Van dwellers issued 'informal request' to leave site

Dan Ampleford lives in a caravan on the Downs

People living in caravans and vehicles on the Downs in Bristol have been asked to leave the site.

The city council conducted a welfare check and assessment of van dwellers on Parry’s Lane and Saville Road, near the Downs on 12 June, following concerns from local residents about excess waste, abandoned vehicles and flytipping.

During the visit, occupants were issued with an "informal request" asking them to vacate the land in the next 14 days. Those who refuse to leave are threatened with legal proceedings.

A spokesperson for the council said: "The Neighbourhood Enforcement Team remains in conversation with the occupants."

They added that the letter - which has been seen by the BBC - "is not an official eviction notice", but an offer to the dwellers for an opportunity to "open a dialogue" about the concerns raised.

The number of vehicle dwellers on the Bristol Downs has increased significantly since 2020

Dan Ampleford, who lives in a caravan on the site, said he is not sure where he would go.

"I'll be going, like all of us, but we haven't really got a choice in it," he said.

He added that the dwellers were previously offered a different site, which was "basically a car park on the edge of the city".

Mr Ampleford described the alternative provision as "really inaccessible" and "massively inconvenient" to anyone who works nearby.

Chris Leeks said residents should have "more compassion" for the van dwellers

About 40 residents have previously written to the council to complain about a lack of enforcement in the area.

But Chris Leeks, who lives near-by, said: "I don't like it, but I see these people as victims, rather than the problem."

He added: "How come we live in the age we live in and people are forced to live in accommodations like this?

"No running water, no facilities, no rubbish collections, no toilets - I think it's shocking.

"If you're lucky enough to live around here, perhaps you should have a little more compassion.

"We're in a glorious part of town, this is a lovely space and these people don't have anywhere else to go."

Nicola West said she does not see the caravans as an "eyesore"

Nicola West, who also lives in Bristol, said she also does not see "any problem" with the van dwellers.

"Why are they living here in the first place, is the question to ask," she said.

"I don't see it as an eyesore, I see it as a kind of interesting element to the city.

"I think people need to be taken care of and I think maybe that's more of the question, how can we support those issues rather than just getting rid of people?"

A spokesperson for the council said its Neighbourhood Enforcement Team will return to the site on 26 June to "assess if further action, as a result of any vehicles remaining on site, is necessary".