Illegal Lake District caravan park sees owner fined £4,050

A man who turned part of his farmland in the Lake District into a caravan site without permission has been fined a total of £4,050.

The best caravan parks in the Lake District will provide a picturesque setting for taking in what is a beautiful and popular touring spot.

However, in this case, the Lake District National Park Authority first issued an enforcement notice against Andrew Thornton in March 2022 after it became aware of a change of use at a site he owned at Green Hows, Dale Park in Setterthwaite.

Found in the Lake District, the site had clearly been changed to become a caravan site with the erection of a timber building.

The authority gave him three years to remedy the situation, and when he did not, it started prosecution proceedings.

The case was heard at Barrow Magistrates’ Court at the end of March this year.

Mr Thornton, from Macclesfield in Cheshire, did not attend the proceedings and was found guilty in his absence.

He was fined £2,000, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £800, and prosecution costs of £1,250 – bringing the total to £4,050.

Julie Birkett, the Park Authority’s planning enforcement manager, said the case highlighted the “serious consequences” of failing to comply with enforcement notices.

She said, “Enforcement notices are legal requirements, and ignoring them can not only lead to significant fines but also to a criminal record. We will continue to take firm action where necessary to protect the landscape and ensure that development takes place lawfully.”

For those who are getting ready to set off on tour soon, don’t miss our guide to the 16 easy jobs which will help you get your caravan ready for the new season.

Caravanners who are already planning ahead to the 2027 touring season may also be interested to hear about the recent announcement from the Caravan and Motorhome Club, which has announced ClubFest 2027 will be held at Sandringham Estate. The Club has also announced headliners for the Saturday and the Sunday, with The Wanted 2.0 and Bat! (Bat out of Hell 50th Anniversary) taking to the stage.

Image: Lake District National Park Authority

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PeterBaber

Peter Baber is Reviews Editor of Practical Caravan. His first caravan reviews date back to the early 1990s during his first stint working for the magazine, before he embarked on a 20-year career in business journalism which saw him edit a wide variety of magazines, and launch a few too, including one that won an award. Although he enjoyed that, he always knew he wanted to come back to the world of caravans and camping, having first got interested in it during two summers working as a campsite holiday rep in Switzerland in the 1980s. Peter reports on all the new models that make it to dealer forecourts each season, giving his judgement online and in magazine reviews. When he is not working, he likes to improve his skills at throwing pots (he is part of a pottery studio near where he lives and has just started selling his wares), indulges in a bit of baking, and likes playing tennis.