Residents living in their vehicles in Bristol have shared how a group of individuals opposing their presence known as ‘NIMBYs’ are causing disturbances by honking their horns, vandalizing their caravans, and throwing objects in an attempt to intimidate them – all while asserting that they contribute to the safety of the area.
Numerous individuals in the Downs neighborhood of Bristol have raised objections over the multitude of caravans occupying public streets for several months and have criticized the local council for their perceived sluggish response.
Multiple troubling occurrences, some involving acts of violence, have taken place, such as a caravan being intentionally set ablaze in February, instances of vandalism like broken windows, and incidents of objects being hurled at the dwellers.
Craig Collier, 44, a software engineer who has been living in his van in Clifton on and off for three years, told MailOnline: ‘Really it is a bunch of NIMBY’s driving around at night beeping their horns and shouting “p****s” at us.
‘Sometimes, people will come down and throw stones at the vans, groups of kids will come past on scooters and bikes and kick the vans as they go past.
‘It is all fairly low-level stuff, but you don’t feel safe when you are in a van and there is a group of people outside.
‘Nobody has been physically attacked.’
Craig believes that if he parked his van in Bishopston, Bedminster or Easton, there would not be as big of a backlash from the local community.
For months locals in the Downs area of Bristol have been complaining about dozens of caravans parked up on public roads in which people are living
In February, a caravan was burnt to the ground in the Downs in what is thought to have been arson
At a community protest last night, residents walked across the Downs and heard speeches
He said that people living in vans choose the Downs as it is ‘super safe’ and argues that by being there, they are making the area safer.
Craig said: ‘I stay on the Downs because it is super safe despite what these people are saying – us being here makes it way safer.’
Tensions escalated even further on Thursday ahead of a planned protest by residents which saw 300 people turn up with a van dweller confronting an group action leader live on air as he was interviewed by the BBC.
Bristol, deemed the most expensive place to rent outside London, has seen a rapid rise in the number of vehicle dwellers since 2020.
The council estimates there are up to 680 vehicles being lived in across Bristol at locations including land next to the M32, Fishponds and The Downs. Around 107 people are thought to be living on the Downs, making it the largest encampment in the city.
Residents in Bristol have previously spoke of suspected thefts, drug use and intimidation, whilst dwellers acknowledge there is a mixed group of people – ranging from professionals and academics to those with addiction issues – and that not everyone treats the area with respect.
In the three years Craig has spent living on the encampment, he was able to pay off £46k worth of debt and complete a mechanical engineering degree which he put down to living in his van.
He said: ‘I have had debts for decades. In the last three years I managed to clear £40,000 worth of debts. If I didn’t live in a van I would still have those debts.
‘My life is so much better. I get out more, I speak to people more. If I don’t like it here I move somewhere else.
‘Most of us move, this is a place to come and park at night to sleep.
‘Myself, I have been parking here for three years on and off, I don’t live here, I live in my van – this is a safe place for me to park.
‘I don’t understand why the minimum bar is so expensive when all I really want is a bed.
‘I’d pay £400 for a bed, but that does not exist, it is a thousand pound for a bed or you have to live with loads of people.’
There has been a series of incidents, some violent, including a caravan being set on fire in February, windows being smashed and objects being thrown
Residents in Bristol have previously spoke of suspected thefts, drug use and intimidation (Pictured: homes surrounding the area)
A van dweller remonstrates with protestors during Thursday’s march, which 300 people attended
Craig said some of his friends in the Downs do feel unsafe and claimed people have broken into his van.
He said: ‘If I park my van in Easton, it gets broken into, if I park my van here it doesn’t
‘If I park here, I have grass, open air, I don’t s**t in the bushes, there is a toilet block right there, I have a toilet and shower in my van.
‘What is dangerous on the Downs, and what we have reduced is sex in the bushes and predators.
‘At the other end of here there has been a cruising area for decades, this is a place where men have gone to have sex.
‘There is a spot over there for flashing, there is a spot for group sex and voyeurism.
‘Since we have been living here, we see less of that, why? Because before nobody was living here and now, we are here.
‘On the specific of the Downs, we make the place much much safer.’
It is estimated that around 300 residents turned up in Clifton, Bristol
Approximately 107 vehicle dwellers are currently living in the encampment on the Downs
Bristol, deemed the most expensive place to rent outside London , has seen a rapid rise in the number of vehicle dwellers since 2020
Runners pictured going past some caravans which are plotted up along the side of the park
One man who wanted to remain anonymous has been living in his caravan with his dogs on the Downs for four years.
He argues that he and others in the community make Clifton and tidier and safer area.
He said: ‘First of all, 90 per cent of these caravans are empty, I see reports saying there are hundreds of us living here – that is not the case.
‘I have been living here with my dogs for four years, I will go litter picking, I clean up s**t from bushes.
‘I do my best to make the area a pleasant space for everyone.
‘There is a small minority of people here who are throwing litter about, but it is not the majority of us.
‘There are good people out here, a lot of us want to work to make the Downs a nice place for people to visit.’
On Thursday, BBC reporter Hannah Miller was interviewing Tony Nelson, the founder of Protect the Downs, a group whose aim is to have the caravans and vans removed, when a man approached and appeared to square up to the interviewee.
Approaching the group from across the street, a man was heard shouting: ‘I want a word with you actually. I thought it was you.’
He added: ‘You’re part of the Downs Committee thing, aren’t you? Protect the Downs.’
There are believed to be 680 van dwellers around the city of Bristol, according to the local council
The man aggressively approached a reporter who was interviewing a local resident and began shouting, before taking a swing at the camera and ‘striking’ the cameraman
BBC reporter Hannah Miller was interviewing Tony Nelson (pictured), the founder of Protect the Downs, at the time of the incident
Mr Nelson replied: ‘Yeah, and we tend to just talk, not shout.’
The man then walked into shot and straight up to Mr Nelson, shouting: ‘No we don’t, not anymore.
‘The amount of hate and violence your group is causing up here.’
Mr Nelson said: ‘Did you come here to just shout at me?’
The man replied: ‘Yes, I did.’ While the reporter stands by, appearing somewhat bemused, Mr Nelson said: ‘So do you want me to just shout back?’
The exchange continues with Mr Nelson asking the man if they could ‘talk like adults’, and being told: ‘You’re past that, mate. Well past that.’
After not getting the reaction he was looking for, the man then suddenly turns and grabs the reporter’s microphone, saying: ‘Get that out my face.’
There is then a scuffle partially recorded as the man appears to attack the cameraman.
The man is also alleged to have pushed Mr Nelson.
The police are now investigating the incident. An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: ‘On Tuesday 10 June we received a report that a man had been pushed and a camera pushed over in Parrys Lane, Bristol at about 6.30pm on Monday 9 June.
‘An investigation is underway and anyone with information should call 101, giving the call handler the reference number 5225161720.’
Bristol City Council says it has received in excess of 1,500 complaints and reports relating to encampments, relating to littering, looking unsightly, blocked pavements, feeling threatened and anti-social behaviour.
But it has found some reports include hate speech and ‘othering’, said to contribute to prejudice against vehicle dwelling communities.
After the incident with the van resident, Mr Nelson told the BBC: ‘People really feel very strongly about the council’s inaction, their permissiveness, their saying ‘it’s OK to come and trash our parks’.
‘People are fed up with that. I don’t know if it’s council incompetence or whatever.’
A petition calling for the encampment to be removed has received more than 7,500 signatures.
Photos from Thursday’s protest showed hundreds of people amassing on the Downs from all age groups.
One of the vans on the encampment pictured with colourful art work pictured on Saturday
Bristol City Council says it has received in excess of 1,500 complaints and reports relating to encampments, relating to littering, looking unsightly, blocked pavements, feeling threatened and anti-social behaviour
But it has found some reports include hate speech and ‘othering’, said to contribute to prejudice against vehicle dwelling communities
Organisers told attendees in advance: ‘Show up for the Bristol Downs and your fellow Bristolians and help us preserve this beautiful space for generations to come. Share the event far and wide. There are many thousands of Bristolians who don’t know how they can help. This is how. Spread the message. The tide is turning.
‘This historic parkland is being destroyed by an unacceptable proliferation of vans, vehicles and caravan dwellings. Tens of thousands hard hard-working citizens of Bristol no longer feel safe enjoying this vast open parkland.
‘Once the jewel of Bristol. This land is being usurped by individuals taking public parkland for themselves. A council too inept to uphold basic law and order.
‘The fight is just beginning.’
Councillor Barry Parsons, Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee, released a lengthy statement, in which he acknowledged the ‘complex situation’ facing the city.
He said: ‘Our latest estimates are that there’s between 640 to 680 lived-in vehicles and caravans on the kerbside, on private and council sites, with some squatting on land in parts of the city.
‘This figure doesn’t include the number of transient Gypsy, Roma and Traveller groups who visit the city throughout the year – and this is a group of people who we can expect to see more of during the next few months as we’re now into the summer season.
‘While people living in vehicles and caravans are spread across our city, we recognise that the size and concentration of the group bordering The Downs is larger than all other encampments.’
He added: ‘We’re taking proactive steps to apply for an injunction for the grassed areas of The Downs and Ladies Mile, which if secured, will allow officers to move vehicles that pitch up more quickly than usual.’
