The London property company that own the land known as 'Turbo Island' in Stokes Croft has said it wants to work with the council and the community to make it a 'more welcoming space', as work continues to dig it up, pave it and end its notorious reputation.
Diggers moved in yesterday onto the area on the corner of Stokes Croft and Jamaica Street, digging up the ground, levelling and landscaping it ready to be paved. And now the operations director for Wildstone, the billboard advertising property company that own the land, said they want to work up plans to further enhance the space.
The initial plan for Turbo Island is for the privately-owned half of the triangle of land on that corner to look very much like the publicly-owned part, with it paved and a number of bike racks installed. But Wildstone's Philip Allard said the company were keen to work with the local community to see if anything more could be done.
Read more: The end for Turbo Island as the diggers move in
The land's status as privately-owned but owned by an ad agency whose first priority is to ensure that the billboards above it aren't obscured, meant the spot there entered a legal grey area, and could not be made subject to council bylaws around street drinking. But earlier this year, local MP Thangam Debbonaire moved to get something done about the issue of Turbo Island, and called a multi-agency meeting to find solutions.
Turbo Island had for decades been a place for street drinking and gathering, with street parties, sound systems and raves a common occurrence before the pandemic. This year, following the 'clearance' of the Bearpit, there were increasing issues with anti-social behaviour and fires at Turbo Island, and Avon Fire and Rescue Service reported being called to fires that had got out of control at Turbo Island 44 times in three and a half months.
Now, with the diggers continuing their work this week, the future of Turbo Island appears a lot more conventional. "The works will include tarmacking the site and installing cycle parking," said Mr Allard. "We are paying for these works which we hope will significantly improve the appearance of the site and make it more attractive. However, wider social issues that have affected the site in the past are beyond our control.
"We are continuing to work closely with Bristol City Council’s Neighbourhood Team and other agencies including the Police and Fire Brigade on the project. We are also engaging with the local community and businesses. Once the works are complete, we would like to discuss with the local community how the site can remain a more welcoming space," he added.
Read more - The Turbo Island story
- Stokes Croft is 'at crisis point' in the fight against gentrification
- Moment thousands rave in street to DJ set out of Bristol flat window
- ‘The experiment failed’: Deputy Bristol mayor on Bearpit’s past as plans for multi-million pound makeover unveiled
- 'Turbo Island in Bloom', the hilarious Instagram account paying homage to unofficial Bristol landmark
- What people are saying about Turbo Island in Google reviews
- £300k plan to buy Turbo Island and do 'whatever the community wants' to do with it
- 'Save Turbo Island': Petition launched to save infamous corner of Stokes Croft
- Strange billboard pops up on Turbo Island in Stokes Croft
- Mystery sculpture torched on the Turbo Island bonfire
- Jamaica Street Stores to close permanently from TOMORROW due to Turbo Island 'lawlessness'
Follow the latest updates on this story and others like it here.
