Rise in van-dwellers 'not a state of emergency'

A council has turned down a proposal to declare a state of emergency over the large numbers of van dwellers currently living in town.

Councillor Susannah Hart called for Somerset Council to declare an emergency over van-dwellers in Glastonbury, claiming that about 200 people are living in vehicles in the area.

Hart has demanded that the council take urgent action to "resolve major issues" in the town and address the "dire need" for travellers' sites.

The council said it is working on delivering a new "meanwhile site" in the town, as well as identifying other sites across the county where travellers could live.

Mendip District Council voted in October 2022 to approve a public space protection order (PSPO), which would criminalise unauthorised traveller sites in and around Glastonbury.

This led to some councillors being branded "fascists" by members of the traveller community.

Sarah Dyke, who has represented Glastonbury in parliament since July 2024, has pushed for this PSPO to be re-introduced, though the Safer Somerset Partnership has warned it risks being a "blunt instrument", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, portfolio holder for communities, council housing, culture, equalities and diversity, said: "While this is a pressing and important matter, it is not considered appropriate to classify it as an emergency at this time."

Smith-Roberts added this was particularly true "when set against the scale of other acute pressures facing Somerset, including the county's very high levels of rough sleeping."

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