Bristol council writes to deputy PM for van dweller help

Sarah TurnnidgeBBC Information, BristolBBCNumbers of motorhomes are rising on Clifton Down in BristolA council is urging the deputy prime minister to assist it address an increase in van-dwelling. Bristol Metropolis Council wrote to Angela Rayner, who can be secretary of state for housing and communities, requesting funding to supply welfare help to these residing in vans.Whereas folks have lived in automobiles for a few years across the metropolis, tensions have grown in latest months because of a rising variety of motorhomes and caravans being parked on Clifton Down. In a press release revealed on-line, Councillor Barry Parsons stated the council wrote the letter as a result of it had turn into “very clear that we can not deal with this challenge alone”. Within the letter, the authority additionally requested to be granted powers to make it simpler to take away automobiles from council land. It stated it wished further funding to construct extra social housing in order that van dwellers had extra choices.Some van dwellers say they’ve been pressured to dwell in automobiles because of the cost-of-living disaster and excessive lease costs throughout the town.There are round 650 automobiles getting used as houses in Bristol.The council has stated it’s working in the direction of establishing short-term “in the meantime websites” the place folks could be supplied low-cost pitches with entry to facilities equivalent to bogs and operating water. Tensions have risen because of the reputation of parking vans on the DownsIn his assertion, Mr Parsons stated: “Nationally we’re taking a management function round car dwelling and liaising carefully with many different native authorities, which is why we’re ready to have the ability to make these asks and proposals to authorities.”Describing Bristol’s housing disaster, Mr Parsons stated that, between 2020 and 2023, common personal rents had risen by greater than 23%, whereas home costs had been at practically 9 instances common annual earnings. “Whereas we’re creating new houses at tempo and dealing with companions to cut back our use of short-term lodging, with the fitting help from central authorities, we might do extra,” he stated.He stated the council’s letter included a request to introduce a brand new authorized requirement for caravans to have a registration of possession.This, he stated, would make it simpler to hold out visitors enforcement actions on parked caravans that aren’t connected to a towing car.Lastly, he known as on the federal government to devolve powers to councils that may enable them to affect the affordability of personal rents.