Van dwellers Council to begin moving people on from Downs

THE process to start removing more than 100 van dwellers from the Downs will begin today, Bristol City Council has confirmed.

- Angus MCINTYRE

The local authority announced earlier this month that the Downs was being considered a 'high impact' site because a small minority of people living in the 100-150 vehicles parked there were using the area as a toilet.

As a result of that designation, the council said it would begin the process of moving on van dwellers from the edge of the Downs-without providing details of its action plan during the initial announcement.

Council officers are planning to engage with people living in vehicles before directing them to leave the area.

"With the group of lived-in vehicles now being designated high impact, the council will begin the process of moving the group on in the week beginning December 1 by engaging with the vehicle dwellers and conducting welfare assessments," a council spokesperson said.