Bristol's famous 'van dwellers' have been banned by a council - from TALKING to local residents.<br /><br />The off-grid community have spent the last few years living in caravans, transits and horse boxes around Greenbank Cemetery in the trendy suburb of Easton.<br /><br />They say because of the housing crisis they cannot afford to rent - despite many being from middle class backgrounds and having good jobs.<br /><br />The 'van dwellers' are taking advantage of a legal loophole which means as long as their vehicle has full tax and MOT there is nothing the authorities can do.<br /><br />But those parked on Greenbank View have now been told they face fines or even prison - if they talk to residents on the leafy street. <br /><br />The new rule is part of a series of measures issued at Bristol’s County Court following an application by Bristol City Council.<br /><br />The council says it follows a rise in complaints of blocked pavements, fires, littering, human waste, obstruction of pavements, double parking and the rising number of vehicles.<br /><br />An injunction order to ‘persons unknown’ has been placed on the vehicles <br />warning they face court, jail, fines or having assets seized if they don't comply.<br /><br />Part of the ban includes ''‘contacting either directly or indirectly, any resident of Greenbank View by whatever means’'.<br /><br />That technically means talking to people or sending messages to them on social media.<br /><br />They also cannot ‘instruct or encourage any other person’ from contacting ‘either directly or indirectly’ the residents of Greenbank View.<br /><br />This would stop supporters or legal teams from messaging people on the road.<br /><br />Van dwellers have today (Tues) labeled the rules "prejudiced" against them.
