Risk of Downs becoming 'completely unsafe and dangerous' again as Traveller ban set to expire

While Travellers have been stopping on the Downs for centuries, in recent years encampments have often been marred with litter and anti-social behaviour, such as riding quad bikes very near people having picnics. Bristol City Council could soon however apply to extend the injunction.

According to Anna Stevens, biodiversity engagement and learning manager at the Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife team, people staying in caravans on the grass last summer prevented her from taking groups around the area. She added that their presence impacts the general public too, during a meeting of the Downs committee on Monday, January 12.

Ms Stevens said: “The one thing I would like to avoid this year is the issues we had last year, which prevented large numbers of groups from being able to attend engagement sessions. This is in regard to the Travelling communities which move onto the grass and render the grass completely unsafe and dangerous for any engagement activities, in particular with children.

“We’re hoping that the injunction will be continued without it running out this year. That needs to be put into place now or considered now by the council. Last year we raised it early and nothing was done until the Race for Life was at risk. I don’t think that’s good enough.”

The Race for Life takes place on the Downs in the summer, where runners raise money for Cancer Research UK. Councillors suggested referring the injunction to the relevant policy committee responsible for the problem, although they appeared to not know which one this was.

Recently a group attempted to park on the Downs, according to the Downs Advisory Panel. But because of the injunction, they were met the same day they arrived and told they “needed to leave immediately”. They then left the following day.

Ben Skuse, area parks manager, said: “As a result of what happened last summer we have an injunction in place until July, which allows for immediate removal. We need to start thinking now about it. To extend it, you need to apply for another year.”

David Freed, a member of the Merchant Venturers, added: “What happened last year was the injunction expired, and so there was a huge delay in getting anything done because the council had to apply to the court for a new injunction.”

A possession order was previously in place on the Downs that ran out in August 2024. Without that, encampments take much longer to move one, as council staff have to serve papers that go in front of a judge, which takes about four to six weeks. So in early summer last year, a group of encampments returned, prompting parks staff to complain of heaps of rubbish they left behind.