County court grants council possession order in van dwellers case

It is thought that more than 600 lived-in vehicles are dotted throughout the city on council-operated sites, kerbsides, private sites and squatted encampments.

The council has been taking legal action against people living in their vehicles around and on the Clifton Downs since 2023, when it secured an injunction banning public urination and defecation, and the use of threatening language, on a stretch of road then occupied by up to 40 people living in vans.

In 2025, the council obtained an injunction blocking van dwellers from being present on Clifton Downs, Durdham Downs and Ladies Mile.

At Bristol County Court on Thursday (16 April), the council applied to extend this injunction to also include 10 roads around the Downs.

If granted, the injunction would mean that any new group of vehicles must leave after being served with it and must not return to the area without permission.

According to a statement from Cllr Stephen Williams, the court reserved its judgment in relation to the injunction extension.

However, it granted a 21-day possession order for 10 roads, allowing the council to enforce and evict the current vehicles.

He said: “Following today’s result, people will be given three weeks to vacate. This will allow people a final opportunity to leave of their own accord.

“If they refuse to move on by this date, we will have to work with bailiffs to remove remaining vehicles street by street. Our outreach team will continue to visit the site on the lead up to any enforcement.”

He said the council began the enforcement process back in December over health and environmental concerns, adding: “While this was not the first time we had received complaints about people using the Downs as a toilet, it had previously been very difficult to link these actions to the people living in vehicles, as the area is a popular site for events and has a high turnover of visitors.

“On this occasion, the presence of water bottles and tissues found at these sites suggested regular use, supporting local intelligence that these areas were being used as toilets by people living in vehicles around the area.”

Adam Carey