Your say / Politics

‘Hotwells & Harbourside is my home and I want to make it better’

By Martin Booth  Monday Dec 19, 2022

Although my job as a journalist and author takes me all over Bristol on a daily basis, I feel a particular affinity to the area around Hotwells and the Harbourside.

It is my home, it is where my youngest daughter goes to school and it is the area of Bristol that I know the best.

I love this area of our wonderful city but it can definitely be even better.

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As an independent voice in Bristol for many years, I hope that my journalism, writing and mentoring has already made a small difference to our local area and our wider city.

But I don’t want to be shouting from the sidelines forever. I want to make a tangible difference inside City Hall, representing my community within the Hotwells & Harbourside ward that I call home.

This is why today I am announcing that I shall be standing to be an independent candidate in the upcoming by-election for Hotwells & Harbourside.

It will be an enormous challenge to win this by-election against the weight of party machines who no doubt will throw the proverbial kitchen sink at this ward.

But I hope that my independence can be a strength.

With the resignation of the previous councillor only happening on Friday, I have not had much time in making this decision but I believe that the time is right for me to represent the corner of Bristol that I call home.

It is time because :

  • There must be more local input on plans for the Western Harbour.
  • Central Library must remain in its current location.
  • There needs to be safer streets for children travelling to school.
  • The rights of boat-dwellers must be protected.

The by-election in Hotwells & Harbourside is likely to happen towards the end of January 2023. If you want to ensure that a strong local voice represents you at City Hall, please do get in touch with me, and do please share any issues that you have within our ward.

Email: martinforhotwells@gmail.com
Twitter: @beardedjourno
Facebook: www.facebook.com/martinboothforhotwells

Martin Booth is the Editor of Bristol24/7 and the author of the bestselling guidebook 111 Places in Bristol That You Shouldn’t Miss. He lives in the Harbourside with his wife Joanna and their two children, Mersina and Lois. He was a parent-governor at the former St George Primary School and is currently a trustee at Circomedia. He also leads regular walking tours of the Old City and Castle Park.

Main photo: Yuup

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