1

HOTWELLS&CLIFTONWOOD

NEWS

Winter 2009

Published by Hotwells & Cliftonwood Community Association, 3,Charles Place, Hotwells, Bristol, BS8 4QW

h&cca HOTWELLS & CLIFTONWOOD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

R e s i d e n t s ’ p a r k i n g z o n e p l a n n e d f o r C l i f t o n w o o d Following a consultation process which generated 13,000 responses, the Council Cabinet has now ap-proved the introduction of residents’ parking schemes in the parts of Kings-wood and Clifton where there was most support. The eastern end of Cliftonwood between Jacobs Wells Road and Hotwell Road is to be included, while A CPZ for the rest of Hotwells and Cliftonwood was rejected by a majority of households. Views expressed in the consultation have led to a reduction in the annual permit cost to £30 (fixed for 3 years) and free permits for the first 50 visitors to any household. The Council have given assurances that the schemes will aim to do no more than ‘break even’ and the revenue and costs will be subject to ‘open book accounting’ so any ‘profits’ can be assessed.

There are fears among some residents that this will herald a rolling programme of new parking controls as the vehicles displaced from one controlled area, start parking in adjacent streets and create a need for fur-ther restrictions. In Cliftonwood, for exam-ple, Ambrose Road and the Ambras will fall just outside the zone and pressure on this area may increase as a result. The other potential problem that has not been fully quantified is the effect of reduc-ing parking bays in the controlled zone to what is legal and safe. At present, much of our area has cars parked on both sides of narrow streets and sometimes on the pavement. A recent incident when a fire engine was unable to drive down Clifton-wood Crescent to reach the scene of a vehicle fire, illustrates this problem.

Brunel bridge restoration in doubt

The agreement to construct the lottery funded Connect2 cycle path from Bristol to Nailsea has now been signed by the main partners, Sustrans, Bristol CC & North Somerset Council. It is planned to start construction in May. Many people, including members of the Brunel Swivel Bridge Group, assumed the scheme would include restoration of the historic bridge at Cum-berland Basin to create a new pedestrian/cycle crossing of the Entrance Lock. How-ever, consultants have advised BCC that new and wider lock gate platforms would be a cheaper and quicker option. Both the Swivel Bridge and lock gates would need to be closed to the public when the lock is operated, but a locktop crossing would also need to be closed for up to one hour during ‘stop-gate’ tides that typically occur over 200 times a year. At these times the entrance lock gates remain open to allow the tide to run in. Cyclists and pedestrians would then need to find an alternative crossing, either via the Plimsoll Bridge (many steps) or the Junction Lock Bridge (much longer and not traffic-free). The Brunel Swivel Bridge is now widely recognised as an important monument but, If the new walking and cycling path uses an alternative route, the ambition of restoring it to full working order seems a more re-mote possibility. Since the restoration esti-mate is similar to Bristol's entire contribu-tion to the path construction one can un-derstand why this view has prevailed. How-ever, it would be useful to see breakdowns of the two cost estimates. A significant proportion of the Swivel Bridge costs may relate to structural repairs and repainting that need to be done in any case to pre-serve the bridge for posterity.

David Neale & Ray Smith

Map showing area of Cliftonwood to be included in proposed controlled parking zone

The unique swivel bridge, designed by Brunel

2

Community News h&cca HOTWELLS & CLIFTONWOOD COM-

MUNITY ASSOCIATION O117 9291883

Admin@hotwellscliftonwood.org.uk

New Administrator Anna Wilson our very able administrator for two years, retired at the AGM to pursue her career as a filmmaker. She has made a huge contribution to HCCA and will be greatly missed. Most recently, she was piv-otal in organising the West Bristol Arts Trail which was such a huge success. Rosemary Stibbon, a long term CA member and volunteer will be taking over the reins and plans to work from the Charles Place office for two days a week.

AGM Some 40 people came to this year’s AGM in Trinity Church to hear reports of our vari-ous activities. Ariaf Hussain from Bristol City Council talked about Neighbourhood Partnerships (see below). Following on from the front page article in our last edi-tion, we spent some time considering how the Section 106 monies that are due, as a result of new building developments, might be spent for our benefit. Here are some of the ideas:

► Knock down the brown shed oppo-site the Mardyke steps, provide a pavement and smarten the area.

► Prepare a master plan for space un-der the flyover.

► Plan for a community centre.

► Introduce traffic calming measures and/or residential speed restrictions.

► Subsidise ferries and allow bus passes to be used on ferries.

► Provide improvements to footpaths in the area, e.g. handrails.

► Create or plan for Home Zones in the area.

► Floodlight Holy Trinity church as a landmark building in the area.

► Hold the money in a Community Chest for use on small projects.

Your CA will be looking at the ideas and will open a dialogue with the Council as to the best option/s. If you have other ideas please let us know as soon as possible.

Dennis Gornall

Neighbourhood Partnership This is the new scheme to enable the Coun-cil to consult directly with neighbourhoods in the City about issues that affect them. There are 14 Partnership areas, each made up of 2 or 3 electoral wards. Cabot has been joined with Clifton and Clifton East and several people from HCCA attended the inaugural meeting on Nov. 25th at the Council House. There is no formal mem-bership as yet and we may find overlaps between our Neighbourhood Partnership

and existing work HCCA does in campaign-ing for service improvements from BCC. Neighbourhood Partnerships are given a small annual amount of funding (£5,000 per ward ) and we have a dedicated officer in the City with the job of steering it along. Our local Councillors are also involved. If you are interested in working with the Steering Group or on one of the Working Groups (yet to be defined) then contact ariaf.hussain@bristol.gov.uk or leave a mes-sage with the office and we can give you more details.

Ray Smith

Hope Centre Poster Collection finds a home An exhibition at Create Centre over a year ago uncovered a unique collection of post-ers from the 20 years of Hope Centre as a community arts venue. Now this has been handed over to The University of Bristol Theatre Collection which is a registered Museum. The collection can be accessed by contacting the Keeper at the Dept. of Drama, Cantock’s Close BS8 1UP

Wessex Water You have probably seen and heard heralded in the media that Wessex Water has fin-ished the tunnel between Frogmore Street and Wood-land Road which will carry the final piece of sewer in their extensive underground network. Not such good news of Wessex Water’s progress on the Hotwell Road site. The latest esti-mate from the Site Manager is that work won’t be com-pleted until May 2009! Blocked drains Yes, yes, we know – there are still a number of blocked drains in the area (and all round the City for that mat-ter). Some of them have been blocked solid for sev-eral years and we are now told by Bristol City Council that they cannot be dealt with using the normal equip-ment and that their contrac-tor, Carillion, will have to deal with them. Often the underground pipes are dam-aged and substantial work is required to get them back into working order. It is all very frustrating, but we will continue to press the Council to deal with the problem.

Pauline Barnes

500 Club Lottery Draw December 2008 1st Prize £150 272 – C Sharp 2nd Prize £25 434 – No Winner 3rd Prize £25 90 – No Winner 4th Prize £25 210 – S Wilkins 5th Prize £25 36 – H Di Giovanni Help us reach 500 members and every draw will produce 5 winners!

The future of the CA You will have seen in the last edition that from last April we now no longer receive money from Bristol City Coun-cil to support our work and we must consider how we carry on as a Com-munity Association. We have office premises and a part-time worker. With-out money from somewhere this is un-sustainable in the longer term. We are therefore going to consider, in the new year, how we should adapt to the changed circumstances. Currently we see three possible op-tions:

1. Rely entirely on volunteers and try and keep an office using our income from the 500 club and any other small grants and donations.

2. Revise our constitution to create a membership by subscription, either on a household or individual basis

3. Consider extending our boundary to become a Clifton wide association if such an enlarged CA would get either funding or premises, from the City Council. If you have any ideas or views, strong or otherwise about your Community Association’s future please contact us. We need you to help shape these im-portant decisions for the benefit of all.

Dennis Gornall

3

h&cca HOTWELLS & CLIFTONWOOD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

O117 9291883 Admin@hotwellscliftonwood.org.uk

Community News

Newsletter Delivery At the AGM a number of people kindly volunteered to plug gaps in the delivery service for this newsletter but we still have one or two rounds with no regular sup-port. Cornwallis House Crosby Row Hotwell Rd –S. side Oldfield Rd/Sandford Rd The reward for doing this job 3 times a year is being the first to read the latest news and a healthy walk in the open air (maybe not the case in Hotwell Rd). If you can spare us some time please ring the CA office or e-mail: admin@hotwellscliftonwood.org.uk Plimsoll Statue Since nefarious Wessex Water banished Samuel Plimsoll from his lonely perch on the Portway we have been trying to keep track of him in the faint hope he might someday return to Hotwells. This is the latest from Christina Raddon of the City Council: We did find a potential new location for him as part of the new Redcliffe Wharf development, a stones' throw away from where he was born, but I understand this has recently fallen through. So we have had several disappointments now due to the amount of development going on along the waterfront. I think there might be the possibil-ity of the Museum of Bristol taking him (which is where he rightfully belongs as he came from one of the Mu-seums - and should never have been placed outside).

First year of the Secret Garden In the past year the land below Cliftonwood Terrace has been transformed into the begin-nings of a community wildlife garden. With the help of the Breathing Places lottery grant we cleared away rubble and rubbish and had paths made throughout the land. The site was made secure by putting up a strong fence all along the sheer drop towards the Hotwell Road and a prickly hedge planted along it. Steps were made at steep sections and the arch into the wood was painstakingly and beautifully repaired. We have started planting trees: A Wild Cherry, two Field Maples, two Crab Apples and a Pear Tree. With huge help from the neighbourhood we’ve cleared masses of Brambles, Bindweed, and Buddleia. Every month supporters have

turned up with shovels, secateurs and energy to help create the garden. and we would like to thank everybody for their help. It has been a delight. The garden is used by the neighbourhood: children’s birthdays have been celebrated, dens have been made, picnics held, walks been had and dogs aired. The foxes are still there, and so are squirrels, and a huge variety of birds. It has truly provided Cliftonwood with a breathing place. Next year, probably starting again in March, we will continue to have working parties on every last Sunday of the month, 11am – 12 noon. This year has given us a feel for how much work it takes to keep the garden under reasonable control. We are very grateful for all the help and goodwill we have received.

Susan Haase-Derrett

Town Green Application The final Bristol City Council determination on whether to register the "Clifton Wood Community Garden" (at the junction of Ambrose Road and Ambra Vale East) will take place at a meeting of the Council's Rights of Way and Greens committee on 19th January at 2.00pm at the Council House. Please come

along and offer your support if you are able.

What’s going on in the Docks? While crossing Junction Lock by the Pump House at Cumberland Basin you may have wondered whether the decrepit 140 year-old wooden lock gates at that end of the basin would work if ever they were needed in an emergency to maintain the water level in the floating harbour. Well the official answer is probably not, which is why there is £4m of work in progress to replace the lock gates and install new hydraulic power packs to con-trol the gates, sluices and paddles. Each of the existing gates weighs 80 tonnes and will be replaced with new steel gates being fabri-cated in The Netherlands. The new ones will weigh in at a much handier 50 tonnes. How-ever it seems no one knew what the hinges look like so the old gates were encased by a specially-made ‘limpet’ coffer dam to inspect these secretive parts in the dry before the new gates could be completed. This is Phase I of a 3 phase programme of renewals at Cumberland Basin the Underfall Yard and Netham Lock costing the City Council £11 million in total. Let’s hope all goes to plan and the work is finished by May as promised. Otherwise Junc-tion Lock may join Wessex Water on the Portway in the infamous annals of perma-nently unfinished engineering projects. For more information see: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/press-releases/2008/dec/repair-and-replacements-works-on-bristols-historic-docks.en

Local History Society planned A new Local History Society covering Hot-wells, Cliftonwood and Clifton will be launched in 2009. A small working group has been busy gathering information about the mass of archival material which exists. Some of it is safe in the Record Office, like the re-cords of the Merchant Venturers. Other in-formation doubtless in attics and cupboards in people’s homes. It is hoped to produce a ref-erence list before the launch, to serve as a resource for anyone researching the rich his-tory of our area. If you have anything of interest about, garden societies, football teams, pub groups or what-ever; DON’T GET RID OF IT before talking to the group. So much has already gone and we don’t want to lose any more. Contact: Sue Stops, 9 Freeland Place, Hotwells, BS8 4NP or e-mail the HCCA office Watch out for details of the first meet-ing which will be of general interest to everyone.

Sue Stops

4

The buoyant good health of the arts in our area was well demonstrated by the participation in and enthu-siasm for the first West Bristol Arts Trail held on 18th-19th October - and the success of the weekend has only served to further consolidate this. Since then, Hotwells and Cliftonwood have seen additional artistic developments by way of the opening of a ma-jor new Bristol gallery on Hotwell Road and the takeover of the Bristol China Factory by a fellow Hotwellian, suggesting that we truly do live in a hearty area. The arts trail weekend opened with a party on Friday eve-ning at Hope Chapel. Settees and candles set the scene and allowed everyone to relax and experience the music, film and animation on show. On Saturday morning, the area awoke to find perky red balloons and stylised placards had magically flourished outside houses overnight. These mark-ers lead visitors into venues where a variety of artistic me-dia, from sculpture and painting, to photography and even a satirical slide show were on view. For once the weather was kind and the autumnal feel suited the area with its abundance of colourful trees. Widespread publicity for the event throughout Bristol meant that some venues saw up to 1200 visitors over the weekend, with an overall average of 350 new fans for each artist.

The success of the trail means that there is a definite will to go forward and hold further trails here in the future. Con-structive feedback from artists and organisers also ensured that the successes of 2008 will be built on and used to im-prove, year on year. So all that remains to be said for this year is well done Clifton, Hotwells and Cliftonwood and many thanks to everyone who participated, through atten-dance, exhibition, organisation – or all of the above!

Hello, me old China! The Bristol China Company, based in Pilning with a factory shop in Clifton, on Vyvyan Road, was established in 1979. The company produces beautiful Eng-lish fine-bone china tea-sets and

lovely chintz patterned gifts, such as mugs and trinket boxes. David Thornley of Hotwells recently took over the running of this 30 year old Bristol business with his wife, Fran. David studied at Stourbridge College of Art and Bristol University and has exhibited his work at Liberties of London, Brierly Hill Glass Museum and locally at the RWA and the Bristol Guild. We wish them all the best with the new venture.

Jayne Marshall

A Hearty Hotwells and Cliftonwood!

A Buena Vista for Hotwell Road We warmly welcome to Hotwells, one of the largest inde-pendent art spaces in the South West and a new gallery: ‘View’. The ethos behind the gallery is to champion new art and artists and bring a refreshingly informal approach to the way one can view and buy art. Every-one is wel- come from the keenest collec- tor, to those who just happen to be passing by and fancy a look.

Gallery owner Nick Waugh is

pleased with the choice of loca-

tion for the gallery: “The re-

sponse from the local commu-

nity has been tremendous,. The position of the gallery pro-

vides a great shop window for the many people coming in

and out of the centre. We hope to continue to provide art

that entertains and entices people into the gallery and I hope

we can bring even more people to Hotwells”. The work View exhibits changes every month or so and showcases a rich mix, including what Nick likes to call ‘big art’ - so expect an ever-changing window each time you walk down Hotwells road! A new show is open from January 3rd.

A busy scene at the Clifton Club during the Arts Trail

Do you know anything about this family? A group of Belgian people are trying to trace the family of a WW2 pilot, a memorial was erected in 2008 and they would like to con-tact the family. Paul Fraser Collis age (24) was with 40 sqdrn RAF and came from Cliftonwood, He was killed on the 12/10/1941. His parents were Hugh Henry Fraser Collis and Gladys Olive Collis. Paul Fraser Collis was married his wife's name was Joyce Mabel Collis. Any help would be most appreciated. Please contact Leslie Green on 07941206478 or 01934-633305 or email portwatch@supanet.com

At Hope Chapel, open for Arts Trail refreshments, even the cakes came out all artistic!

5

Rapid Transit gains momentum

J H THOMPSONJ H THOMPSONJ H THOMPSONJ H THOMPSON

BA (Hons) DO MRO

REGISTERED OSTEOPATH

39 Oldfield Road Hotwells BRISTOL BS8 4QQ

Tel: (0117) 927 2100

If all the discarded proposals for revolutionary public transport systems in Bristol were dumped in the Floating Harbour we would probably be able to build a nice motorway over the top to replace all that useless water (actually Prof. Buchanan thought of something similar in 1963). The Avon Metro, the Supertram, BER , LRT and ULR have come and gone with the ups and downs of Government policy and local politicking but still nothing has actually appeared on our streets.

The latest BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) scheme promoted by the West of Eng-land Partnership should capture our interest more than most because, after proposing a route along the Bristol to Bath cycle route which stirred up a storm of opposition that came as a surprise to no one except the West of England Partnership apparently, it is now really keen on pioneering the first line from Ashton Vale to the City Centre, right through our patch. In fact, the glossy consultation document includes an imaginative picture of a tram station on Cumberland Road at Spike Island (left). Promoters of the rival ULR (Ultra Light Rail) scheme are fighting a rearguard action but it seems the odds are stacked against them because the Govern-ment will pay more to subsidise a Bus than they will a proper Tram running on rails regardless of the actual merits of one or the other. Those of you who have been to one of the consultation sessions about BRT or seen the publicity may concede that the BRT vehicle may live up to its’ name when following a dedicated route alongside the existing rail lines from Ashton Gate to Prince Street but when an 18m long 30 tonne bus hits the streets and the jams of central Bristol, it seems less likely to be ‘rapid’ than a nippy

FirstBus double-decker. ULR enthusiast Keith Hallett points out that a rail-based tram would use one third of the fuel and generate one third of the pollution and be far more reliable than an equivalent rubber-tyred vehicle. He states the tram sup-porters’ case bluntly: “The choice is yours; you, the people. Do you want lots of fancy but empty buses while you continue to stick to the car as your pre-ferred commute? Or would you leave the car at home and take the tram to work? Trams is what I want, what Bristol people de-serve after years of promises about trams and years of suffering the lousiest bus system in the country”. Transport campaigns in Bristol have become a passion. A meeting of the Transport for Greater Bristol Alliance at Jurys Hotel on December 9th unearthed literally dozens of organisa-tions campaigning for better buses, better trains, more bikes or transport integration. The core mission of TGBA is to urge Bristol and the 4 districts in the Bristol travel to work area to form an Integrated Transport Authority to manage strategic planning. The new Local Transport Act makes this a possibil-ity and Bristol councillors have given it their support. The 4 outlying districts seem more reluctant to climb aboard. For further information on BRT see: http://www.westofengland.org/transport/rapid-transit

Ray Smith

...Meanwhile, in South Bristol SAVE THE MALAGO GREENWAY – SIGN THE ON-LINE PETITION Concerned residents of Windmill Hill are running a campaign to oppose Bristol City Council’s (Central Government’s) pro-posed scheme to use the Malago Greenway for a rapid tran-sit route to ferry people in from the (to be constructed) Whitchurch Park and Ride to the centre of the City. BRTs require a minimum of 11 metres width. This would entail concreting/culverting over the Malago stream and the com-pulsory purchase of some properties. Some residents would find a BRT vehicle passing right outside their back doors every 3.5 minutes. In addition, it would mean the loss of the only bit of green space remaining in the immediate area. This is used as a place for play and by local adults and chil-dren to get to work/school on foot and by cycle and is also rich in wildlife. For more information/ BRT documents and to sign the online petition see the website: www.malago.org.

Rosemary Stibbon

6

The Hotwells Pantomime how people in tights have an audience in stitches

Maya’s gentle yoga

Monday, Pavey House, Clifton 6-7pm. Wednesday, Hotwells Primary School

7-8pm

Tel: 0117 9542212

or 0117 9512371

classes:

Sui Generis Hair & Beauty

255 HOTWELL ROAD,

HOTWELLS, BRISTOL BS8

4SF

BOOKING & ADVICE LINE

0117 925 3611

It began with ‘Cinderella’, staged at the relatively new Hope Centre in 1980. 28 pantos later, quite how it started is long forgotten but the early shows, as well as events like Music Halls, barn dances and once, even a Circus (don’t ask) helped to raise funds for the Community Association. Here’s one view of the key lessons that have helped to keep this special institution alive so long.

Keep it local - From the start, the Hotwells Pantomime was devised from scratch and performed each year by local people. If you turn up for the first reading you are very likely to get a role of some kind (but perhaps not the Dame first time round).

Use all the skills - every-body can do (or learn) some-thing of value; making cos-tumes, set design and con-structing scenery and props, choreography, singing and mu-sic-making, stage management and more. Many a rookie actor has been bitten by the perform-ance bug at the Hotwells Panto and discovered a new talent.

Do it at the wrong time - Our pantomime happens in March rather than the traditional December. The organisers reasoned that December is a fraught month to try and rehearse and January/February is when we really need a laugh and and a good reason to get out of the house!

Learn the trade -The Panto countdown starts in November with a planning meeting. Out of that will come a short plot summary and a description of the main characters. We have done nearly all the classic panto stories at least 3 times but every script is com-pletely original. Panto writing is a tricky business. It’s always best to keep it simple and write visually. Clever dialogue not linked strongly to action sometimes reads well on the page but doesn’t work on the stage.

Work together -With a different writer for each

scene, a team of editors is all-important to grind off the rough edges between different styles and characterisa-tion. No room for big egos here!

Give everyone a chance - By the start of January a more-or-less complete script is ready for the casting

meeting. We read it, then every-one writes what they would like to do on a slip of paper and another small group works out who does what, based on those preferences. By tradition, there are a number of established groupings – the female chorus (the ‘Ambras’ after their role as the ‘Ambra Veils’ in a long forgot-ten Aladdin), the male chorus, the teenagers, the younger children as well as the musicians under the di-rection of maestro Sue Otty. New-comers are always welcome.

Discipline! -Rehearsals hap-

pen at Trinity Rooms through Janu-ary and February. We now have a Director , Gill Loats and Producer Amanda Webb which is a good ar-rangement given the challenge of co-ordinating the efforts of up to 70 people onstage and off. The show runs for 4 nights and every year there are disappointed

people who left it too late to buy tickets. The Pantomime raises around £3,000 to support local community projects, helped by Hope Community Church which allows us to use the Hall for free.

Ray Smith

This year’s Hotwells Pantomime is

Babes in the Wood Babes in the Wood Babes in the Wood Babes in the Wood At Hope Chapel, Hope Chapel Hill

March 4-7th at 7.30 pm get your tickets early!

Climactic scene for the ‘Ambras’ chorus in the 2003 production of ‘Beauty and the Beast’

7

Events

DIARY

Wed Jan 14th—Mar 4th

10:45 Mother & Baby shared exercise class

Hope Chapel contact: Kirsten Rees—t: 07920 032 513

Mon 19th Jan

14:00 Cliftonwood Town Green determination

Council House, College Green

Thur 22nd Jan

19:30 Transition Hotwells & Cliftonwood Mtg.

Trinity Church

Thur 22nd - Sun 25th Jan

Slapstick Festival Watershed, Arnolfini, Colston hall

Fri 30th Jan

‘Discerning Ears’ Concert

Lansdowne pub.

Mon Feb 2nd

19:30 HCCA Trustees Mtg. 3, Charles Place

Fri. 27th Feb

Discerning Ears’ Concert

Lansdowne pub.

Wed Mar. 4th– Sat Mar. 7th

19:30 Hotwells Pantomime Hope Chapel

Mon 19th Jan

18:00 Community Links meeting

3, Charles Place

call

0117 973 7132

Open for Dinner Wednesday to Sat-urday all year round. For special book-ings and enquiries, please call Coral on:

07971 812540

The 500 Club - Make it your New Year’s resolution So you mislaid that little card in the last edi-tion of Hotwells News inviting you to join the 500 Club, or the cat ate it or the baby was sick on it, or maybe you just thought £18 a year was just not worth your attention? We know you have lots of other things to worry about (the traffic, the crime, the building developments, the local economy, the neighbours who you never meet) so we are giving you another chance to try and make things better for you and for everyone in your neighbourhood. Just e-mail or phone the office with your name and address and we’ll send you the form to apply.

Discerning Ears Following a successful gig on Dec. 5th

the next of a planned series of “quirky,

quiet, quality” music sessions. have been

booked at the Lansdown on Friday 30

January and Friday 27 February . Among

other acts, the 30 January session will

feature the gorgeous celtic jazz of Sen-

sorium, led by Colin Tully, composer of

the soundtrack for “Gregory’s Girl” and a

regular member of John Martyn’s touring

band. Watch out for posters on the

HCCA noticeboards or phone Henry

Shaftoe on 92 92 983.

Transition Hotwells & Cliftonwood Garden Share we have formed a sub-group to promote the growing of veg in garden space. It is probable there are many of us who have a patch of garden that could be productive, but for a variety of reasons find it difficult to get round to cultivating it. Our idea is that we intro-duce those that would provide labour and knowledge with garden own-ers who provide a space. The resultant harvest is shared. Any takers? Next Meeting – A talk on Energy Saving in the Home - 22 January 2009, 7.30 pm at Holy Trinity Church , Clifton Vale. Martin Fodor will talk on energy-saving tips that could help make the place where you live an ‘Ecohome’. Martin has worked on sustainable construction and development issues, energy and climate policies and has a background in waste and recycling services, and environmental education. Come and join us for an interactive discussion with slides and back-ground information on how to save energy and reduce those bills. AND hear how the THC Garden Share group is developing.

New shops in Hotwells Apart from the View Gallery (see page 4) we welcome two more new ven-tures to add life to the Hotwell Road. The Off-Licence (lately the Co-op Pharmacy) has re-opened as a handy convenience store. The Shiraz Restaurant has opened for dining with a Persian theme. Also note: Masters Garage has moved across the river to Ashton Vale Rd (see ad. on page 8)

8

Hotwells & Cliftonwood C.A. 3 Charles Place, Hotwells, Bristol, BS8 4QW

tel: 0117 9291883 co-ordinator: Rosemary Stibbon e-mail: admin@hotwellscliftonwood.org.uk

Web site: www.hotwellscliftonwood.org.uk Management Committee Dennis Gornall (Chair) Personnel Brenda McLennan (Treasurer) Projects Ray Smith Communications & Traders Network Mike Timmins Open spaces James Smith CHASE Anthea Bruges Community Links

CONTACTS

Specialist in Floor Maintenance,

Carpets, Windows and Daily Office Cleaning.

Fully Insured

G. J. TREASURE CLEANING CONTRACTORS

5 Britannia Buildings

Merchants Road Hotwells

Bristol BS8 4QD

Tel: (0117) 9290578 Fax: 9144316

Volunteers Needed Cumberland Basin area

Do you like working with children? Would you like to improve their

safety? Do you have one or two days spare

each month? Phone Lifeskills on 9224511

∗ Class 4 & 7 MOT bays (2)

∗ Latest diagnostic equipment

∗ Fully qualified mechanics, quality

control and chief mechanic

∗ Manufacturer genuine parts or

quality non genuine

∗ Free collection and delivery

∗ Free wash and vacuum

∗ Evening vehicle servicing (by nego-

tiation)

∗ All vehicles serviced to 3.5 tonne

Servicing - MOTs - Repairs

www.mastersgarage.com

54 Ashton Vale Road, Bristol, BS3 2HQ tel: 0117 9638288

Advertise here to reach 2,500 households in Hotwells & Cliftonwood for as little as £30. Contact HCCA office for details