- A suspected arson attack in Glastonbury destroyed several caravans on Saturday night.
- Police arrested two individuals on suspicion of arson and assaulting emergency workers.
- Housing shortages and rising rents are forcing more people into roadside living.
Jan Johnston was inside her van when a massive boom occurred. She observed thick black smoke and remarked, «It was like a bomb had gone off». The incident was a suspected arson attack targeting vehicles in industrial zones and side roads. Three caravans suffered damage as the blaze spread quickly.
The attack took place on Saturday night, requiring fire crews from Wells, Street and Glastonbury. No one was inside the gutted units. John 62, felt the act was a hate crime, noting that a different wind direction could have killed people. He is living in a van after Brexit hampered his return to permanent housing.
Arson attacks fuel tension between residents and roadside dwellers
Hazel, another resident, feels vulnerable and wants a flat, but availability of housing is nil. She relies on her dog for safety. Meanwhile, some house-dwellers claimed the fire was caused by barbecues. One unnamed resident stated that if the event makes dwellers move away, then so be it.
Law enforcement arrested a man in his 40s and a woman in her 20s. They face suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and assaulting emergency workers. Both are on conditional police bail. This volatility reflects a wider dip in societal open-mindedness, which Liz Leyshon says is evident during elections.
Sarah Dyke raised the issue in the House of Commons, citing plummeted affordable housing. Susannah Hart called for a state of emergency as numbers grew from 131 in February to 157 by May. The town has £23.6m for regeneration, but a planned site failed because it flooded.
Liz Leyshon suggests using smaller meanwhile sites to manage the influx. Currently 13,000 households are on the social housing list. Chris Black, who previously hosted artists, believes bureaucracy hampers the council. He believes the town’s legacy as a sanctuary for various people is being lost.
