Ward profiles 2021: Southville – ‘We love the independent spirit here’

“A’right mate?” A guy sitting on an East Street bench greets a number of locals as they pass by on Monday morning.

The area is bustling with shoppers, with some stopping to peruse the wares displayed on the market stalls outside East Street Fruit and Veg, while others queue at the last remaining bank branch.

Few would describe this area of Bedminster as Southville, but the ward boundary map dictates that – at least for the purposes of voting – this is in fact Southville.

With a border stretching along the New Cut, the ward covers Bedminster Parade, East Street, North Street and out to Greville Smyth Park. Currently represented by Green councillors, Southville has already undergone many changes in the last decade and there are plenty more set to come with a raft of new developments in the planning and construction stages.

The Bristol Loaf Bedminster, which opened its doors last year, trading directly opposite the traditional Barley Mow is just one indication of some of the contrasts of the evolving neighbourhood.

East Street Mews, a collaborative project to provide homes for young people at risk of homelessness, is underway on Bedminster Parade

Hayley Blake, the owner of the Emporium shop on East Street has been in the area for 23 years and says she has seen many changes in that time. “Who’d have thought we’d have a vegan café,” she says, referring to Vx Bristol opposite.

Blake isn’t opposed to change and says there is a real community spirit among the businesses, who refer customers to each other when they can, but she would like to see the new housing bring higher footfall to the street.

“They are trying to bring things into the area to boost independent traders as well,” continues the shop owner. “But we’ve lost all the banks and building societies. Now Santander is going as well, that’s not helping.

“Different businesses are popping up all over the place; small, independent businesses and that’s really good for the area. I’ve got a really good loyal family of customers as well.”

Whether you call it Bedminster or Southville, the ward is changing fast

Southville became the first ward in Bristol to elect a Green councillor in 2006 and while Charlie Bolton and Stephen Clarke are both due to stand down, Tony Dyer and Christine Townsend hope to keep flying the Green flag.

Dyer, who was born and brought up in nearby Hartcliffe, points out Southville has experienced the fourth highest population growth of the city’s 34 wards and is set to grow further, with some 2,500 homes, plus an additional 1,000 student rooms earmarked for the area.

“There is deep concern amongst many residents in the ward, and in neighbouring wards, about the height and mass of much of the development being proposed, in particular as part of the Bedminster Green development behind East Street,” says the Green candidate.

“In addition, despite having one of the lowest car ownership levels of any ward in the city, Southville faces considerable problems with high traffic levels – with some residential streets being used as rat runs.”

Work by an all-female lineup of Bristol artists is showcased above these North Street buildings

Home to the world-renowned Upfest, Southville also boasts the Tobacco Factory café/bar and theatres – where a new creative educational facility and studios are due to open this September. There is also the much-loved Windmill Hill City Farm, Dame Emily Park, which was built on the site of the last working coal mine in the area, and Bristol South Swimming Pool on Dean Lane.

The neighbourhood’s many attributes are not lost on those who live there, with 88 per cent stating they are satisfied with their local area in Bristol City Council’s Quality of Life Survey, compared to a citywide average of 79 per cent.

Reflecting on the community spirit in the area, Dyer adds: “Southville has long been lucky enough to have many individuals and organisations working together and taking an active role in improving, not just Southville ward, but the city as a whole.

“Lockdown has restricted the activity of many of these groups, but that community spirit is still alive and well in our vibrant neighbourhood.”

Look up across the ward and there are many stunning architectural features to be seen throughout Bedminster’s main streets, where many buildings act as a canvas for street art year-round. At ground level, there is a medley of independents that have been there for decades, alongside newcomers.

Hannah Aspinall of Hugo’s greengrocers on North Street says there is a really good community feel in the area

Inside Hugo’s greengrocer on North Street, Hannah Aspinall is busy behind the counter. She lives and works in the neighbourhood and says she really appreciates the green spaces all around.

“It’s really nice to be able to get out of the city and into parks,” says Aspinall, chatting as she weighs out fruit and veg.

“It’s got lots of lovely local shops and there’s a really nice community feel, which has really helped me settle into the area.”

As an allotment owner, she is concerned about proposals for luxury flats that risk overshadowing her plot and adds that cycling infrastructure badly needs improvement.

Often viewed as one of the more affluent south Bristol neighbourhoods, Southville is not without its troubles and the premature mortality rate is significantly worse than the city average, with 563.9 early deaths per 100,000 of the population, compared to an average of 381.2.

Many residents say walking and cycling infrastructure could be improved in Southville

Lisa Durston and Tom Phipps are the Labour contenders hoping to turn Southville from Green to red once more. In a joint statement, they highlighted some of the key issues for people in the ward.

“People are rightly concerned by the amount of traffic that comes through the residential streets of Southville and the impact on air quality and safety,” say Durston and Phipps, who promise to campaign for liveable neighbourhoods with less traffic, better cycling and walking routes and cleaner air.

“There is also a lack of affordable housing in the area and residents worry about the scale of the local development taking place to bring much-needed homes and regeneration to parts of Southville and Bedminster. One of our priorities is to push for any local development to directly benefit existing residents and provide quality, affordable housing that includes community facilities and green spaces.”

The Labour candidates add: “We love living here and are really proud of the way that local people and organisations stepped up to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community during the pandemic.

“We also love the independent spirit here in Southville with people choosing to support the amazing small local businesses we have across BS3. We are committed to ensuring that all the voices of Southville are heard and to tackling the social and health inequalities that exist in the ward.

Alongside the Green and Labour candidates, Iain Dennis and James Macqueen will be standing for the Conservative Party in Southville, while Sam Merchant and Lena Wright are the Lib Dem hopefuls.

Greville Smyth Park is on the doorstep for Southville residents

All photos by Ellie Pipe

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