News / Van Dwellers
Caravan site safer than cycle path
Creating a new “meanwhile site” for caravans on an old Bristol railway would be safer than building a cycle path according to a leading councillor.
Despite local calls to turn the former railway line in Brislington into a footpath and cycle path, people in caravans could soon live there.
The railway line runs from the Sainsbury’s to Tesco and has previously been mooted for a “Brislington Greenway”. However safety concerns appear to be scuppering these active travel plans. Instead Bristol City Council is planning to hire out pitches for van dwellers on the railway.
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But questions were raised during a member forum meeting on Tuesday, July 14, about why a cycle path would be perceived as more dangerous than a caravan site. Councillors previously described the railway cutting as “dark and inaccessible”.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Jos Clark, representing Brislington West, said: “Can you tell me why a cycle path will be more dangerous than people living on the same stretch of land?”
Several meanwhile sites are being created across Bristol at the moment, as part of the council’s response to the rising number of van dwellers in the city. Recently many van dwellers were kicked off the Downs, after locals protested.
Meanwhile sites provide dedicated pitches, as well as clean water and toilets. 30 pitches could be created on the old railway line in Brislington. People living there would create a permanent presence on the site, as well as visits from council staff.
Green Councillor Barry Parsons, chair of the housing policy committee, said: “The difference between a cycle path and the meanwhile site is that the meanwhile site will be permanently occupied.
“So there will be people there all the time and because they’ll be living there, that will provide the natural surveillance that will help to keep the area safe.
“Also, it’ll be fenced as well, so there’ll be security for the residents.
“So there’s going to be additional safety and security while the meanwhile site is there, and also our officers are going to be visiting regularly, they’re going to be monitoring and making sure that it’s safe.”
Three years ago the West of England Combined Authority consulted the public about the option of building a relief road along the railway, connecting Callington Road to St Philips Causeway, as well as shutting part of the Bath Road to general traffic, only allowing buses and bikes between Callington Road and the Three Lamps junction in Totterdown.
These plans are currently on hold, as the combined authority is focusing on separate phases of the massive project covering the A4 Bristol to Bath transport corridor.
Further details of this section are expected to be published in the future, although this potential option would likely face heavy political opposition from within Bristol.
Main photo: Martha Fiddick
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