Ideas for local action;

your help needed! HOTWELLS & CLIFTONWOOD

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

It’s easy to moan about the things that are wrong with Hot-

HOTWELLSNEWS
wells & Cliftonwood; the traffic, the parking, the lack of local

Spring 2004
shops, the litter & pollution. We tend not to talk about the
many good things that we take for granted; the convenient
location, the fascinating nooks & crannies of our historic
townscape, the endless activity in and around the floating
harbour, the neighbourliness and the community life. Most
of us must see the benefit of these things or we wouldn’t be
living here!

To make it all perfect, let’s think about what we can do to reduce

some of the problems. Hotwells News is looking for the best ideas
for schemes to improve life in Hotwells & Cliftonwood.

www.hotwellscliftonwood.org.uk
Best, means not just a great idea -banning all the traffic and handing
out bicycles to every commuter at Ashton Gate is a great idea but
probably not (unforthunately) one that we are likely to achieve. We
need ideas that are practical and likely to be widely supported. We
need inspiration that will fire the imaginations of even decision-
makers in the City Council. We need simple, actionable projects that
will build people’s confidence, as well as major strategic goals that
might take years to achieve and need a great deal of consensus and
co-operation at local level. On page 3 you will find examples of
some of the issues that have been aired at Community meetings. Do
you have a cunning plan to deal
In this edition: with any of these or do you
CA News 2 want to propose your own pet
Community Forum 2
Ideas for Action 3
project and find out if it can be
Help to build our website 4 made to work?
Meet your neighbour 5 Call 0117-9291883
Events 6 E-mail: admin@hotwellscliftonwood.
org.uk 1

HOTWELLS & CLIFTONWOOD
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
H&CCA New
Management
Committee
We held a successful
AGM in December, with a
‘question time’ theme for
which the main issue,
was, unsurprisingly, traffic.
It was agreed that we all
need to be active if things
are to change. The Chair,
Mark Baker, and the
Treasurer, Michael
Winkelman, both stepped
down so that they could
spend more time on
activities that were less
like their paid jobs! Our
new treasurer is Brenda
McLennan and we have a
new management
committee member, John
Pearson.
The full management
committee is now Dennis
Gornall, Ray Smith, Mal
Clare, Brenda McLennan,
Silas Crawley, John
Pearson and Stella Bland.
More members can be co-
opted, so let us know if
you are interested.
Com mittee meetings
generally take place on
the first Wednesday of the
month in Hope Chapel at
7.00 pm.
Community
Directory
We are currently updat-
ing this valuable source
of information on local
groups, activities and
services. If you have in-
formation you would like
to see included then let
us know. We’ll do our
best to make room for it.
Ideas, comments, com-
plaints, anything you
want to share: call 0117-
9291883. E-mail:
admin@hotwellscliftonw
ood.org.uk
2
Out and About News from from Karen
Bell - Community Development Co-ordinator
The last three months have been a plying for funding to improve the play
very exciting time at the community facilities and space around the flats.
association with lots of changes and Other improvements we have been
progress in important areas. We working on include improvement of
held a very successful AGM in De- the playground at Charles Place,
cember, where some important is- which will now be painted and reno-
sues were raised during the ‘question vated as soon as the weather is
time’ discussion and we were able to warmer. We will also be having a
recruit some new management com- bench put up at the Harbourside,
mittee members. In January, this which will be individually made to re-
theme of ‘dialogue with decision mak- flect the area, by Avon Community
ers’ will continue as the first in a se- Forest.
ries of meetings of the Hotwells and
The kind of issues that people in
Cliftonwood Community Forum will
Hillsbrough and Clifton Vale Close
take place (see below). We hope this
have said they are concerned about
group will enable local people to have
include traffic, lack of parking on the
more say over the issues that affect
estate, need for cheaper, healthier
their lives. We have already made
food shops on Hotwell Road, lack of
some progress with this at Hillsbor-
play facilities, lack of contact with
ough and Clifton Vale Close, where
neighbours, unreliable public trans-
we have been visiting door to door
port, need for more information
and holding local meetings and con-
about recycling, drug problems, anti-
sultations. Working alongside resi-
social neighbours, lack of play facili-
dents, we are putting up noticeboards
ties, desire for planting/landscaping
in the flats, to help people tell each
of green spaces and improving com-
other about what is happening as well
munal areas in the buildings
as initiating a community garden and
some basic landscaping. We are ap-
Tell the decision makers what you think!
In January, the first Hotwells and Cliftonwood Community Forum will take
place which will be an opportunity for local people to meet service providers
and decision makers, to ask questions and put forward their views. As well as
being a forum for discussion, it will also enable all those present to look at
how to solve local problems by working together and taking joint action.
The people who have already agreed to attend include – Geoff Ash, Area
Housing Officer; Phil Cotgreave, Youth Officer; Elizabeth Williams, Bristol
South and West Primary Care Trust Development Manager; Mark Griffiths,
Trinity Care Service; and Dave Hartley, Avon and Somerset Constabulary.
The first Forum will be at 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm on Wednesday 21st January in
Hope Chapel, Hope Chapel Hill, Hotwells. These meetings will take place
about every three months. If you live or work locally and would like to come
along, and if you feel you could make a regular commitment to attend, please
get in touch with the Community Association office (phone - 0117 929 1883
or email - admin@hotwellscliftonwood.org.uk). We will provide a lunch and
meet any access requirements, including childcare costs. Please try and come,
it does make a difference to talk to people.
Ideas for action—do any of the follow-
ing sound familiar?
Here are a few challenges to get
the current flowing in those brain
cells.
Cumberland Basin – the space under
the flyover (it doesn’t even have a
name) is Hotwells biggest public space
and arguably one of Bristol’s biggest
planning disasters. Once there was a
café, fountains and a children’s play-
ground here. Now it has real potential
as a location for a post-apocalyptic sci-
fi movie. How can we turn a liability
into an asset for local people?
Traffic. OK we won’t get rid of it
completely, but can it be reduced,
calmed or diverted and can we put pe-
destrians back in control?
Hotwells shops – once there were
dozens of shops selling things that lo-
cal people needed. Is there any way
we can resuscitate small business, de-
fend the Post Office, add vitality to the
commercial life of Hotwell road?
Community space – Hope Centre
was a focus for community events and
entertainment for many years and it
made Hotwells a special place. The
Community Association maintains
good relations with the Church which
now occupies the building but, it is a
church, not a community centre. Is
there any way we can acquire a space
that is more appropriate for the wide
range of activities that our diverse
community needs?
Involving more people – The popula-
tion of H&C has expanded and diver-
sified enormously in a few years with
the many new housing developments;
especially along Hotwell Road and the
waterside. We need to engage and
represent as many people as possible
with a stake in our community, in or-
der that we can present a strong case
for help to the Council and other or-
ganisations involved in community de-
velopment. How do we achieve that?
Helping people - Hotwells and
Cliftonwood has a high proportion of
single parent households and elderly
people as well as significant numbers
of asylum-seekers. What can we do to
support these more vulnerable
groups?
Cleaning up. Hotwells in particular is
plagued by litter, fly-posting, poor
footpaths,
some terri-
ble drivers
and incon-
siderate
parking.
These are all
small but im-
portant de-
tails that in-
fluence peo-
ple’s percep-
tion of
whether or not it is a good place to
live. How do we persuade offenders
to reform?
What ideas can you add to this
list? Remember, whingeing does-
n’t change things. We need in-
genious, co-operative and, above
all, do-able ideas. Send your
thoughts to the CA office and
we’ll give them an airing in the
next newsletter and perhaps take
a vote on the top three.
HOTWELLS & CLIFTONWOOD
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Trinity Day Care
This invaluable service,
based in Trinity Church
has been running for
many years. It offers
anyone of 60+ a chance
to get out, meet friends
and enjoy a programme
of events (as well as an
excellent 3 course
lunch!). A Bristol Com-
munity Transport bus
service can provide door
to door transport for peo-
ple with mobility prob-
lems. The Manager,
Mark Griffiths and his
team are ready to wel-
come new members at
any time (see advert on
page 7 for further de-
tails). Ring 9838878 if
you are interested, or
know of an elderly per-
son who might benefit.
Who’s nicked our
gates?
Sharper-eyed walkers
and cyclists might have
noticed that Cumberland
Basin currently has no
lock; the outer gates hav-
ing been removed for
much-needed restoration
for the first time since
they were installed in
1947. One has been
floated up to the slipway
at the Underfall Yard and
the other is in the dry
dock by the Great Britain.
Besides making it very
difficult for shipping to get
in and out of the Floating
Harbour, this raises the
interesting prospect of
the Cumberland Basin
being completely drained
if anything goes wrong
with the remaining pair!
The harbour master as-
sures us that the gates
are on schedule to be
returned to service by
March.
3
 Help to build
our website!
HOTWELLS & CLIFTONWOOD
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
With some help from UWE
Website Links students, the Community As-
Jeremy McNeill in Dowry sociation’s website has taken
Parade has, for some on a more polished appear-
while, compiled and ance. All it lacks now is con-
maintained a list of links tent.
to a wide variety of or-
ganisations with Hotwells Traditionally, the way to maintain
connections. You can the site would be for people with up- The subject areas already set up in-
find it at www.hotwells. dates and amendments to feed them clude:
freeserve.co.uk/hotwells. to our support staff in the office. LETS (Local Exchange Trading Scheme)
html They would change the pages locally CHASE (traffic)
More recently, Trevor
George from Poole’s using Dreamweaver and then upload Community Links
Wharf has produced an- them to the server hosting our pages FROGG (Granby Green)
other summary of local on the web. Youth Club
businesses, transport The problem with this approach is Youth Theatre
and entertainment sites.
You can find it at www.
that, besides being slow and cumber- News
hotwells-bristol.co.uk some, it needs a fair degree of techni- Events
cal skill to manage the site. It also
Don’t forget there is also does nothing to help more people to But there is plenty of scope for other
an H&C newsgroup. get actively involved in using this valu- specialist areas. Pages can be de-
You can subscribe to this
by mailing hotwellsclifton
able communication tool. signed to include text and pictures
wood-subscribe To overcome this restriction we have lists and tables, as well as links to
@yahoogroups.com now acquired some clever software other sites –so there’s no reason
Anything you send with that means anyone with authorisation why they should look boring! Subject
with an e-mail address of can access particular pages of the areas can also include several linked
hotwellsclifton-
wood@yahoogroups. website and make changes independ- pages if needed. The most important
com. Will be broadcast ently, online from any web-enabled thing is to keep the content relevant
to everyone in the group. computer. The skills needed are no and up to date. People won’t bother
(careful when using the more than you would need to use a to use it if information is irrelevant. If
‘reply’ option with a user
group e-mail –you may
word processor. you would like to get involved in this
not want your reply to be So we are now looking for people to innovative project, either to help
seen by everyone!) take responsibility for editing particu- with maintaining one of the existing
lar pages. Once you have been given subject areas or to suggest new ones
Speed Cameras your own username and password, we might include, then give the office
If you are concerned
about cars speeding on
you can do this job, whenever you a call. All necessary training for your
Hotwell Road and think a like, from the comfort of your own web page editing role will be pro-
speed camera should be home computer! vided.
installed write to :
Dick Bowen
Safety Camera Partner- Even Bristol swans have their own
ship, County Hall, Taun- website –or at least the charity set up
ton TA1 4DY to look after them does. It costs
£4,000 a year to feed up to 150
swans that overwinter in the Floating
Ideas, comments, com-
plaints, anything you
Harbour (and, increasingly, over-
want to share: call 0117- summer as well) and medical bills are
9291883. E-mail: extra. Find out all about the swans at
admin@hotwellscliftonw www.bristolswans.org.uk. Thanks to
ood.org.uk Mike Rogers for this information.
4
MEET YOUR NEIGHBOUR
Charles MacFadden
HOTWELLS & CLIFTONWOOD
Charles has just returned from 6 months COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
working in Basra, Iraq to his home in Hope
Square. He and his wife Chris have two
grown up children (who occasionally in the Did you know…
past had attended Hotwells Primary school) Mark Dudbridge, son of
and a granddaughter. Charles originally Keith and Brenda (our
gained an Economics degree, but his career late lamented greengro-
has revolved around overseas aid – aid coor- cers) is a champion darts
dination, data management and refugees in player. Mark works for a
some of the world’s more remote regions. Bristol building firm but
As well as Iraq these have included West nips off to Europe, Las
Timor and Afghanistan where Chris also Vegas, Canada etc. for
worked teaching English. competitions. He recently
got as far as the quarter
In Iraq he was a member of the Coalition finals in the World Cham-
Provisional Authority (CPA) as advisor on pionships. Congratula-
data and social affairs. He also was the focal tions Mark!
point for refugee issues. Later he became ury! Movement outside was limited to only
Head of Reconstruction for CPA South. At essential travel and now only in armoured
the beginning he lived at the Palace – being vehicle convoys. Albemarle Row
built for Sadaam – and currently a base for As to work, the priority was to restore gov- This is one of the most in-
some 1,000 or more British forces. Bottled ernment buildings, including clinics, hospitals, teresting and historically
water had to be used for everything – but schools and universities; to get essential ser- important terraces in Hot-
the food was excellent. After five weeks he vices operational; and get the civil service wells and many people
moved to the former Electricity Distribution back to work and make social welfare pay- feel the tarmac pavement
building where many other CPA staff lived ments. Charles worked 14 hours a day for in front of the Grade 2*
listed building is a dis-
and worked, four or more to a room and seven days a week – there was little else to
grace. An approach is to
showers and toilets some 50 yards or more do anyway.
be made to the Council to
from the room!!! Occasionally they went Meanwhile refugees started to return – there
try and replace this with
out into the town for a meal and they always were an estimated 5,000 in Saudi Arabia and
stone paving
received friendly waves from children on 400,000 in Iran. Charles supervised the re-
their way to school. turn of a group of 650 returnees at the Ku-
However, after the killing of British soldiers wait border – a ¾ mile column of buses and
and riots around the office, they were very trucks escorted by British troops. The slow CHASE Update
restricted, having to wear body armour out- moving convoy was a potential target for dis- A meeting was held in No-
side and travel everywhere with military es- sidents and the chaos was increased by Iraqi vember last year with Ann
corts. With temperatures up over 50 de- families driving alongside trying to spot their White, executive council
grees C, August brought chaos, with electric- relatives after 14 years absence. member with responsibility
ity pylons being destroyed by dissidents, for transport and Roger
power cables dug up and oil fields unable to Charles regrets the lack of contact with local Payne, Highways officer
operate. This created two mile queues for people but fondly recalls his last trip to Al at which it was suggested
petrol. The water system collapsed and Amarah where he briefly walked in the local that Clifton Vale could be
looting continued. Finally in October, they bazaar without body armour and was able to closed using a temporary
were moved into their own compound, sepa- shake hands with the locals in an atmosphere order without further con-
rate from the military, within the Palace of relative normality. sultation, although Mr
grounds. Here, everyone has their own small Welcome back Charles! Payne did not support
cabin with bed, desk and shower – what lux- Helen Smith this.
Cllr. Brian Price confirms
that Cliftonwood is 2nd on
Car Club Launched the Council’s list for imple-
The Car Club now has a car! Following mentation of a residents
the inaugural meeting in November, a
new Vauxhall Corsa is now conven-
iently located for the use of members Ideas, comments, com-
plaints, anything you
in H&C. It’s not too late to join and want to share: call 0117-
enjoy the benefits of a car that you pay 9291883. E-mail:
for only when you need it. If you are admin@hotwellscliftonw
interested, ring 0845 458 1785 ood.org.uk
5

HOTWELLS & CLIFTONWOOD
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Meeting Dates:
Community Links
Spring Gardens pub
Jan 12th & Mar 8th
CA Management Com-
mittee: Hope Chapel,
Wed. Jan 14th at 7pm
CHASE: The Bear, Hot-
well Road, Mon Feb 9th
at 8pm
500 Club
The easiest way to help
the work of your commu-
nity association is to join
the 500 Club. For a mini-
mum subscription of £12
per year you stand a
chance of winning a prize
of £150 + 4 of £25 in the
monthly members draw.
Buy 2 subscriptions and
double your chances!
For more information and
an application form. Con-
tact the H&CCA office.
Street Reps wanted
There are still a number of
areas where we need
someone able and willing
to act as a local residents
contact and occasionally
help with distributing in-
formation door to door.
If you might be prepared
to take on this role in your
own or a nearby street,
please contact the office
Ideas, comments, com-
plaints, anything you
want to share: call 0117-
9291883. E-mail:
admin@hotwellscliftonw
ood.org.uk
6 a Town Green is still in the balance.
Events
It’s Panto Time Again
Hotwells very own, much-loved pan-
tomime is famed for opening long af-
ter other pantomimes have consid-
ered it decent to close. This year it’s
‘The Princess and the Pea’, to be
staged at the spruced up Hope
Chapel. The indignities perpetrated
on stage are as nothing compared to
the indecent last-minute scramble for
tickets so ring the CA office to
BOOK NOW!
A scene from last year’s panto ‘Beauty
and the Beast’
Hotwells Pantomime, Thur.
March 11th to Sat. March 13th,
7.30pm
£6.00 adults, £5.00 concessions,
£4.00 children.
Granby Green goes festive
Campaigners trying to preserve
Granby Green as open space deco-
rated the reviled fence surrounding
it with Christmas lights in Decem-
ber, which, temporarily lifted the
gloomy appearance of the site. The
planning proposal to develop the
site is going to a public inquiry in
January with the City Council’s rec-
ommendation to refuse the applica-
tion. Also, as we go to press, the
application for registering the site as
Youth Club
Every Tuesday from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm
the Community Association runs a youth
club for young people aged 13 plus. Ac-
tivities include: basketball, pool, art, mu-
sic, spray painting, games, video making
etc. Entrance fee is £1. The Club re-
opens on Tuesday 13th January. All young
people welcome.
Youth Theatre
On Mondays there is a theatre group for
young people - ‘Kick Off’. The group
runs the following sessions: for 7-11 year
olds at 5 to 6.30 pm; for 12-15 year olds
at 6.30 to 8.00 pm; for age 15 plus at
8.00 to 9.30 pm. The cost is £3 per ses-
sion (or £2 concessions). The groups
work towards a performance at the end
of the year.
All sessions take place in Hope Chapel.
The Hotwells Photographs 2004
Sue Stops collected and mounted an ex-
hibition of old photos of local places and
people for the millenium. If you missed it
there will be a chance to see it again
with lots of new material at an exhibition
at the Create Centre in March. One new
discovery is an aerial photograph from
the 1920s showing densely packed shops
and houses in South Green Street cover-
ing the site of the School playing field!
If you have any old photos you think
might be of interest, please let us bor-
row them. They will be photcopied and
returned as soon as possible. The Cre-
ate Centre has a great café for snacks
and lunches.
Create Centre March 16th-24th,
10am—4pm. Admission free.
Think Local—Shop in Hotwells for quality and convenience
Paule
BRISTOL
Plumbing
Services
A comprehensive domestic
INDIAN CUISINE
10% DISCOUNT ON TAKE AWAY ORDERS plumbing service, specialising in
QUALITY FOOD small works but will also consider
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK larger projects
5.30PM—11.30PM

183 HOTWELL ROAD, BRISTOL BS8 4SA Tel/Fax 0117 9277452

Tel: 9227617 / 9276017 mobile: 07721 057029
email: paul@pcraig.fsnet.co.uk

SANDING FLOORS, FIXING WINDOWS AND

GUTTERING, PAINTING , DECORATING, IN-
SULATION, BASIC PLUMBING, HOUSEHOLD
REPAIRS AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Merchants Road, Hotwells, Bristol, BS8 4PZ Tel:0117 927 9557 Fax:0117 954 4903
– NO JOB TOO SMALL

Family run business—Friendly staff and warm atmosphere

CARPENTER /
EXCITING NEW MENU
Home Made dishes and daily fresh fish
HANDYMAN
POPULAR SUNDAY CARVERY For a friendly and reliable
Served in Restaurant Sundays 12 noon—4 pm local tradesman
Reservations advisable
Restaurant now open Fri & Sat 7pm-10pm with extensive new menu CALL PETE
PARTIES CATERED FOR—UP TO 50 PEOPLE 0117 9290001 / 07919 134941

ACUPUNCTURE AND The Bear SABINA BOWLER-REED

BA HONS.
HERBAL MEDICINE 261-263 HOTWELL Road, Bristol BS8 4SJ SOLICITOR
1, Britannia Buildings, Merchants Road, Bristol BS8 4QD

Quality food is now being served 0117 925 9009

Monday-Friday 12 noon till 7pm
Sunday 12 noon till 4 pm
DIANNE BOWLER Starter from £2.00
LIC.AC. (UK) DIP.AC. Main courses from £3.00
(China) 1980 All the food is home cooked to a
standard that we take great pride
13 Clifton Vale, Bristol, BS8 4PT in and served for your enjoyment
Telephone 9260474 To book telephone 0117 987 7796 EXPERIENCED IN FAMILY LAW
Specialist in Floor Maintenance, Carpets,
Windows and Daily Office Cleaning.
Are you 60+?
Fully Insured Living in Hotwells?
Trinity Day Centre is your link
G. J. TREASURE to New Friends, Good Food,
CLEANING CONTRACTORS and Activities
Talks, Arts & Crafts, Musical Entertain-
5 Britannia Buildings ment, Skittles, Bingo, Raffles, Chirop-
Merchants Road ody, Trips for Shopping, Excursions and
Hotwells more.
Bristol BS8 4QD Contact Mark Griffiths
tel: 9838878,
Tel/Fax: (0117) 9290578 Trinity Church, Hotwell Road
We look forward to hearing from you!
7
 You can get it all in Hotwells! - Support your local traders
CONTEMPORARY PAINTINGS * PRINTS * JEWELLERY
PROVENCE CERAMICS * ENAMELS * CARDS * SCULPTURE

Parc de Luberon
20 miles from Avignon, tradi-
tional edge of village house with
courtyard & creature comforts to
let for holidays. Linen provided.
Sleeps 4. Friendly shops & restau-
rants in village and stunning coun- Café open during Gallery hours, serving morning
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public transport 84– 86 HOTWELL ROAD BRISTOL BS8 4UB
For details please phone: TUES-FRI 10AM—4.45PM Sat. 10AM—5PM
CLOSED MON.
Anna: 0117 973 1857 Phone: 0117-9260474 TELEPHONE 0117 929 2527

Hotwell Gallery Glen

Contemporary Fine Art Cleaning Lunch Monday to Friday
Company Dinner Monday to Saturday
161 Hotwell Road
Bristol BS8 4RY 2 Britannia Buildings 1a & 2a Avon Crescent, Hotwells,
Merchants Road Bristol BS1 6XQ
0117 9074018 Hotwells Telephone: 0117 926 2921
www.hotwellgallery.com Bristol BS8 4QD
“that dazzling display on the Hotwell
Road” Telephone 0117 9293765
Fax 0117 9257885

THE NOVA SCOTIA J H THOMPSON

NOVA SCOTIA PLACE, HOTWELLS, BA (Hons) DO MRO
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Live Music: Mon-folk club, Wed-fiddlers

REGISTERED OSTEOPATH
Bristol’s 39 Oldfield Road
Premier Dockside Pub Hotwells
Great Food BRISTOL
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Great Beers:
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Dockside Seating
Private Function Room
159 Hotwell Rd, Hotwells, Bristol

VISITING CHIROPODIST
and
OPENING TIMES REFLEXOLOGIST
Reception
Mon-Fri 8am-6.30pm, Sat 9am-12 noon Classes

4 Merchants Road,
MONDAYS 6-7pm Julia Norman
Pavey House, Waterloo St., Clifton
Hotwells, WEDNESDAYS 7-8PM
M.B.Ch.A., M.S.S.Ch.,
Bristol BS8 4PZ Hotwells Primary School, Albemarle Row I.E.B.Dip.Reflexology
Tel: 0117 927 6394, Fax: 0117 927 7926
Email: vets@hotwells.valevets.co.uk By appointment
Tel: MAYA BRANDT
8 0117 9512371 evenings
0117 9542212 daytime Telephone 0117 9277005