Van Dwelling in a Pandemic
Increased rents and house prices in Bristol had contributed to hundreds of people living in vehicles by 2020.
Bristol City Council encouraged van dwellers on the streets to park in sites at Sea Mills and Hengrove from March 2020 onwards. These had access to facilities that were difficult to access during Lockdown- water, showers and toilets.
The Sea Mills site couldn't be used in Winter because of the risk of flooding from the river, so people there were asked to move to a Northern Slopes location in October 2020.
In Spring 2021, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill proposed to criminalise van dwelling on land where the landowner has not granted permission for an individual to be there. 'Kill the Bill' protests in Bristol highlighted people's concerns about this, especially in regard to the rights of Roma people.
Bristol City Council encouraged van dwellers on the streets to park in sites at Sea Mills and Hengrove from March 2020 onwards. These had access to facilities that were difficult to access during Lockdown- water, showers and toilets.
The Sea Mills site couldn't be used in Winter because of the risk of flooding from the river, so people there were asked to move to a Northern Slopes location in October 2020.
In Spring 2021, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill proposed to criminalise van dwelling on land where the landowner has not granted permission for an individual to be there. 'Kill the Bill' protests in Bristol highlighted people's concerns about this, especially in regard to the rights of Roma people.