50 years of Hotwells and Cliftonwood Community Association

ONE of the longest running community organisations in Bristol is celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer. Hotwells and Cliftonwood Community Association (H&CCA) was formed in 1974.

Since then it has been helping local people to create events and opportunities where they can get to know each other.

Outlining some of the projects with which the association has been involved, its chair Rachel McNally said: “We ran Hope Centre for twenty-odd years as a buzzing community arts centre and we set up West Bristol ArtsTrail, profiling over one hundred artists. We now manage Cumberland Piazza, our biggest public open space. in Hotwells”. 

The Piazza beside the Cumberland Basin Flyover was originally designed as a park.

“We have transformed Cumberland Piazza from a grey and unloved space into a colourful location with a skate spot, places to sit and enjoy the views while the bees buzz around the lavender. Most recently we ran a successful community campaign with Trinity to ensure that Jacobs Wells Baths is kept for community use. We are delighted to see this historic building coming back to life,” said Rachel.

=“We support grass roots community projects and run citywide campaigns. We cannot do this work without our dedicated teams of community volunteers and our community partners,” said Rachel.

The association’s celebrations kicked off with a birthday picnic on Cumberland Piazza.