There are an estimated 130 lived-in vans or caravans on the Downs and 680 across the city
A view of vans and caravans by the side of a road in Clifton Down(Image: Paul Gillis / Reach PLC)
Council chiefs are seeking a legal injunction to help tackle the issue of people living in vans and caravans on the Downs in Bristol – but only on the grass, not on the road.
As locals residents prepare to take part in a ‘Show of Support’ walk around the Downs today as part of their campaign calling for van dwellers to be moved on, the man in charge of housing in at City Hall released a 750-word statement about what the council is doing to address the issue across the city.
Cllr Barry Parsons (Green, Easton) announced that the council was seeking to take out a court injunction, but it would only be one that covered people living in vehicles parked on the grassed areas of the Downs. There are an estimated 130-plus vans or caravans parked on the roads that criss-cross the Downs, with people living in most of them.
Cllr Parsons reiterated that he had a duty to both the people living in traditional homes around the Downs as well as to people living in vans and caravans on the Downs itself. He also pointed out that there are an estimated 640 to 680 van and caravan dwellers across the city – so the Downs only accounts for around one-sixth of the overall issue.
There are several lived-in vans parked on most residential streets in places outside the Residents’ Parking Zone areas, like Bedminster, Knowle, Brislington and Easton – some within just a few feet of people’s homes.
On the Downs, it is a larger gathering in just one spot, which is further away from people’s homes but in one of the city’s most famous and well-used open green spaces. “While people living in vehicles and caravans are spread across our city, we recognise that the size and concentration of the group bordering The Downs is larger than all other encampments,” said Cllr Parsons.
“As well as those living in vehicles on the kerbside, The Downs is also a place that is popular with travelling groups from the Romany Gypsy and Traveller community.
READ MORE: ‘Show of Support’ walk event on the Downs over caravan issueREAD MORE: Action on caravans and Travellers on the Downs ‘needed quicker’ as plans slowly drawn up
“I also recognise the unique challenges that comes with having such a large group of people living in vehicles next to one of our city’s most popular green spaces and in such close proximity to large neighbourhoods. This is why we are focussing increasingly more of our time and effort on this part of the city. What this time and effort translates into is a range of actions being taken to find that balance we need,” he added.
That ‘range of actions’ includes legal action. “One area of focus is how we manage the green space of The Downs and ensure it’s a safe and welcoming place for people to use,” said Cllr Parsons.
“This means keeping the space open and available for residents and moving on encampments who pitch up on the grassed area. To achieve this we’re taking proactive steps to apply for an injunction for the grassed areas of The Downs and Ladies Mile, which if secured, will allow officers to move vehicles that pitch up more quickly than usual.
Bristol City Councillor Barry Parsons (Green, Easton)(Image: Paul Gillis)
“These are the immediate, short-term actions we can take, but we’re also working on longer term solutions to help manage the size of encampments across the city,” he said. “This includes making more spaces available on areas we call meanwhile sites – which are places people living in vehicles can access to live.
“These sites are temporary and exist on land due to be developed but provide a valuable space with access to much needed services such as toilets and running water. We also hope to establish a permanent site where we can support people with their health and wellbeing whilst helping people with getting access to housing,” he added.
Cllr Parsons’ statement was published just over a week after one local councillor from his own party, who represents some of the communities who live around the Downs, said her party’s administration is not ‘going fast enough’.
“I’ll say this as a Green councillor: you need to be putting pressure on the policy chairs for housing and transport,” said Cllr Paula O’Rourke (Green Clifton).
More than 450 people, with another 150 kept outside, attended a public meeting at St Albans Church in Westbury Park on Monday, March 24, 2025, to talk about the issue of people living in caravans and vans on the Downs in Bristol(Image: Bristol Post)
“They are the people who need to come up with a new policy to deal with this. Personally, I don’t think it’s going fast enough. I would press for things to move faster. We’re doing what we can. Would I like it to go quicker? Yes,” she added.
This evening (Thursday), the recently-formed Protect the Downs campaign group has organised a ‘Show of Support’ walk to ‘show support for a safer, cleaner Downs and highlight the impact of council inaction on public wellbeing’.
The group was formed after a public meeting back in March, held at a local church in Westbury Park, which saw council chiefs grilled over the issue of people living on The Downs by 450 people inside and another 150 shut outside.