Iconic Turbo Island being dug up after anti-social behaviour complaints
The site, which has become notorious for street drinking, campfires and parties, is being transformed by the landowner
Last updated 26th Oct 2022
It looks like an iconic spot in Bristol, that became famous over the years essentially for being its own little world, is being transformed.
Turbo Island in Stokes Croft is a small patch of private land on the busy Cheltenham Road, and because it is private the City Council has technically had no authority over what happens on the site.
For decades that has led people to gather there to socialise, drink and hold parties, which the council authorities appeared to have no power to stop.
After numerous complaints directed to the local MP Thangam Debbonaire however, the council eventually issued the landowner, a London based company called Wildstone Investments, with a Community Protection Order.
That means they are obliged to pave over or tarmac the area and create something different on the land, to prevent the anti-social behaviour continuing.
We contacted Wildstone Investments for a statement.
“We can confirm that work to improve Turbo Island started this Monday (24th October 2022) and will last for around a week," their operations director Philip Allard told us.
"The works will include tarmacking the site and installing cycle parking.
"We are paying for these works which we hope will significantly improve the appearance of the site and make it more attractive."
It means, within a week, Turbo Island could become unrecognisable.
Mr Allard added in his statement that "wider social issues" that have impacted the site over the years are beyond Wildstone's 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," he said.
"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.”
At time of writing Turbo Island is fenced off to the public while diggers transform the site.
Asked to comment by us, Bristol City Council merely reiterated that they issued a Community Protection Order earlier this year, "which sets out an expectation that the land owner take action to the litter and waste on the site," they said.
"How they go about doing that is up to them as it’s their land."