A plan to create more approved pitches for people living in vehicles in Bristol has sparked a strong debate among Bristol Live readers
Van dwellers and caravans on sides of roads in Bristol(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
Bristol Live readers have been engaging in a lively debate over plans to increase the number of approved pitches for people living in vehicles across Bristol. The proposals have garnered a mixed response, with some expressing support for additional sites and basic services, while others voice concerns about cost and enforcement.
In an effort to address the issue, Bristol City Council is planning to create hundreds of new pitches for vehicle dwellers.
It aims to boost the number of council-run pitches from 66 to 250, in a bid to alleviate the ongoing crisis gripping the city. The council’s goal is to have these 250 pitches available across various ‘meanwhile sites’ by the end of March next year, providing much-needed living spaces for those in need.
The council currently operates 66 pitches across five sites, with plans to open two more sites soon, bringing the total number of available pitches to 99. A nominal weekly fee is charged to vehicle dwellers for the use of these pitches.
Councillor Barry Parsons (Green, Easton), chair of the homes and housing delivery committee, acknowledged it was an ambitious target. “These are places where you can move your vehicle off the street on to a bit of council-owned land with a fence around it for a bit of security, with clean water, with waste facilities, some of the sort of basic things that you need in order to be able to live with with dignity and security,” he said.
“We know that people really appreciate that on the sites that we already provide (and) we want to provide a lot more of them, so we’ve given ourselves a target of 250 pitches across the city by the end of the financial year, so spring next year.
“It’s a really ambitious target, and really, we’ve kind of mobilised people from across the whole council to try and get there.”
More than 600 vehicles are currently being used as homes by people throughout Bristol, with the council dismissing suggestions the city has become the van-dwelling capital of the UK. The overwhelming majority, 480, of those vans are stationed on roadside locations around the city.
One reader, Asmodeus comments: “It’s often forgotten that a number of these van dwellers are working and paying income tax. Spreading hatred benefits nobody. It’s a sensible policy to increase the number of approved sites in the city, but this also needs to be addressed regionally.
“We need to know what surrounding unitary authorities can do in designating more approved sites, especially since Greater Bristol faces expansion in their domains. Essentially, it can only be solved with a viable national policy for much more genuinely affordable and social rented housing.”
Downsguy2 writes: “Not sure that I would move to a meanwhile site in an out of the way location for a fee when I can pitch up on the Downs or by St Andrew’s Park next to £multi-million properties and a great view for free. And 250 doesn’t even touch the sides with as many as 800 van dwellers in the city – there are over 70 vans today alone on Circular Road on the Downs. A very half-hearted effort by BCC and not good enough, tbh.”
Muttsnuts believes: “The solution is to build more council/housing association property’s so people don’t need to live in vans. It is the shortage of rental properties and there high rents that’s causing this issue.”
Brizzlebee comments: “These people are not living in luxury and many will no doubt have challenging circumstances, so providing support is the right thing to do. That said, support needs to go hand in hand with enforcement, or Bristol will continue to be a magnet for vehicle dwellers from across the country.”
Bmw says: “If they pay a small amount of rent they will be on the system as cash is a no go, how many of them want to be on the traceable system making them eligible for council tax? I hope the site are not in areas where people own houses and pay all that is due. This is an idea that will never work.”
Onlooker2 writes: “The council will issue a penalty ticket to a motorist ten minutes late returning to their car but refuse to deal with vans left on the street for months at a time. Local residents on the Downs have suffered enough.”
Jasyjas predicted the proposal would be “funded by those that pay for those that won’t”, adding: “A small weekly fee? So the Bristol council tax payer will fund it. A small weekly fee hardly covers refuse collection, putting up security fencing, installing running water, contributing to our local police force.”
Is this the right solution for van-dwellers? Comment below of HERE to join the debatre.