Ward profiles 2021: Hillfields – ‘We need improved transport links’

Hillfields celebrated its centenary in 2019, with this pioneering Bristol council estate providing homes for returning soldiers from the Great War and paving the way for social housing around the world.

Other than fewer children playing on the street and a slightly different road layout not much has changed in the intervening 102 years.

Hillfields was built as Bristol’s first council estate in 1919 – photo: Bristol Archives

On a recent Wednesday afternoon in Hillfields Park just off Forest Avenue, a sight unseen for several months was taking place: a game of football.

The match was being played between two teams from Bristol Central Youth FC.

Founded in 2002, the club’s alumni include Loyd Kelly, an England under-21 defender who signed for Bournemouth from Bristol City in 2019 for £13m; and Bobby Decordova-Reid, who plays for Fulham and Jamaica.

An actual game of football in Hillfields Park – photo: Martin Booth

Hillfields Park is in the centre of Hillfields, which itself is in the middle of Kingswood, Fishponds and Speedwell.

The Bristol & Bath Railway Path cuts through part of Hillfields ward. Railway Terrace, overlooking what used to be Staple Hill station, lies in the far north-east corner of the ward – with most of the road in Bristol but a short stretch of is in South Glos.

The Bristol bit of Railway Terrace, with the Bristol & Bath Railway Path down to the left – photo: Martin Booth

In its statistical ward profile from 2020, the eastern edges of Hillfields were found to be not just among the most deprived areas of Bristol but some of the most deprived areas of the UK.

For an estate whose founding purpose was to create communities and change the social fabric of the country, it is noticeable that only 49 per cent of residents felt that they belong to their neighbourhood compared to the Bristol average of 62 per cent.

Fifty-one per cent felt that anti-social behaviour is a problem locally compared to the Bristol average of 33 per cent, while only 52 per cent feel safe after dark compared to the Bristol average of 67 per cent.

Avondale Business Centre on Woodland Way in Hillfields – photo: Martin Booth

Among Bristol’s 34 wards, Hillfields is unique in having both of its councillors holding cabinet positions at City Hall.

Deputy mayor Craig Cheney has responsibilities for finance, governance, property and culture, and is one of only two cabinet members to have served throughout Rees’ entire mayoral term since what was originally a rainbow cabinet in 2016.

Fellow Labour councillor Anna Keen is cabinet member with responsibility for education and skills.

Minerva Primary Academy was built for £7.5m on the site of Hillfields Primary School – photo: Martin Booth

Cheney said: “During our time in office, Anna and I have secured funding of £90,000 for Hillfields Community Hub. With the local community we set up the Friends of Combe Brook who look after our local nature reserve.

“As trustees of Hillfields Families & Community Trust and Barton Fields Trust, we have delivered local community fun days, Hillfields festival, activities for children and elderly people and so on.

“We have just secured land for a community-led housing scheme in the middle of the ward, which we are now working on bringing forward a series of designs for consultation with local residents – very exciting!.

“This will reduce the fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour in the area but also deliver housing and an income stream for the local community.”

Hillfields Community Hub – photo: Martin Booth

Cheney added: “I love Hillfields; I live here, my kids are growing up here as are all of their friends. We’re very lucky to have a community that is green, mostly tidy, a place where we can let our children play outside with their friends.

“There is a great sense of community here and people are overwhelmingly friendly and supportive of each other despite our differences.

“We also have the Bristol & Bath Railway Path running through the ward which has been a haven during lockdown providing excellent walking, cycling and nature exploring right on our doorstep.

The Bristol & Bath Railway Path seen from Thicket Avenue in Hillfields – photo: Martin Booth

Standing against Cheney and Keen in Hillfields on May 6 will be the Conservative Party’s James Hinchcliffe,

Bristol City season ticket holder Hinchcliffe is a strategic engagement director at PR firm JBP, having previously worked for the Conservative group on Bath & North East Somerset Council and as a communications manager at NHS England.

Hinchcliffe says that his priorities for Hillfields “are to campaign for more affordable housing across the city, support local high streets to get back on their feet after Covid-19, and improve standards of street cleanliness”.

If elected, he promises to hold weekly street surgeries across the ward in locations like Lodge Causeway, “to hear face-to-face the concerns of local people”.

The top of Cossham Hospital’s spire is the highest point above sea level in Bristol – photo: Martin Booth

Cheney won 46 per cent of the vote in 2016’s local elections and Keen picked up 41 per cent, so it would be a major upset if either were to lose their seats.

The two Green candidates hoping to cause an upset are Lisa Calder and Rick Lovering.

Writing on the Bristol Green Party website, retired maths teacher Lovering, who helps with community litter picking and is in the council’s snow patrol team, said: “I live close to the Bristol & Bath Railway Path and would like to maintain and improve this key facility for travel and recreation.”

He added: “I would like to see an improvement in transport links around Hillfields and make it safer to walk and cycle along Lodge Causeway.”

Hillfields News on Market Square, with Cossham Hospital in the distance – photo: Martin Booth

Main photo: Martin Booth

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