Council to seek injunction over Downs van dwellers

Bristol City Council says it is "taking proactive steps to apply for an injunction" to prevent people living in vans on a popular public green space.

If approved, the injunction would apply to the grassed areas of Durdham Down and would allow officers to move pitched vehicles off more quickly.

Most of the vehicles currently on The Downs would be exempt as they are parked on adjacent roads.

Councillor Barry Parsons said he recognised the challenges an increase in van-dwellers had raised, and said the council was looking at solutions which worked for all parties.

"Fundamentally we want to make sure that all communities, including those living in vehicles or caravans, and those in homes in neighbourhoods, have a meaningful and fair chance to live healthy and safe lives.

"This means we need to take action on a number of fronts to make sure we are balancing the needs of everyone, whilst prioritising our efforts where the need is greatest," he said.

A similar injunction, which expired last year, was previously in place in the area.

And in 2023, an injunction was imposed on people living in vehicles in Greenbank, east Bristol.

The council estimates there are currently between 640 and 680 lived-in vehicles and caravans across the city, which does not include the number of transient Gypsy, Roma and Traveller groups who visit Bristol throughout the year.

The local authority said it was "ing those living in vehicles to remain healthy and safe and have the needed to move into more settled accommodation".

Its longer-term plan is to create up to 250 spaces for people living in vehicles on land which is due to be developed.

People at the site would have access to facilities like running water and toilets, as well as health and wellbeing , it said.

Mr Parsons, who is chair of the council's Homes and Housing Delivery Committee, said the ultimate goal was a "single policy, co-designed with communities and van dweller groups, reflective of the various challenges and views associated with this growing issue".

Between 200 and 300 people gathered on The Downs on Thursday evening for a protest walk to "highlight the impact of council inaction on public wellbeing".

"We're here to show our strength of feeling to the council that this is a situation that can't be allowed to continue," said one walker.

Some ers of the van dwelling community were also in attendance.

"I feel like a lot of people here own their own homes and benefited from the post-war economy where you could be a postman and buy your own house or have a minimum wage job and get a mortgage - that dream has gone," said Matthew Strange.

"I wish some more people would understand the context by which these circumstances have arisen," he added.

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