Thought up post-war, Hartcliffe was an ambitious building project with more than 3,000 homes, four schools, three churches, six pubs and a community centre.
And, okay, the plans were slightly downgraded due to funding issues (four instead of six pubs, for example), the council home-dominated estate did provide the answer to the city’s bulging boundaries.
However, as the decades have rolled by, it, like other places such as Southmead, has suffered neglect due to a lack of ongoing investment; from transport to youth provision to leisure facilities.
Yet despite its well publicised antisocial behaviour issues, the area does boast a strong community where people look out for one another - and there are still hubs where people can meet.
There’s also some new developments, such as the building of new rugby pitches and a clubhouses in Fulford Road.
Here are 13 pictures from a walk-around Hartcliffe:
1. Morrisons
Morrisons provides Hartcliffe with a main supermarket - but it has also suffered from antisocial behaviour with some shoppers claiming to have been intimidated by children. Morrisons has said previously that it will not tolerate any form of antisocial behaviour and is working with police to ensure the safety of customers and staff.
2. Other shops in Peterson Avenue
The area is also served by Iceland and Boots along with a number of other shops. The latest addition was Lextan Hartcliffe. Unfortunately, Boots was forced to close for one day last week after a ‘violent incident’ at its store. Bristol World is waiting on a statement from the pharmacy company on the incident.
3. Symes House
It looks more like an abandoned castle now - but this was the old customers service point for Bristol City Council in Hartcliffe which closed six years ago. There were hopes it could become a youth club - but nothing has got off the ground yet.
4. Three towers
At the centre of Hartcliffe are the three council-owned tower blocks in Silcox Road - Millmead House, Hayley House, Middleford House. The area does have issues with antisocial behaviour and drug dealing - however, better CCTV surveillance and improved lighting along with a greater spend on youth work, support groups and community-led initiatives are planned after a £750k funding bid under the Government’s Safer Streets Fund was successful.