Turbo Island Bristol: Notorious site cordoned off as work begins to clean up Stokes Croft eyesore

Notorious Bristol eyesore Turbo Island has been fenced off in preparation for improvement work to landscape the area and install bike racks.

A team of council workers from Bristol Waste cleaned up the parcel of land on the junction of Jamaica Street and Stokes Croft before it was cordoned off for work to commence. Turbo Island has for years been a place where anti-social behaviour has been reported, with rubbish and vermin also a problem.

The land is owned by London-based Wildstone, which also owns the advertising hoarding on the site. In a tweet this morning, Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said: “We welcome the landowner taking action to prevent further anti-social behaviour at this hotspot.”

Philip Allard, COO & Planning Director of Wildstone, said: “We can confirm that work to improve Turbo Island started today (Monday) and will last for around a week. 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. 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. We are also engaging with the local community and businesses. Once the works are complete, we would like to engage with the local community to see how the site can remain a more welcoming space.

“The land was formerly landscaped and well kept, but unfortunately due to sustained vandalism and anti-social behaviour over the last few years its appearance has significantly degraded. Following discussions with the council it is proposed to regrade the land, hard landscape it and install bike racks.”

Wildstone has committed to funding the works and the council’s contractors will undertake the works. Wildstone is also working with the council and local businesses to address issues with vermin caused by bins in and around the site.