Turbo Island Legal costs fear over future of infamous street corner

BRISTOL taxpayers could soon pay for an expensive barrister to answer tricky legal questions about the row over Turbo Island.

- Alex SEABROOK

Bristol City Council is mulling over an application to register the infamous corner in Stokes Croft as a “town or village green”, which would protect it from being built on.

Turbo Island is often home to spontaneous raves, late-night bonfires and people drinking and taking drugs. Variously viewed as an important community hub for homeless people or a beacon for anti-social behaviour, the small plot of land at the end of Jamaica Street divides public opinion.

Last September, talks of an impending sale of the land prompted fears that potential buyers might construct a four-storey building there. This led to the application to register the symbolic Stokes Croft site as a village green. A mystery buyer then purchased Turbo Island in October.

Now the future of Turbo Island hangs in the balance - if councillors vote to accept the application, that would scupper any development plans. The problem is the law around village greens is notoriously complex, and could be too thorny for the council's own lawyers.