Bristol Van Dwellers

[Saleen836]

I know there was a thread somewhere about the caravans on 'The Downs' in Bristol (about a 100) with another 500 odd in and around Bristol, Bristol City Council are now going to charge Band A council tax to van dwellers from April 1

https://www.itv.com/news/2026-02-16/bristol-to-sta...

[Hub]

I would be interested to know how they would apply Council Tax to a moveable vehicle with no address!

That also sends a confusing message as per the article - are they encouraging or discouraging?

Why can't they implement parking restrictions and deal with it that way?

There is a road through a park near me where this is increasing as well, I'd say 10-12 campers over the last year or so - it is annoying as it takes up parking spaces, especially as it is near a school and otherwise ideal for school dropping off.

[Mars]

They're already charging them rent for a pitch, so why charge them a separate council tax charge instead of just raising their rent to cover whatever shortfall the council thinks it has? It's typical council bureaucracy.

[BigMon]

Bristol is possibly my favourite English city but the council must be one of the worst in the country so I feel sorry for Bristolians.

We used to visit a lot for city breaks but the council implemented a vindictive ULEZ and one of our favourite restaurants then the cinema at Cabot Circus closed and that spoilt it for us sadly.

[Scrump]

This may be the other thread the OP referred to:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[bloomen]

Hub said:

I would be interested to know how they would apply Council Tax to a moveable vehicle with no address!

They've created pitches on some wasteland. You pay it if you move on to one. And I think that's on top of rent.

Rent and council tax and you have to supply your own accommodation. 4D chess move, that is.

[DoubleSix]

BigMon said:

Bristol is possibly my favourite English city but the council must be one of the worst in the country so I feel sorry for Bristolians.

We used to visit a lot for city breaks but the council implemented a vindictive ULEZ and one of our favourite restaurants then the cinema at Cabot Circus closed and that spoilt it for us sadly.

The cinema has reopened this month with Imax (funny reason to say a city has been spoiled for you though imo).

Imagine Bristol with Manchester’s vision of growth and accessibility. It would be immense.

Edited by DoubleSix on Tuesday 17th February 20:04

[frisbee]

Is it the actual council or the Bristol zoo parking bloke's cousin?

[BigMon]

DoubleSix said:

BigMon said:

Bristol is possibly my favourite English city but the council must be one of the worst in the country so I feel sorry for Bristolians.

We used to visit a lot for city breaks but the council implemented a vindictive ULEZ and one of our favourite restaurants then the cinema at Cabot Circus closed and that spoilt it for us sadly.

The cinema has reopened this month with Imax (funny reason to say a city has been spoiled for you though imo).

Imagine Bristol with Manchester s vision of growth and accessibility. It would be immense.

Edited by DoubleSix on Tuesday 17th February 20:04

Yes, maybe that wasn't the best written!

It was a few things really:

1 - We used to stay in a Mercur near the cider barge and that was closed, I think, to house migrants. Enjoyed staying there so that was one thing.
2 - We used to go for breakfast at Café Revival. It got sold, and was nowhere near as good as it used to be.
3 - The cinema closed
4 - And by far the worst, an Italian restaurant called 'La Grotta' which had been there for almost 50 years closed not long after the council brought in their ULEZ. It was a wonderful restaurant ran by very nice people and we miss it to this day.

We sort of lost heart after all that. I still love Bristol though.