Glastonbury caravan clearance cost tops £5,600
By Laura Linham 29th Apr 2026
Somerset Council has confirmed it cost more than £5,600 to remove abandoned caravans from a country lane near Glastonbury.
The authority said 12 caravans and a significant amount of associated waste were cleared from Watchwell Drove, near Butleigh, after complaints about vehicles allegedly abandoned on highway verges.
Watchwell Drove runs close to the River Brue, south of Glastonbury, between the town and the villages of Baltonsborough and Butleigh.
The council said the recovery and storage of one caravan for seven days, and the disposal of a further 12, cost £4,680, or £5,616 including VAT.
It has not provided a total cost for the full clearance operation, saying the work was carried out by multiple teams over a month.
The issue is a sensitive one locally, with long-running concerns around vehicle dwelling, rural lanes, access, waste, enforcement and the cost to public services.
The council's report refers specifically to caravans it says were identified as abandoned. It does not state who owned them, who left them there, or whether any action has been taken against an individual.
Details were included in a report by Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset Council's portfolio holder for communities, council housing, culture, equality and diversity.
The report was published ahead of a communities scrutiny committee meeting on Thursday, 30 April.
Cllr Smith-Roberts said a detailed review was carried out into the alleged abandonment of multiple vehicles on Watchwell Drove.
The work involved council management, operational staff, members of the outreach team and officers from Avon and Somerset Constabulary's neighbourhood policing team.
Her report said: "Twelve caravans, with a significant amount of associated waste, were identified as abandoned, and were removed and destroyed under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978.
"A subsequent clearance operation was undertaken to remove waste and debris associated with the unauthorised occupation of the highway verges.
"These actions were taken to maintain a clean, orderly, and safe environment."
The council has not confirmed how long the caravans had been at the site.
Google Street View imagery shows caravans along Watchwell Drove in March 2024, the most recent images available for the road.
A council spokesperson said: "The total for the recovery and storage for seven days for one caravan, and the disposal of a further 12, was £4,680 or £5,616 when VAT is included.
"We cannot provide a specific cost for the full clearance, due to it being done by multiple teams."
Councillor Ewan Cameron, who represents the neighbouring Glastonbury division, was involved in a multi-agency operation on Watchwell Drove in late November 2025, when at least one caravan was removed.
Police have also recorded activity in the area in recent months, including the seizure of around half a kilogram of suspected Class A drugs on 28 January.
The council has not linked that incident to the abandoned caravans referred to in the clearance report.
Members of the public can report abandoned vehicles, including caravans, through Somerset Council's abandoned vehicles service.
Original reporting: Daniel Mumby/LDRS
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