Bristol City Council Arresting The Homeless! BHAM & Protect The Downs, Judge Refuses an Injunction
Council fails to secure van dweller injunction A row of vans, caravans, and cars are parked up on a street with a green field lined with trees. Chloe Harcombe, Bristol and Pamela Muir, BBC Radio Bristol 16 April 2026 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c30r271lv2yo A council has not secured an extension of an injunction to prevent van dwellers from staying on roads around a green space in Bristol. Since July, an injunction has prohibited van dwellers from living on the grassed areas of Clifton Down, Durham Down and Ladies Mile. However, it does not cover the surrounding roads. https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2026-04-16/people-living-in-vehicles-and-caravans-on-bristols-downs-have-21-days-to-leave There are believed to be more than 600 van dwellers in the city, with allegations of litter, public defecation and anti-social behaviour causing tension between them and residents. At Bristol County Court earlier, the council was granted a possession order which will allow officers to evict van dwellers from the roads within 21 days. The council said it had sought an extension of the injunction in "the interest of citizens" and for "protection of the rights of others". District Judge Napier told the council the possession order will allow its officers to serve van dwellers with 21 days' notice to leave. The order can be used on the main roads around the Downs, including Parrys Lane, Roman Road, Stoke Road, Westbury Park Road, Saville Road, Clay Pitt Road, Rockleaze, Downleaze, Wills Lane and Circular Road. The council will have to apply for an eviction grant from the High Court to remove any occupants that refuse to vacate the site within the notice period. In December, the council formally asked van dwellers to leave the Downs area. However, people living in their vehicles said there was nowhere else for them to go except for other parks around the city. In response, the council offered limited temporary pitches on so-called meanwhile sites in a bid to provide a safer alternative to living kerbside. Anybody living on a meanwhile site has to pay council tax, unless they qualify for an exemption. The council originally said it aimed to offer 250 pitches on meanwhile sites by April, but it has so far provided 98. Hundreds of vans and caravans are parked at different spots on the Downs Councillor Stephen Williams said anybody that refused to leave after being issued with the possession order would be dealt with by bailiffs. In a statement, he said more than half of the van dwellers had moved on after the council began the enforcement process in December over "significant health and environmental issues". "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." Williams said the team had worked with almost 100 people and four had moved to a meanwhile site, four had moved in with friends or family, one had moved into the private rented sector, one had moved into social housing and five people who were identified as "priority need" had moved 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," he added.
Council fails to secure van dweller injunction A row of vans, caravans, and cars are parked up on a street with a green field lined with trees. Chloe Harcombe, Bristol and Pamela Muir, BBC Radio Bristol 16 April 2026 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c30r271lv2yo A council has not secured an extension of an injunction to prevent van dwellers from staying on roads around a green space in Bristol. Since July, an injunction has prohibited van dwellers from living on the grassed areas of Clifton Down, Durham Down and Ladies Mile. However, it does not cover the surrounding roads. https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2026-04-16/people-living-in-vehicles-and-caravans-on-bristols-downs-have-21-days-to-leave There are believed to be more than 600 van dwellers in the city, with allegations of litter, public defecation and anti-social behaviour causing tension between them and residents. At Bristol County Court earlier, the council was granted a possession order which will allow officers to evict van dwellers from the roads within 21 days. The council said it had sought an extension of the injunction in "the interest of citizens" and for "protection of the rights of others". District Judge Napier told the council the possession order will allow its officers to serve van dwellers with 21 days' notice to leave. The order can be used on the main roads around the Downs, including Parrys Lane, Roman Road, Stoke Road, Westbury Park Road, Saville Road, Clay Pitt Road, Rockleaze, Downleaze, Wills Lane and Circular Road. The council will have to apply for an eviction grant from the High Court to remove any occupants that refuse to vacate the site within the notice period. In December, the council formally asked van dwellers to leave the Downs area. However, people living in their vehicles said there was nowhere else for them to go except for other parks around the city. In response, the council offered limited temporary pitches on so-called meanwhile sites in a bid to provide a safer alternative to living kerbside. Anybody living on a meanwhile site has to pay council tax, unless they qualify for an exemption. The council originally said it aimed to offer 250 pitches on meanwhile sites by April, but it has so far provided 98. Hundreds of vans and caravans are parked at different spots on the Downs Councillor Stephen Williams said anybody that refused to leave after being issued with the possession order would be dealt with by bailiffs. In a statement, he said more than half of the van dwellers had moved on after the council began the enforcement process in December over "significant health and environmental issues". "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." Williams said the team had worked with almost 100 people and four had moved to a meanwhile site, four had moved in with friends or family, one had moved into the private rented sector, one had moved into social housing and five people who were identified as "priority need" had moved 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," he added.