Fears for pop-up campsites amid 'ridiculous' new rules

Fears for pop-up campsites amid 'ridiculous' new rules4 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleDanielle HerbertBBC Wales Mark RutherfordMark Rutherford, who runs Camp Llandudno, is concerned that his site will be affected by the new rules, as the landowner's main field is in a flood zonePop-up campsite owners and accommodation providers have criticised upcoming rule changes in Wales, labelling them "unworkable" and "ridiculous".From June, landowners can apply to run their pop-up for up to 60 days per year - the same as is in England, and an increase on the current 28-day allowance.But the new system, announced by the previous Welsh government, also includes restrictions on where these pop-ups will be allowed, which some in the tourism sector claim means a "significant part of Wales" will not benefit.The new Welsh government said its recently-appointed cabinet would be "setting out their priorities shortly" and would "have a relentless focus on doing what's best for Wales".Dan Yates, founder of outdoor accommodation booking site Pitchup, said the concept of "permitted development" - meaning no planning permission is needed - was now "a misnomer in Wales".He said this was because the changes were "fraught with hoops you have to jump through" that "deters a lot of people from even bothering".Rachel AndreDan Yates, founder of Pitchup, says the new rules are "unworkable" and "damaging"Current rules allow landowners to open pop-up campsites in Wales for up to 28 days a year under permitted development.During the pandemic, the Welsh government temporarily relaxed these rules and the allowance went up to 56 days. In 2023, the rules reverted back to pre-Covid limit.One couple who dreamed of running a pop-up campsite and petting farm decided to sell up and move to England, where the limit was 60.Last year, the Welsh government launched a consu...