Somerset Council has said unauthorised traveller encampments in Glastonbury and across the county are likely to continue until a permanent transit site is established.

The town has one of the highest concentrations of roadside living in the South West, with an estimated 300 people in around 150 vans and caravans – a van-to-household ratio 23 times higher than Bristol. Many have long-standing ties to Glastonbury, but with no legal short-stay provision, public spaces and laybys often see encampments, particularly during events such as the summer solstice at Glastonbury Tor.

At a council executive meeting on Wednesday (6 August), Conservative councillor John Cook-Woodman called for faster action, pointing to Torbay Council's practice of clearing unauthorised encampments within a week. He said the current approach left residents and traders frustrated, citing repeated cases in Burnham-on-Sea and Bridgwater.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, portfolio holder for communities, said all councils must follow the same legal process and that a dedicated transit site was essential to address the issue. "We do need a site in Somerset for transit accommodation. I've asked for a taskforce to look at that," she said.

While deterrents such as boulders and barriers have been installed at some locations, Smith-Roberts said these had to be balanced with keeping open spaces accessible.

Somerset currently has permanent traveller pitches with space for caravans, day rooms and vehicles in some areas, but no site for temporary stays. Council leader Bill Revans said work was under way with other local authorities to explore regional solutions: "I think this summer has been a particularly difficult one for these incursions, and we need to find a way that makes our residents feel safe from these issues."

Longer term, the council's new Local Plan, set for adoption in March 2029, will include targets for both permanent and transit sites for gypsies, travellers and travelling showpeople. These will be based on county-wide need and aim to break the cycle of unauthorised encampments, legal disputes and the absence of secure, legal places to live.

Previous attempts to create new sites in Glastonbury have faced setbacks. A proposal at Porchestall Drove was abandoned in 2024 after repeated winter flooding, and the land is now earmarked for a solar farm. Plans for the old Morlands industrial estate remain in progress, with part of the site to be managed by a community land trust for off-road living.

The council has £108,000 earmarked for traveller site provision and is encouraging landowners, community trusts and local groups to suggest potential locations ahead of the Local Plan's adoption.

Until new provision is made, roadside living and unauthorised encampments are expected to remain part of Glastonbury's landscape.

H/T: Daniel Mumby, LDRS.