We ask Bristol City Council to work with the local community to transform Jacobs Wells Baths into a community hub.

Since the closure of Hope Centre, the communities of Hotwells and Cliftonwood have been without a dedicated community space. We have no place where people can come for confidential advice on issues such as the cost of living. There is no space for community activities. There is no space for local people to meet: facing challenges and celebrating successes together.

We believe that the withdrawal of Fusion from the development of Jacobs Wells Baths represents an opportunity to reimagine this much loved historic building as a genuine community asset.  Jacobs Wells Baths are ideally placed as a community hub, with sufficient space to develop activities, resources, events and services. 

This approach will support local people to develop a sense of community and build trust between our communities and the Council.  We wish to work with the Council, other city partners (such as Trinity), and stakeholders to retain Jacob’s Wells Baths for the community now and develop the building for our future.

In a city that is growing fast, with ambitions to be carbon neutral by 2030 we need such spaces that give people the time and space to grow into communities, share ideas and develop solutions to local challenges and global problems.  

We know that we need time to develop such plans for Jacobs Wells Baths and we urge Bristol City Council to work with us to find a solution that retains this building for future generations of Bristolians and not lose it to private development.

Rachel McNally on behalf of

Hotwells & Cliftonwood Community Association

Image courtesy of Martin Booth - Bristol 24/7