Park and ride Travellers decline offer to move to different site

TRAVELLERS who pitched up at the Brislington Park and Ride have declined an offer to move to an alternative site in Avonmouth, according to Bristol City Council.

They arrived over the weekend and were promptly issued with official trespass notices on Monday. However, yesterday afternoon the encampment made up of five caravans was still visibly present at the park and ride site.

Outdoor huts for dogs were still noticeable and caravans had washing lines strung up between them, while gas canisters were present next to some of the other caravans.

The Gypsy Roma Traveller Team for Bristol City Council visited the site on Monday morning and offered the travellers pitches at one of the council’s transit sites in Avonmouth.

Welfare assessments were also carried out among the camp residents, with trespass notices being issued to them all.

A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “A member of our Gypsy Roma Traveller (GRT) Team visited on Monday morning to assess the size and nature of the encampment and offer them pitches at our transit site in Avonmouth, which they declined.

“We also carried out a welfare assessment with the group as per our duty of care. As some Gypsy Traveller families move frequently, they are sometimes unable to access a number of services, including GPs, schools and child care services. Within the GRT Team, we commission a specialist health visitor and education specialists, and have access to a wide number of other support services, where we can refer people for additional support, even if they are only in the city for a short while.

“At the same time, we explained that the encampment is trespassing and all site residents were issued with an official trespass notice. We have begun the process of getting a possession order which leads to a warrant for eviction from the land. In our experience, it is very rare that we reach the stage of having to use an eviction warrant with Gypsy Traveller groups, and we hope that will prove to be the case here as well.

“We will keep in touch with the group, and monitor for any new arrivals, and continue to provide support while encouraging them to accept our offer of using the pitches at the transit site.”

We will keep in touch with the group, and monitor for any new arrivals, and continue to provide support while encouraging them to accept our offer of using the pitches at the transit site

Bristol City Council