Log barricade set up at Horfield Common to keep off travellers away - but critics describe it as a ‘nasty’

A log barricade has been placed around Horfield Common to stop travellers entering the park - but it has been branded a ‘nasty’ by some residents.

Bristol City Council say the perimeter, which also includes bollards and benches, has been installed around the common to ‘prevent all unauthorised vehicle access’ after being approved by councillors on an area committee.

City councillor Philippa Hulme, who represents the Horfield ward, said the logs would ‘prevent vehicle access and protect the green space’.

On her Facebook page, one resident praised the ‘good work’ and another called for a similar move in Lawrence Weston, where the council already has a dedicated site for travellers and people are ‘just expected to put up with scrap and waste vehicles’.

But not everyone has welcomed the decision, with Twitter user @sellottie branding it a ‘blatant, nasty attempt’ to prevent travellers from accessing the site for ‘somewhere perfectly inoffensive to stay’.

They added: “The whole common [is] made less accessible to all (and churned into muddy trenches) as a result. Shame.”

Speaking at the site, a resident who gave his name only as Geoff, said: “I think I can guess why [the logs] are there.

“Over the years, from time to time, caravans have been parked up here for short periods and I know that’s not what people like.”

Another resident who gave her name as Charlotte said that it may be an ‘important’ solution for families ad dogwalkers who frequently use the site.

Charity Friends, Families and Travellers spoke out against the logs, comparing them to ‘anti-homeless benches’ which ‘make peoples’ lives more miserable and don’t do anything to solve the fundamental issue.”

A spokesperson for the charity added: “There is no point in telling people where they can’t go if you’re not telling them where they can go.

“There is a huge national shortage of places for gypsies and travellers to stop.

“If councils spent the same amount of time and effort making sure there were legal and safe places for travellers to stop in their area, rather than making travellers’ lives miserable, the world would be a much better place.’

The council said it had two travellers sites in Ashton Vale and Lawrence Weston as well as a third site in Bedminster dedicated to providing space for travelling showpeople.

A spokesperson added: “The logs placed around the perimeter of a section of Horfield Common is part of work to prevent all unauthorised vehicle access.

“This work, which also includes the introduction of benches and bollards was approved by the in November 2019.

“The works were initiated by a former ward councillor and delivered by officers using community infrastructure levy funds.”