Dozens of caravans were counted on unauthorised sites in Bristol and the surrounding area this year - as campaigners fight to increase site provision for Gypsy and Traveller people across England.
Figures from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show that in January, 6 caravans were on land not owned by Travellers, and another 31 were on sites that they did own - but did not have planning permission for. That is 61 per cent more than the 23 that were counted on all unauthorised sites during the same period in 2020.
Another 410 caravans were on authorised sites, including 179 socially rented caravans (formerly known as local authority sites) and 231 on privately-run sites. In 2020 there were 17 fewer socially rented caravans (162) and 64 more caravans on privately-run sites (295).
