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Our Lockleaze Community Plan 2026-2030 plain text

Welcome to the Our Lockleaze Community Plan 2026 -2030 in plain text.

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Lockleaze!

What you’re about to read is a new Community Plan for Lockleaze in North Bristol. This plan is based on a survey carried out by Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust alongside our local partner organisations in 2025 and early 2026, and on many informal conversations, shared meals and events over 2025. As far as possible we’ve aimed to capture the voice, concerns and priorities of our community, just as we did in the original Our Lockleaze Community Plan 2019-24.

This new Community Plan is dedicated to all the residents of Lockleaze, knowing that together we can make Lockleaze an even safer, happier, healthier, fairer and greener place to live.

About Lockleaze

We are a community in North Bristol. Originally begun as a garden council estate in the 1950s and 60s, Lockleaze is a ward of 14,000+ people set on a hillside of wide streets and big skies, with Stoke Park running down one side crowned by its iconic BT Tower. We pride ourselves on being one of the most diverse wards in the city and the ward with the most green space in Bristol. If you live here, you’ll know it’s one of the hidden gems of Bristol.

However, we have some serious local challenges around housing, health and hardship, and if you live here you may live seven years less than someone living in upmarket Clifton.

Working class communities like ours have been hit hard by the Covid-19 Pandemic and repeated economic crises, and many people face difficulties in finding decent, well-paid work, alongside rising costs and a lack of reliable local transport and health services. In addition, we live in increasingly isolated times where social media stokes division and puts pressure on mental health and community togetherness across the board.

These challenges, alongside our old housing stock and a long term loss of social housing means that Lockleaze still has pockets of ‘serious deprivation’ which particularly affect the young, old and marginalised.

Rocketing housing development means that whilst around 1,000 new homes are being built, local people can feel cut out of the picture and facing disruption they didn’t ask for, without the reliable services they need.

Despite this, Lockleaze is a strong community and proud of where we live. It’s a fantastic place and this plan reflects how we all feel about it- We Love Lockleaze.

A Few Ward Statistics

  • 14,000 people live in the ward of Lockleaze, in about 5,000 homes.1
  • Lockleaze has the most green space of all Bristol wards.
  • We are the fourth most racially diverse ward in Bristol – only topped by Eastville, Central Bristol and Lawrence Hill.1
  • 31.8% of households have dependent children (more than the average of 26.7% in Bristol).1
  • Lockleaze has pockets of severe deprivation, particularly around child education and very low incomes of some older residents.2
  • 22% residents were born outside of the UK (av.18% Bristol), nearly 40% of these being from Europe. We have strong Polish, Indian, Somalian, Pakistani, and Jamaican populations. 1
  • Whilst most residents don’t have a religion, there are active Christian (31%) and Muslim (13%) residents, and smaller numbers of Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist residents. 1   

Our Lockleaze Community Plan 2019-24

In 2018 Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust created a survey with our local partners to ask Lockleaze residents what mattered to them. Based on the responses of 700 residents, Our Lockleaze Community Plan set out local people’s concerns and hopes for our community. At that time, people’s key asks were very clear. By far the most pressing need was for easily available and affordable good quality housing; this was followed by things for young people; places for togetherness and socialising, better availability of jobs and skills, and protection of our local green spaces.

Everything that Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust and our local partner organisations have done since 2018 has been guided by the Our Lockleaze Community Plan 2019-24. It is the benchmark for everything we do. In the following pages you’ll find out what actions were undertaken because of that first Community Plan. Change has happened because the people of Lockleaze asked for it. But there is a whole lot more to be done.

What is a Community Plan?
Community Plans are designed to listen to the residents of an area, so that they can have their say in what goes on locally. Whilst this plan is a refresh of the previous plan, it is based on a survey involving in depth questions about our locality and what residents think, feel, and want to see happen. LNT spent six months engaging people across our community, engaging more than 1,000 people directly with more than 200 households completing the survey and countless informal conversations. Since then, we’ve been working to represent everyone’s views in this plan and making sure we have concrete actions attached to the Plan.

The New Lockleaze Community Plan 2026-30

In 2019 when our original Community Plan was published, none of us knew that the Covid-19 Pandemic and several Cost of Living crises were around the corner. It’s a very different world now, so in 2025 we decided to refresh the previous survey, to make sure that we still understood people’s concerns across Lockleaze.

We knew that many of our community’s priorities remained the same – particularly around affordable housing, street safety, local services, and togetherness – but we wanted to be sure what we were doing was led by our community. The responses to our 2025-26 survey have given us a blueprint for what people want to see happen in the next five years. 

The Highlights: What Lockleaze Residents Prioritised for 2026-30:

In our survey and conversations, residents often described Lockleaze as friendly, welcoming, and community-minded, with neighbours who look out for one another. For some, this sense of belonging gives the area a “village feel” within the city. Diversity in ethnicity, culture, background, income, ability and age is widely seen as one of Lockleaze’s strengths. There was a strong theme of hopefulness and pride in where we live.

Our green spaces were highlighted – Stoke Park, Purdown, housing greens, woodlands, wildlife, and the ability to “step into nature” within minutes of leaving home. These spaces play a central role in our local wellbeing and mental health, and for many residents they are what make Lockleaze distinctive compared with other parts of Bristol. Community spaces were also often described as the “heart” of the area, offering support, connection, and opportunities for families and individuals alike.

Alongside strong feelings of pride, residents also shared clear concerns that affect everyday life, around services and infrastructure; crime and antisocial behaviour; litter, rubbish and flytipping; traffic and road safety; a lack of local social spaces especially in the evening; and concerns about community togetherness and rising divisions.

“(I love) my immediate community, its proximity to a huge green space, good transport links, and the number of community activist groups.”

Our Priorities

  • Better Housing – good quality, local, affordable and available.
  • A Complete Neighbourhood – build services alongside housing
  • Places for Togetherness
  • Safer and Cleaner Streets
  • Support for Young People
  • Local Arts and Culture
  • Protect our Green Spaces and Nature

Lockleaze had a lot to say. What you’re about to read goes into a lot more detail about what people said in our 2025 survey. Each section is set out in the following way:

  • The Story So Far: local actions arising from Our Lockleaze Community Plan 2019-24
  • Update 2025-6: what local people said in our most recent survey
  • Future Actions for 2026-30: what will happen and who will do it

What’s Next

A Community Plan is only as good as the actions that arise out of it. Lockleaze has a strong network of community organisations working across Lockleaze, who are committed to supporting the changes that our community have voiced in this plan.

We all believe that communities like Lockleaze are the engines of hope and social change, and that grassroots action matters.

  • Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust (LNT) is the Community Hub for Lockleaze, supporting our community to create a fairer, healthier and more sustainable Lockleaze. We manage community buildings including our Hub on Gainsborough Square, a community cafe, drop-in advice sessions, regular community feasts, classes and events, rewilding project Really Wild Lockleaze and we’re building our own community-led housing. Everything we do is community-led.
  • Ebenezer Church is a local Christian community church based on the border of Lockleaze ward and is very active in the community with weekday events/activities including parent and toddler group, community cafe, community breakfast, older people group, after school hangout, youth hangout and Foodbank outlet, as well as Church Sunday Gatherings and Thursday Gatherings.
  • Horfield Health Centre is the local GP providing support to our community, alongside a much-loved pharmacy next door. Whilst services are stretched this is a key part of our Lockleaze community.
  • Lockleaze Sports Centre is our local sports centre dedicated to inclusive sports and community events. Open to all ages and abilities, the centre fosters participation, promotes health, and serves as a space for community connection.
  • North Bristol Advice Centre is a community-based advice service set up by Lockleaze volunteers in 1984. They provide specialist debt and welfare benefits advice, helping local people to manage debt, maximise income and build financial resilience. They are a registered charity and provide advice support to 1600+ residents each year.
  • North Bristol and South Glos Foodbank – Ebenezer Church is also the central base and offices for North Bristol and South Glos Foodbank who work both locally and more widely across the region. They are aiming to build a future where foodbanks are no longer needed.
  • Schools in Lockleaze – Lockleaze is lucky to have fantastic schools within its boundaries; Filton Avenue Primary; Filton Avenue Nursery School; Stoke Park Primary; Glenfrome Primary; and Little Foxes Forest School; plus secondaries Trinity Academy and Fairfield High School. Schools are the bedrock of our community and the organisations above work in tandem with all of them, supporting our young people across the school years. 
  • Scout Groups – the 209th Scouts (Cotman Walk) and 1st Muslim Scouts (Muller Road) support young people in Lockleaze and work with local organisations across Lockleaze and are a powerful addition to our community, running groups across the week.
  • Shahporan Mosque is a Mosque based in Southmead who hold regular Men’s Friday Prayers (Jummah) at Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust’s Hub and have been a key contributor to the annual Community-Led Iftar in Lockleaze.
  • St Mary’s and St James Church on Gainsborough Square runs regular community events throughout the week, including a Warm and Welcome space, a Monday Toddler group, regular Youth Clubs as well as being a regular Foodbank outlet.
  • The Old Library on Muller Road is a community hub in Lockleaze/ Eastville supporting local people through activities like a regular repair café, quizzes, live music events, and affordable meals at the very popular Basil’s Café.
  • The Venchis the much-loved adventure playground and community centre in the heart of Lockleaze. For over 45 years, they have been inspiring imaginative play in a fun and supportive environment to help children and young people live happy and healthy lives – see their website for sessions for Under 5s, 5-12s and for 11-16s.

Over the next five years (2026-30) the local organisations above will be working together with our community to co-create an even stronger Lockleaze. We all believe that we have all the expertise, skills and talents we need right here in Lockleaze to create real change. We will also be working with our city-wide partners, and institutions such as Bristol City Council, the West of England Combined Authority, local universities and the NHS.

We will use this Community Plan to create the change people have told us they want to see – finding funding, starting projects, and bringing everyone together to grow community power.

Interested? See the end of this Plan for What You Can Do Next, and help us build a fairer, healthier and greener Lockleaze.

COMMUNITY ACTION

THE STORY SO FAR:

Community Actions Inspired by the Lockleaze Community Plan 2019-24

  • The original Our Lockleaze Community Plan asked for more spaces for togetherness and more places to socialise in Lockleaze. These were key demands from a place that lacks cafes, pubs and places to congregate. Over time Lockleaze organisations have worked to change this and to create places where we can come together to create change.
  • Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust stewards community spaces like The Hub on Gainsborough Square and our temporary space at St James Church on Romney Avenue. In 2024 LNT renovated the Hub to create a warm and welcoming reception area offering free Wi-Fi, a book swap, Bristol Libraries pick up and drop off service, and printing and photocopying services – as well as access to our warm and welcoming spaces, activities and advice sessions.
  • Our regular Wednesday Hubbub cafe has grown into a regular place of community support and togetherness with key advice drop-in sessions that reflect resident priorities. Since 2019 we’ve developed regular Community Feasts, an annual Climate and Nature Festival, and a programme of festive events and celebrations.
  • The café and social space at Lockleaze Sports Centre have grown since opening, now holding myriad events and celebrations throughout the year, bringing the community together through sport and fitness.
  • The Vench Corner Cafe was opened in 2025, creating jobs, youth work experience opportunities, coffee, cake and sandwiches and even ice creams for your dog!
  • The cafe and social space at Lockleaze Sports Centre have grown since opening, now holding myriad events and celebrations throughout the year, bringing the community together through sport and fitness.
  • Our local churches Ebenezer Church and St Mary & St James both hold regular community coffee mornings, cafes, feasts and youth groups throughout the week which have become key community spaces of togetherness.
  • The Old Library on Muller Road runs Basil’s cafe which has become a much-loved space for families across Lockleaze, alongside regular events and a Repair Cafe.

Read on through this whole plan to see a whole array of previous actions in Lockleaze around housing, green spaces, energy, health, travel and transport, climate action and young people.

2025-26 UPDATE

What Lockleaze Residents said about Community Action

Many people responded to our survey saying that there is huge potential for community action in Lockleaze, because it is a strong-minded but friendly and neighbourly place. Residents said they want more opportunities to shape what happens here.

Many describe the area as diverse, neighbourly, and a community that looks out for each other, and young people frequently said that diversity is one of the reasons they feel comfortable in Lockleaze. In a time of division stoked by social media, the diversity of Lockleaze feels like something that pulls us together, rather than pushes us apart.

However, local people do not necessarily feel that they can influence decisions that affect Lockleaze, due to a lack of confidence in institutions and how they deal with key issues like housing, fly-tipping, crime, and anti-social behaviour. They also felt that making change happen was hindered by too much reliance on Facebook locally, and information being scattered across too many channels.

People clearly want simple, friendly and welcoming ways to get involved in shaping where they live.

“I feel I belong here, but I’d like more say in how things change.”

“It’s hard to know how to get involved – information is all over the place.” 

Belonging in Lockleaze

Some people also voiced experiences of discrimination or harassment. There were some gaps in provision for disabled residents, LGBTQ+, older people, teens, and families from racially minoritised groups.

There was a recognition that bringing our diverse community together regularly was really important and uplifting, creating a stronger sense of local belonging. People want their local organisations to be representative of the community, so that they feel a sense of welcome when they enter community buildings.

“People from different backgrounds get on well. That’s a strength.”

Volunteers and Community Contributors

65% of survey respondents are already helping out, especially by helping neighbours; faith and cultural community work; food clubs and warm spaces, environmental projects, support local schools and local charities. Many others say they would volunteer if:

  • they knew what help was needed
  • they could give small amounts of time/ tasks were flexible
  • childcare/transport weren’t barriers
  • someone welcomed them personally

This is a major opportunity for our community. When joining in is simple, safe and friendly, our local power grows.

“I’d love to volunteer but I’m not sure where to start.”

A New LNT Advisory Panel and Lockleaze Community Forum

A meaningful proportion of residents said YESto joining a new Lockleaze Advisory Panel (to help LNT spend funds and to guide our work alongside our Board of Trustees) and a new Lockleaze Community Forum, in order to:

  • Tackle local issues
  • Get our Lockleaze voices heard
  • Create better accountability
  • See more transparency on local decisions

The panel to be warm, welcoming, low‑pressure, and well‑facilitated.

FUTURE COMMUNITY ACTIONS 2026-30

Build a trusted Community Forum for local influence

A Lockleaze Community Forum with real decision‑making power will start local campaigns around the concerns voiced in this Community Plan. It will be community-led, be based around events that feel inclusive and welcoming (and offer free food) and will create concrete wins. With new powers coming down the line for communities to make their own decisions, Lockleaze could show the world what communities like ours are capable of.

Who: LNT, local community, local community organisations; Lockleaze Local Councillors agree to consult and be influenced by this Forum.

 Make community participation easy, low‑pressure and welcoming

Create more social connection that is joyful and includes shared food and creativity, cultural celebrations – because connection builds belonging. This would include micro volunteering; child-friendly meeting times; more evening events; accessible venues, and making sure that Lockleaze-based organisations have diverse, welcoming teams that represent our local community.

Who: All Lockleaze community organisations

Improve communication across Lockleaze

A single Lockleaze “What’s On” channel (print + digital) is one of the strongest cross‑survey requests.

Who: All Lockleaze community organisations.

Create new spaces for community togetherness

Organisations across Lockleaze will work together to create more spaces to come together. For instance, the New Cameron Centre development campaign means that we’ll now have a low-cost space for community hire, new events, classes, and learning opportunities and – yes – a new Lockleaze Community Cafe which we hope will also house a small new Lockleaze Library. The community wants to see more spaces like this for informal meetings, conversations and events.

Who: All Lockleaze community organisations.

HOMES AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

THE STORY SO FAR:

Housing Actions from the Lockleaze Community Plan 2019-24

In our 2018 survey Lockleaze residents put housing right at the top of their wish list. They asked for good quality, affordable housing that met local needs, meaning smaller homes for people with different needs from traditional families – older residents, single residents, people with disabilities or health issues – and houses that were a fair mix of private and social housing. What happened next?

  • Since 2018 housing developments have been sprouting across Lockleaze, partly due to the fact that we have a lot of space – the original housing estate was designed that way. One Lockleaze, Constable Road, Romney Avenue, Merry Hill, The Hatchings, Brooklands, Cameron Walk, Branwhite and Bonnington Walk are just some of the housing developments that have appeared.

In response, Lockleaze residents created a Lockleaze Neighbourhood Planning Group – working to support more affordable homes and social housing and ensure residents had a say in planning applications across Lockleaze, which lasted 2019-23.

Whilst the Planning Group was a powerful tool in pushing back against developers, many residents still felt that their voices were not properly heard during the many housing consultations. This has contributed to a lack of trust in corporations/ institutions that has been reflected on a national level.

  • Housing Advice Drop-Ins – LNT now partners with Housing Matters to provide fortnightly Housing Advice Drop-Ins at our weekly Hubbub cafe. We’ve noticed a huge rise in people coming for this advice, and we publicised the key work Housing Matters did around the new Renter’s Rights Act to support local people during the housing crisis.
  • Lockleaze Local Lettings Policy- From 2020 our local residents, alongside our local Councillors and LNT, co-designed a Lockleaze Local Lettings Policy (LLP) which was strongly supported by Bristol City Council. Launched in 2022 it meant that for those who are eligible on HomeChoice, 50% of eligible new social housing in Lockleaze should go to those with links to Lockleaze, ensuring families can stay living together locally. Bristol City Council and housing providers are in charge of implementing this when new housing comes online.
  • Community-Led Housing – in response to local people’s wish for better quality social housing, in 2019 LNT began designing new housing with the community. It’s been a long road but in 2026 LNT and Abri will start building a development of 18 social homes on Constable Road, co-designed by Lockleaze residents, made up of small houses and flats. We are also working on a smaller self-finish development on the Turner Gardens Garages site.
  • Working with Housing Developers – LNT have worked with developers to ensure they’ve kept to planning conditions; supported art projects on new builds; and LNT have welcomed new residents to the neighbourhood as they move in. One key result of this has been that we’ve secured a small bungalow and garden on the Bonnington Walk development from Legal and General, which will be developing with residents as a new community space for Lockleaze and a centre for our nature recovery projects.

Lockleaze Housing Stats

● 52% of Lockleaze residents own their own home (average. 54% in Bristol)1
● 26.5% rent social housing (average 18% Bristol)1
● 21.5% are in private rented accommodation, (average 26.4% across Bristol)1
● For Bristol, Lockleaze has a high number of semi-detached homes due to our history as a 1950s estate. In 2021 there were a total of 4067 houses with 925 flats. However, new housing development concentrating on smaller and more accessible flats and houses has changed this.
● Bristol City Council estimate that 700 – 1,000 new dwellings have been or are being built in Lockleaze.3 LNT estimates this means at least 2,500 new occupants – a big rise in our local population.

UPDATE 2025-6

What residents said about Housing in Lockleaze

In the 2025-6 survey, Lockleaze residents told us that they want housing growth with care. The community wants a complete neighbourhood rather than isolated housing developments.  This means:

  • Homes that fit real needs for Lockleaze’s existing community include affordable options that allow families, young adults and older residents to stay in the area, and which are accessible for those with specific needs.
  • Local facilities built in from the start, not added later – in particular this means GP capacity and neighbourhood health centres for minor treatment alongside dentists. But a complete neighbourhood also needs diverse shops (Gainsborough Square is actually a designated Bristol High Street); places to socialise, facilities for young and old that are also accessible to disabled people, and sports, fitness and arts facilities.
  • High standards for repairs and energy efficiency – there are real concerns about damp, mould, drafts and overheating.
  • Green Lockleaze: Development that respects Stoke Park and Lockleaze’s green spaces.

“Too many houses without the infrastructure to support them: parking, doctors, public transport.”

“Places to eat, meet and gather are missing.”

Lockleaze residents consistently prioritise:

  • Council and Housing Association homes
  • Genuinely affordable homes
  • Homes that match household size e.g. Large 4+ bedroom homes for growing families, 1–2 bedroom homes for young adults, single households and downsizers
  • Nursing/assisted-living and specialist accessible homes

There is very low support for HMOs (Homes of Multiple Occupancy) and Student Accommodation, because of concerns about neighbourhood stability, noise, pressures on street cleanliness and parking.

FUTURE HOUSING ACTIONS 2026-30

Build complete neighbourhoods in Lockleaze

Residents are very clear about what new housing developments should include — and they want it up front, not “added later”. They want Bristol City Council, NHS and housing providers to ensure that new homes come with appropriate GPs, neighbourhood health facilities, dentists, shops, cafes and spaces for young people and older people; making sure places to socialise are built alongside houses.

Who: Bristol City Council, NHS, WECA, Bristol City Councillors with support and pressure from Local community organisations and residents’ groups

Prioritise genuinely affordable homes

Build more social housing – and actively support downsizing in Lockleaze to enable housing movement.

Who: Bristol City Council / Housing Providers

Raise the standard of repairs and energy efficiency in our social homes

Including action on damp/ mould; better insulation and ventilation; lower energy bills; faster repairs; better complaints process and free Energy Advice events (see also Energy Actions below).

Who: Bristol City Council, Energy companies, with support from local organisations

Protect and enhance existing green spaces

Design new developments with nature in mind. Preserve Stoke Park and Purdown, limit loss of trees, green up existing streets and housing greens and create green corridors; align with the Lockleaze Community Climate Action Plan 2024. (see also Green Spaces Actions below)

Who: Bristol City Council Housing alongside Housing Developers. LNT via our Really Wild Lockleaze programme; Bristol City Council Parks and Housing departments (and their Nature Together project); local community action e.g. Horfield Brook Group.

Reduce the negative impacts of HMOs/student accommodation

Put limits on numbers of people in HMOs (Bristol City Council are bringing in planning restrictions in Autumn 2026); put controls on conversions; support for street management and parking; prioritisation of long-term residents and families who want to stay in the area.

Who: Bristol City Council / Bristol City Councillors

Strengthen Communication about the Lockleaze Local Lettings Policy

Again, prioritisation of people and families who want to stay in the area. Give people more clarity about how it works, and how local people can benefit, assuring residents that it is fair, and it is working. Support Housing Providers to make our LLP a success.

Who: Bristol City Council, Housing Providers, LNT

CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

THE STORY SO FAR:

Children & Young People Actions from the Lockleaze Community Plan 2019-24

  • The Vench continued to provide a wide range of activities, events and groups for children and young people including holiday sessions and play and stay events.
  • Ebenezer Church hosts a popular After School Hangout for families with children of primary school age on a fortnightly basis, including a free meal for parents and children.
  • Lockleaze Sports Centre opened in 2019 and began to offer an incredible range of youth-focussed sports – with community prices – across the week. Padel4All, and Redland Ladies Hockey relocated here too.
  • Boing! Soft Play and now Play Patch (taken over by LNT in 2026) continue to offer reasonably priced soft play sessions and affordable food for children under five and their families and continue to collaborate with specialist groups like child minders and Respite4You.
  • St Marys and St James Church on Gainsborough Square have long offered a weekly Toddler Group, Youth Clubs for year 7-9s and year 10-13s and an innovative programme called Set Piece which supports children in primary settings with mentoring and sports, in conjunction with Lockleaze Sports Centre.
  • Weekly advice drop-in sessions for families at Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust’s Hubbub cafe including advice from Bristol Family Hubs, Bristol Autism Support and Housing Matters. LNT created a Youth Climate Action Group that used film, drama, and creativity to act on climate change, funded by the Ovo Foundation.
  • Local residents also campaigned for and submitted a funding bid for a new playground on Purdown, and with our local Councillors they secured funding from Bristol City Council for the project, which is now complete.

2025-6 UPDATE

What residents said about Children and Young People in Lockleaze

Our Lockleaze Community Plan 2019-24 prioritised more ‘things for young people’ and it was clear from our survey that local people hugely valued after school clubs in local schools, Play Patch soft play, The Vench youth activities, and holiday activities at Lockleaze Sports Centre. They also love our Lockleaze green spaces such as Gainsborough Square and Stoke Park and the various playgrounds across Lockleaze.

Many young people we spoke to said explicitly that “everyone is welcome” in Lockleaze and described Lockleaze as supportive and friendly, citing kind neighbours, activities, and school and a mix of different cultures as reasons they feel included.

However, it was also clear that they had concerns around local crime, antisocial behaviour and unsafe streets (particularly speeding cars, bikes and e-scooters). Families noted that litter, fly‑tipping, speeding alongside unreliable transport indirectly affect how much they let children move around independently.

Despite a lot of hard work in the community and from Bristol City Council, it is clear that youth provision needs to be strengthened in Lockleaze – particularly at a time when young families are increasingly moving in and young people are struggling with mental health and social media. Young people would like to see more youth-friendly spaces, citing evening safety issues and cost barriers e.g. ‘Padel is too expensive.’ Adults noted that more evening and weekend options for young people are needed, outside of working hours.

Local organisations are currently building on the existing Youth and Play Partnership with Bristol City Council to coordinate activities and find funding.

“There are lots of people who would help if you need it.”

“People feel welcome because of other people, events and smiles.”

“We have a range of different people so I feel we are all equal.”

“Some streets made me feel unsafe.”

FUTURE CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE ACTIONS 2026-30

Expand low/no‑cost youth offers early evening

Co-design new groups with young people that are safe, attractive alternatives and accessible to working families. Investigate the possibility of low-cost passes for higher cost activities e.g. sports facilities in off-peak slots.

Who: Bristol City Council, The Vench, Lockleaze Sports Centre, Local Churches and Schools

Target visible safety improvements where young people go

Safety audit for Gainsborough Square and Stoke Park entrances; speed calming around Gainsborough Square and safe places to cross; enforcement of e-scooter/bike misuse; after school and early evening police patrols and better CCTV coverage around Gainsborough Square/ schools.

Who: Bristol City Council, Bristol City Councillors, LNT working with Lockleaze community

Co‑produce change with young people

Involve young people in making decisions locally and across the city, starting campaigns on things that matter to them.

Who: Bristol City Council One City and Youth Council; Local Councillors; LNT working with our Lockleaze community / the new Lockleaze Community Forum; WECA

Family-friendly information across Lockleaze

For example, a single “What’s On for Under‑18s” calendar so working households can plan reliably.

Who: All local Lockleaze organisations supporting young people.

 WORK, SKILLS & LEARNING

THE STORY SO FAR:

Works, Skills and Learning Actions from the Lockleaze Community Plan 2019-24

  • North Bristol Advice Centre continued to support financial resilience through providing debt and welfare benefits advice in Lockleaze, as well as digital skills development, a key service for our community.
  • Weekly Advice Drop-in sessions at Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust’s Hubbub cafe included money advice from Clean Slate and from the WorkWell programme.
  • LNT ran free or low‑cost training: cooking, gardening, mental wellbeing, digital skills, first aid, and piloted a new programme called Community Ideals which supported residents to share skills, start a new group, beginning something new in their community. This has been relaunched in 2026 as part of a new four year project called Lockleaze Together.

UPDATE 2025-6

What Residents said about Work, Skills and Learning in Lockleaze

Lockleaze is mainly a working class neighbourhood with lots of full‑time workers, a sizable part‑time segment (often balancing care), many self-employed residents in a range of professions, and older residents who are retired.

People in Lockleaze want fair chances to learn and work without the stress of juggling childcare, transport, health, or costs. The people who responded to our survey wanted to see practical courses (from gardening to fitness and confidence‑building) and a strong appetite for free or local options at times that actually work for them e.g. evenings and weekends. Many residents also have skills they could share with others, too.

Some of the barriers to work are mental health, lack of appropriate jobs, childcare, lack of driving licence or experience.  Some residents can’t find roles that fit around school hours; others are close to work but can’t reliably get there; and some are re‑entering the workforce after a break and need confidence, recent experience, or recognised training to get a fair shot. Young people echoed safety and cost concerns that affect access to evening learning and safe travel, which are stepping‑stones to long‑term opportunity.

Survey responses were clear: Keep training close, keep it affordable, make it after work, and remove the childcare and transport friction – especially for parents and carers. And make sure to publicise training well so that people know about it.

“(We need) jobs that fit around school hours, don’t require travel and are paid appropriately.”

“(I’ve struggled with) wellbeing- burnout from teaching and then trying to get a career back after this.”

“Please make learning local and free- it’s the only way I can join.”

FUTURE WORK, SKILLS AND LEARNING ACTIONS 2026-30

Run learning at times people can attend

Programme evenings and weekends; repeat popular courses on a second weekly slot to ease childcare/work clashes.

Who: BCC Bristol Community Learning, Training providers, local organisations.

Remove the barriers to work and training

Wrap sessions with on‑site childcare/creche if possible. Bring delivery to local venues so it’s walkable. Make sessions free or affordable. Remove transport friction by improving buses.

Who: Bristol City Council, Bristol Community Learning, WorkWell, training providers, local organisations.

Back the big five course themes residents prioritised

Fitness; mindfulness and wellbeing; nature & rewilding; food growing and gardening; green skills/retrofit. Give clear pathways to volunteering, micro‑credentials, or entry‑level jobs.

Who: Bristol City Council, Bristol Community Learning, training providers, local organisations.

Turn community skills into community learning

Build up the LNT Community Ideals programme where residents ‘teach it forward’ by running short sessions (CVs, basic IT, cooking, crafts, leadership). Peer‑to‑peer or asset-based learning can be powerful, low‑cost and confidence‑boosting — and it’s already here in Lockleaze.

Who: LNT with Lockleaze community

TRANSPORT AND LOCAL SERVICES

THE STORY SO FAR:

Transport & Local Services Actions from the Lockleaze Community Plan 2019-24

  • A New WECA Mobility Hub came to Gainsborough Square including cycle racks, bike maintenance station, wayfinder and dedicated bays for e-scooters.
  • Ashley Down Train Station was opened 2024 – with art installations designed with local residents and artists.
  • LNT developed a local art project with Scott Farlow investigating scope and campaigning against further flytipping and adding a Lockleaze Bench to the Stoke Park Sculpture Trail.
  • Residents continued to engage in litterpicking and street tidying, sometimes as community events with support from LNT, Ebenezer Church and local Bristol City councillors.

UPDATE 2025-26

What Residents Said about, Transport and Local Services in Lockleaze

Roads and Transport

Traffic speed is one of the strongest negative ratings in the entire survey. Romney Avenue, Shaldon Road, and school entrances are mentioned repeatedly as unsafe, with drivers ignoring speed limits, motorbikes and e‑scooters cutting through cycle paths, and near misses involving children. In addition, frustrations continue around a congested Muller Road and heavy rush hour traffic. Parking pressures are growing due to new housing: on street parking is congested and residents worry about unsafe school runs and lack of visibility when crossing roads.

Local bus and rail services are inconsistent – Buses are so unreliable that some residents say they drive only because the bus can’t get them to work/school reliably. Despite clear asks in the previous Community Plan, buses coming through central Lockleaze (and not just down Filton Avenue) are patchy and recently the No 73 was removed from service to widespread dismay. The new railways services, whilst welcome, are infrequent and not early/late enough and miss key stops. The resident-led campaigns to reopen Lockleaze Train Station and Concorde Way continue.

Street cleanliness, waste and fly‑tipping are large and persistent issues.Residents report repeated dumping in the same spots, litter from overflowing bins, cardboard collection issues and difficult reporting issues to Bristol City Council. Fly Tipping in particular affects local people’s wellbeing and makes residents feel that our area is treated as a dumping ground,

“Buses run regularly near my house, but they are not reliable- my son was late to school many times.”

Local services

Food Banks: People noted that the Food Club at the Vench, and North Bristol and South Glos Food Bank at Ebenezer Church and St Mary’s & St James were vital local services – but sadly Foodbank reports being so oversubscribed that it often has to go out and buy food as donations can’t stretch.

Residents miss the old Lockleaze Library in the Cameron Centre – even though it was rarely open –  and find that existing services (Horfield Library) are limited by building condition and opening hours. Whilst they like the ‘pick up drop off’ library service at LNT’s Hub, they want their Lockleaze Library back.

The Post Office (in Morrisons on Gainsborough Square) is something people really value and residents would love it to be open more reliably.

Disabled residents repeatedly identify obstructions on pavements, difficulties with access including poor lighting, narrow or uneven routes, lack of accessible toilets and spaces, inaccessible events. These are some of the regular trials of disabled residents which need addressing.

“(We need) a library! A good one like Bishopston with space for events.”

TRAVEL, TRANSPORT & LOCAL SERVICES ACTIONS 2026-30

What Will Happen & Who Will Do It

A Safer Lockleaze for All

Better road crossings on the routes to school e.g. Gainsborough Square, Cameron Walk; More 20mph roads and better enforcement; cycle lane separation; lighting improvements on Gainsborough Square.

Who: Bristol City Council Highways, Bristol City Councillors, Local organisations and resident groups

Fix The Buses & Run More Trains

GWR, WECA and First Bus must run more dependable services, and local people will lobby them for that.

Who: First Bus, GWR, WECA, Bristol City Council, Bristol City Councillors, Local organisations and resident groups – Lockleaze Community Forum could campaign for these services.

Tackling Fly-Tipping & Waste

Rapid response and enforcement by Bristol City Council; better bin storage for new local developments. Better access to tips/ safe waste disposal including for those without vehicles. More Community Clean Ups.

Who: Bristol City Council, Housing Providers, Local organisations and resident groups – Lockleaze Community Forum could campaign for these services.

Bring back Lockleaze Library (and keep the Post Office)

Local residents will campaign for and work with Bristol Libraries to create a replacement Lockleaze Library with the additional services libraries provide. They want real books, Summer Reading Programme, Book Clubs, help with literacy, computer access and story times for children. A regular, reliable Post Office service is also requested.

Who: Bristol Libraries, Post Office, Bristol City councillors. Local organisations working with our community – Lockleaze Community Forum could campaign for these services.

Expand Community-based Services

Especially for older people, disabled residents and culturally diverse / minoritised communities. This work could grow from ideas gathered at a new Lockleaze Community Forum, and LNT’s Community Ideals can also support new groups and events that residents want supported.

Who: Local community organisations working together.

GREEN SPACES & FOOD GROWING

THE STORY SO FAR:

Green Spaces and Food Growing Actions from the Lockleaze Community Plan 2019-24

  • Really Wild Lockleaze
  • In 2022 LNT worked with our community to create the first Lockleaze Community Climate Action Plan which included seven key strands: Transport, Food, Nature, Waste and Resources, Energy, Business and Education, Homes and Buildings. This plan led to the creation of Really Wild Lockleaze (RWL), an award-winning rewilding and nature recovery project where residents have rewilded streets, housing greens and vacant land in Lockleaze.
  • This project has not only grown plants, trees, and meadows where people live, but also a renewed sense of community as neighbours get to know neighbours whilst working together for nature.
  • Lockleaze Sports Centre has supported the rewilding of vacant land around its buildings, working with Really Wild Lockleaze and the local community to plant trees, create areas for nature and put in ponds.
  • This work has continued with new Nature Together funding from Bristol City Council / National Lottery Heritage Fund, which includes co-creating neighbourhood scale plans for nature e.g. improving the Pylon/Horfield Brook green corridor.
  • LNT have run the annual Lockleaze Climate and Nature Festival since 2024, bringing the community together every June to celebrate nature and climate action.
  • Buzz Community Garden behind Gainsborough Square went from strength to strength as a space for community growing and learning around permaculture, tackling food poverty, and celebrated 10 years of growing in 2026.
  • Our Lockleaze Youth Climate Action Group, developed with partner Unfold Community Arts and funded by the Ovo Foundation, supported young people to use art, film, drama and creativity to act on climate change.
  • LNT have run a six month Stoke Park Project with Bristol City Council and beloved local naturalist Steve England to understand local people’s priorities for preserving heritage and improving access in Stoke Park.
  • LNT have continued to support community conversations around new developments and green-space protection, and community-led action on litterpicking and path clearance, including assessing and supporting some very dedicated DofE volunteers.
  • LNT have become a key contributor to Bristol Apple Day – saving tonnes for apples from food waste.
  • Stoke Park Community Group continues to work on Stoke Park with the fantastic Bristol City Council Park Rangers, volunteering to support the history and ecology of the park.

UPDATE 2025-6

What residents said about Green Spaces & Food Growing in Lockleaze

Lockleaze’s green spaces, especially Stoke Park, Purdown, Gainsborough Square and our unique network of small local housing greens, are the thing that people talk most positively about in the new survey. When asked “What do you love about Lockleaze?”, green spaces appear again and again.

Our Lockleaze community loves the Stoke Park goats; local fields, woodlands and trees; outdoor exercise, family picnics, dog walking, and cycling. We love the local foxes, hedgehogs, bees and butterflies. And we love community events in green spaces like Lockleaze Climate and Nature Festival, outdoor cinema, regular nature walks and community planting. Residents see the clear connection between those activities and social connection and wellbeing. There’s also a huge wish for more community food growing in Lockleaze, a bigger community garden and more skills training, classes and talks about food growing, permaculture and cooking together.

There are some concerns of course, reflected in the rest of this Community Plan: flytipping and litter; traffic danger preventing access to green spaces; housebuilding ruining green space and destroying trees and nature; some green spaces not being well maintained. The dangers of off-road motorbikes in Stoke Park are mentioned as particularly concerning.

“Nature is the best part of Lockleaze- it must be protected.”

“More food growing spaces please- we can’t get an allotment.”

FUTURE GREEN SPACE & FOOD GROWING ACTIONS 2026-30

Protect and enhance existing green spaces

Design new developments with nature in mind. Preserve Stoke Park and Purdown, limit loss of trees, green up existing streets, housing greens, verges and vacant land. Align this work with the Lockleaze Community Climate Action Plan 2024. (see also Housing Actions above).

Who: Bristol City Council Housing alongside Housing Developers. LNT via our Really Wild Lockleaze programme with partners such as Bristol Parks, Lockleaze Sports Centre, nature partners across the West of England.

Develop a Long Term Plan for Nature

Develop an ambitious Lockleaze Plan for Nature: creating a green corridor through the centre of Lockleaze growing nature and introducing wildlife; daylight our local Horfield Brook and grow this resource for local residents, recognising the value of blue and green infrastructure; creating a Lockleaze Nature Centre with outdoor classroom as a focus for this work long term, recognising that learning, skills development and nature recovery should happen together.

Who: LNT via our Really Wild Lockleaze programme; Bristol City Council Nature Together project; Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership; local community action e.g. Horfield Brook Group; Nature partners across the West of England

Grow Community as Well as Plants

Grow local volunteer days e.g. with Really Wild Lockleaze Wednesdays, Stoke Park Community Group, community litter‑picks, clear reporting routes for flytipping, work with Bristol Waste & Bristol City Council Parks

Who: LNT’s Really Wild Lockleaze programme with the Lockleaze community; Bristol City Council Parks; Bristol Waste, Nature partners across the West of England

Expand food growing opportunities

Lockleaze residents are asking for more allotment spaces and a larger community garden (Bristol City Council land between Cotman Walk is earmarked for this). They want micro-plots in new developments, more community orchards, and more school gardens. And they want to share the harvest by cooking food together in a community setting, learning new skills along the way.

Who: Bristol City Council Parks, LNT’s Really Wild Lockleaze with our community, local schools, Lockleaze Community Orchard, Housing Developers. Link with NBSG Food Bank’s Bridge Food Project to share locally grown food.

Use green spaces for community togetherness

Grow more walking groups for all of our community; nature-based wellbeing activities; outdoor events in Gainsborough Square and Stoke Park – recognising that these contribute to community togetherness and resilience. (See also Health & Wellbeing Actions above).

Who: Horfield Health Centre Green Prescribers, LNT, Local Organisations, Stoke Park Rangers.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

THE STORY SO FAR:

Health & Wellbeing Actions from the Lockleaze Community Plan 2019-24

  • LNT’s four year Active Lockleaze project with Wesport supported two pop-up activity events a year and a network of sports activities across Lockleaze.
  • LNT’s wellbeing strand created Wellbeing walks, social prescribing projects, Peace of Mind sessions, a Wellbeing Passport and health drop‑ins, and grew our longstanding Art for Wellbeing programme.
  • LNT’s Really Wild Lockleaze Project has run regular community nature-based volunteer days, as well as getting neighbours together taking positive action for nature together on their streets.
  • Horfield Health Centre supports our whole community and has worked with local organisations to provide social prescribing sessions e.g. Living with Pain, and our local pharmacists are well known for supporting residents in need.
  • Both North Bristol Advice Centre (NBAC)and LNT ensure that good advice and signposting is available to our community. LNT regularly hosts advice drop-ins from NHS Talking Therapies, Sight Loss UK, Bristol Autism Support, Bristol Mind, WorkWell, Housing Matters, Bristol Disability Equality Forum and People First, as well as key support around energy advice. NBAC’s vital work supporting those with issues around welfare and debt recognises the key part that money problems and poor housing/energy challenges can play in affecting health and wellbeing.
Health and Wellbeing Stats1
Adult Social Care: Lockleaze has an above average number of people receiving support for adults in their home.8.8% of our population provide unpaid care.
Life expectancy in Lockleaze is 80 years, with 83 years the Bristol average and 88 years in Clifton Down, with higher likelihood of premature mortality i.e. dying before reaching 75.4

UPDATE 2025-6

What residents said about Health and Wellbeing in Lockleaze

Health and wellbeing services in Lockleaze play a big role in residents’ daily lives. We all rely on local pharmacies on Gainsborough Square and Lockleaze Road, Horfield Health Centre, the few local dentists, and community‑based wellbeing activities such as exercise classes or walks at The Hub, The Vench, Lockleaze Sports Centre and the Old Library. Health and wellbeing isn’t just about visiting the GP, but about having access to a network of support, advice, connection and care.

Lockleaze residents recognise that housing (damp, mould, cold overheating), unsafe streets, crime, anti-social behaviour, hardship/cost of living pressures, and a lack of youth facilities all have a strong effect on their health. When they have needed help, they have been blocked by long phone queues and a lack of appointments, which increases stress and distress. They also felt that local pharmacists were a good alternative to GPs, being approachable, helpful and filling a crucial gap in local healthcare.

The survey showed that residents value what does exist, but people want health to be easier to reach, more joined‑up, and more responsive to the real pressures they experience.

“It’s not just GP access- everything takes a long time and it wears people down.”

“Walking groups are a lifeline- it’s health and social connection.”

FUTURE HEALTH & WELLBEING ACTIONS 2026-30

Address local access barriers to healthcare

Easier access to GP appointments, clearer communications, extended hours for surgeries; better visibility of what support exists. This might mean ensuring the new NHS Neighbourhood Health Plan serves local Lockleaze people’s needs.

Who: Horfield Health Centre, NHS, Bristol City Council Public Health

Strengthen community-led wellbeing (low-cost, high impact)

Grow more walking groups, parenting groups, mental health and wellbeing workshops for men, women and young people, clearer social prescribing routes, and locals supporting locals. People in Lockleaze recognise that this kind of local activity supports health but also combats social isolation and grows connection.

Who: Local organisations, Horfield Health Centre, Social Prescribers, NHS, health partners

Protect and expand preventative services

For instance,midwife and early-years services; community health education e.g. smoking, health checks, mental health support; wellbeing services above.

Who: Horfield Health Centre, NHS, health partners, Family Hubs and Children’s Centres, LNT and Local community organisations.

Recognise pharmacies and community organisations as essential community health anchors

Pharmacies are a key partner in local healthcare; They and community organisations play a key part in emergency response; both can help local people manage long-term conditions.

Who: Local pharmacies, NHS, LNT, The Vench, The Old Library, Lockleaze Sports Centre.

ENERGY

THE STORY SO FAR:

Energy Actions from the Lockleaze Community Plan 2019-24

  • ‘Lockleaze Loves Solar’ explored the feasibility of a roof-top solar farm in Lockleaze. This project didn’t progress due to the COVID pandemic affecting solar panel supply and the closure of Bristol Energy, but produced valuable research and may be worth revisiting with new partners – see below for local enthusiasm for solar.
  • LNT delivered twice yearly energy events supporting residents with free advice to keep warm and save money. LNT also developed a network of Energy providers who are part of our advice rota, and with them developed targeted support including for young parents. We also ran energy efficient cooking courses, leading to a very popular community cookbook.
  • Ebenezer Church has run a one-off Energy Advice event and regularly has energy advisors at their Warm Welcome spaces and NB+SG Foodbank outlets.

UPDATE 2025-6

What residents said about Energy in Lockleaze

Energy is a major pressure point for households in Lockleaze. A significant proportion of our community experience financial stress from rising bills. People express concerns about affordability, reliability, and poor housing energy efficiency in old housing stock – especially cold homes in winter and overheating in summer.  Those who filled out the survey requested practical support, help with energy efficiency and retrofitting, and clearer information about bills.

There was strong support for a local renewable community-owned energy project (solar or wind) with profits returned to the community. Residents consistently mention the need for solar panels, battery storage, and cooperative models that pool energy locally – and some residents mentioned being inspired by the amazing community-owned wind turbine in Lawrence Weston.

“Solar panels are great- lots of our roofs face the sun, so this makes sense.”

“It’s not just cost- homes are cold, badly insulated and expensive to heat.”

“Solar is good long-term, but the savings don’t help people who are struggling now.”

FUTURE ENERGY ACTIONS 2026-30

Develop a Lockleaze Community Energy Model

That could mean solar e.g. rooftop community-owned or cooperative schemes, local micro-generation, prioritising low-income families and those with medical needs. It could also mean wind in the form of a turbine.

Who: Bristol Energy Network; LNT, Centre for Sustainable Energy

Offer local energy advice, drop-ins and support

Help with grants for heating, insulation; retrofitting advice to create climate-resilient homes; advice about managing bills and financial resilience in the face of energy shocks. 

Who: LNT with Bristol-wide partners e.g. Cheese Project, Centre for Sustainable Energy, ResNet, energy suppliers.

ARTS, CULTURE & LEISURE

THE STORY SO FAR:

Arts, Culture & Leisure Actions from the Lockleaze Community Plan 2019-24

  • Lockleaze Sports Centre (LSC) opened in 2015, and has given Lockleaze a focus for football, rugby and other sports. The annual Our City Community Cup sees LSC partner with Bristol Refugee Festival for a six-a-side tournament for refugees, asylum seekers and the wider community. LSC also runs community events and celebrations.
  • Lockleaze is the fourth most diverse ward in Bristol and increasingly celebrates its multicultural nature – for instance holding its first Community-Led Iftar at the Hub in 2025 and an even bigger one in 2026 and seeing the local 1st Muslim Scouts contributing to art at Ashley Down Train Station.
  • The Old Library continues to put on a vibrant creative offer including Open Mic nights.
  • The Ovo Foundation funded LNT to run the Lockleaze Youth Climate Action group, a group for 11-19s to engage creatively with climate change. Over two years the group has made short films shown at The Hub, Watershed and in Millenium Square, put on performances across Lockleaze and created campaigns. This group was run by LNT with Jody Cook and Abi Spence of Unfold Arts CIC.
  • LNT also worked with Unfold Arts to recreate the Lockleaze Panto in 2025 – a rollicking intergenerational tale called the Lockleaze Snow Queen supported by Stoke Park Primary.
  • A new secondary school Trinity Academy opened on Romney Avenue in 2021, with an arts and culture focus and a large auditorium for hire. This reflects a strong creative school culture across all local schools, who provide a plethora of creative and sporty after school activities for local children.
  • Really Wild Lockleaze commissioned the Field Stories sculpture trail co-created with Charli Clark, Sylvia Rimat and local people. The artists also created a beautiful book and walking guide with residents at the Bonnington Walk development (commissioned by Gingko Projects, funded by Legal and General and supported by LNT).

UPDATE 2025-6

What residents said about Arts, Culture and Leisure in Lockleaze

We all know that arts, culture and leisure are central to belonging, pride of place, safety, and wellbeing. The new survey told us that residents want activities that bring all ages together, to celebrate local creativity, and provide things to do in the evenings and at weekends. They said that Lockleaze Climate and Nature Festival, family picnics, outdoor cinema/markets, and community days in Stoke Park or The Vench feel “like the heart of Lockleaze” – but these events are occasional, not regular.

What people would like to see is what they travel into town for – affordable art classes, gigs / open mic sessions, exhibitions, cinema and theatre. The lack of arts and culture creates inequality: those without cars, with caring or mobility needs, or with financial constraints miss out. Many families also highlight gaps for older children, teens and adults without children.

Residents had a long list of things they’d like to see in Lockleaze: art, drawing, craft, pottery, dance, acting, singing, photography/video editing and music production or instrument learning. They loved the idea of coming together for outdoor cinema, community markets, pop-up theatre, multicultural festivals, open mic nights, book clubs / film clubs, evening talks and socials – ideally with that great connector, shared food. They explicitly asked for somewhere to try new hobbies, affordable creative studios or rooms to hire, and creative spaces for young people.

Sport is big in Lockleaze. Residents would like more affordable fitness classes, inclusive sessions for disabled people, and intergenerational activities. People also mentioned needing a local affordable community gym and a basketball court.

“I want more adult social clubs. Everything is aimed at little kids.”

“We travel out of the area for films or theatre. It would be good to have more locally.”

“We need more arts and culture- there’s lots of creativity here but nowhere to do it.”

FUTURE ARTS, CULTURE & LEISURE ACTIONS 2026-30

Create a stronger cultural identity for Lockleaze

Lockleaze can build on its community spirit, green spaces and local creativity to become a vibrant cultural neighbourhood, with culture accessible to all ages including teens, older residents, disabled people, neurodiverse residents. We will listen to the list of creative needs above, and act on them.

Who: All Lockleaze community organisations, Local Schools, Bristol City Council, WECA, Arts Council.

Invest in spaces for arts, creativity and leisure

This might mean using existing venues like St James Church or empty units on Gainsborough Square as accessible venues or creative spaces. It might also mean supporting the creation of a new gym at Lockleaze Sports Centre, or more sports space across the ward. We need more spaces for togetherness in Lockleaze.

Who: Bristol City Council, Lockleaze Sports Centre, LNT, Churches, Local Schools.

Link arts and sports to wellbeing, nature recovery and belonging

Combine culture with green space e.g. outdoor cinema, arts trails, workshops across our green spaces, and celebrate our diversity by representing the rich mix of cultures found in Lockleaze.

Who: Lockleaze Sports Centre, LNT, Local Schools, Local Churches and Mosques, Bristol Partners. 

Make cultural life visible

Creating a single source of What’s On – perhaps biannual listings on community boards and social media, will create a better sense of cultural identity in Lockleaze.

Who: Local community organisations.