City plagued by van dweller install planters to stop them

by · Mail Online

The 'van dweller capital' of Britain has hatched a unique plan to prevent them from parking along the city's busy streets.

Bristol has seen a quadrupling of van dwellers since the Covid-19 pandemic, with over 600 people now living on its streets in motorhomes, caravans and converted vans.

Now, after reports of rising complaints from disgruntled residents, the local council have installed large planters along one of the city's worst impacted roads.

The wooden planters were recently installed along St George's Park to prevent campers from unlawfully parking and living there.

Prior to the installation of the planters, vehicles lined the road as people turned to the alternative mode of living due to the economic and housing crises.

Over 600 people are living in moveable vehicles across Bristol at present
Lines of 'van dwellers' could be seen along multiple Bristol roads
Bristol City Council sought to find an equitable solution to concerns from local residents over a rise in anti-social behaviour in areas where there was a large presence of van dwellers

Back in September, Bristol City Council had issued an eviction notice to the road's motorhome inhabitants following claims of increased anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of St George's Park.

The majority of people complied with the notice within 28 days, but a number of van dwellers remained in spite of it.

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This led to a court order being obtained by the council which was used to evict the final throng of vehicular residents. 

There are apparently two vehicles still further up the road which ‘are subject to enforcement action’.

Bristol City Council's decision to install the planters was made following the arrival of an additional 10-15 new vehicles during late August/early September.

Green councillor for St George West, Rob Bryher, explained the unique solution in a Facebook post to local residents.

He stated that the decision was made to erect the planters to both 'make a good, attractive addition to the area' and to 'ensure that larger vehicles cannot park in this area and hinder visibility'.

The wooden planters have been erected with the purpose of preventing large vehicles from parking along local resident's road
The planters are can be seen lining St George's Park in Bristol in response to the throngs of van dwellers who settled along the road
Bristol City Council's decision to install the planters was made following the arrival of an additional 10-15 new vehicles during late August/early September

Councillor Bryher also stated that smaller campers would still be able to park along the road, should they fit between the planters.

He said that the aim of the planters was not to stop van dwellers entirely, but rather to prevent larger vehicles and overcrowding.

Living in a moveable vehicle in the UK is not illegal as the councillor pointed out, but as a representative for 'everyone', he sought to bring about an equitable solution to local resident's concerns.

'My job is to represent everyone who lives in St George West (housed or van-dwelling) and to mediate between groups who may be in conflict to find workable solutions'.

Councillor Bryher concluded his post by stating: 'I wish I could click my fingers and enact an equal standard of living for all. But for now, we have to find suitable compromises that prevent large accumulations of live-in vehicles in single locations while at the same time showing understanding and care to vehicle dwellers'.