News / Van Dwellers
Van dwellers to be evicted from Downs
A judge has granted Bristol City Council a 21-day possession order which will allow them to evict van dwellers currently living on the Downs.
The order covers roads including Circular Road, Clay Pitt Road, Downleaze, Parrys Lane, Rockleaze, Roman Road, Saville Road, Stoke Road, Westbury Park Road and Wills Lane.
District judge Jonathan Napier, sitting at Bristol County Court, did not, however, extend an existing injunction which currently covers the grass area of the Downs and Ladies Mile to also include these roads.
Any new group of vehicles must leave after being served with an injunction and must not return to the area without council permission.
Van dwellers on the Downs have now been given three weeks to leave, with the council warning that if people choose not to vacate, “we will have to work with bailiffs to remove remaining vehicles street by street”.
Chair of the public health & communities policy committee, Lib Dem councillor Stephen Williams, said: “We began the enforcement process back in December following significant health and environmental issues associated with the group living around the Downs.
“While this was not the first time we had received complaints about people using the Downs as a toilet, it had previously been very difficult to link these actions to the people living in vehicles, as the area is a popular site for events and has a high turnover of visitors.
“On this occasion, the presence of water bottles and tissues found at these sites suggested regular use, supporting local intelligence that these areas were being used as toilets by people living in vehicles around the area.
“Our teams engaged with the vehicle dwellers and conducted welfare assessments.
“People were given advice and signposted to relevant support services and were directed to leave the area, with over half the group moving on of their own accord.
“An initial hearing followed on February 5, where we attended court to discuss plans to extend the current injunction.
“The court set a deadline to allow any interested persons to apply to join the proceedings and gather and submit evidence should they wish to.
“Evidence was filed by the vehicle dwelling community, which was considered by the judge at the hearing.”
Parrys Lane is one of the roads covered in a 21-day possession order which will allow Bristol City Council to evict van dwellers – photo: Martin Booth
Williams added: “Our new policy, which was approved back in December, is built around offering support first, before moving to enforcement.
“Over the last few months, our new outreach team has been out and about offering advice and support to people living in vehicles.
“They have been taking time to listen, understand any health and welfare needs and work with individuals to make plans to move away from living in a vehicle by the kerb.
“In the first four months they have worked with almost 100 people.
“Positive outcomes include four people moved on to Meanwhile Sites, four people moving in with friends or family, one person supported into the private rented sector, one person accessing social housing and five people who were found to be a priority need, moving into emergency accommodation.
“We know that it takes time to meaningfully engage with people, and our team will continue to work with people living kerb side to help them find more sustainable and suitable long-term options.”
Main photo & video: Martin Booth
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