Arts / Turbo Island
New website celebrates ‘heart and soul’ of Turbo Island community
A new tourist website has launched to celebrate the people and culture of a notorious corner of Stokes Croft.
The Turbo Island website captures the ‘heart and soul’ of the small plot of land, its rich history, contested status, and ongoing role as the subject of competing identities.
In tourist guide-style, the Turbo Island website shares helpful tips on everything from things to do – ‘help out with the fire’ or ‘dog sit’, places to sleep – ‘sofa accommodation’ and ‘ground accommodation’ – and eating and drinking – ‘Bucky’ and ‘local supermarket vodka’.
is needed now More than ever
“Turbo Island’s rich past beckons visitors to step into a piece of living history, adding their own stories to its ongoing narrative,” a post on the website said.
Bristol-based photographer, Simon Holliday, contributed photos for the the website from his own collection of Turbo Island images.
“I worry more and more each day that we’re closer to losing (Turbo Island),” Simon told Bristol24/7.
“The site went live on Wednesday and the same day the Blue Mountain club was demolished for more student flats.
Turbo Island was tarmacked in October last year – photo: Martin Booth
“I understand it has a bad reputation for various reasons, and people tend to look down on it, but it has so much positive function as a community space, somewhere for people who have nowhere else to go to meet up, and for people from every walk of life to bond and chat around the fire,” he said.
“I want to spread some more positivity about it. The website was done with the knowledge and support of the Turbo community, and they love it.”
Simon hopes the website will be a space for the Turbo Island community to add to, sharing their own stories and celebrating their identities.
Turbo Island was tarmacked in October last year by landowner Wildstone, in an attempt to end what mayor Marvin Rees described as “anti-social behaviour at this hotspot.”
Since then, organisations such as the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft has rushed to preserve the area’s cultural identity.
He compared the space to the Bearpit, which the council has ‘cleaned up’ in recent years with anti-graffiti paint and planters, through its street cleansing policy.
Suggestions for the Turbo Island site have ranged from repairing the graffiti wall, repainting a mural, and putting in planters and benches to join a few cycle racks that have already been installed.
Main photo: Simon Holliday
Read next:
- Bid to buy Turbo Island back for the community
- Fire breaks out at Stokes Croft restaurant
- Video of rave inside shop in Stokes Croft goes viral
- Mysterious planning application appears on Turbo Island
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