Bristol council warns huge group of Travellers could face eviction unless they move on

Bristol City Council has warned a large group of Travellers could be evicted unless they move on.   

A group of around 40 caravans are currently camped on the old railway line under the Bath Road in Brislington.    

The group arrived on the site near the Lodekka pub in October, and are understood to be part of the same encampment that was evicted from an empty council depot in Lockleaze that same month.

A council spokesperson said the group could face eviction if they have not moved on once a possession order is granted.        

A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: "Shortly after the travellers arrived in October our Gypsy Roma Traveller (GRT) Team visited the site to provide contact details for raising any welfare needs and serve trespass notices.   

“This was followed by another visit from our GRT Team along with the GRT Specialist Health Visitor from Sirona Health to carry out a full welfare assessment. 

“As a result, we have been able to support several people living on the site with foodbank referrals and other welfare needs.” 

They added: “Once a possession order has been granted by the County Court then, if the group have not moved on, we will be able to move towards an eviction."  

The majority of the encampment is on council-owned land, but the main access route to the site is privately-owned.  

There is a recognised shortage of legal sites for Travellers to pitch and the council said it does not currently have alternative pitches on meanwhile sites to offer to encampment members.   

A meanwhile site is a piece of land which is not currently in use, or is earmarked for future development, which the council offers to vehicle dwellers for a small charge. 

A new meanwhile site has recently opened in Lockleaze, providing 14 pitches on land that was already being occupied by an unauthorised encampment.   

While in Brislington, there was recently an unauthorised encampment on a former car dealership site on Bath Road which has since moved on.