Glastonbury - van-dweller crisis as calls grow for state of emergency

The town best known for music, mysticism and counterculture is confronting a new reality. Local leaders say Glastonbury — long dubbed “Britain’s hippiest town” — is struggling to cope with a surge in van dwellers that residents claim has pushed the community to breaking point.

More than 300 people are now living in roughly 140 vans and caravans parked along streets and public spaces across the town in Somerset. Councillors warn the situation has reached what they describe as “saturation point”.

Council calls for emergency action

The alarm was raised by local councillor Susannah Hart, who urged authorities to formally recognise the scale of the problem.

Speaking at a council meeting, Hart argued the lack of designated traveller sites has created a crisis that can no longer be ignored. “We need to call this what it is,” she said. “A state of emergency regarding the lack of availability of a travellers’ site.”

Her warning reflects mounting pressure on the town’s infrastructure, from waste collection to parking and local services.

A town shaped by alternative living

Glastonbury has long attracted travellers and van dwellers thanks to its reputation as a hub for alternative lifestyles and its association with the nearby Glastonbury Festival.

For decades the town has been seen as a sanctuary for those seeking communal living, artistic communities and spiritual culture.

But the rapid increase in people living permanently in vehicles has sparked tensions between long-time residents, local authorities and the travelling community.

Dispute over whether it’s really a crisis

Not everyone on the council agrees with the language of emergency.

Some members warned that describing the situation as a crisis risks “sensationalising” a complex housing issue. They argue the rise in van living reflects wider pressures — including soaring rents and limited housing availability.

Long-term solution still months away

Officials say a potential solution is being explored, but it will take time.

A planning application for a dedicated site where van dwellers could legally live is expected later in 2026. Until then, Glastonbury faces the challenge of balancing its free-spirited identity with the practical limits of a small town under strain.

Glastonbury faces ‘state of emergency’ over number of van dwellers