Van-dwellers Concerns raised over management of 'meanwhile sites'

SAFETY fears have been expressed over so-called "meanwhile sites" where an exodus of people living in caravans on the Downs could soon be sent to.

- Alex SEABROOK

The Kingswear Road meanwhile site

Claims have emerged at one of bullying, harassment, a dog bite and a knife attack, with scant support from the site's managers.Bristol City Council is planning to increase the number of pitches on meanwhile sites, which are similar to small caravan parks. People currently living in vans on the Downs could next year be encouraged to relocate to these sites instead, as there is running water and toilets provided for a small fee. Leading councillors have said these are safer than staying on the side of the road.

These claims have prompted a previous tenant of two meanwhile sites in Bristol to speak out with his experience of staying there. Rich, who asked not to include his surname, stayed at the Kingswear Road site in Knowle West and the New Fosseway Road site in Hengrove in 2022.

He said: 'If the management of the sites are not willing to enforce rules, evict aggressive people, and defend vulnerable people, then it's just a wild west with a padlock on the front. Why would people give up the plush safe environment of the Downs for a wild west hellhole with no management?'