News / Turbo Island
‘We can still shape the future of Turbo Island’
Turbo Island has now been tarmacked. But there is still hope that its spirit can live on.
Benoit Bennett from the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft says that the area on the corner of Stokes Croft and Jamaica Street is undoubtedly going to be different, but he still feels that its future can be shaped.
Suggestions include repairing the graffiti wall, repainting a mural, and putting in planters and benches to join a few cycle racks that have been already been installed.
is needed now More than ever
Bristol24/7 understands that Turbo Island owners Wildstone were issued with a Community Protection Order about the increased anti-social behaviour on the site, with the tarmacking their response to this.
When fencing appeared around Turbo Island in October, Marvin Rees tweeted that he “welcome(s) the landowner taking action to prevent anti-social behaviour at this spot”.
But Bennett is not convinced. In a blog post for PRSC, he wrote: “As if a slick of tarmac is going to have any impact on the problems, or in any way soothe the deep social ills which increased street dealing and addiction are symptoms of.
“Arguably the current controversy about Turbo is at least partially the result of similar actions being taken in the Bearpit, where a superficial aesthetic veneer was part of a drive to push out people who the council and (some) local business etc don’t want to be such a visible part of our city.”
A newly tarmacked Turbo Island – photo: Martin Booth
Bennett said that it is “unsurprising” that as fires on Turbo Island became more frequent and larger, there were calls for some kind of action.
He also said that “recent changes to the patterns of street dealing have seen increased anti-social behaviour – from drug-taking, to fights and threats to the passing public”.
“But suggesting that the current works will affect much beyond the ash blowing over the street seems like wishful thinking.
“The general tone of language used by many when talking about the various people who hang out on Turbo Island betrays a disregard for anyone not part of respectable city life.”
Bennett added: “It’s fallen to the music press (and a few local social media accounts) to present any positive interpretation of Turbo, its history and it’s significance.
“Mixmag quoted the Best of Bristol Instagram in their headline: ‘It’s like tearing down Stonehenge’. While this is obviously a slight exaggeration, they refer to the history of unofficial parties, describing Turbo as ‘one of Bristol’s oldest rave locations’.
“When the fences come down it’s going to be different, but we can still shape that. We can repair the graffiti wall, and if there’s appetite re-paint the mural. Maybe we can put in planters? Actual benches? What do you think? What can we as a community do more about the deeper issues?”
New cycle racks have appeared on Turbo Island which benches possibly still to be installed – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Mysterious planning application appears on Turbo Island
- Bid to buy Turbo Island back for the community
- Charity claims Bearpit ‘has been left to rack and ruin’
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