Dozens of abandoned vehicles remain around the Clifton Downs beauty spot
A caravans at The Downs in Bristol(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
Bristol Live readers are sad to see that the city’s so called ‘caravan city’ has been left in decline following the enforcement of an eviction order issued yesterday. While many van dwellers have now moved on in search of alternative accommodation, a number of older, unroadworthy vehicles have been left abandoned on surrounding roads near the Downs.
The site at Clifton has been occupied for several years, reaching around 150 vehicles at its peak before falling to about 45 after Bristol City Council began legal action earlier this year. At a hearing on Wednesday, Judge John Napier granted an antisocial behaviour injunction preventing people living in vehicles from setting up on roads around the Downs.
He said the evidence showed a risk to public safety, citing littering and pollution as a health concern, and ruled the injunction necessary to protect the public. The council was also granted a possession order on 16 April, allowing enforcement action once it came into effect on May 7.
Some remaining residents have described feeling anxious and uncertain about where they will go next, with one long term van dweller saying he has no option but to rely on a meanwhile site or risk homelessness. Others said they were still waiting for assistance or towing arrangements, while claiming they try to keep their surroundings clean and feel unfairly blamed for wider issues.
A local campaign group supporting the clearance argued that many residents are choosing this lifestyle and should take responsibility for their situation, claiming only a small number have sought help and that the impact on the area has been negative.
The council says it has supported nearly 100 people through the process, with several moved into meanwhile sites, private accommodation, social housing or emergency housing. Officials say enforcement is aimed at both protecting the area and helping individuals towards more stable living arrangements.
Commenter Ron G thinks: “It should have been stopped from the moment the first caravan was placed on the Downs, with a proper site instead created for people who cannot afford high rents, are going through difficult times, or choose this way of living.”
Bluemorpho11 replies: “There should be a regional approach to managing traveller encampments and meanwhile sites, as Bristol’s facilities are clearly oversubscribed and there is also a shortage of suitable land to create new ones. It is reported that only around 15 out of 100 van dwellers have been supported by Bristol City Council, with just five placed in temporary accommodation, which is often unsuitable and costly for councils.
“With limited capacity, those without alternative housing options are likely to continue moving around Bristol and parking in unsuitable roadside locations. Under the Planning and Infrastructure Act, combined authorities have powers to address these issues at a regional level, and WECA should be looking at how these could be used more effectively.”
Barrie N says: “These are people who rely too heavily on support from society. They should take responsibility, find work, and move on from what many see as a once valued Bristol landmark.”
Jason W retorts: “I find it upsetting how little compassion and understanding there seems to be in modern society. If someone is on a low income, even working full time on minimum wage, or unable to work, it becomes incredibly difficult to find stable housing because social housing is so limited and private rents are extremely high. In reality, many people are only one or two paycheques away from losing their home. Where will they go? I just hope those who are quick to judge have never had to face that kind of situation themselves.”
Richard C agrees: “It is not simply about individuals failing. I read about a self employed joiner in Bristol who ended up living in a caravan because rents are so high. He is being labelled as failing, but in reality it is a housing market and supply system that is failing ordinary people who just want affordable, secure accommodation.”
Ace H replies: “There are plenty of cheaper areas just two or three miles outside the city, but many people, often creative types, want to live in the centre where everything is happening and simply cannot afford it. It is probably no coincidence that a lot of them end up parked around Clifton and Whiteladies Road.”
Helen S points out: “Some people choose not to rent, some have poor credit or mental health issues, and others lack family support. Some simply live outside the usual system. It often feels like a divide between those who have stability and those who do not. If the UK had proper motorhome sites like Europe, this issue would be far less of a problem.”
Carl W replies: “The Downs are for everyone. I am disabled and used to struggle to park so I could walk my dogs. I pay tax, insurance, and for a permit to park my car in Clifton. I have no issue with motorhomes that comply with the rules, but a graffiti covered, run down caravan dumped outside your house, with people using nearby bushes as toilets, is not acceptable. If others think that is fine, maybe they should share their postcodes and say their street is a sanctuary.”
David B adds: “I have a strong connection to Bristol and have always loved it for its bohemian character. It feels like there are more right wing influences emerging, which is disappointing to see.”
Do you think the council is handling this fairly, balancing public safety with support for people who are effectively left with nowhere else to go? Have your say in our comments section.