Welcome to Vanistan

RECENT weeks have seen the controversy over van-dwellers growing, particularly regarding those on the Downs.

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On the one side you have a number of residents, most of them owner-occupiers of nice houses in nice parts of town, objecting to vans and caravans and the mess that some of the occupants cause.

People have been living in vans and caravans on the Downs for well over ten years now. I've walked by them regularly and until very recently have seen little evidence of the mess that some inhabitants are alleged to leave. Obviously the tone of the place is going down.

It would be nice to see them gone from the Downs, but I won't be joining any demo against them, and I’m not signing any petitions.

I walk all over Bristol, occasionally for work purposes, but more usually just for fun. Have I bored you yet by telling you about my hobby of visiting places which most people would consider uninteresting (unless they actually live there)? No? Oh well, some other time. Betcha can’t wait!

The thing is, one encounters little groups of vehicle-dwellers all over the city, usually tucked away in un-picturesque places where they're going to be left alone, such as off the Muller Road or in bits of St Philips.