Van dwellers at the Bristol beauty site are staying put despite an eviction notice

Caravans and vehicles parked in a popular park in Bristol are still staying despite an order to leave from Bristol City Council. The local authority distributed the letters to several vehicles parked on Parry’s Lane in Durdham Down on June 12.

It is the latest chapter in a saga between residents of Clifton Down and Durdham Down and residents of vehicles over the right to park permanently at the beauty spot. Neighbors are calling for alternative lifestylers – either by choice or because of the housing crisis – to be banned from camping overnight on the side of the road, making the area a “no go” and using it as a “latrine”.

The notice threatened legal action if they did not go ahead. Some vehicles have left the area, but Bristol Live understands Bristol City Council is in contact with vehicles remaining on Parry’s Lane.

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The notice said: “Bristol City Council, although they have allowed the camp to date, do not give permission for the public road to be used in this way and therefore I must ask you to clear the highway.

“Failure to do so may result in legal action by Bristol City Council to remove you and your vehicle from the motorway. Any caravans or vehicles that appear to be abandoned will also be removed.”

Bristol City Council previously said the letter was an “informal request” and offered vehicle dwellers a chance to talk to the local authority about concerns raised by councilors and residents. The neighborhood enforcement team recently visited the area as part of the action.

Several residents feel they have been unfairly ‘grouped’ by the council – which referred to them as a ‘camp’ – when it is the minority who are responsible for the waste. Some say they have been left stressed and angry by the council’s measures – and claim they are doing nothing wrong.

Dave Turner, 24, works as a technician and has been living in his caravan on the Downs for two months. After receiving the letter from the council a week ago, he said the situation kept him up at night.

He said: “It’s not good. One of the reasons the council gave was to dispose of our waste but most of us do it properly. They say we’re too close to houses but I don’t see many houses This way.

“I work in Bristol if I were to move, I can’t think of where I could go that would cause less irritation to people than here. It is very stressful that I looked around as I will have to try and move.

“I don’t like how they lumped us together and called us a ‘camp’ – I’m here on my own. I didn’t come with a group. I was fine until I got the letter and now it’s being kept. me up.”

“A few vans have already moved to another road but my van has solar panels so it would be difficult to move as the alternative is a shaded area with trees. This is the perfect place really. If I were to move to central Bristol, I’d worry that my van – my home – would be broken into too.

The letters sent come as security patrols could be introduced to prevent the park becoming “lawless”. The land is subject to a series of ancient regulations, which theoretically prohibit people from a number of activities, but these are rarely enforced.

A Bristol City Council spokesman previously said: “On June 12, the council’s neighborhood enforcement team visited the camp on Parry’s Lane and Saville Road to carry out a welfare check and assessment following complaints received from residents and councillors.

“During this visit, a letter was issued to the occupants asking them to vacate the land within the next 14 days. This letter is an informal request and gives the occupants of the vehicle an opportunity to open a dialogue about the concerns we have raised.

“The neighborhood enforcement team remains in conversation with the occupiers of the Parry’s Lane camp and will revisit the area on June 26 to assess whether further action is required as a result of any vehicles remaining at the site.”