‘It seems ridiculous they are putting us on the streets of Bristol when it’s cold’

As Alex stokes the tiny stove in the cosy caravan, dogs, Vino and Stomper, jostle contentedly for the best spot on the sofa.

Nestled just off the cycle path near the White City allotments with views of Clifton Suspension Bridge, the small, peaceful settlement is, by all appearances, a scene of domestic bliss – but banners hung on the fence surrounding the patch of land hint that all is not well.

Alex and his partner Sophie are part of a small group of travellers and van dwellers who have occupied the long-disused south Bristol site for the past few weeks.

The group want to draw attention to what they feel is an unfair eviction

Alex, Sophie and Rach are used to uncertainty, but say the constant threat of bailiffs is taking its toll

They are now living in a state of constant fear and uncertainty, facing eviction at the hands of Homes England, the government quango that owns the land, despite there being no plans to develop it for at least a year.

The agency that is tasked with providing housing says it is pursuing the High Court Possession Order because the site is “not safe and contains dangerous buildings”.

But the group that faces being turfed out onto the streets in the middle of winter feel it is a perverse move by the government body at a time when homelessness is at an all-time high and Bristol is in the grip of a housing crisis, with escalating prices and demand far outstripping supply.

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“We have moved around a lot of different places and not made a fuss when they move us on,” says Alex.

“But with this, we know it’s going to be left derelict and we know it’s owned by a government agency and will be used to build homes, but they are not planning to do anything with it until 2020.

“They have taken us to court and evicted us and we have no intention of causing extra trouble, but it seems ridiculous that they are putting us back on the streets of Bristol when it’s cold.”

The group – with their seven or so vans and caravans – have previously been able to come to an agreement with land owners and have always moved on as soon as the site is needed for redevelopment, but say Homes England have resisted all their efforts to communicate.

They always seek disused plots and try to avoid being too close to residential areas.

Rach with her dog, Misfit

“The concerns people often have are unfounded but that’s the nature of the beast,” says Rach, another of the travellers, as she sips her tea in the cosy comfort of Alex and Sophie’s caravan.

A big part of the issue for them is safety. Alex and Sophie say they have faced hostility on the street and had people throw things at them.

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“It can feel very vulnerable in a caravan,” says Sophie.

“We have known people who have lost everything when their caravan has been set fire to.”

“Being forced to live by the side of the road is a risk,” agrees Rach. “These fences offer us a bit more security from things like that.

“There are a huge number of displaced people in Bristol and some are parked on roads and, for some, I’m sure it’s not their ideal situation.

“We are trying to move out of the way and not impact the community.”

Alex’s print depicts how the level of uncertainty is making him feel

People occupying the site either work or study, so they need to be in a relatively central location.

Sophie says the threat hanging over them is taking its toll and means they fear going out to work and coming back to find the bailiffs have towed their vehicles and belongings.

Each person has their own reasons for living in a van – for some it’s a choice, for some very much necessity and for others, a bit of both.

Reflecting on his own personal story, Alex says: “I moved out of home when I was 15 and came to Bristol to go to college to do music.

“I couldn’t really afford to live. I was squatting and this as a natural progression of that. Now I would not go back to a house.

“I bought my first caravan when I was 18. I was a bit upset about it and I didn’t really want to live in a caravan but then an old traveller said to me, ‘you’re 18 and you own your own house’.

“I just don’t understand why people see how we live and think it’s not fair and we should be living another way.”

He and Sophie lived in a house for a while in Bristol, but after a stint in Europe, they came back and prices had rocketed so this was their best alternative to nights in a hostel.

For Rach and Sophie, self-sufficiency brings a level of security

With their own solar panels, generators and a home on wheels, they can be self-sufficient.

It is this element of relative security that appeals to Rach.

“I could not deal with the insecurity of housing,” she says. “If I don’t have any money to pay the rent or bills, I find myself freezing cold, on the street with nowhere to go.

“It’s a totally different insecurity to this because if I get evicted here, at least I have a van and I’m warm and have my possessions.

“Originally, I started off squatting and it was just part of a gradual process. I was seeing a guy and then rather than move into my squat, we moved into his van.”

She adds that many live in a home on wheels because they do seasonal work, such as daffodil and fruit picking, that requires them to move around and have their own accommodation.

“It feels like they are setting out to make it difficult for us because they think we should be in houses, but they don’t have enough housing for people as it is,” continues Rach.

“Anyone who thinks we live for free should really walk a day in our shoes and see how much we pay for our living.

“None of us claim benefits and we give back through taxes.”

The travellers say the derelict plot is an ideal short-term plot in the over-crowded city

Alex adds that they would happily pay for a pitch to be able to have a level of security, but there are just not enough sites available.

The group say they have no intention of staying long-term on the disused land, but seek some safety and security short-term.

Alex says that they will not resist eviction, but wanted to draw attention to their plight. He argues that at the very least, they need a line of communication so they know what’s happening so they can pack up ready to go.

On the homelessness crisis in Bristol, he adds: “They say they are solving the housing crisis by opening up beds in the homeless hostels, but if you have a job so you turn up late at a hostel and there’s no beds available, you end up on the streets.”

A spokesperson for Homes England said: “We are in the process of obtaining a High Court Possession Order to have trespassers removed from our land at City Gateway, who have already been ordered by the court to leave the site but have so far refused.

“The area is not safe and contains dangerous buildings which are clearly marked, so we will continue to pursue their removal through the appropriate legal channels.”

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