Turbo Island Council to hire barrister to rule on 'village green' bid

NEXT steps on the Turbo Island “village green” row will be agreed in the coming days as council lawyers say the case is too complex. Instead they will use taxpayer money to hire an expensive barrister who will examine whether the infamous corner in Stokes Croft should be protected.

- Alex SEABROOK

Last autumn campaigners applied to get Bristol City Council to register Turbo Island, on the corner of Stokes Croft and Jamaica Street, as a town or village green. This would prevent developers from building on the site, as plans were previously mooted for a four-storey block.

In April, councillors on the public rights of way and greens committee weighed up whether to hire an expensive barrister, or get the council's own solicitors to figure out whether the site could be protected.

Three months later, and council solicitors have admitted they cannot figure it out.