THE exodus of vans from the Downs should speed up in the first half of 2026.
Bristol City Council hopes its van dweller policy will “significantly reduce” how many people live in vehicles on the side of the road.
The approach, which was due to be approved by councillors on the housing policy committee on December 19, includes offering welfare support and creating new pitches on “meanwhile sites” as well as ramping up enforcement.
Green Councillor Barry Parsons, chair of the committee, said: “Vehicle dweller numbers have grown in recent years, across Bristol and the whole country, and we have been very clear we cannot go on like this. Our communities, including vehicle dwellers themselves, deserve better.
“This increase in people living in vehicles creates a range of social, public health, and environmental challenges for the city and people living this way. Officers have worked with a range of stakeholders, partners and people with lived experience to develop a policy that can make real change, and we have listened to feedback during the consultation process.
“We need to be clear that we will not be able to solve this issue overnight. It will take time to meaningfully engage with people living in vehicles. However, with the right processes in place, we will be able to start offering real support to the people who need it, before moving to enforcement where necessary.”
A transition period will run until April next year. The initial approach is to give van dwellers advice and signpost them to support services before directing them to leave and giving them time to do so.
Councillor Parsons said: “We hope to achieve this through voluntary co-operation wherever possible. If people do not comply with this request, we will then apply to the court for an order requiring the vehicles and their occupants to leave, using section 77 and section 78 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, or other legislation as appropriate.”
From April enforcement action could be taken immediately, if there is a dangerous obstruction of a road, or if the council identifies a serious impact on the local community and environment. This would include removing vans from the road.
The Protect the Downs campaign group has welcomed the council’s change of approach, but warns that if the promised action is not taken quickly enough it will consider going to court.
Launching the strategy, Cllr Parsons added: “Finally, I would ask that everyone remembers to show respect throughout this process, and refrain from using discriminatory language or other forms of harassment that could stoke up further tension. We are all residents of Bristol, and we must show compassion and patience while we seek to tackle this difficult situation.”