Glastonbury caravan fires spark council action

Five caravan arson attacks have been reported in Glastonbury since March, prompting calls for more support for the town and its vehicle-dwelling community.

The fires include one on Leg of Mutton Road, three near Tesco and one on Benedict Street. Police are investigating the incidents, and three people have been arrested in connection with a fire near Tesco on Friday, 13 June.

The issue was raised at Somerset Council's Executive meeting on Tuesday, 1 July, by Cllr Ewan Cameron, Somerset councillor for Glastonbury Division. He asked for officers to be given the support and priority needed to deal with what he described as a serious and complex situation.

Cllr Cameron said he was in close contact with Avon and Somerset Police, the van dwelling community, Glastonbury Town Council, local businesses, residents in houses, NHS services and Somerset Council outreach teams.

He told the meeting: "I bring this worrying topic to the attention of the Executive as I do not wish for the situation to be inflated nor exploited.

"Exploitation of this and other situations at the expense of part of my community has previously led to increased frictions when we need to pull together and find solutions that promote harmony."

Cllr Cameron also thanked Somerset Council officers and outreach teams for what he called their "sensitive approach" to helping Glastonbury through a difficult period. He thanked Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and Avon and Somerset Police for their work keeping the town safe.

The council response includes work on a new "meanwhile" site for people living in vehicles. A meanwhile site is a temporary or interim site intended to provide a safer, more managed place while longer-term plans are worked through.

Somerset Council said it is close to submitting a planning application for a meanwhile site on council-owned land. The location of that land has not been made public.

Even though the proposed site is described as a "meanwhile" site, it would still need to go through the planning process. That means the same kinds of reports and checks required for a housing application, including issues such as access, drainage, flood risk, services and impact on nearby land.

The council has said it is drawing on experience from other authorities, including Bristol City Council, which already runs meanwhile sites. In Bristol, people living on meanwhile sites are charged about £30 a week, which covers basic services such as water, toilets and waste and recycling collection.

The work forms part of the Glastonbury Town Deal enabling project. The wider aim is to provide safe off-road space for the non-bricks-and-mortar community while helping other regeneration projects in the Beckery area move forward.

The council previously put forward plans in 2023 for a travellers' site on land north of Porchestall Drove, with 21 temporary transit pitches and 19 permanent pitches. Those plans were withdrawn in early 2024 because of flooding concerns.

A later plan for a solar farm on the same land was refused in October 2025. Somerset Council bought a different site in summer 2024 and has commissioned a feasibility study into vehicle-dweller sites and gypsy, Roma and traveller transit sites.

Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset Council's lead member for communities, environment and climate change, said Glastonbury has been a place of pilgrimage for hundreds of years and continues to attract people for many reasons.

She said the council recognises both the cultural importance of the town and the pressures linked to increased vehicle dwelling. These include anti-social behaviour, road safety concerns and impacts on businesses.

A multi-agency group is now coordinating the response. It is led by Kirsty Larkin, Somerset Council's service director for housing, and includes council officers, a dedicated Glastonbury vehicle-dweller housing officer, enforcement, highways, police and the town council.

Cllr Smith-Roberts said the group is taking a balanced approach. That means dealing with safety, highways and business concerns while also recognising the housing, health and welfare needs of people living in vehicles.

She said: "We acknowledge that anti-social behaviour and some criminal activity are affecting both the settled and the vehicle-dwelling communities, as well as businesses and tourism in the town centre.

"Enforcement action is therefore being progressed with supportive engagement, so that the response is proportionate and targeted."

Specialist support is also being provided through public health, housing and the NHS. The council said much of this work is confidential and may not be visible to the wider community, but is part of reducing harm, improving safety and helping people access services.

Traffic Regulation Orders are also being progressed where congestion is limiting business access, creating road safety concerns or affecting residential areas. These measures are aimed at specific locations where parking and access problems are causing the greatest impact.

Cllr Smith-Roberts said Somerset Council also wants the government to include vehicle dweller numbers in national returns to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, alongside rough sleeper numbers.

She said: "As housing costs exclude growing numbers of people from bricks-and-mortar homes, vehicle dwelling must be better understood nationally and supported locally, with safe places and at least basic services."

Police have made three arrests in connection with the fire on Beckery New Road, near Tesco, on Friday, 13 June. Two people were released on conditional bail on Sunday, 28 June, and one man in his 20s remained in custody, according to the latest information provided.

Avon and Somerset Police said anyone with information should call 101 and quote reference 5226163150. Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Includes reporting from Daniel Mumby/LDRS