christmas and New Year. The application cites benefits for management, marketing, viability, and local businesses. The parish council objected, fearing a 12-month licence could turn the park into a residential site, and demanded assurances that this is not the intent.

A planning application has been submitted to place two traveller caravans at Meadowside Park, Burley Road, Christchurch, to accommodate the owner's two adult sons, who currently live in a caravan at an authorised site in Ottershaw. The proposal aims to address their urgent housing needs by using a historically hard-surfaced, overgrown area, with no new buildings, dayrooms, or permanent hardstanding. The caravans will be sited on a maintained overgrown surface, separate from existing chalet parking, to minimise lasting impact. Public consultation runs until September 15 under application number P/26/03974/FUL, after which planning officers will make a decision.

Motorhome sales in Cumbria rose 15.8% in Jan-May, with younger buyers joining retirees. Meanwhile, informal overnight spots in the Lake District face litter and anti-social behavior issues.