News / Turbo Island
Community accelerates efforts to save land before auction
With the sale of Turbo Island looming on the horizon, the Stokes Croft community is doing everything they can to save it.
On Saturday, lovers of the site gathered for a ‘free party’ to raise awareness and funds before the online auction on Wednesday.
Sue Kilroe, who lives a few yards away from Stokes Croft and volunteers at the Stokes Croft China shop in the lane adjacent to Turbo Island believes the site is for strangers to meet “frequently and freely”.
is needed now More than ever
The site has been cherished by the people of the community for several years – photo: People’s Republic of Stokes Croft
She told Bristol24/7: “People who would normally not ever mix with each other, would not normally ever have a conversation with each other, sit down (at Turbo Island) and spend half the night talking to each other.
“They know each other’s names, they remember each other from ten years ago – there’s this sort of crossing over that lasts and people remember that.
“Sitting with somebody homeless, sitting with somebody when you’re just out of university, sitting with somebody whose life is in the grips of heroin – talking about the drugs, talking about their lives – this doesn’t happen.
The Stokes Croft China shop proudly advocates its appeal to save Turbo Island – photo: Karen Johnson
She continued: “But it does happen just here and that I think that has got some magic that holds Bristol together and if we build yet another useless, not needed shop and two more apartments for Airbnb that would add nothing to the cultural life of the city.”
The Stokes Croft Land Trust which has been investing time to bring the land into community ownership by raising funds, requires more time for this to happen.
On the other hand, the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft (PRSC) has made an application to Bristol City Council to designate Turbo Island as an Asset of Community Value.
Turbo Island is known to unite the community to make memories – photo: People’s Republic of Stokes Croft
The director of Stokes Croft Land Trust, Lucas Batt shared his “disappointment” about land owners Wildstone “not enabling a community purchase”.
He said: “We are extremely disappointed Wildstone has decided to not enable a community purchase, and have instead decided to seek the highest bidder at auction with a short offer period.”
“If Turbo Island is bought by a commercial property developer and this opportunity for community ownership is lost, it would be a massive blow for the area and the local community.
“Turbo Island is iconic. It needs a strategy, care, and improvement, but if it is lost at auction, it could be a turning point for the gentrification of Stokes Croft, and Bristol risks further damage to its vibrant arts quarter.”
At the free party on Saturday, Bristol Free Shop had some interesting picks for people to take home – photo: Karen Johnson
“Stokes Croft Land Trust is widely supported by the community to buy Turbo Island. But we need more time to raise funds from the community, and call for Wildstone to take Turbo Island out of the auction.”
The auction listing, according to an update shared by Stokes Croft Land Trust proposes the construction of a five-storey building on the site.
London-based company, Wildstone had previously said that the land was “plagued by anti-social behaviour and criminal activity” which is why they had decided to sell it “to enable its redevelopment and positive use” of the site.
Community leaders from the neighbourhood have spent time negotiating with the current owners, in hopes of securing the cultural site for the community.
Chris Chalkley, an independent negotiator who was formerly the founder of PRSC said: “Discussions with James Sullivan at Wildstone did take place initially, and a very reasonable and substantial offer was made while asking for time to raise the capital required.
“This offer was apparently considered, then rejected by the board.
“Since that time, Wildstone has not responded to emails, nor do they answer my phone calls.”
Regarding the application with the council, Benoit Bennett of PRSCO called it a “race against time”.
They added: “We need the council to move quickly: If the site is designated an Asset of Community Value prior to the auction, the sale will have to be delayed by law, allowing for the possibility of a fair negotiation.
“The reality is that if a developer were to buy the site, there would inevitably be a long, wasteful and potentially damaging battle through the planning process, with no likely winners.”
Main photo: Karen Johnson
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