Travellers have arrived and set up camp at The Downs. Residents have reported that about 15 caravans are parked off the Ladies Mile. Robert Westlake, chair of Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge group, confirmed the group of caravans had arrived at the popular beauty spot.
He said the travellers were offered the opportunity to move to the transit site, but have refused. Mr Westlake said: “I have contacted the Downs supervisor this morning (Friday) and I am assured that normal procedures to get them moved on are already under way. I understand that a visit was undertaken by the GRT team (Gypsy, Roma, Traveller).
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“This is a group of English Gypsies who were offered, but have refused the offer of a move to the transit site. Statements are being prepared for a court hearing to be arranged,” he said.
He highlighted that van dwelling and anti-social behaviour were the two key issues affecting the area. Mr Westlake said: “Local residents are indeed vexed that the Travellers and the van dwellers ignore the Downs bylaws.”
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The Downs Committee has recently set up a Downs Advisory Panel designed to assist and advise the committee on matters of governance. Mr Westlake said: “At the last meeting of the committee, I advised that an out of hours mobile security service needs to be initiated to protect the Downs on evenings and weekends.”
He added that the Downs bylaws 'without any warning, sanction or penalty are largely redundant'.
The annual Race for Life event is being held on the Downs on Sunday. It is a 5k run to raise money for cancer research. Travellers arriving on the Downs around this time of year and setting up camp also took place in 2019, 2020 and 2022.
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Last year, Steve Smith, local councillor and member of the Downs Committee said the impact on residents, when travellers arrived and set up camp, varies. While some groups only stay a couple of days before moving on, others intimidate people and leave litter lying around.
