Mother denied £1,800 refund after 'horrendous' stay at UK holiday park

St Helens in the Park, a caravan and camping park near Wykeham in North Yorkshire, is inviting former guests to share holiday memories and photographs for its 50th anniversary. The park opened in 1976 on the site of a former sand and gravel quarry and has been named AA's England and Overall Campsite of the Year 2025/2026. A commemorative scrapbook will be compiled, with proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Scottish company Jerba Campervans has unveiled the compact Tiree camper based on the 2026 Volkswagen Transporter with 4Motion all-wheel drive. The vehicle is 5.05 meters long, allowing it to fit in a standard parking space. Inside, it features swivel front seats, a kitchen with a two-burner stove, sink, and 51-liter refrigerator, as well as a rear bench that converts into a bed and a second sleeping area in the pop-up roof. The Tiree accommodates four to five people while traveling and up to four for overnight stays. Prices start at £71,000 for the base version, and £75,680 with the 150-hp engine, automatic transmission, and 4MOTION.

Evergreen Escapes Group has submitted a planning application to redevelop eight caravan sites in Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, known collectively as Kent Parks. The £142 million project includes 400 new residential park homes, 98 apartments and houses, plus a retirement community with 136 apartments, 60 assisted living units and a 70-bed care home. Plans also feature a convenience store, café, transport hub and a new seven-day bus service. If approved by Swale council, the development is expected to create 400 jobs and provide an annual £8.86 million boost to the local economy.

Scottish company Jerba Campervans has unveiled the Tiree, a camper van built on a 2026 Volkswagen Transporter 4Motion. It features a pop-up roof with Ventile cotton canvas, a three-seat Mobirame bench that converts into a double bed, and a kitchen with a two-burner stove and Vitrifrigo fridge. The electrical system includes a 100 Ah lithium battery and inverter, with charging via solar, shore power, and DC-DC. The van sleeps up to four and is designed for daily use and weekend trips.

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.