Bristol’s longest serving councillor retires

Bristol’s longest serving councillor Helen Holland will stand down next May after 32 years.

Councillor Helen Holland (Labour, Hartcliffe & Withywood), cabinet member for adult social care, was voted in by south Bristol residents at the last eight consecutive local elections.

Labour has selected climate justice activist Kirsty Hammond to replace her as one of the party’s three candidates in the ward, alongside current incumbents councillor Kerry Bailes and lord mayor councillor Paul Goggin.

Holland, who has represented seats in Whitchurch Park and Hartcliffe & Withywood and is Bristol City Council’s Armed Forces champion, was the local authority’s leader from 2007 to 2009, as well as heading the Labour group for 10 years.

Her wide range of cabinet roles have included transport & leisure, environment, partnerships & regeneration and place.

Holland will be replaced by climate justice activist Kirsty Hammond as one of the party’s three candidates in Whitchurch Park and Hartcliffe & Withywood – photo: Bristol Labour

She said: “I’m immensely proud to have served the people of Whitchurch Park and Hartcliffe & Withywood for the last 32 years, but I will leave them with the comfort that I can think of no-one better to represent them alongside Paul and Kerry than Kirsty Hammond.”

Kirsty said: “I would like to thank Helen for her contribution over her time as councillor – if elected, I’d certainly have big shoes to fill.

“There are few people in Bristol that have contributed as much as her, from her work on the regeneration of Symes Avenue to the development of Cabot Circus.

“She has been an outstanding councillor and public servant – I know our local community is immensely grateful for everything she’s done to improve our area.”

Holland said Kirsty had already made a huge contribution to the community by working with and empowering young people.

She said: “Kirsty will be a huge asset to Hartcliffe & Withywood – she already knows the community like the back of her hand.

“Kirsty’s already worked on projects which improve the life of young people in the community and projects reducing Bristol’s carbon emissions through community-based action, which will be hugely important in our just transition to net zero.

“I know how passionate she is about Hartcliffe & Withywood, and I am sure she will make a dedicated, committed and all-round fantastic local councillor.

“I look forward to campaigning with her in the near future.”

Labour said Kirsty, who grew up and raised her family in BS13, had more than 13 years of experience in both youth work and community engagement, where she connected with marginalised communities, stakeholders and city leaders.

Kirsty said: “Representing Hartcliffe & Withywood would be such a huge honour. I care deeply about the local community.

“I believe this combination of personal drive and experience makes me well suited to drive forward a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous future for our community.

“I want to ensure the young people in Hartcliffe & Withywood have the opportunity and resources they need to thrive, helping them to shape their own communities.

“I know that Labour councillors share my ambitions to see a just transition to net zero. They’re paving the way nationally with decarbonisation through City Leap and food sustainability initiatives, which saw Bristol awarded gold standard for food sustainability.

“I hope to carry on this work and bring a community-focused, bottom-up approach to City Hall. I look forward to meeting people on the doorstep in the coming months.

“As I’ve spent most of my life here, they may have already met me, but this time I’ll have my red rosette on.”

Adam Postans is a local democracy reporter for Bristol and South Gloucestershire

Main photo: Bristol Mayor/Bristol Design

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