Smart tech reshapes campsite experience

A Dunfermline resident claimed he saw the then first minister in a supermarket in 2022, near the house where a £124,550 campervan was parked. Nicola Sturgeon insists she only learned of the vehicle's existence in early 2023, when it featured in a police investigation. Her husband Peter Murrell pleaded guilty to embezzling over £400,000 from the SNP, with funds used to purchase the campervan and luxury items, including Montblanc pens.

UK-based Wellhouse Leisure unveiled a micro camper based on the Toyota Pixis Mega (also sold as Daihatsu Wake). Designed for solo travelers, it features a fold-out bed, compact kitchen, pop-up roof, solar panel, and portable toilet. Priced at £17,995 (approx. $3,500), it costs less than half of Wellhouse's larger motorhomes.

A landowner in Semington, Wiltshire, has lodged a planning appeal after the council refused a retrospective application for a static caravan used for agricultural purposes. The caravan has been on site since October 2024; the application was submitted in January 2025. The owners argue that 24-hour presence is essential for animal welfare, security against trespassers and predators, and emergency response, citing lambing season as an example. The council ruled that the need for on-site residence was not justified and the business plan lacked viability evidence.

UK-based Wellhouse Leisure has launched a micro-camper based on the Japanese kei van Daihatsu Wake (also known as Toyota Pixis Mega). The pre-order price is £17,995 (approx. $24,200). The vehicle features a 660cc engine producing 63 hp, automatic transmission, a pop-up roof, and basic living equipment: stove, sink, portable toilet. Fuel economy is estimated at 45 mpg. It is available in 2WD and 4WD versions.

Seven caravans appeared on land off Ruskin Avenue in Rogerstone, Wales. Residents reported feeling unsettled by the sudden encampment near family homes. Newport City Council stated it is working with partners and monitoring the situation, considering next steps in line with legal processes.

Clwyd MS Darren Millar has written to Denbighshire County Council, urging the local authority to scrap plans for an overnight motorhome aire on Rhyl's promenade. The proposal includes six motorhome stops, two in Rhyl and others in Prestatyn, Ruthin, Corwen, and Llangollen. Residents and Conservative councillors oppose the Marine Drive site, arguing it would spoil the seafront and remove a community green space. The council states no final decision has been made, and the site would occupy a small area near the pavilion, offering short-stay parking (maximum two nights) with basic facilities.