News / Van Dwellers
‘Bristol cannot tackle the issue of vehicle dwelling alone’
A senior councillor says that Bristol is taking “a national leadership role” around the issue of vehicle dwelling.
The number of people living in vans in areas including on the Downs and in Eastville has put our city in the headlines.
Now, Bristol City Council has written to two ministers to ask for government help.
is needed now More than ever
It comes after the council recently carried out enforcement action to move on an encampment on New Stadium Road near Ikea following reports of anti-social behaviour issues and “evidence of criminality”.
New planters have been put in place in an attempt to stop vehicles from returning.
A consultation on a new council policy on van dwelling is also due to launch in September.
A burnt-out caravan remains on the Downs following a recent fire – photo: Rafe Llewellyn
Writing in a blog on the council website, Barry Parsons, chair of the homes & housing delivery committee, said: “While we carry on with work behind the scenes to try to make life better for vehicle dwellers and neighbouring communities, we have been very clear that we cannot tackle this issue alone.
“With that in mind, we recently wrote to Angela Rayner MP, Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government, and Heidi Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Transport, to ask for support from government to address this issue.
“Nationally we are taking a leadership role around vehicle dwelling and liaising closely with many other local authorities, which is why we are in a position to be able to make these asks and recommendations to government.”
Bristol City Council is calling on the government to consider measures including increased funding for welfare support and to build more social housing, and extending powers to local government that make it easier to remove vehicles from council-owned land.
Main photo: Rafe Llewellyn
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