Sarah Dyke, the Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, has issued a call for immediate intervention to address the precarious living conditions of hundreds residing in caravans around Glastonbury. Describing these homes as “unsafe and entirely unsuitable,” Dyke has urged the introduction of a national caravan licensing and registration system.
In a letter to Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government, Dyke highlighted the urgent need for a regulated framework. She emphasized that around 300 people live in caravans in the area, which has one of the highest concentrations of roadside van dwellers and unauthorised encampments in the country—second only to Bristol.
Many caravans on site are in poor condition, often sold by unscrupulous landlords in an unregulated market and left abandoned when they become uninhabitable. This situation leaves Somerset Council responsible for removing and disposing of these dilapidated vehicles.
READ MORE: Taunton School’s First Giving Day Raises Over £415,000 to Support Student Projects
READ MORE: ‘We Thought Our Daughter Had a Virus – But Days Later, She Was Paralyzed’
Glastonbury, known as a historic pilgrimage site and a destination for the Traveller community, is home to both those of Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller heritage, individuals choosing a van dwelling lifestyle, and others forced into it due to financial hardship or vulnerability. The town’s infrastructure, however, notably lacks basic sanitation and support facilities necessary for this population, contributing to growing community tensions as caravan numbers increase.
Dyke also noted the long-term impact of decisions made 12 years ago when the former Conservative-led county council sold all permanent caravan sites, leaving Somerset without any transition sites. Presently, Somerset Council aims to develop permanent pitches that provide improved security and welfare amenities.
Advocating for a national licensing system, Dyke calls it a foundational measure to protect vulnerable residents and reduce community strain. She has requested a meeting with the Secretary of State to further discuss these pressing concerns.