VAN DWELLERS have been seen taking over a UK neighbourhood and increasing the threat of stabbing for local residents in the area.
The man leading an anti-dweller campaign now fears for the safety of himself and his family.
SWNSTony Nelson is the chair of the Protect the Downs group of Clifton Downs[/caption]
SWNSThe group campaigns against the rise of van dwellers around their residents[/caption]
SWNSMore than 600 people live in vans on the roads of Bristol[/caption]
SWNSA fundraiser has been launched by a community group to address the crisis[/caption]
Tony Nelson, who heads the “Protect the Downs” group in Bristol, is calling for vehicles to be removed from their local public green space.
More than 600 people are living in vans and caravans on the road sides of Bristol, particularly around the Clifton Downs park.
This may be due to increasing rental costs in the area, with the onset of a homelessness crisis.
And Tony, 52, was recently “attacked” during filming with the BBC, along with a camera that was also struck by a van-dweller.
The man accused father and husband Tony of spreading “hate and violence” against the people living in their vans.
He added the two groups were “well past talking to each other”, before he pushed Tony.
This was the first time Tony has been in a physical altercation with a van-dweller, which has left him worrying about his family.
Tensions have been overall rising between the locals and dwellers in Bristol, leaving one van burned down in a suspected arson attack this week.
Tony has also seen threats online of people wanting to target him, his family and friends.
“Online threats saying ‘let’s find out where these people live’, ‘let’s go to their house’, ‘let’s take them down a peg or two’,” he explained.
However, he has stated he would “take a swing”, “spit”, or “stab” for his group’s cause.
The engineer said he was used to putting his body on the line.
He also highlighted that his campaign is not against van-dwellers, but just those “trying to claim the park” – which is up to around 107 people.
Apart from the incident that occurred whilst with the BBC, Tony said: “There is other threatening behaviour which I have reported to the police.”
He added: “I can’t afford to get overly concerned and frankly, if someone hurts me, it’s simply going to probe that we’re right.”
There is also concern amongst residents about suspected thefts, drug use and rising intimidation from van dwellers.
Whilst several van dwellers claim living in a caravan is their only option, Tony believes taking over the park is a “lifestyle” choice with the housing crisis being used as an “excuse”.
“You don’t have to live in a park and you don’t have to live on the street and outside someone’s house,” he said.
Tony, who stated that he himself can’t afford a car and therefore commutes by bike, added that he also can’t live where he wants, which is “how the real world works”.
SWNSTony Nelson is not against van-dwellers just those trying to claim The Downs[/caption]
SWNSIssues of litter, noise, anti-social behaviour, and drug use have been reported[/caption]
“There are other places to go. For most people in the world they have to commute.
He continued: “Why have you chosen to impact someone else?”
When The Sun visited The Downs earlier in the year, one van dweller Michael Freeman revealed how he was evicted from the last caravan he lived in by the owner in Warminster.
He told The Sun: “Being left here badly affected my mental health and to be honest, if it wasn’t for my dog Bobby, I wouldn’t still be here.
“I can understand why the locals don’t like it – I don’t even want to be here, I want to be housed.”
Another anonymous dweller suggested the Protect the Downs group was fuelling hatred: “Most of us keep ourselves to ourselves and keep the area tidy, put rubbish in bins and don’t cause any issues, but we’re all being tarred with the same brush.
“Groups like [Protect the Downs] fuel discrimination.
“I don’t work because I’m neurodivergent, and a lot of the other people living here probably have some mental health issues.”
They added: “We’re not stopping people visiting The Downs, and where else would we go?
“There are proper sites for van-dwellers, called Meanwhile sites, but they’re pretty dangerous places and nobody would want to live there.”
Regardless, residents have reportedly complained about the litter, noise and anti-social behaviour outside their homes.
And thousands of pounds have been raised by ‘Protect the Downs’ in response to the rise of people living in vehicles on Clifton Downs.
After being quietly set up earlier this year, the fundraise has raised over £7,000 which will be directed at providing legal advise, potential action, holding decision-makers to account, environmental investigations and campaign material, marketing and admin fees.
In June, around 300 members of the campaign group held a walk in protest aimed at getting the council to remove the encampment.
It was not against vehicle dwellers, but the people trying to claim the park as their own residents, as well as leave their vehicles outside homes, release generator fumes and litter.
They have called on the council to provide further help to those who are really vulnerable in the vans.
Tony stated: “There are people out there who really need help and they are not getting it – this is council incompetence.”
The group now has a target of £12,000 to put towards urgent actions like legal letters and expert reports.
Bristol City Council have received over 1,500 complaints and reports relating to encampments, littering, blocked pavements, threatening and anti-social behaviour.
Vehicle dwellers have acknowledged there is a mixed group of people – from professionals and academics to those with substance abuse – and not everyone treats the area with respect.
Some reports have also included hate speech and ‘othering’, which is said to contribute to prejudice against vehicle dwelling communities.
The council have made the decision not to move van dwellers, but will be providing temporary pitches offering basic amenities like water and waste disposal for a fee.
The Sun has contacted Bristol City Council for comment.
SWNSProtect the Downs group wants the council to provide more support for van dwellers and homeowners in the area[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
