Ward profiles 2021: Stockwood – ‘A vibrant community but lacking community spaces’

Graham Morris, the Conservative councillor for Stockwood, was born in the ward that he now represents at City Hall.

“I am delighted to represent Stockwood ward,” he told Bristol24/7. “Most residents love it here with easy access to the myriad of beautiful green spaces.

“I was born in Stockwood and have a lot of connections through sport and education and the church with many residents, and I am often recognised.

“I don’t see my role as a councillor but as a facilitator, a supporter and a servant. I am just an ordinary bloke who has stuck his head above the parapet to help those who need support and help.”

The number 2 bus connects Stockwood with the city centre and on to Cribbs Causeway

Christ the Servant church in Stockwood, was opened in 1960 – photo: Martin Booth

As well as Stockwood itself, Stockwood ward includes areas of Brislington, Whitchurch, Knowle and Hengrove.

“The area is full of friends and fun and family,” according to Morris.

Pre-pandemic, the ward had the highest proportion of residents of anywhere in Bristol who met up with each other, with many home owners having lived in the houses since they were built here in the 1960s.

Stockwood ward has Bristol’s second highest proportion of houses with at least three bedrooms of anywhere in Bristol, so many young people are forced to move away from the area if they want to buy a property.

Imperial Sports Ground was once the Imperial Athletic Ground owned by the Imperial Tobacco group and used by Somerset County Cricket Club. It is now run by a charity for the benefit of the community – photo: Martin Booth

Stockwood Library is one of only four Bristol libraries open seven days a week in normal times – photo: Martin Booth

Morris said that “there is no escaping that the council have failed to invest in Stockwood ward over the decades and we are trying to apply common sense to the biggest issues to bring about change”.

Between 2012 to 2018, Stockwood had £15,000 of CIL funding; just 0.1 per cent of the citywide total.

For Morris, a historic but dilapidated street street on the corner of Wells Road and West Town Lane is emblematic of the neglect of the area.

“It wouldn’t be like this in Clifton!” he says.

This way to Bath, Brislington, Whitchurch and Shepton Mallet – photo: Martin Booth

One of the key local issues is about controversial plans to build a ring road around south Bristol, joining Hicks Gate to Wells Road.

The proposed road would head across fields from the A4 near Keynsham, around Stockwood and Whitchurch before going into Hengrove and joining with Airport Road.

The road threatens green belt land in an area still on the edge of the countryside.

Once part of a working farm, Stockwood Open Space fell into disuse with the expansion of south east Bristol and the construction of the housing estates at Stockwood.

It was bought by the council who turned it into a public open space. Avon Wildlife Trust took over management in 1981 and it is now jointly managed by Bristol City Council and the charity.

The Concorde pub on Stockwood Lane – photo: Martin Booth

Running alongside Morris for the Tories in May is Jon Hucker, a retired senior management account who is asking for financial transparency and integrity from the council.

The two Labour candidates are Sam Fox, a lifelong Stockwood resident and an economics graduate from UWE, and Justin Ibbett, whose background is in creative arts and playwork.

“Despite having a vibrant community, Stockwood lacks many community spaces which are accessible to all,” Fox and Ibbett say in a joint statement.

“Working alongside local residents we have created our Stockwood Together plan. Formed out of both our Labour and Co-operative values, it involves a set of ambitions which would help make our community stronger, safer, and cleaner.

This noticeboard was co-designed and made by Stockwood residents with support from KWMC: The Factory, St Monica Trust and Young Bristol – photo: Martin Booth

“We have already been working towards this, supporting our many local community groups, such as the Friends of Cottle Road Park group who have been working to install new play equipment using CIL funding; playing a leading role in the local Covid-19 response, with Sam helping to set up and coordinate the Stockwood Community Response Team and Justin volunteering to do essential shopping; as well as setting up the Stockwood Litter Picking group, which has picked up over 150 bags of litter since September.

“If elected, our priority would be to build upon these, making our community stronger by giving residents more of a say in local decisions, safer by putting in more zebra crossings on our busy streets, and cleaner by installing more bins in our parks and green spaces.”

Friends of Cottle Road Park recently helped raise £40,000 for new play equipment – photo: Martin Booth

Fox and Ibbett added: “Despite having a vibrant community, Stockwood lacks many community spaces which are accessible to all.

“Whilst we have already been working hard to promote our local library and organise inclusive and engaging events through the Friends of Stockwood Library group we established, as well as working with our local churches, we would like to see the BS14 Youth Club building turned into a community centre, run by local volunteers, which can be available to local residents throughout the week and host a variety of engaging and inclusive activities.

“The last 13 months have truly shown the strength of the community spirit here, with Stockwood being one of the leading communities in Bristol when it came to its voluntary response to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as many new community groups emerging across our area which seek to bring people in the neighbourhood closer together.”

Main photo: Martin Booth

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