Glastonbury caravan response looks beyond enforcement

Glastonbury needs more than enforcement to deal with roadside caravans because simply moving vehicles on can shift the problem from one road to another, a county councillor has said. Councillor Ewan Cameron has set out a wider plan for the town as figures show caravan numbers remain almost double their 2019 level.

In an update to residents, Cllr Cameron said the number of caravans in Glastonbury fell from 157 to 151 by the end of June 2026. He said the reduction included six caravans, with two removed through abandoned vehicle enforcement and four lost through arson.

But he said the town had 77 roadside caravans in January 2019, meaning the latest figure of 151 is still a 96% increase. A graph included with his update, covering December 2019 to June 2026, shows numbers rising sharply during 2020 and 2021 before fluctuating at a much higher level.

Cllr Cameron said he is often told that nothing is happening on the issue, but said that is not the case. He said work is moving on several fronts, including enforcement, outreach, a long-term plan and strategic engagement.

"Often, I am told that nothing is happening," he said. "This is not the case as multiple courses of action are being moved on concurrently. These can be broken down to enforcement, outreach, long-term plan and strategic engagement."

On enforcement, Cllr Cameron said Somerset Council has removed 111 abandoned caravans since March 2021. He said he personally monitors known locations where van dwelling vehicles are parked, speaking with members of the van dwelling community and listening to residents.

He said that work helps identify abandoned vehicles, exploitation and welfare issues, housing needs and highway safety concerns. Enforcement teams are averaging the removal of two abandoned vehicles a month, working with outreach, police and environmental enforcement officers.

But Cllr Cameron said enforcement has to be handled carefully because it can displace vans rather than resolve the wider problem. He said residents may have noticed fewer vans on Morlands Road next to the Premier Inn after welfare checks were started before section 77 action.

"This is a delicate process as enforcement may move vans to other locations as we have seen in that some of those previously on Morlands Road have now moved to Leg of Mutton Road and Roman Way," he said.

Cllr Cameron said the causes behind Glastonbury's large van dwelling community are "well known". He listed pilgrimage, spirituality, lifestyle, the perceived acceptance of Glastonbury Town Council to van dwellers, the perceived lack of Somerset Council enforcement, parking opportunities, dispersal from other sites including Bristol, Covid, housing, the cost of living, complex health needs and exploitation.

On outreach, he said Somerset Council and the NHS have teams working daily with vulnerable people across Glastonbury. He said this includes people in bricks and mortar housing as well as those in the van dwelling community.

"Many in our van dwelling community do not wish to live in these conditions, lifestyle choice is a minority in our van dwelling community," Cllr Cameron said. "Having a nuanced and understanding response is essential to the success of my approach."

The long-term plan he wants to see is the creation of sufficient "meanwhile sites" for the van dwelling community. He said vulnerable people and those exploited while living in vans also need social housing solutions.

Cllr Cameron said he is working with Somerset Council's housing team to have social housing investment in and around Glastonbury prioritised. He said this links with the new Glastonbury Town Council Neighbourhood Plan 2016 to 2040.

At a strategic level, he said his approach is to bring multiple agencies, academia and other cities together "to deliver a nuanced response that meets the needs of all the community of Glastonbury". He said a confrontational approach would not be helpful.

He said his message is: "To provide suitable living space that meets the needs of the community, supports the neighbourhood plan, that is legally compliant and protects the special status of Avalon."

Cllr Cameron said this would mean having sufficient meanwhile sites for van dwellers, ensuring people are not forced to live on highways through insecurity, and moving van dwellers off highways when sites are provided. He said the plan would also protect Gypsy, Roma and Traveller rights, clamp down on "van lords" and those who exploit vulnerable people, prevent people becoming long-term entrenched homeless, and reduce homelessness in Glastonbury.

He said he wrote to Somerset Council executives on 9 May 2026 requesting extra resources to meet the needs of both the bricks and mortar community and the van dwelling community. This was followed by meetings with council officers, caravan community members, businesses and Glastonbury Town Council members.

A multi-agency group has since been established, including Glastonbury Town Council. Cllr Cameron said a draft Glastonbury Van Dwellers Action Plan was presented to Somerset Council executives in the second week of June.

He said work is continuing on immediate, mid-term and long-term action. He is also feeding into the Enabling Project as part of the Town Deal and the Glastonbury Town Council van dwellers working group.

Cllr Cameron said the role of county councillor carried a responsibility to the whole town and its different communities. He said Glastonbury's challenges had to be met collectively, rather than by setting one part of the community against another.

"Being a county councillor is a significant privilege, you are the custodian of those who came before, protector of a historic English market town, promoter of a unique site of pilgrimage and spirituality and representative of one of the most diverse and amazing communities in England," he said. "We are one and we must meet the challenges of our community as one."

Cllr Cameron urged residents to keep reporting abandoned caravans and unauthorised encampments to Somerset Council. He also recommended using the What3Words app when giving exact locations.

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