Huge Travellers camp next to one of Bristol’s busiest roads could face eviction within weeks

A huge group of Travellers that have been camped on an old railway line in Bristol for more than six months could face eviction within weeks.         

Bristol City Council are in county court today (May 16), BristolWorld understands, to discuss gaining possession of the Tramways site in Brislington from the Travellers.     

If the court order is obtained, the council is looking to evict the group of around 40 caravans the week commencing June 3.  

The Travellers have been camped on the site under Bath Road near the Lodekka pub since October last year, after being evicted from another site in Lockleaze.    

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There is a recognised shortage of legal sites for Travellers to pitch and the council previously said it does not currently have alternative pitches on meanwhile sites to offer to encampment members.      

A meanwhile site is a piece of land which is not currently in use, or is earmarked for future development, which the council offers to vehicle dwellers for a small charge. 

A new meanwhile site was created in Lockleaze at the start of this year, providing 14 pitches on land that was already being occupied by an unauthorised encampment.