Travellers set up camp on former car showroom site in south Bristol

A group of Travellers have moved onto a former car showroom site in south Bristol.      

Around ten caravans have set up an encampment on land to the rear of the former Simonstone dealership on the Bath Road in Brislington.    

The group cut through a mental fence and gate to access the site, BristolWorld has been told, with police called when they arrived last Wednesday (November 22).   

The unit at 803 to 805 Bath Road had been occupied by Simonstone Motor Company for many years until its sudden closure in 2019. 

Security officers have been hired by the landlord of the site to supervise it while the travellers are there.        

The landlord is believed to be Hartwell, a major Ford vehicle dealer with a head office just outside Oxford. The company has been contacted for comment.     

An Avon & Somerset Police spokesperson said: "Officers with the Neighbourhood Policing team have been to the site and spoken with the travellers, as well as to the landowner.

"We'll continue to liaise with our partner agencies and monitor the situation as it progresses."

The arrival of the Travellers in Brislington comes after another group of caravans set up camp at Brislington Park & Ride last year.