Concerns have been raised after a dangerous incident on the Downs where a motorist drove towards dozens of children in an outdoor classroom. This was after human excrement had to be cleared from the area in order for the youngsters' outing to continue.
The incident took place on July 5 when 56 children visited the area from Weston-super Mare for an education session by the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project. The children were aged between four and six and were with adult helpers.
In an email sent by AGDWP to the Downs Committee - seen by Bristol Live - the group says it arrived for the session and found the area strewn with human excrement and wipes. These were removed or covered over by the adults as the children were small and there was no time to take them to find another space.
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The email said: “We use a secluded ‘classroom’ area surrounded mostly by bushes and trees so we are removed from the main body of the Downs. Yesterday, a car began to drive into the classroom area while 29 five and six year olds were seated on the ground.”
Two volunteers immediately approached the driver and asked him to back away, which he did, but then he parked on the trail which was about to be used by the children. The email said: “They asked him to move again and he refused and was very rude to them.”
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The volunteers remained calm in order to defuse the situation, according to the email. It added that the children had been placed in 'an extremely vulnerable position with a volatile person at the wheel of the car illegally on the Downs'.
It stated that the car had been driven to the travellers camp. Travellers arrived at the Downs and set up camp towards the end of June.
Robert Westlake, chair of Friends of the Downs & Avon Gorge said he was alarmed that such an incident should occur on the Downs. He said: “We would urge anyone who becomes involved in a confrontation to notify the police on 101 or ring 999 if it is an emergency."
Travellers also arrived and set up camp on Hengrove Park in early June. A possession order was served by the council six days ago, but since then more people have arrived.
At present, there is a shortage of sites in Bristol for traveller sites. There is a permanent traveller site with 12 pitches in Ashton Vale, 20 pitches in a transit traveller site in Lawrence Weston and a site with 12 plots for ethnic showpeople in Bedminster.
