The traveller camps in Arno's Vale, Canon's Marsh, or Barton Hill often become a major problem for councils to deal with.
A court order is needed to enforce the eviction in Bristol.
However, the process is complex due to various issues and laws that need to be considered before starting the eviction process in Bristol.
The hustle is increased when the land belongs to the private owners in Bristol, and in that case, the Bristol Council has no authority or responsibility to help.
Nevertheless, the Bristol council can force private landowners in Bristol to evict illegally camped travellers on their lands.
The travellers from Arno's Vale, Canon's Marsh, or Barton Hill can only build camps on the land in Bristol they have taken permission for.
Every traveller must keep in mind that it is unlawful to park on:
On a Road or Verge or in a Layby where normal access is obstructed in Bristol
Land in Bristol that has farming on it that is cultivated
In plantations of Forestry Commission's land in Bristol
A few councils might allow travellers to temporarily stay in waste ground areas in Canon's Marsh, Barton Hill, or Arno's Vale, if the site has been approved for unauthorised encampment.
However, in this case, the Council representative will visit the site in Bristol and assess the conditions to make a decision on eviction.
Moreover, the Bristol Council representative can make a decision based on how long the Travellers are planning to stay in Bristol if there is anyone elderly, children, or anybody who needs care. The council representative also has to make a decision based on safety factors.
The Bristol council also needs to put into consideration how many vehicles the area can hold, what the land in Bristol is used for and if it will be in use in the coming days, any potential damage to the land and the effect on the local community.
Some basic facilities like bin bags and portable toilets can be provided in Bristol to the travellers from Arno's Vale, Canon's Marsh, or Barton Hill which the council can charge a small fee for providing these services.
In the interests of public health, travellers in Bristol can ask the council to provide these facilities.
Local authorities in Bristol must apply for court orders or injunctions to evict travellers.
The council must first prove to the court that the travellers are camping on the land in Bristol without permission.
The eviction time in Bristol depends on whether a court hearing date can be obtained.
Typically, travellers in Canon's Marsh, Arno's Vale, or Barton Hill and the council will agree upon a date to leave without the need for forceful eviction in Bristol.
The owner of the land or council in Bristol can, at any time, get in touch with the police if travellers are illegally camping on the site in Bristol and the police have the power to evict them straightaway if two or more people are present, six or more vehicles are parked within the grounds, anyone has misbehaved or caused damage to the land.
The sheriffs bear the authority to have a traveller evicted from a region in Bristol and may ask them to vacate in case the owner wishes so.
This is to give them enough time to pack and fix broken or damaged vehicles in Canon's Marsh, Arno's Vale, or Barton Hill.
It is a criminal offence in the event that the travellers fail to vacate in Bristol within the agreed time, or even return to the same site in Bristol within three months after they are served with a vacate notice.
This can result in being fined or prison sentence if a traveller is convicted.
The vehicles will be towed away by the Bristol police and if within 21 days they will not have been claimed, they will be crushed at the salvage yard.
It's really important to inform your local council in Bristol if you're concerned about an unauthorized traveller encampment and the council will be able to take action and remove these travellers from the land in Bristol.
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