Dispute over long-term caravans near Brighton playground

Councillor Calls for Action on Caravans Near Playground

Caravans left on a street near a children’s playground should be moved, according to Conservative councillor Anne Meadows.

Councillor Meadows spoke about caravans parked for long periods at the bottom of Carden Hill, near the Old Boat Corner Community Centre.

She represents Patcham and Hollingbury. Councillor Meadows stated that she and her colleagues were informed that Brighton and Hove City Council was hesitant to take action, even after applying for a court order to remove the caravans.

Concerns Over Council’s Reluctance

In a written question to Labour councillor Trevor Muten, the council’s cabinet member for transport, Councillor Meadows noted that the council was reluctant to move the caravans due to potential storage costs.

She quoted: “We were told that ‘ultimately, although these activities are co-ordinated through community safety, as it’s the landowners / stewards, parks or highways, who cover the costs of this, they make the ultimate decision on the removal of these vehicles’.”

She added, “Clearly this policy, if true, will only make illegal parking more prevalent. Why can’t the council simply enforce the removal of caravans and tents from illegal sites following a court order?”

She expressed concern that this lack of enforcement might lead to more tents being pitched illegally across the city.

Parking Restrictions in Hollingbury

Hollingbury is one of the few areas in Brighton where residents’ parking restrictions are not in force. There are caravans parked long-term in Carden Hill, Ditchling Road, and Carden Avenue.

Council’s Response to the Issue

Councillor Muten acknowledged that the council faced issues with occupied vehicles across Brighton and Hove. He mentioned that they were working with community safety teams to address unauthorized encampments and van dwelling.

He stated, “This strategy will be brought to a future cabinet meeting and will include how we work together across the council to address unauthorized encampment, balancing our support to vulnerable people with our enforcement duties.”

He explained that before officers can remove these vehicles, they need the necessary court authorization or documentation.

He added, “Often the requisite authorization is sufficient to instigate removal. However, where this is not forthcoming, officers are limited in the next steps.”

He also noted, “The cost to remove these vehicles is significant and even more problematic is the required storage costs. If they are simply moved to another part of the city, this affects any legal rights to move the vehicles a second time.”