Protect the Downs

Bristol residents are calling on the City Council to strengthen its new vehicle dwelling policy, warning that its proposals risk worsening problems across the city.

The Protect the Downs community action group says that unmanaged voluntary vehicle dwelling is taking over parks and residential streets, preventing those in real need from being more easily found and supported, creating unsafe conditions, damaging public spaces, and discouraging investment.

The new policy includes multiple ‘get out’ clauses that will enable voluntary vehicle dwellers to refuse support and resist enforcement, preferring instead to assert their rights to a nomadic lifestyle, at the expense of homeowners and tenants.

Major concerns about the Council’s inability to deliver stem from:

• Lack of enforcement: Senior councillors had previously said they do not intend to enforce against voluntary vehicle dwellers and have refused to use existing laws they now rely on.

• Failure to engage: Councillors have walked out of official meetings when they disagree with someone else’s view, even when paid to be there.

• Selective action: The Council has shown that it can enforce in some areas of the city, proving the issue is political will, not legal power.

• Poor dependency management: The Chair of Public Health and Communities (accountable for parks, green spaces and community cohesion) has ghosted constituents.

• Lack of Leadership: Key officials have not proactively knocked on vehicle doors, visited high impact encampments, or attended community events.

A leading investor has informed the Council that they are directing funds to other cities, because Bristol can no longer attract or retain a skilled workforce without safe, clean parks and streets. ‘When skilled jobs go, lower skilled jobs follow’ said [redacted] in an email to the council and copied to us.

The group is calling for urgent changes to the new policy:

• Clear metrics and transparency by providing weekly data on the number of vehicle dwellers assessed, supported, and relocated.

• A single reporting point for all vehicle dwelling issues to give a true picture of the impact.

• A PSPO backstop to prevent reoccupation of cleared sites and to stop voluntary vehicle dwellers playing victim at the expense of those in real need.

• Leadership shown by Councillors visiting encampments, community meetings, and homeowners and tenants near major encampments.

• Safety measures including CCTV at large encampments, traffic calming, and stopping cars joyriding in parks, which result from the Council’s tacit permission of rule breaking.