GLASTONBURY MP Sarah Dyke is calling for a new system to protect hundreds of people living in “unsafe and entirely unsuitable” caravans on roads around the town.
The Liberal Democrat has called on new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed (Labour, Streatham and Croydon North) to introduce a “national caravan licensing and registration system”.
She said the scheme could “help keep the most vulnerable residents safe” and comes amid “increased tensions” over the issue.
“There are around 300 people living in caravans in and around Glastonbury,” she said. “The town has the highest density of people living in vans by the roadside or in unauthorised encampments anywhere in the country, only Bristol has more in number.
“Many of these caravans are unsafe and entirely unsuitable for accommodation.
“Despite this, they are being sold for cash by unscrupulous landlords in an unregulated market.
“Those in the worst condition are subsequently left abandoned when they become totally uninhabitable, leaving Somerset Council to remove and destroy them.”
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She said Glastonbury’s role as a place of pilgrimage and popular destination for the traveller community, as well as growing numbers of vulnerable people and those struggling to afford rising rents were contributing to the issue.
“The town does not have the necessary infrastructure to support those living in vans, such as basic sanitation facilities, leading to increased tensions over recent years as numbers of vans has grown,” she went on.
“In addition, 12 years ago, the former Conservative-led county council sold all the permanent sites, while there are no transition sites in the county at all.
MP Sarah Dyke with police in Glastonbury High Street
“Somerset Council is looking to build permanent pitches to help regulate these dwellings, as well as providing better security and welfare facilities.”
However, she said a licensing scheme could be a way of supporting van dwellers to live safely – and ease community tensions.
“I believe the introduction of a national caravan licensing and registration system could be a strong foundation to help keep the most vulnerable residents safe and to ease tensions across the community,” she added.
Ms Dyke called for a meeting with the secretary of state to discuss the matter further.
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some van dwellers may be basically vagrant so need help not more cost to survive. Induvial needs Varey as a pensioner I can understand the needs