A Glastonbury councillor has urged Somerset Council to declare a “state of emergency” due to the escalating number of people living in vans, caravans, and motorhomes on the town’s roadside.
As of February 25, the latest available data shows 131 individuals residing in such mobile homes in Glastonbury, many of whom face complex challenges including mental health issues, long-term illnesses, and substance dependencies.
In response, Somerset Council has been working to secure land to offer safe accommodation for this ‘non-bricks and mortar’ community, with funding allocated from the £23.6 million Glastonbury town deal. However, Councillor Susannah Hart, who represents Glastonbury as a Conservative member, criticised the council’s slow progress, characterising it as “snail’s pace.”
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During a discussion on gypsy and traveller provisions at the council’s communities scrutiny committee meeting held in Taunton on March 26, Hart stressed the severity of the situation. “We need to call this what it is – a state of emergency due to the lack of availability of a travellers' site,” she declared. Hart highlighted that on March 25 alone, there were 138 caravans on Glastonbury’s roadsides, in addition to around 80 on an unofficial site within the town.
She compared Glastonbury’s problem with that of Bristol, a larger city also struggling with similar issues. “If Glastonbury’s problem was proportional to Bristol’s, there would only be 12 caravans here,” Hart noted. “We must address this urgently, yet the council’s pace remains frustratingly slow.”
Hart mentioned that Glastonbury Town Council is open to offering land it owns for a temporary transit site equipped with necessary utilities, emphasizing the council’s concern for the well-being of van-dwellers. “The struggles these individuals face are immense, and no one here is indifferent to their health and welfare,” she affirmed.
Currently, Somerset Council manages three designated traveller sites — Chubbards Cross near Ilminster, Marsh Lane near Yeovil, and a smaller site in Pitney — all overseen by Elim Housing. The Glastonbury town deal envisages creating an off-road accommodation site for the van-dwelling community, which would also support regeneration efforts in the nearby Beckery area, including projects like the restoration of Baily’s Buildings.
Earlier plans submitted in mid-2023 proposed a traveller site north of Porchestall Drove, featuring 21 temporary transit pitches and 19 permanent ones, funded through the town deal. Unfortunately, these plans were withdrawn in early 2024 due to flooding concerns, and a subsequent solar farm proposal for the area was refused in October 2025.
Somerset Council acquired a different site in summer 2024, the location of which remains undisclosed, and expects to submit a new planning application later this year. Additionally, a feasibility study is underway to explore new designated vehicle dweller sites and transit locations for gypsy, Roma, and traveller groups.
Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey, an independent member from Taunton South, welcomed these new initiatives. Drawing on her 30 years of experience with traveller issues, she recounted past community resistance but expressed hope for progress. “We must remember these are human beings who need a safe place to park their homes. Anything that helps move this forward and reduce societal stigmas is a positive step,” she emphasized.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Marcus Kravis highlighted the importance of carefully selecting new sites to meet van-dwellers’ needs, noting that not everyone may wish to live in a temporary ‘meanwhile site’. “Location is key; past sites were not always suitable,” he explained.
Independent Councillor Gwilym Wren acknowledged the complexity of the issue. “This has been a challenging problem for years, and finding a lasting solution is incredibly difficult,” he said.
With van-dwelling numbers rising and demand for appropriate accommodation growing more urgent, calls for decisive and swift council action are intensifying across Glastonbury.